The present invention is for a continuous-flow pathogen reduction apparatus and method, based purely on pathogen inactivation physical principles, for controlling or eliminating trans fusion-transmittable infections from emerging pathogens, pandemic viruses, and bioterrorism threats. The invention inactivates both nonenveloped and enveloped viruses as well as pathogenic bacteria and parasites in human plasma and biologies, while retaining the natural bioactivity, integrity and potency of the treated biologic. The method uses critic al, near-critical or supercritical fluids for viral and pathogen reduction of plasma and biologies. The apparatus is designed to rapidly process high volumes of plasma and biologies with high levels of pathogen reduction in a continuous flow fashion.

Ultraviolet light disinfection systems expose medical devices, surfaces, patients and healthcare clinicians to UV light having wavelengths consist with killing microorganisms. UV light systems may use logic to govern the operation of UV light sources so as to apply a disinfecting dose of the UV light. UV detectors measure UV light exposure. Enclosures contain medical devices and flood the medical devices with the UV light. Some enclosures accommodate a person. Some UV systems project UV light onto high-touch surfaces of a healthcare environment. Some systems may be deployed within a patient transport vehicle. Some UV systems may be incorporated into medical devices.

A system for providing ultraviolet treatment to light absorbing liquids, such as biological liquids in a medical instrument, is disclosed. The system can include an ultraviolet impenetrable housing configured to enclose a portion of the medical instrument containing the biological fluid. At least one ultraviolet radiation source is integrated within the housing that emits ultraviolet radiation towards the medical instrument and the biological fluid. A control unit is configured to direct the ultraviolet radiation source to treat the biological fluid with ultraviolet radiation.

The invention provides a blood purifier which shows a decreased amount of hydrogen peroxide extracted from its selectively permeable separation membranes, and thus is highly reliable in its safety in use for hemecatharysis. The blood purifier comprises selectively permeable separation membranes as a main component and is characterized in that the amount of hydrogen peroxide which is extracted from the selectively permeable separation membrane removed from the blood purifier after 3 months or longer has passed since the sterilization of the blood purifier by exposure to a radioactive ray and/or an electron ray is not larger than 10 ppm.

A method and system for treating a biological fluid within a container by subjecting the container to light is provided. The system includes a fluid treatment chamber for receiving the container of biological fluid; an agitation assembly for oscillating the container of biological fluid within the fluid treatment chamber including a variable speed motor; one or more light sources in proximity to the fluid treatment chamber; at least one sensor for sensing a condition of the biological fluid in the container; and a programmable controller. The programmable controller is further configured to operate the variable speed motor to oscillate the container of biological fluid within the fluid treatment chamber at an initial oscillation rate; activate the one or more light sources; receive a signal indicative of one or more sensed conditions of the fluid in the container; and vary the speed of the motor to adjust the oscillation rate of the container of biological fluid within the fluid treatment chamber based on the sensed conditions.

Embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatuses for lyophilizing, storing, and transfusing materials are described. In embodiments, the materials may include whole blood or a component of whole blood such as plasma.

An apparatus includes a fluid reservoir, a sterilization member, and a transfer adapter. The sterilization member operably couples to the fluid reservoir. The sterilization member is configured to be transitioned between a first configuration, in which the sterilization member obstructs an inlet surface of the fluid reservoir and maintains the inlet surface in a substantially sterile environment, and a second configuration, in which the inlet surface is unobstructed. The transfer adapter is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a portion of a patient. The transfer adapter is configured to move relative to the sterilization member from a first position to a second position such that a surface of the transfer adapter contacts the sterilization member to transition the sterilization member to the second configuration. The fluid reservoir is placed in fluid communication with the transfer adapter when the transfer adapter is in the second position.

The invention relates to sterilizing one or more samples of an organic product placed in a chamber of a sterilization device. The method includes, introducing a specified quantity of a gaseous composition comprising a predefined proportion of ozone and carbon monoxide through at least one inlet of the chamber. The method includes, subjecting each sample with ultraviolet light and the gaseous composition for predefined time period in a controlled atmosphere maintained at 90-100% humidity level and a temperature of 10 to 5 degree Celsius within the chamber. The method includes releasing the gaseous composition through at least one outlet from the chamber upon completion of the predefined time period, while simultaneously introducing purified air into chamber through the at least one inlet, until presence of the gaseous composition in the atmosphere of the chamber reaches below a threshold value.

Methods of treating a microbial contamination are disclosed. Methods of eliminating or inhibiting proliferation of a target microorganism at a target site are also disclosed. The methods include administering a thermally stable preparation comprising a purified amphiphilic peptide in an aqueous biocompatible solution and administering a buffer to a target site. The peptide has a folding group having a plurality of charged amino acid residues and hydrophobic amino acid residues arranged in a substantially alternating pattern and a turn sequence. The peptide is configured to self-assemble into a hydrogel.

The present invention is a physical pathogen reduction method and apparatus for controlling or eliminating transfusion-transmittable infections. This purely physical technique does not involve the use of heat, chemicals and/or irradiation, each of which has significant drawbacks in the pathogen reduction of human plasma. The invention inactivates both nonenveloped and enveloped viruses as well as pathogenic bacteria and parasites in units of human plasma, while retaining the natural biological activity. integrity and potency of the treated plasma. The method uses critical, near-critical or supercritical fluids for viral and pathogen reduction of units of donor blood plasma, using novel blood plasma bags. The apparatus is in the form of a bench-top or mobile transportable unit, which can be used in hospitals, blood banks, medical facilities and hot zones in developing countries for the clearance of viruses from human plasma.