Non-hazardous cleaning solution and process for cleaning blackened needles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11213866-B2
Application number	US-201916438851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2019
Priority date	Jun 12, 2019
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A non-hazardous cleaning solution/process has been developed to remove oxide residues from the surface of blackened needles. Low concentrations of citric acid solution are mixed with blackened needles and treated in an ultrasonic tank for short period of time (<5 minutes). The oxide residues are substantially removed.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of treating blackened surgical needles, comprising the steps of:
a. placing at least one blackened surgical needle having loose black oxide particles on its surface into a bath, wherein the bath comprises:
i. an effective amount of citric acid to remove loose black oxide particles from the at least one blackened surgical needle; and
ii. a source of ultrasound; and

b. applying the ultrasound in the bath for a time sufficient to remove loose black oxide particles from the surface of the at least one needle and wherein the contents of the bath are maintained at a pH below 3.25.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the citric acid is from about 0.5 wt. % to 5 wt. % (aqueous).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the concentration of citric acid is from about 0.75 wt. % to 5 wt. % (aqueous).

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the concentration of citric acid is about 1.0 wt. % (aqueous).

5. The method of any of the claims 1 - 4 , wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is about 40 kHz.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the power of the ultrasound ranges from about 80 watts to about 320 watts.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the time for ultrasonic treatment is less than 5 minutes.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the time for ultrasonic treatment is less than 3 minutes.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the time for ultrasonic treatment is less than 1 minute.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH is in the range of 2.4 to 1.7.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pH is in the range of 2.3 to 1.9.

Assignees

• Ethicon Inc

Inventors

• Ou Duan Li
• Vailhe Christophe

Classifications

• A61L2103/15

  Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps · CPC title

• C23G1/088 Primary

  solutions containing organic acids · CPC title

• B08B3/12 Primary

  by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations · CPC title

• B08B3/08

  the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect · CPC title

• A61B2017/00526

  Methods of manufacturing · CPC title