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 a medical item, comprising:
placing a medical instrument in a chamber of a sterilization unit; the sterilization unit having a plurality of walls surrounding the chamber where the plurality of walls form an opening for placement of the medical item within the chamber;
closing a door of the sterilization unit to seal the chamber;
initiating a sterilization cycle;
initiating a drying cycle;
wherein during the drying cycle, any remaining condensate is directed along a floor of the sterilization unit to a lowest point in the sterilization unit comprising a drain, the drain in fluid communication with a porous hydrophobic condensate filter, the condensate filter preventing microbes from entering the sterilization unit; and
delivering the medical item to a surgical area or a storage area, the medical item remaining sterile in the sterilization unit until the chamber is unsealed.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after the sterilization cycle, the medical item is available for immediate use and can remain stored within the sterilization unit for future use.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the sterilization unit within an autoclave after sealing the chamber.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the drying cycle comprises drawing a vacuum within the chamber to pull condensate away from the medical instrument.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the drying cycle comprises applying a single vacuum cycle to the sterilization unit to pull air and condensate out of the sterilization unit.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after the drying cycle, condensate remains in the chamber.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drying cycle lasts 20 minutes or less.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drying cycle lasts 5 minutes or less.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drying cycle lasts 1 minute or less.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising relocating the sterilization unit to a staging area prior to delivering the medical item to the surgical or the storage area.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condensate filter further comprises a microbial barrier.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condensate filter is reusable.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condensate filter prevents particles larger than 0.2 microns from passing through the filter.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condensate filter prevents particles larger than 0.45 microns from passing through the condensate filter.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condensate filter prevents particles larger than 1.0 microns from passing through the condensate filter.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condensate filter comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene material.
17 . The method of claim 1 , the chamber further comprising a shelf configured to support a plurality of instrument trays.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drain is positioned in a drain opening comprising a recess extending below the lowest point of the floor.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising a filter door disposed across the recess and on top of the condensate filter, and wherein the filter door comprises a plurality of perforations.
20 . The method of claim 1 , comprising delivering the sterilization unit to the storage area.
21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising stacking a first sterilization unit on top of a second sterilization unit in the storage area.
22 . A method of sterilizing a medical item, comprising:
placing a medical instrument in a chamber of a sterilization unit; the sterilization unit having a plurality of walls surrounding the chamber where the plurality of walls form an opening for placement of the medical item within the chamber;
sealing the chamber of the sterilization unit;
sealing a disposable filter to a vent, the vent fluidically coupling the chamber with the outside of the sterilization unit;
initiating a sterilization cycle;
initiating a drying cycle;
wherein during the drying cycle, any remaining condensate is directed along a floor of the sterilization unit to a lowest point in the sterilization unit comprising a drain, the drain in fluid communication with a reusable porous hydrophobic condensate filter, the condensate filter preventing microbes from entering the sterilization unit; and
delivering the medical item to a surgical area or a storage area, the medical item remaining sterile in the sterilization unit until the chamber is unsealed.