Biological sterilization indicator and method of using same

• Main Authors: Chandrapati Sailaja, Smith Jeffrey D, Pederson Jeffrey C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.07.2017
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL ORENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; ENZYMOLOGY; FISHING; FORESTRY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEICACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES ORIMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; SPIRITS; TRAPPING; VINEGAR; WINE

A biological sterilization indicator (BI) and a method of using same for assaying the lethality of a sterilization process. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion, which can be movable with respect to the first portion between a first and second position. The BI can further include a frangible container comprising a liquid. The BI can further include a spore reservoir and a projection positioned in the housing. The projection can be configured to fracture the container when the second portion of the housing is moved from the first position to the second position. The method can include maintaining a minimal cross-sectional area of space around the container when the second portion of the housing is in the first position, and fracturing the container in response to moving the second portion between the first and second positions.