초록 ▼

A porous material (10) is contaminated with soil (14). Optionally, the porous material is partially shielded by an impermeable layer. The contaminated porous material is packaged and shipped to a user site. The contaminated porous material is removed from the package and placed in an automated proce

A porous material (10) is contaminated with soil (14). Optionally, the porous material is partially shielded by an impermeable layer. The contaminated porous material is packaged and shipped to a user site. The contaminated porous material is removed from the package and placed in an automated processor containing medical equipment (22). The medical equipment and porous material are subjected to a cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing cycle in the processor. The cleaning process is evaluated by examining the porous material with an infrared or other electronic reader (24) to determine the presence of remaining soil which has not be removed during the cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

[ Having thus described the preferred embodiment, the invention is now claimed to be:] [7.] A method for assessment and evaluation of a cleaning process comprising:a) contaminating porous material with a known soil, the porous material generating at least one porous material spectral band and the so

[ Having thus described the preferred embodiment, the invention is now claimed to be:] [7.] A method for assessment and evaluation of a cleaning process comprising:a) contaminating porous material with a known soil, the porous material generating at least one porous material spectral band and the soil generating at least one soil spectral band when illuminated by light in the infrared range;b) subjecting the porous material and the soil to a cleaning process to be assessed and evaluated, the cleaning process being one that is intended to remove the soil from items to be cleaned;c) evaluating the cleaning process by evaluating the porous material for remaining soil by spectroscopic analysis including:illuminating the porous material with light in the infrared range;receiving infrared light reflected from the porous material and generating an electrical signal indicative of the porous material and the remaining soil;separating components of the electrical signal attributable to said at least one porous material spectral band and said at least one soil spectral band;analyzing the components of said electrical signal attributable to each of said spectral bands to generate an output display representative of residual soil remaining on said porous material after said cleaning process.