69 results about "Bioburden" patented technology

Provided herein are systems and methods associated therewith for killing molds and reducing other contaminating bioburden that may include bacteria and their spores, yeast, and viruses within various dwellings including homes, office buildings, institutions, and any other enclosed space in which humans reside, either temporarily or permanently. The technology of the present invention can be used to treat vehicles, airplanes, and ships. A process according to the invention includes the generation of a gaseous oxyhalogen species and distribution of the gaseous oxyhalogen species throughout a selected dwelling. It has been unexpectedly found that the concentration level of gaseous oxyhalogen species necessary to kill molds according to the inventive methods is far below that previously recognized in the art as being necessary for the killing of such molds. Thus, mold infestations may be killed in dwellings with minimal disruption to the usual business of the inhabitants. Further, fabrics such ad drapes and upholsteries contained within such dwellings may be carried out without causing any detrimental color changes to the fabrics.

Methods and compositions for detection of microbial contaminants in peritoneal dialysis solutions are provided. The methods and compositions employ modified bioburden testing and the detection of peptidoglycan. A novel cause of aseptic peritonitis is provided—aseptic peritonitis associated with gram positive microbial contamination of a dialysis solution. Peptidoglycan is a major component of a gram positive bacterial cell wall and thus can serve as a marker for gram positive bacteria. In this regard, testing for peptidoglycans can be utilized to effectively prevent peritonitis in patients that use the peritoneal dialysis solutions, such as peritoneal dialysis solutions that contain a glucose polymer including an icodextrin and the like.

The present invention in an embodiment relates generally to an air purifier having an ultraviolet wave chamber which is accessible from the exterior designed for the placement of masks/respirators in need of decontamination. Such device preferably makes use of filters comprising copper foam.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatuses and methods for cleaning and disinfecting probes. A cleaner is utilized to remove foreign materials (e.g., bioburden, soil, and other like material) from the probe after it is removed from the patient by soaking and/or flushing the foreign materials from the probe. The cleaner may be an enzymatic detergent that has bacteriostatic properties to inhibit bacterial growth within the apparatus. The multiple enzymes in the cleaner attack the foreign material, and include low-foam properties for effective recirculation across cycles within the cleaning step. The probe is rinsed after the cleaning step, and after rinsing a disinfectant process is applied to the probe. The disinfectant soaks and/or flushes the probe for a specified amount of time across cycles of recirculation to disinfect the surface of the probe, and afterwards the probe is rinsed thoroughly to remove the disinfectant from the probe.

Disclosed are food packaging materials and processes that are useful for commercial products to extend the freshness and preserve the integrity and shelf-life of packaged foods. Said food packaging materials utilize a low bioburden, biodegradable and/or compostable shock absorbing/cushioning nonwoven structure and some form or forms of an antimicrobial and/or antifungal agent consisting of silver or silver-based species that destroy microbes which would otherwise spoil the food. The shelf-life extension process involves silver-based antimicrobial agents that function to mitigate the spread of food spoilage pathogens when they come in contact with the said food packaging materials. Fluid absorbing or superabsorbent, capabilities may be incorporated in the structure to control excess fluids.

The present invention employs a dissolved activated polyethylene glycol (aPEG) or related molecule that has been passed through a filtration means for the substantial reduction of bioburden or endotoxin levels in the aPEG solution. The resulting filtered aPEG solution can be used for the preparation of a PEGylated hemoglobin solution containing substantially reduced levels of bioburden or endotoxin.

The present invention relates to a method of determining the microbial bioburden in a wound (in particular a diabetic ulcer) in a test subject, the method comprising the step of measuring the level of a cytokine in a wound sample, wherein a cytokine level lower than a reference level indicates a significant microbial bioburden in the wound (or a cytokine level higher than a reference level indicates an insignificant microbial bioburden in the wound). The invention provides methods of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of wound infection, and devices and kits for use in such methods.

The invention discloses a nano Fe(OH)3 composite biological filler as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The method is characterized by combining Fe(OH)3 nanoparticle preparation with the polyurethane (PU) foaming technique, firstly preparing a Fe(OH)3 nano PU prepolymer in situ and then completing foaming, thus avoiding the problem that Fe(OH)3 particles are easy to aggregate. The nano Fe(OH)3 composite biological filler and the preparation method have the beneficial effects that the prepared composite biological filler has large specific surface area and good biological load performance; Fe(OH)3 in the filler is uniformly dispersed, has a stable structure and can accelerate the metabolic activity of microorganisms, accelerate the biofilm formation of the microorganisms on the surface of the filler, simultaneously avoid the toxic effects of nanoparticles on the microorganisms due to small particle sizes, improve the skeleton strength of the PU foam filler and improve the stability and impact resistance of the filler; by adjusting the content of Fe(OH)3, the density of the prepared filler is convenient to control, thus ensuring the filler to be in a state of suspension in a wastewater treatment process and increasing the specific surface area of the filler.

An antipathogenic biomedical implant is formed throughout its structure of a matrix material comprising at least about 1 weight percent of a photocatalytically active filler which exhibits an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light. The photocatalytically active filler is arranged in the matrix material in the implant to receive light irradiated from an external light source. In another embodiment, an antipathogenic biomedical implant comprises at least about 1 weight percent of a photocatalytically active material which exhibits an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light, wherein the photocatalytically active material is arranged in the implant to receive light irradiated from an external light source. Methods for providing an antipathogenic biomedical implant, methods for reducing pathogens on a biomedical implant, methods for reducing the bioburden in a biomedical implant installation, and kits for providing an antipathogenic biomedical implant employ the antipathogenic biomedical implants.

Filter membranes and the like carrying fluorescent targets suspected of being bioburden are tested by mounting the membranes on a sample holder within a cabinet for bioburden verification and discrimination from false positives. Fluorescence is excited by a fluorescence excitation module having a first optical axis perpendicular to the sample, with three dimension locations of fluorescent targets that are probable bioburden stored for use by a microscope imaging module having a second optical axis parallel to the first optical axis, with dual wavelength illumination for autofocus and then for stimulating fluorescence without photo bleaching of the targets. The probable bioburden targets are moved for inspection and identification in the microscope imaging module as bioburden or not by sharing a common sample holder in the cabinet.

A method provides for sterilizing with radiation objects which have a low bioburden and which are sensitive to radiation. A dosage of radiation sufficient to ensure sterilization without damaging the object is determined by determining the bioburden upon one or more samples of the objects, determining an estimate of the dose that results in a preselected probability (e.g., 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0003162 . . . etc. (i.e., SAL=10⁻¹, 10⁻², 10⁻³, 10^−3.5 . . . etc.)) of a surviving microorganism on the objects preferably by testing a quantity of samples of the objects at varying dosage levels of radiation, confirming the estimate by testing a quantity of samples of the objects at the dose that was estimated; and calculating a dosage for the sterility assurance level of 10⁻⁶ by adding a factor to the dose that was confirmed to result in said preselected probability of a surviving microorganism on the objects and wherein the factor is proportional to the dose that yields said preselected probability of a surviving microorganism on the objects and inversely proportional to a log of the bioburden.

A system and method for providing 20% ethanol solutions meeting bioburden and endotoxin specifications, which provides the 20% ethanol solution in a ready-to-use form which may be dispensed directly from the container in which the solution is shipped, and which may be used in connection with storage, reuse and/or rejuvination of Protein A.

The invention provides a treatment method and system for wastewater containing polyacrylamide. The treatment method mainly comprises following steps: 1), biological supported particles are put in wastewater for impregnation, and adsorb polyacrylamide and indigenous microorganisms in the wastewater; 2), a microelement solution is added to the biological supported particles obtained in step 1), andthe indigenous microorganisms are promoted to perform anaerobic degradation on polyacrylamide; 3), activated carbon and biological sewage obtained in step 2) are subjected to ozone oxidation, and thetreatment is finished. The system comprises an anaerobic degradation device, an ozone oxidation device and a discharge device which are connected in sequence, and further comprises a biological supported particle reduction device. According to the method and the system, organic combination of a biological method, physical absorption and chemical reaction is realized, the probability of blockage caused by directly introducing polyacrylamide wastewater into a reactor is reduced, ecological destruction caused by polyacrylamide can be reduced fundamentally, activated carbon is repeatedly utilized,and the green, economical, energy-saving and environment-friendly treatment effects are realized.

Methods and apparatuses for reducing the bioburden of cannabis using low-pressure radiant energy processing. The present invention achieves sufficient microbial killing and/or adequate drying without impacting product quality (terpene loss, smell, color, texture, etc.) by appropriate determination and application of pressure(s) and radiant energy (e.g., microwave intensity).