Biological indicators, and systems and methods for determining efficacy of sterilization

US11603551B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• STERITEC PRODUCTS MFG. CO., INC. · US

Inventors

• Adrian Ponce · Los Angeles, US
• Kok-Hwee Ng · Irvine, US
• Darshan Yeliyur Siddegowda · Mission Viejo, US
• Jenna Zimmerman · Newport Beach, US
• Dat Nguyen · Rancho Santa Margarita, US
• Mitchell London · Mission Viejo, US
• Jake Douglas Knickerbocker · Westminster, US
• Edward MacLeod Perkins · McNeil, US
• Robert G. Waarts · Los Altos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 2, 2020
• Grant date: Mar 14, 2023
• Expiry date: Dec 2, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N21/94
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A biological indicator includes: a BI housing; a germinant container inside the BI housing and housing a germinant composition; a germinant releaser configured to release the germinant composition from the germinant container; a germinant releaser support supporting the germinant releaser and configured to bring the germinant releaser into contact with the germinant container upon application of a force to the germinant releaser support or the germinant container; a first spore carrier inside the BI housing, the first spore carrier having a plurality of spores deposited at a first surface thereof; and an imaging window at a first surface of the BI housing. A BI reader is configured to detect and quantify the presence of live spores in the BI, and includes an excitation source, a camera for capturing images of the spores over time, and a processor for analyzing the images to determine the presence of live spores.