Wicking pad for evaporating fluids in a sterilizer

Abstract

A decontamination system, method, and sterilant kit for a device, such as a lumen device, is depicted. The decontamination system, in some embodiments, includes a device container, a wicking pad, and a sterilant fluid delivery device. The device container, such as a terminal package or a decontamination chamber, defines a device receiving area. The wicking pad is in fluid communication with the device receiving area. The sterilant fluid delivery device is in fluid communication with the wicking pad. The sterilant fluid delivery device is configured to wet the wicking pad with sterilant fluid. The wicking pad is configured to evaporate sterilant fluid into the device receiving area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sterilant kit for a system to decontaminate a device, the sterilant kit comprising:
 a wicking pad dimensioned to be received in a device receiving area of a decontamination system;   a sterilant fluid deposited on the wicking pad; and   packaging containing the wicking pad, wherein the packaging comprises an imperious material configured to prevent leakage of the sterilant fluid out of the packaging.   
     
     
         2 . The sterilant kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sterilant fluid comprises one or more of peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and/or formaldehyde. 
     
     
         3 . The sterilant kit of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking pad comprises one or more of a cellulosic pad, fibrous pad, and/or an open cell foam. 
     
     
         4 . The sterilant kit of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking pad comprises one or more of a rigid microporous material. 
     
     
         5 . The sterilant kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sterilant fluid is configured to evaporate from the wicking pad at a predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         6 . A method of decontaminating a device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a device decontamination system with a container in fluid communication with a wicking pad;   delivering a sterilant fluid to the wicking pad; and   decontaminating a lumen device within the container by evaporating the sterilant fluid from the wicking pad.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the delivering step includes operating a pump in fluid communication with the wicking pad. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the delivering step includes introducing a vacuum to an evaporator device in fluid communication with the wicking pad. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of heating the wicking pad.