A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a respiratory mask is described. The sterilization apparatus comprises a sterilization chamber, an articulating mask support disposed inside the sterilization chamber, a bi-directional fan system disposed inside the sterilization chamber and configured to move air through an air passage to simulate human breathing, and a sterilization agent generator coupled to the sterilization chamber. The bi-directional fan system pumps air that includes the sterilization agent back and forth through the oxygen mask via the air passage, to mimic normal breathing of an individual using the mask.

A mattress cleaning system receives a mattress in a tank of wash liquid so that the mattress is fully submerged. A pressure applicator, for example a mechanical structure or a jetted flow of wash fluid, applies a cyclical compressive force to the sleeping surface of the mattress while the mattress is fully submerged so as to cause flushing of the wash liquid outwardly of the mattress through at least the sleeping surface of the mattress. When using a barrier to isolate one of the surfaces of the mattress on a first side of the barrier from remaining surfaces of the mattress on a second side of the barrier, use of a blower to create an air pressure differential between opposing sides of the barrier causes migration of the wash liquid through the mattress from the isolated surface of the mattress to the remaining surfaces for drying the mattress.

A method of sanitizing at least a portion of a medical device with a sanitization system comprising a base comprising a sanitizing chamber, a sanitizing gas generator, a primary fan or pump, a secondary fan or pump, and a controller. The sanitizing operation comprising generating a sanitizing gas pulse including causing the sanitizing gas generator supplying a sanitizing gas and causing at least one of the primary fan or pump and the secondary fan or pump to operate for a pulse period, and conducting a dwell operation after the pulse period, the dwell operation comprising discontinuing supply of said sanitizing gas and slowing or stopping said primary fan or pump and said secondary fan or pump for a dwell time.

Sterilizing device for a toilet that includes an ozone generator and an impelling device fluidically connected to the ozone generator that allows discharging the ozone generated into the flush water of the toilet. A controller controls generating the ozone and discharging the ozone into the flush water. A sensor detects the presence or the actuation of a user, the sensor being communicated with the controller. The controller controls the ozone generator depending on a signal received from the sensor. The sterilizing device also includes an ion plasma generator for discharging ion plasma directly into the air adjacent the toilet. The ion plasma generator being controlled by the controller.

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 patient warming system for stabilizing and/or heating and cooling a patient includes a plurality of solid-surface sections arranged for attachment to a surgical table and a warming pad layer comprising a plurality of warming pads configured for removable connection to the plurality of solid-surface sections. At least one of the plurality of solid-surface sections includes a power connector for connection to an external power source. Each warming pad of the plurality of warming pads includes a foam insulation layer, a distributed heating element layer having a warming-pad power connection for connection to the power connector, an isothermal layer, and a flexible waterproof layer. Power supplied to the warming-pad power connection of the distributed heating element layer of the respective warming pad can be used to provide a user-selected uniform temperature over the surface of the flexible waterproof layer in order to prevent hot spots.

A system for pretreating and disinfecting waste, wherein the system includes a transport line configured to move the waste, and including a conveying device, a heating device configured to heat a part at least of the waste when the waste moves along a part at least of the transport line, and in that the system includes a tunnel hermetically sealing a part at least of the waste transport line, and in that the system further includes an ozone injection device configured to apply ozone on a part at least of the waste when the waste moves along a part at least of the transport line.

A biological indicator with variable resistance may be controlled by moving a cap or housing of the biological indicator to cause the size of vents that allow flow of sterilant through the housing to decrease or increase in effective size. An indicator window may show a user the current resistance of the biological indicator, and may also show a readable indicator that may be captured by a scanner to allow a sterilizing cabinet to identify the current resistance. When the level of resistance shown by the readable indicator is not compatible with a sterilization cycle selected by a user, the procedure may be delayed and a notification provided to the user that a problem exists. The readable indicator may be a passive tag with a memory that allows information to be read and written, so that the biological indicator may carry data from one device to another.

Ozone-based methods and systems for treatment of solid waste that contains pathogens, and requires apparent volume reduction, include using dual treatment chambers, lift transporters that cascade the preliminarily treated solid waste, and agitation within the second (high ozone concentration) treatment chamber. The steps include feeding solid waste into a shredder chamber to reduce its apparent volume; and then to a first treatment chamber for preliminary ozone molecular interaction with the solid waste, and to a second treatment chamber with an agitator, via at least one lift transporter, to both cascade and agitate to enhance efficacy.

An ozone treatment device includes an ozone destruct module and an ozone generator mounted within a housing. The ozone destruct module and the ozone generator are mounted between corresponding air inlets and air outlets formed in the housing. The ozone treatment device also includes a controller mounted to the housing. The controller is configured to generate ozone with the ozone generator for a first time period and to automatically destruct ozone with the ozone destruct module for a second time period following the first time period. In certain implementations the treatment device includes an input device for receiving an operator input. In such cases the controller can determine the first and second time periods based on the operator input.