Integrated washing and sterilization process
A method for cleaning and sterilizing a medical device comprises the steps of: placing the device into a container; cleaning the device in the container with a cleaning solution; rinsing the device in the container with a rinse solution; and vaporizing a liquid substance in the container to create a sterilant vapor and contacting the device with the vapor to effect sterilization of the device.
1. A method for cleaning and sterilizing a medical device comprising:
placing the device into a container;
cleaning the device in the container with a cleaning solution;
rinsing the device in the container with a rinse solution;
vaporizing a liquid substance in the container to create a sterilant vapor, wherein the liquid substance comprises a retained portion of the rinse solution; and
contacting the device with the vapor to effect sterilization of the device.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising storing the device in the container in sterile form.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the rinse solution comprises a chemical sterilant.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the chemical sterilant comprises hydrogen peroxide.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid substance comprises a chemical sterilant.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the chemical sterilant comprises hydrogen peroxide.
7. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising introducing the liquid substance as a mist.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising retaining a predetermined amount of the liquid substance in the container prior to the vaporizing.
9. A method for cleaning and sterilizing a medical device comprising:
placing the device into a container;
cleaning the device in the container with a cleaning solution;
rinsing the device in the container with a rinse solution;
retaining a portion of a liquid substance in the container, wherein the liquid substance comprises at least a portion of the rinse solution;
vaporizing the liquid substance in the container to create a sterilant vapor; and
contacting the device with the vapor to effect sterilization of the device.
10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the liquid substance comprises a chemical sterilant.
11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the chemical sterilant comprises hydrogen peroxide.
12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the rinse solution comprises a chemical sterilant.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the chemical sterilant of the rinse solution comprises hydrogen peroxide.
14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the liquid substance comprises water.