Decontamination method and system implementing it

(54) DECONTAMINATION METHOD AND SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING IT (75) Inventors: Sebastien Ribault, Romanswiller (FR); Christel Noehringer, Colmar (FR); Vincent Kieffer, Otterswiller (FR) (73) Assignee: Millipore Corporation, Billerica, MA (US) ( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 466 days. (21) Appl.No.: 12/287,613 (22) Filed: Oct. 10, 2008 (65) Prior Publication Data US 2009/0110595 A1 Apr. 30, 2009 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 17,2007 (FR) .................................... .. 07 58400 (51) Int. Cl. A61L 9/00 (2006.01) (52) U.S. C1. ........................................ .. 422/29; 422/304 (58) Field of Classification Search .................. .. 422/28, 422/29, 304 See application file for complete search history. (56) References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3,728,227 A 4/1973 Elson et al. 4,089,989 A 5/1978 White et al. .................... .. 427/2 4,116,631 A 9/1978 Trinel et al. .... .. 23/230 B 4,169,123 A * 9/1979 Moore et al. . ...... .. 422/28 4,280,624 A * 7/1981 Ford ............................ .. 209/524 4,551,133 A 11/1985 Zegers de Beyl et al. 4,614,300 A 9/1986 Falcoff .......................... .. 239/71 4,681,740 A 7/1987 Commarmot et al. 422/78 4,707,334 A * 11/1987 Gerhard ...................... .. 422/304

The method of microbiological decontamination of a machine comprising an enclosure for treating a support and a conveyor comprising a shuttle, comprises the steps of obtaining a container adapted to be received on the shuttle and to diffuse biocidal agent in the enclosure, of placing the container on the shuttle, of moving the shuttle within the enclosure, and of evacuating the agent. The microbiological analysis system comprises a container, a microbiological analysis machine comprising at least two stations for treatment of the support, a conveyor comprising a shuttle adapted to receive and to move the support, the container being adapted to be received on the shuttle, as well as means for evacuating the biocidal agent.

8 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets