Mobile sterilization apparatus and method for using the same
A sterilization cabinet, comprising a top panel, at least two side panels, and a floor panel forming a part of a chamber of the sterilization cabinet; at least one door connected to at least one of the at least two side panels of the sterilization cabinet; a vent formed in at least one of the two side panels; at least one first filter covering the vent and a filter cover configured to hold the first filter against the vent; a drain positioned in the floor panel, wherein the floor panel has a slope configured to cause condensate within the chamber to flow into the drain and wherein the drain is the only outlet for the condensate along the floor panel; and a second filter covering the drain such that condensate flowing into the drain passes through the second filter.
1 . A method of sterilizing medical instruments using immediate use sterilization, comprising:
positioning at least one medical instrument within an enclosed sterilization area of a sterilization cabinet, the sterilization cabinet includes a plurality of walls and a floor, an opening to permit access to the enclosed sterilization area, a door configured to close the sterilization cabinet by forming a seal that closes the opening, at least one vent in the sterilization cabinet, a filter covering the at least one vent on an exterior of the sterilization cabinet, where the sterilization cabinet includes a drain in the floor having a porous hydrophobic condensate filter in fluid communication with the drain;
closing the door on the sterilization cabinet to seal the enclosed sterilization area;
positioning the sterilization cabinet in an autoclave;
initiating a sterilization cycle to sterilize the at least one medical instrument within the sterilization cabinet by subjecting the sterilization cabinet to at least one steam application within the autoclave;
initiating a drying cycle, the drying cycle comprising drawing a vacuum within the enclosed sterilization area to pull condensate away from the at least one medical instrument wherein any condensate remaining within the enclosed sterilization area is driven by gravity to a region of the sterilization cabinet that prevents flowing of the condensate out of the opening when the door is opened, wherein the drying cycle lasts about 5 minutes or less; and;
after removing the sterilization cabinet from the autoclave, immediately relocating the sterilization cabinet from the autoclave to a staging area such that the at least one medical instrument (i) is available for immediate use and (ii) has been sterilized to remain stored within the enclosed sterilization area for future use, wherein the condensate filter prevents any microbes from entering the enclosed sterilization area.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning at least one tamper evident lock on the door after closing the door.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein relocating the sterilization cabinet from the autoclave to the staging area occurs prior to finishing a drying cycle of the autoclave.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the floor is angled towards the door and the door comprises a fluid trap to collect any condensate which prevents flowing of the condensate out of the opening when the door is opened.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein relocating the sterilization cabinet from the autoclave occurs after initiating a shortened dry cycle of the autoclave by drawing the vacuum within the sterilization cabinet a single time.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the floor is angled to collect the condensate away from the opening such that to prevent flowing of the condensate out of the opening when the door is opened.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a floor of the sterilization cabinet is pitched causing any condensate remaining within the enclosed sterilization area to be driven by gravity to a lowest portion the floor.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the floor is pitched toward the drain such that condensate is directed by gravity towards the drain.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the porous hydrophobic condensate filter is positioned on an exterior of the sterilization cabinet.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sterilization cycle lasts for a duration of around 3 minutes.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sterilization cycle lasts for a duration of around 4 minutes.
12 . A method of sterilizing a medical item using immediate use steam sterilization, comprising:
providing a sterilization cabinet having a chamber with a plurality of walls surrounding the chamber, where the plurality of walls form an opening for placement of the medical item within the chamber, the sterilization cabinet is configured to use gravity to direct a condensate that is generated during a sterilization process along a floor of the sterilization cabinet to a lowest point in the sterilization cabinet comprising a drain, where the drain is in fluid communication with a porous hydrophobic condensate filter;
closing a door to the sterilization cabinet when the medical item is within the chamber to seal the chamber;
positioning the sterilization cabinet within a sterilization unit;
initiating the sterilization unit to perform a sterilization cycle;
initiating a drying cycle, the drying cycle comprising applying a single vacuum cycle to the sterilization cabinet to pull air and the condensate out of the sterilization cabinet such that condensate remains in the chamber;
removing the sterilization cabinet from the sterilization unit; and
after removing the sterilization cabinet from the sterilization unit, immediately delivering the medical item to a surgical area for immediate use without storing the medical item, wherein the condensate filter prevents any microbes from entering the sterilization cabinet, and wherein the medical item remains sterile in the sterilization cabinet to be available for immediate use and has been sterilized to remain in the sterilization cabinet to be stored for future use.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising removing the medical item from the sterilization cabinet while condensate remains in the sterilization cabinet.
14 . The method of claim 12 , to wherein applying the single vacuum cycle to the sterilization cabinet to pull air and condensate out of the sterilization cabinet causes condensate to accumulate in a region that prevents flowing of the condensate out of the opening when the door is opened.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sterilization unit comprises an autoclave.
16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising positioning at least one tamper evident lock on the door after closing the door.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein relocating the sterilization cabinet from the sterilization unit to the staging area occurs prior to completion of a drying cycle of the sterilization unit.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor is angled to collect the condensate away from the opening such that to prevent flowing of the condensate out of the opening when the door is opened.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a floor of the sterilization cabinet is pitched causing any condensate remaining within the chamber when to be driven by gravity to a lowest portion the floor.
20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor is pitched toward the drain such that condensate is directed by gravity towards the drain, and wherein the drain is covered by a filter.
21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the condensate filter is positioned on an exterior of the sterilization cabinet.
22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the drying cycle lasts for a duration of about 5 minutes or less.
23 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sterilization cycle lasts for a duration of around 3 minutes.
24 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sterilization cycle lasts for a duration of around 4 minutes.