Methods and compositions for cleaning, rinsing, and antimicrobial treatment of medical equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for cleaning, rinsing, and/or antimicrobial treatment of medical carts, medical cages, and other medical instruments, devices or equipment. The method for cleaning employs a solid alkaline, for example a solid carbonate, cleaning composition for cleaning the medical cart, cage, instrument, device, or equipment. The method for rinsing employs a solid neutral or neutralizing rinse composition for rinsing the medical cart, cage, instrument, device, or equipment. The method for antimicrobial treatment employs a solid, for example a solid quaternary ammonium or solid halogen, antimicrobial composition, for antimicrobial treatment of the medical cart, cage, instrument, device, or equipment.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of cleaning a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: 
 dissolving a solid alkaline cleaning composition in water,    contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved alkaline cleaning composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solid alkaline cleaning composition comprises a solid carbonate cleaning composition and the dissolved alkaline cleaning composition comprises a dissolved carbonate cleaning composition.  
     
     
         3 . A method of rinsing a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: 
 dissolving a solid neutral or neutralizing rinse composition in water,    contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved neutral or neutralizing rinse composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the solid neutral or neutralizing rinse composition comprises a solid neutral rinse composition comprising: 
 about 5 to about 40 wt-% urea    about 60 to about 90 wt-% of one or more EO-PO block copolymer surfactants; and    water to provide a water:urea weight ratio of about 1:3 to about 1:6; and the dissolved neutral or neutralizing rinse composition comprises a dissolved neutral rinse composition.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the solid neutral or neutralizing rinse composition comprises a solid neutralizing rinse composition, 
 the solid rinse composition comprising: 
 about 1 to 25 wt-% of a nonionic block copolymer composition, having the formula: (EO) x  (PO) y  (EO) z  
 with a molecular weight between 10,000 and 15,000,  
 wherein x is 30 to 130,  
 y is 30 to 70,  
 z is 30 to 130, and  
 x+y is ≧60,  
 having a cloud point, measured with a 1 wt-% aqueous solution, of greater than 100° C.;  
 
 about 1 to 25 wt-% of a defoamer composition; and  
 about 3 to 80 wt-% of a water soluble casting agent diluent;  
   and the dissolved neutral or neutralizing rinse composition comprises a dissolved neutralizing rinse composition.    
     
     
         6 . A method for antimicrobial treatment of a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: 
 dissolving a solid antimicrobial composition in water,    contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved antimicrobial composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the solid antimicrobial composition comprises solid quaternary ammonium antimicrobial composition or solid halogen antimicrobial composition, 
 and the dissolved antimicrobial composition comprises a dissolved quaternary ammonium antimicrobial composition or halogen antimicrobial composition.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the solid quaternary ammonium antimicrobial composition comprises octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the solid halogen antimicrobial composition comprises chlorinated trisodium phosphate.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the contacting continues for a time and at a concentration of antimicrobial composition sufficient for sanitizing the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the contacting continues for a time and at a concentration of antimicrobial composition sufficient for disinfecting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the solid antimicrobial composition comprises octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A method of cleaning a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: 
 dissolving a solid carbonate cleaning composition in water, 
 the solid carbonate cleaning composition comprising: 
 about 10 to 80 wt-% of Na 2 CO 3 , and  
 an effective sequestering amount of an organic phosphonate hardness sequestering agent;  
 wherein the solid carbonate cleaning composition comprises: 
 non-hydrated sodium carbonate, and  
 a binding agent comprising hydrated sodium carbonate and organic phosphonate; and  
 
 
   contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved carbonate cleaning composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the solid cleaning composition is substantially free of a second source of alkalinity.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the solid cleaning composition further comprises an alkali metal silicate having a M 2 O:SiO 2  ratio of about 1:1 to 1:5.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the binding agent: 
 is dispersed throughout the solid cleaning composition;    comprises the alkali metal carbonate hydrate and the organic sequestrant that form a binding agent comprising an organo phosphonate or an organo amino acetate and water;    comprises, for each mole of the organic sequestrant, about 3 to 10 moles of the carbonate monohydrate and 5 to 15 moles of water; and    has a melting transition temperature of greater than about 120° C.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 dissolving a solid rinse composition in water; and    rinsing the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved rinse composition.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the solid rinse composition comprises a nonionic surfactant and urea.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the solid rinse composition comprises: 
 about 5 to about 40 wt-% urea    about 60 to about 90 wt-% of one or more EO-PO block copolymer surfactants; and    water to provide a water:urea weight ratio of about 1:3 to about 1:6.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the solid rinse composition comprises: 
 about 1 to 25 wt-% of a nonionic block copolymer composition, having the formula:    (EO) x (PO) y (EO) z      with a molecular weight between 10,000 and 15,000,    wherein x is 30 to 130, 
 y is 30 to 70,  
 z is 30 to 130, and  
 x+y is ≧60,  
   having a cloud point, measured with a 1 wt-% aqueous solution, of greater than 100° C.;    about 1 to 25 wt-% of a defoamer composition; and    about 3 to 80 wt-% of a water soluble casting agent diluent.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 dissolving a solid antimicrobial composition in water; and    contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved antimicrobial composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 dissolving a solid antimicrobial composition in water; and    contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved antimicrobial composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the solid antimicrobial composition comprises a solid quaternary ammonium antimicrobial agent or a solid halogen antimicrobial agent.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the solid quaternary ammonium antimicrobial agent comprises octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the solid halogen antimicrobial agent comprises chlorinated trisodium phosphate.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the contacting continues for a time and at a concentration of antimicrobial composition sufficient for sanitizing the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the contacting continues for a time and at a concentration of antimicrobial composition sufficient for disinfecting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the solid antimicrobial composition comprises octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         29 . A method of rinsing a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: 
 dissolving a solid rinse composition in water, 
 the solid rinse composition comprising: 
 about 5 to about 40 wt-% urea,  
 about 60 to about 90 wt-% of one or more EO-PO block copolymer surfactants; and  
 water to provide a water:urea weight ratio of about 1:3 to about 1:6;  
 
   rinsing the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved rinse composition.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the solid rinse composition comprises about 5 to about 15 % by weight urea.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the solid rinse composition comprises about 80 to about 90 % by weight surfactant.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the synthetic organic surfactant comprises a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene glycol polymer.  
     
     
         33 . A method of rinsing a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: 
 dissolving a solid rinse composition in water, 
 the solid rinse composition comprising:  
 about 1 to 25 wt-% of a nonionic block copolymer composition, having the formula: (EO) x (PO) y (EO) z  
 with a molecular weight between 10,000 and 15,000,  
 wherein x is 30 to 130, 
 y is 30 to 70,  
 z is 30 to 130, and  
 x+y is ≧60,  
 
 having a cloud point, measured with a 1 wt-% aqueous solution, of greater than 100° C.;  
 
 about 1 to 25 wt-% of a defoamer composition; and  
 about 3 to 80 wt-% of a water soluble casting agent diluent;  
   rinsing the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved rinse composition.    
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the casting agent comprises a polyalkylene glycol.  
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the casting agent comprises a carbonate.  
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the defoamer comprises a silicone defoamer.  
     
     
         37 . A method of cleaning a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: 
 dissolving a solid carbonate cleaning composition in water, 
 the solid carbonate cleaning composition comprising: 
 about 10 to 80 wt-% of Na 2 CO 3    
 an effective sequestering amount of an organic phosphonate hardness sequestering agent, and  
 an alkali metal silicate having a M 2 O:SiO 2  ratio of about 1:1 to 1:5;  
 wherein the solid cleaning composition comprises: 
 non-hydrated sodium carbonate, and  
 a binding agent comprising hydrated sodium  
 
 carbonate and organic phosphonate; and  
 
   contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved carbonate cleaning composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         38 . A method of cleaning a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: dissolving a solid carbonate cleaning composition in water, 
 the solid carbonate cleaning composition comprising: 
 about 10 to 80 wt-% of Na 2 CO 3 , and  
 an effective sequestering amount of an organic phosphonate hardness sequestering agent;  
 wherein the solid cleaning composition comprises 
 non-hydrated sodium carbonate, and  
 a binding agent comprising hydrated sodium carbonate and organic phosphonate;  
 wherein the binding agent: 
 is dispersed throughout the solid cleaning composition;  
 comprises the alkali metal carbonate hydrate and the organic sequestrant that form a binding agent comprising an organo phosphonate or an organo amino acetate and water;  
 comprises, for each mole of the organic sequestrant, about 3 to 10 moles of the carbonate monohydrate and 5 to 15 moles of water; and  
 has a melting transition temperature of greater than about 120° C.; and  
 
 
   contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved carbonate cleaning composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         39 . A method of cleaning a medical cart, cage, instrument, or device, comprising: 
 dissolving a solid carbonate cleaning composition in water, 
 the solid carbonate cleaning composition comprising: 
 about 20 to about 55 wt-% of Na 2 CO 3 ,  
 about 3 to about 15 wt-% of an organic phosphonate hardness sequestering agent, and  
 about 0.1 to about 20 wt-% surfactant;  
 wherein the solid cleaning composition comprises: 
 non-hydrated sodium carbonate, and  
 a binding agent comprising hydrated sodium  
 
 carbonate and organic phosphonate; and  
 
   contacting the medical cart, cage, instrument, or device with the dissolved carbonate cleaning composition at a temperature at or above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the solid carbonate cleaning composition further comprises about 10 to about 30 wt-% of an alkali metal silicate having a M 2 O:SiO 2  ratio of about 1:1 to 1:5.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the solid carbonate cleaning composition further comprises less than about 10 wt-% of alkali metal hydroxide.