Paul A Jacobs

US Patent:

6354312, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Dec 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/460678

Inventors:

Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA
Paul T. Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA
Paul Leonard - Kirkland WA
Rodrigo Berho - Seattle WA
Douglas W. Fett - Lake Stevens WA
Keith Schubert - Redmond WA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - New Brunswick NJ

International Classification:

B08B 902

US Classification:

134169C, 134166 C, 134170

Abstract:

A connector for use with a lumen device during the cleaning and sterilization of devices is provided. The connector provides fluid communication between a fluid source and the device. In particular, during the cleaning and sterilization cycle, the connection between the connector and the device does not produce occluded areas at the point of connection where the connector is sealably attached to the device.

US Patent:

6394111, May 28, 2002

Filed:

May 11, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/075714

Inventors:

Paul T. Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA
Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Sommerville NJ

International Classification:

B08B 304

US Classification:

134113, 134 58 R, 134166 R, 134166 C

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device. The apparatus comprises a soil detector. The soil detector is capable of detecting inorganic and/or organic soil on a medical device or in a liquid utilized in a cleaning or cleaning monitoring process or on a soil-covered standard which can serve as a surrogate indicator of cleanliness for the medical device. The method of the invention for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device comprises the step of measuring the soil removed from a medical device with the apparatus of the invention comprising a soil detector. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of determining when the device is sufficiently cleaned so that it can be sterilized.

US Patent:

6423266, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Dec 30, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/222860

Inventors:

Alfredo M. Choperena - San Juan Capistrano CA
Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA
Paul Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - New Brunswick NJ

International Classification:

A01N 900

US Classification:

422 33, 422 28, 422294, 422297, 422300

Abstract:

The invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for cleaning or sterilizing a device having a lumen. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a container having at least one interface separating the container into two or more compartments; b) placing the device across the interface with one open end of the device in one of the compartments and another open end in another compartment; and c) adjusting the interface to at least partially seal around the device, and generating a flow of a cleaning solution, rinse solution, or chemical germicide through the lumen to clean or sterilize the inner surface of the device.

US Patent:

6451254, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Dec 30, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/223594

Inventors:

Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA
Paul T. Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - New Brunswick NJ

International Classification:

A01N 100

US Classification:

422 33, 422 22, 422 23, 422 26, 422 28, 422 30

Abstract:

A method for sterilizing the interior of a diffusion restricted area by introducing a sterilant in a chamber, condensing the vapor, reducing the pressure in the chamber to revaporize the condensed vapor, and maintaining the device in the chamber until the device is sterilized. The sterilant has a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of water and is preferably hydrogen peroxide. The pressure in the chamber while maintaining the device in the chamber may be held constant, varied, or increased. Plasma may additionally be introduced into the chamber to improve the rate of sterilization.

US Patent:

6454874, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Oct 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/417648

Inventors:

Paul T. Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA
Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Sommerville NJ

International Classification:

B08B 300

US Classification:

134 18, 134 56 R, 134113, 134 26, 422 3

Abstract:

A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a soiled medical device. The method involves cleaning the soiled device with a cleaning liquid in a cleaning chamber, exposing a detector to the cleaning liquid to measure the amount of soil removed, determining whether a sufficient amount of the soil has been removed from the soiled device so that the soiled device can be sterilized, and sterilizing the soiled device. One method of determining the amount of soil is by detecting the signal generated from the reaction between a chemical and the soil. Another method is to provide a soiled standard and measure the amount of soil removed from the soiled standard to determine whether enough soil has been removed from the soiled standard so that the soiled device can be sterilized. Another method involves measuring the amount of soil removed from the soiled device with at least two detectors.

US Patent:

6488902, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Oct 28, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/181426

Inventors:

Kevin DeCato - Dana Point CA
Dan Smith - Irvine CA
Jim Kohler - Laguna Hills CA
Paul Jacobs - Dove Canyon CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

B01D 5346

US Classification:

423210, 4232451, 422 30

Abstract:

A process is provided for removing hydrogen peroxide and oil out the exhaust gas emitted from a sterilization chamber, such as from a STERRADÂ medical instrument sterilizer. The exhaust gas is passed through either alumina or a mass of metal wool, which sorbs the lubricating oil out of the exhaust gas, and then through alumina coated with a precious metal catalyst, such as Pd, Pt, Rh and alloys and compounds thereof, which decomposes the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. The precious metal coating on the alumina may be sufficiently discontinuous to allow residual lubricating oil in the exhaust gas to be sorbed into the alumina.

US Patent:

6494964, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Apr 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/132745

Inventors:

Paul T. Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA
Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Sommerville NJ

International Classification:

B08B 304

US Classification:

134 18, 134 254, 134113, 134 56 R, 134166 R

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device. The apparatus comprises a soil detector. The soil detector is capable of detecting inorganic and/or organic soil on a medical device or in a liquid utilized in a cleaning or cleaning monitoring process or on a soil-covered standard which can serve as a surrogate indicator of cleanliness for the medical device. The method of the invention for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device comprises the step of measuring the soil removed from a medical device with the apparatus of the invention comprising a soil detector. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of determining when the device is sufficiently cleaned so that it can be sterilized.

US Patent:

6495100, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Dec 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/470244

Inventors:

Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA
Anthony Lemus - Yorba Linda CA
Harold R. Williams - San Clemente CA
Paul Taylor Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA
Tralance O. Addy - Coto de Caza CA
Jon Morrell Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

A61L 220

US Classification:

422 29, 422 33

Abstract:

A method for sterilizing medical devices and similar instruments in diffusion-restricted containers is provided. The sterilization method includes placing a liquid solution containing vaporizable germicide such as hydrogen peroxide into the diffusion-restricted container and vaporizing the germicide. The containers can be attachable and detachable to a sterilization system, and used as a vacuum chamber. An attachable/detachable container containing an article to be sterilized can be nested with a second container, and the article and inside and outside of the inner container are sterilized. The sterile article inside the nested containers can be transported and the sterile inner container with the sterilized article can removed from the outer container and placed in a sterile environment without contaminating the sterile environment. The sterile article can then be removed from the sterile container and utilized. Alternatively, the sterilization method may include introducing germicide vapor into an attachable/detachable container.