A surgical instrument system that comprises a shaft and a handle assembly releasably couplable to the shaft. The handle assembly comprises a disposable outer housing defining a sterile barrier. The disposable outer housing is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The handle assembly further comprises a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core within the sterile barrier in the closed configuration. The surgical instrument system further comprises an end effector releasably couplable to the shaft and an electrical interface assembly configured to transmit data and power between the control inner core and the end effector. The electrical interface assembly comprises a first interface portion on a first side of the sterile barrier, and a second interface portion on a second side of the sterile barrier opposite the first side.

A method of compliance-based cleaning includes receiving a piece of equipment to be cleaned in a compliance-based cleaning device, performing a cleaning process on the piece of equipment upon receiving the piece of equipment in the compliance-based cleaning device, monitoring the cleaning process performed on the piece of equipment, and transmitting compliance data from the compliance-based cleaning device to a compliance database in response to performing the cleaning process on the piece of equipment. The compliance data includes identifying information obtained during the cleaning process. Cleaning records stored in the compliance database indicate which one of a plurality of medical practitioners cleaned which one of a plurality of pieces of equipment.

Single-use devices configured to sanitize accessible surfaces of luer access devices (e.g., needleless medical valves) at risk of contamination with infectious agents are described, as are methods for making and using such devices. In particularly preferred embodiments, such devices include a container (e.g., laminated foil pouches or packets) that contain a sanitizing component that includes a substrate with a cleaning port or recess, a cleansing matrix associated with the substrate, and a sanitizing reagent dispersed in the cleansing matrix.

A compliance-based cleaning device includes an internal housing and a sanitization chamber coupled to the internal housing and configured to receive a piece of equipment to be cleaned. The sanitization chamber transitions between an open position and a closed position by rotating about an axis within the internal housing. The device further includes a cleaning member located in proximity to the sanitization chamber and configured to perform a cleaning process on the piece of equipment in response to the sanitization chamber entering the closed position.

A method of sterilizing an article such as a flexible endoscope is performed in a sterilization chamber. A vacuum is applied in the sterilization chamber while the article is contained in the sterilization chamber. A sterilant is then introduced into the sterilization chamber. The pressure within the sterilization chamber is incrementally increased to provide a step-wise transition from a high vacuum state to atmospheric pressure. The article is thereby sterilized.

A device capable of stably obtaining gas of a sterilizer containing hydrogen peroxide for a long time is provided. A cleaning device that cleans a heating surface that gasifies a sterilizer of a gasifier for a sterilizer is provided, and after an operation for a fixed time period, the heating surface is cleaned.

A method for reducing viable microbial burden on a surface. The method includes placing an item into a system chamber. The method includes a conditioning phase where ozone is generated by an ozone generator and a fan circulates the ozone in a closed loop between the ozone generator and the system chamber. The method then includes a disinfection phase where a pump pumps disinfectant to a nebulizer where it is converted into a disinfectant vapor. A fan is then activated to circulate the vapor in a closed loop between the nebulizer and the system chamber. After the disinfecting phase, the method activates a post-disinfection conditioning phase where an ozone generator generates ozone that is circulated by a fan in a closed loop between the ozone generator, the nebulizer and the system chamber. Lastly, the method activates a system clearing phase, where air flow is pulled into the system through an inlet and exhausted out of the system through an outlet.

A gravity flow liquid disinfectant dispensing reservoir comprised of a tapered base and a neck portion that extends centrally from the reservoir. An aperture located on the bottom of the reservoir facilitates the dispensing of liquid (i.e., disinfectant) from the reservoir into a holding tank. In another embodiment, a closed system for dispensing a liquid disinfectant into a tank containing liquid (effluent) and controlled via vacuum. The gravity flow device introduces disinfectant to the tank as the water level rises, giving the ultimate amount of contact time for treatment of effluent. Utilizing gravity and vacuum controlled dispensing of disinfectant dispenses disinfectant continuously and automatically in real time and provides for maximum contact time for minimal pathogen survival.

A method and apparatus for decontaminating substantially enclosed environments by using ultrasonic cavitation of a cleaning fluid to produce a low pressure, low air flow mist that can be activated by a nonthermal plasma actuator to create a cloud of activated hydroxyl species with the capacity to decontaminate articles, open surfaces or substantially enclosed spaces of pathogens, including bacteria, and other pathogenic microorganisms. An automated system and related non-transitory computer medium are also disclosed.

This disclosure provides a method of disinfecting a surface within an area, comprising the steps of: a) dispersing into the area a multiplicity of droplets of a first aqueous composition comprising a first iodine reactant compound that is either a peroxide compound or an iodine salt compound: b) allowing sufficient time for the first aqueous composition to distribute throughout the area, and to deposit and coalesce into a layer upon the surface: c) dispersing into the area a multiplicity of droplets of a second aqueous composition comprising a second iodine reactant compound that is the other of the first iodine reactant compound, and: d) again allowing sufficient time for the droplets of the second aqueous composition to deposit onto the coalesced layer of the first aqueous composition, thereby forming iodine and other iodine biocides in situ and disinfecting the surface.