A powder sterilization method for sterilizing powder, in particular an active pharmaceutical ingredient in powder form or food in powder form, using fluid vapor, in particular steam. According to the invention, the fluid vapor is applied to the powder in an evacuated treatment chamber (3), in particular it is applied to the powder during its free fall along a drop section (7), in particular in countercurrent.

An assembly for redirecting light emitted by an end-emitting optical fiber into an inner lumen of a body is provided. According to one implementation, the body includes one or more surfaces disposed on or in the body onto which the light is configured to impinge when the end emitting optical fiber is activated, the one or more surfaces being configured to alter the trajectory of the light so that the light is directed to impinge on a light reflector of a cap removably attached to the body, the light reflector of the cap being configured to redirect the light distally into the inner lumen of the body.

A device is provided for enclosing an extremity of a patient for container efficient wound cleaning and for integrating draping prior to surgery. A loose-fitting flexible container with a flexible seal is provided for enclosing the extremity and treating the extremity in a controlled fashion to reduce or eliminate spillage and unwanted dispersion of antiseptic solution. Sealed to the flexible container is a vacuum packed, folded and rolled sterile surgical drape. The combination of a flexible container and a sterile pre-positioned surgical drape in a single device provides the advantage of controlled decontamination of the skin or wound while simultaneously providing the advantage of pre-positioning a surgical drape. The use of the device also provides the advantages of reduced operating room fires and biohazard dispersion risk and reduced cost by reduction of total operating room time per procedure.

The invention relates to a facility which has a dirty facility area and an adjacent clean facility area, baskets for receiving the dirty articles, and a wall separating the dirty area from the clean area, the dirty area including an entry door for receiving the dirty articles, pre-processing stations with tables for the pre-washing and/or sorting by a human operator, or even by a robotic operator, of the dirty articles and for arranging the pre-washed and/or sorted articles in the baskets, pick-up points at the pre-processing stations for pick-up of the baskets with the pre-washed and/or sorted articles, a plurality of washers, eg. machines operating in a manner similar to a dishwasher, positioned along the dividing wall, for washing the pre-washed and/or sorted articles arranged in the baskets, the washers having an inlet opening in the dirty area and an outlet opening for washed articles in the clean area, the clean area including processing stations with tables for processing by a human operator, or even a robotic operator, of the washed articles. One or more unmanned vehicles are configured for travelling on the floor of the dirty area at least between pick-up points and an inlet opening of the respective washers, each vehicle including a base with a front end and a rear end, an upper part with a loading platform configured for supporting the baskets, an on-board control device for receiving and executing mission information, each pre-processing station including a first type control device for direct or indirect communication with one or more of the vehicles, each washer including a respective second type control device for direct or indirect communication with the one or more vehicles and/or for direct or indirect communication with the first control devices, each first control device being for calling a vehicle to the pick-up point and/or for dispatching a vehicle from the pick-up point.

A multi-use disinfecting cap and method for disinfection and protection of a needleless IV injection port. The disinfecting cap has an upper chamber which contains a sterilizing solution and a low chamber which connects to a needleless IV injection port. The fluid can be manipulated to flow between the two chambers. When in use the cap protects and disinfects a needleless IV injection port when exposed prior to injecting medication into the needleless port and continues to disinfect and protect prior for any subsequent exposures. The cap is re-usable and provides a clear indication of the disinfecting solution and a datable top surface. The multi-use disinfecting cap may be removably clipped to the IV tubing and is shaped to prevent accidental rolling away if dropped.

A UV-C sanitizing apparatus includes a main body defining an opening configured for receiving an item to be exposed to UV-C light emission. A source of UV-C light positioned within the main body and are configured to emit UV-C light to form a field for treatment. The source of UV-C light can be provided by one or more UV-C elements positioned on either or both of a lower and upper internal surfaces of the main body. The one or more UV-C elements are configured to emit light at a wavelength between 205 and 230 nm including a wavelength of 208 nm or 222 nm. The UV-C light is configured to kill, destroy, or reduce growth of microorganisms and germs without damaging human tissue.

A method for sterilising a platelet lysate in the liquid state comprising at least the endogenous growth factors TGF-beta 1, EGF, PDGF-AB, IGF-1, VEGF and bFGF. The method comprising freezing the liquid platelet lysate in order to obtain a frozen platelet lysate, and irradiating the frozen platelet lysate with ionising radiation in order to obtain a sterilised platelet lysate, the irradiation being adapted so as to preserve at least 80% of the concentration of at least one of the endogenous growth factors chosen from the group consisting of TGF-beta 1, EGF, PDGF-AB, IGF-1 and VEGF.

Methods for treating a bacterial infections, including drug-resistant bacterial infections, of a patient are described. The methods may include applying a non-thermal plasma and a liquid simultaneously to infected tissue of the patient, the liquid comprising at least one antibiotic and/or antiseptic and a penetration enhancing agent; wherein the non-thermal plasma has a frequency between 200 kHz and 600 kHz.

A steam physiotherapy mechanism includes a receptacle having a chamber formed in a housing, a steam pipe disposed in the housing, a steam generating device connected to the steam pipe for generating and supplying a steam into the chamber of the housing, a number of tiles disposed in the housing, and a number of retainers engaged with the tiles for anchoring the tiles in the housing, the tiles each include a number of casings each having a compartment, and one or more of the compartments of the casings are filled with an ore mud. The tiles each include a number of passages formed in the casings and communicating with the compartments of the casings.

Sterilisation apparatus comprising a sterilisation instrument configured to be inserted through the instrument channel of a surgical scoping device and a withdrawal device for withdrawing the sterilisation instrument from the instrument channel at a predetermined rate. The sterilisation instrument comprises an elongate probe having a probe tip with a first electrode and a second electrode arranged to produce an electric field from received RF and/or microwave frequency EM energy. In operation the instrument may disinfect an inner surface of the instrument channel by emitting energy whilst being withdrawn through the channel.