Room Temperature Instrument Sterilization Process

We will develop a new process for sterilizing medical instruments at room temperature. Ourapproach will provide physicians and surgeons with compact equipment capable of sterilizing rigid andflexible endoscopes and other heat sensitive medical instruments in less than 30 minutes. The lack ofa suitable alternative to time-consuming ethylene oxide sterilization has led many physicians to the useof a 10 minute glutaraldehyde disinfection of endoscopes in lieu of sterilization. This practice increasesthe risk of instrument borne transmission of infectious disease between patients. In phase I we willconstruct an experimental disinfection system, measure the sterilant concentration throughout thesterilization cycle, and test the efficacy of the sterilant against a standard microbial challenge.