TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to decontamination of devices such as medical devices; in particular, this disclosure relates to a wicking pad for delivering fluid in a sterilizer through evaporation.

BACKGROUND

Robust instruments such as medical instruments are often sterilized at high temperatures. Commonly, the instruments are sterilized in a steam autoclave under a combination of high temperature and pressure. While such sterilization methods are very effective for more durable medical instruments, advanced medical instruments formed of rubber and plastic components with adhesives are delicate and wholly unsuited to the high temperatures and pressures associated with a conventional steam autoclave. Steam autoclaves have also been modified to operate under low pressure cycling programs to increase the rate of steam penetration into the medical devices or associated packages of medical devices undergoing sterilization. Steam sterilization using gravity, high pressure or pre-vacuum create an environment where rapid changes in temperature can take place. In particular, highly complex instruments which are often formed and assembled with very precise dimensions, close assembly tolerances, and sensitive optical components, such as endoscopes, may be destroyed or have their useful lives severely curtailed by harsh sterilization methods employing high temperatures and high or low pressures.

Endoscopes can also present problems in that such devices typically have numerous exterior crevices and interior lumens which can harbor microbes. Microbes can be found on surfaces in such crevices and interior lumens as well as on exterior surfaces of the endoscope. Other medical or dental instruments which comprise lumens, crevices, and the like can also provide challenges for decontaminating various internal and external surfaces that can harbor microbes.

Existing decontamination systems introduce sterilant fluid through spray nozzles to aerosolize the fluid. This coats the interior surface of the machine and/or sensors with the sterilant fluid. After decontamination, however, stabilizers and other constituents of the sterilant fluid remain behind as residue that builds up over time.

Therefore, a need exists that overcomes one or more of the disadvantages of present decontamination systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, this disclosure provides a decontamination system for a device. The decontamination system comprises a device container, a wicking pad, and a sterilant fluid delivery device. The device container defines a device receiving area. The wicking pad is in fluid communication with the device receiving area. The sterilant fluid delivery device is in fluid communication with the wicking pad. The sterilant fluid delivery device is configured to wet the wicking pad with sterilant fluid. The wicking pad is configured to evaporate sterilant fluid into the device receiving area.

According to another aspect, this disclosure provides a sterilant kit for a system to decontaminate a device. The sterilant kit includes a wicking pad dimensioned to be received in a device receiving area of a decontamination system. The wicking pad includes a sterilant fluid and is deposited thereon. The kit includes packaging containing the wicking pad. The packaging comprises an imperious material configured to prevent leakage of the sterilant fluid out of the packaging.

According to a further aspect, this disclosure provides a method of decontaminating a device. The method includes the step of providing a device decontamination system with a lumen container in fluid communication with a wicking pad. A sterilant fluid is delivered to the wicking pad. The method also includes decontaminating a device within the container by evaporating the sterilant fluid from the wicking pad.

