Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a reading apparatus that a well formed from a portion of a housing. The well dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a sterilization indicator having spores. The reading apparatus can also have a heating element thermally coupled to a portion of the well and an excitation source to excite the substance in the sterilization indicator. The reading apparatus can have a sterilization indicator activation circuit for detecting activation of the sterilization indicator. The excitation source is positioned such that light from the excitation source is directed into the well. A color sensor can be positioned adjacent the well to receive reflected light from the sterilization indicator.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a reading apparatus that a well formed from a portion of a housing. The well dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a sterilization indicator having spores. The reading apparatus can also have a heating element thermally coupled to a portion of the well and an excitation source to excite the substance in the sterilization indicator. The reading apparatus can have a sterilization indicator activation circuit for detecting activation of the sterilization indicator. The excitation source is positioned such that light from the excitation source is directed into the well. A color sensor can be positioned adjacent the well to receive reflected light from the sterilization indicator.

An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for detecting microbiological activity in an industrial process may include a plurality of satellite units, a processing unit, and a main analysis unit. Each satellite unit may be configured to sample a liquid from the industrial process at a plurality of respective locations, periodically analyse a sample, carry out an impedance analysis to count and measure the size of particles passing through an orifice, and generate sample results data corresponding to the number and size of particles in each sample. The processing unit may be configured to compare the sample results data to a predetermined criterion and to generate an alert signal if the particle data is outside of the predetermined criterion. The main analysis unit may be configured to carry out a combined impedance and electromagnetic emission analysis of a sample of liquid from the industrial process following generation of the alert signal.

An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for detecting microbiological activity in an industrial process may include a plurality of satellite units, a processing unit, and a main analysis unit. Each satellite unit may be configured to sample a liquid from the industrial process at a plurality of respective locations, periodically analyse a sample, carry out an impedance analysis to count and measure the size of particles passing through an orifice, and generate sample results data corresponding to the number and size of particles in each sample. The processing unit may be configured to compare the sample results data to a predetermined criterion and to generate an alert signal if the particle data is outside of the predetermined criterion. The main analysis unit may be configured to carry out a combined impedance and electromagnetic emission analysis of a sample of liquid from the industrial process following generation of the alert signal.

A holder for holding one or more biological indicators and/or one or indicators and one or more thermocouples. The holder includes one or more basic parts, being at least one first basic part where one or more biological indicators and/or one or more thermocouples can be placed in the basic part. The basic part is provided at the location where the biological indicator or indicators can be located with one or more holes. The holder is provided with means for securing the one or more thermocouples and/or biological indicators in the holder. At least one of the one or more basic parts is flexible.

A holder for holding one or more biological indicators and/or one or indicators and one or more thermocouples. The holder includes one or more basic parts, being at least one first basic part where one or more biological indicators and/or one or more thermocouples can be placed in the basic part. The basic part is provided at the location where the biological indicator or indicators can be located with one or more holes. The holder is provided with means for securing the one or more thermocouples and/or biological indicators in the holder. At least one of the one or more basic parts is flexible.

A process is presented for determining the effectiveness of sterilization processes for medical devices, with the steps of: providing a data structure, wherein the data structure represents a grid formed of a plurality of three-dimensional cells, recreating the medical device arranged in the sterilizer in the data structure in such a way that a first plurality of cells of the grid represent a body of the medical device and that a second plurality of cells represent an interior of the sterilizer which is not occupied by the body of the medical device, recreating an initial state in the data structure in such a way that each cell of the second plurality of cells is assigned data with respect to the temperature prevailing at the location of the cell, the quantity of a first medium located in the area of the cell and the quantity of a second medium located in the area of the cell, recreating, step by step, changes in the temperature, the quantity of the first medium and the quantity of the second medium occurring in each cell of the second plurality of cells during the sterilization process, and calculating a reduction of a germ load achieved in each cell of the second plurality of cells during the sterilization process taking into account the prevailing temperature, quantity of the first medium and quantity of the second medium in the respective cell in each step. Furthermore, a data processing system as well as a computer program product for carrying out the process are presented.

A process is presented for determining the effectiveness of sterilization processes for medical devices, with the steps of: providing a data structure, wherein the data structure represents a grid formed of a plurality of three-dimensional cells, recreating the medical device arranged in the sterilizer in the data structure in such a way that a first plurality of cells of the grid represent a body of the medical device and that a second plurality of cells represent an interior of the sterilizer which is not occupied by the body of the medical device, recreating an initial state in the data structure in such a way that each cell of the second plurality of cells is assigned data with respect to the temperature prevailing at the location of the cell, the quantity of a first medium located in the area of the cell and the quantity of a second medium located in the area of the cell, recreating, step by step, changes in the temperature, the quantity of the first medium and the quantity of the second medium occurring in each cell of the second plurality of cells during the sterilization process, and calculating a reduction of a germ load achieved in each cell of the second plurality of cells during the sterilization process taking into account the prevailing temperature, quantity of the first medium and quantity of the second medium in the respective cell in each step. Furthermore, a data processing system as well as a computer program product for carrying out the process are presented.

The present disclosure provides a technique enabling analysis of cell viability information and nucleic acid information together for each single cell in a cell population when analyzing the composition of the cell population. The present disclosure discloses a method that is for analyzing the composition of a cell population and that comprises: a step for providing gel capsules in each of which a single cell of the cell population is encapsulated in a state of being labeled with a labeling agent, where the labeling agent distinctively labels a living cell and a dead cell; a step for amplifying a nucleic acid derived from each single cell of the cell population; a step for obtaining cell viability information for each single cell of the cell population; and a step for analyzing the amplified nucleic acid derived from each single cell of the cell population.

The present disclosure provides a technique enabling analysis of cell viability information and nucleic acid information together for each single cell in a cell population when analyzing the composition of the cell population. The present disclosure discloses a method that is for analyzing the composition of a cell population and that comprises: a step for providing gel capsules in each of which a single cell of the cell population is encapsulated in a state of being labeled with a labeling agent, where the labeling agent distinctively labels a living cell and a dead cell; a step for amplifying a nucleic acid derived from each single cell of the cell population; a step for obtaining cell viability information for each single cell of the cell population; and a step for analyzing the amplified nucleic acid derived from each single cell of the cell population.