Paul Colby Jacobs

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:

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:

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:

6516817, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

May 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/871219

Inventors:

Paul T. Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA 92679
Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA 92653

International Classification:

B08B 304

US Classification:

134113, 134 58 R, 134166 R, 134166 C, 134200

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:

6516818, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Apr 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/132811

Inventors:

Paul T. Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA 92679
Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA 92653

International Classification:

B08B 304

US Classification:

134113, 134 58 R, 134166 R, 134166 C, 134200

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:

6528017, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Mar 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/802226

Inventors:

Paul Taylor Jacobs - Trabuco Canyon CA
Szu-Min Lin - Laguna Hills CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

A61L 216

US Classification:

422 33, 422300

Abstract:

A system and a method for sterilizing a lumen device involve a container in a chamber and a source of germicide. The container has an interface separating the container into two compartments and a communication port which provides fluid communication between the container and the chamber. The lumen device extends across the interface, and the two compartments are in fluid communication with each other through the lumen device. The lumen device is sterilized when the germicide flows from compartment to compartment through the lumen device.

US Patent:

6599471, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

Oct 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/982213

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

A61L 900

US Classification:

422 3, 422 5, 422 28, 422 8205, 422105, 422292, 436135

Abstract:

A method for determining and sterilizing a load in a sterilization chamber. A small amount of sterilant is introduced into the sterilization chamber and the concentration of sterilant is measured. The load of equipment to be sterilized is determined from the concentration of sterilant, and more sterilant is added, if necessary, based on the load. The process is repeated, if necessary, until the load is sterilized. The sterilant is preferably hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is preferably determined by a spectrophotometric method in the infrared or ultraviolet regions. By monitoring the sterilant concentration and adding more as needed, the equipment in the chamber can be sterilized efficiently without exposing it to high concentrations of sterilant which could damage the equipment or leave too much residual on the equipment.

US Patent:

7563329, Jul 21, 2009

Filed:

Mar 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/095251

Inventors:

Szu-Min Lin - Irvine CA, US
Paul T. Jacobs - Bicknell UT, US
Robert C. Platt - Laguna Niguel CA, US
Peter C. Zhu - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

B08B 13/00
G01N 21/94
G01N 21/84

US Classification:

134 18, 3562372

Abstract:

A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical instrument, includes the steps of placing the instrument in a cleaning chamber; placing a soil standard in the cleaning chamber; cleaning the instrument and the soil standard with a cleaning solution; and detecting whether soil remains on said soil standard. The soil standard includes two substantially parallel substrates separated with two substantially equal thickness spacers, wherein a gap is formed between the two substrates with soil in the gap.