What is claimed is:
1. A method for calibrating a sensor that is used for measuring the quantity of a sterilant in a system for delivering said sterilant, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) generating reference calibration data, said reference calibration data showing a mathematical relationship between a measurable parameter and a quantity of said sterilant, for a plurality of sensors;
(b) generating sensor calibration data, said sensor calibration data showing a mathematical relationship between said measurable parameter and said quantity of said sterilant for an individual sensor; and
(c) normalizing said sensor calibration data to compensate for the difference between said measurable parameter for said reference calibration data and said measurable parameter for said sensor calibration data, whereby data obtained by said individual sensor can be used to accurately determine said quantity of sterilant in said system.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said reference calibration data is generated by a method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of sensors;
(b) subjecting each of said plurality of sensors to at least two quantities of air, each of said at least two quantities of air having (1) a known quality and (2) a known concentration of sterilant vapor, said sterilant vapor having a known physical condition;
(c) measuring signals emitted by each of said plurality of sensors, each of said signals being proportional to a concentration of sterilant vapor;
(d) establishing a mathematical relationship between said signals emitted by each of said plurality of sensors and said concentrations of sterilant vapor for each of said plurality of sensors; and
(e) establishing said reference calibration data by means of a statistical analysis of said signals emitted by each of said plurality of sensors and said concentrations of sterilant vapor for each of said plurality of sensors.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein temperature of air ranges from about 10 C. to about 85 C.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein relative humidity of air ranges from about 10 to about 100%.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein flow rate of air ranges from about 1 to about 200 cubic meters per hour.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein concentration of sterilant ranges from 100 to 25000 ppm.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein said sterilant is hydrogen peroxide.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensor calibration data is generated by a method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a sensor;
(b) subjecting said sensor to at least two quantities of air, each of said at least two quantities of air having (1) a known quality and (2) a known concentration of sterilant vapor, said sterilant vapor having a known physical condition;
(c) measuring signals emitted by said sensor, each of said signals corresponding to a concentration of sterilant vapor; and
(d) establishing a mathematical relationship between said signals emitted and said concentrations of sterilant vapor for said sensor.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein temperature of air ranges from about 10 C. to about 85 C.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein relative humidity of air ranges from about 10 to about 100%.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein flow rate of air ranges from about 1 to about 200 cubic meters per hour.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein concentration of sterilant ranges from 100 to 25000 ppm.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein said sterilant is hydrogen peroxide.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensor calibration data is normalized to compensate for the difference between said measurable parameter for said reference calibration data and said measurable parameter for said sensor calibration data for said sensor by a method comprising the steps of:
(a) selecting a concentration of sterilant vapor;
(b) determining the value of said measurable parameter at which said concentration of said sterilant vapor obtained from said sensor calibration data equals said concentration of said sterilant vapor obtained from said reference calibration data;
(c) adjusting the values measured by said individual sensor a sufficient amount to compensate for the deviation between said reference calibration data and said sensor calibration data.
15. A method for calibrating a sensor that is used for measuring the quantity of a sterilant in a system for delivering said sterilant, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a reference calibration curve, said reference calibration curve having a slope and an intercept;
(b) preparing a sensor calibration curve, said sensor calibration curve having a slope and an intercept;
(c) normalizing said sensor calibration curve to compensate for (1) the difference between said slope of said reference calibration curve and said slope of said sensor calibration curve and (2) the difference between said intercept of said reference calibration curve and said intercept of said sensor calibration curve.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said reference calibration curve is prepared by a method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of sensors;
(b) subjecting each of said plurality of sensors to at least two quantities of air, each of said at least two quantities of air having (i) a known quality and (ii) a known concentration of sterilant vapor, said sterilant vapor having a known physical condition;
(c) measuring said signals emitted by each of said plurality of sensors, each of said signals being proportional to said concentration of sterilant vapor;
(d) establishing a linear mathematical relationship between said signals emitted by each of said plurality of sensors and said concentrations of sterilant vapor for each of said plurality of sensors; and
(e) establishing said reference curve by means of a statistical analysis of said signals emitted by each of said plurality of sensors and said concentrations of sterilant vapor for each of said plurality of sensors.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein temperature of air ranges from about 10 C. to about 85 C.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein relative humidity of air ranges from about 10 to about 100%.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein flow rate of air ranges from about 1 to about 200 cubic meters per hour.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein concentration of sterilant ranges from 100 to 25000 ppm.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein said sterilant is hydrogen peroxide.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein said sensor calibration curve is prepared by a method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an individual sensor;
(b) subjecting said sensor to at least two quantities of air, each of said at least two quantities of air having (1) a known quality and (2) a known concentration of sterilant vapor, said sterilant vapor having a known physical condition;
(c) measuring said signals emitted by said sensor, each of said signals being proportional to said concentration of sterilant vapor; and
(d) establishing a linear mathematical relationship between said signals emitted by said individual sensor and said concentrations of sterilant vapor for said individual sensor.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein temperature of air ranges from about 10 C. to about 85 C.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein relative humidity of air ranges from about 10 to about 100%.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein flow rate of air ranges from about 1 to about 200 cubic meters per hour.
26. The method of claim 22, wherein concentration of sterilant ranges from 100 to 25000 ppm.
27. The method of claim 22, wherein said sterilant is hydrogen peroxide.
28. The method of claim 15, wherein said sensor calibration curve is normalized to compensate for (1) the difference between said slope of said reference calibration curve and said slope of said sensor calibration curve and (2) the difference between said intercept of said reference calibration curve and said intercept of said sensor calibration curve by a method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining said intercept of said reference calibration curve;
(c) determining said intercept of said sensor calibration curve;
(d) determining said slope of said reference calibration curve;
(e) determining said slope of said sensor calibration curve;
(f) adjusting said sensor calibration curve, if necessary, in order to compensate for said difference between said intercept of said reference calibration curve and said intercept of said sensor calibration curve;
(g) adjusting said sensor calibration curve, if necessary, in order to compensate for said difference between said slope of said reference calibration curve and said slope of said sensor calibration curve.
29. A method for calibrating a portable unit for measuring the concentration of a sterilant, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) passing a sterilant vapor through a vessel, said vessel being submerged in a water bath, said portable unit being installed within said vessel, said portable unit responsive to the concentration of sterilant, the temperature, and the relative humidity for a test run; and
(b) determining the concentration of said sterilant by a titration method.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein said sterilant is hydrogen peroxide.
31. A method for verifying that a sensor for measuring the quantity of sterilant in a system for delivering said sterilant has been calibrated accurately, wherein said sterilant is delivered in a stream of flowing air, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) performing at least two static test runs for said sensor to obtain readings of concentration of sterilant vapor;
(b) performing at least two dynamic test runs for said sensor to obtain readings of concentration of sterilant vapor;
(c) comparing the results of said at least two static test runs;
(d) comparing the results of said at least two dynamic test runs;
(e) concluding that (1) the flow rate of air has changed or (2) the rate of addition of sterilant to the system has changed or (3) said sensor is unreliable if (i) if said readings of concentration of sterilant vapor determined in said static test runs remain substantially constant, but said readings of concentration of sterilant vapor determined in said dynamic test runs vary substantially or (ii) if said readings of concentration of sterilant vapor determined in said static test runs vary substantially, but said readings of concentration of sterilant vapor determined in said dynamic test runs remain substantially constant.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said sterilant is hydrogen peroxide.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for identification of animals, the system including an animal identification device (12,13) adapted for application to an animal and a device (17) for secure storage (17) of organic material taken from the animal to be identified by the identification device, the storage device (17) and identification device (12,13) each being marked with a common identifier (18,18a).
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification device (12,13) and the storage device (17) are mounted, prior to use, in a holder (11).
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the holder can be in the form of a moulded tray (11).
4. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the identification device is an animal eartag or a bolus.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein eartag, it is a two-component eartag (12,13).
6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the storage device (17) is removably secured to the or one component (12) of the eartag.
7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the identification device can also be formed by an electronic identification device (27).
8. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the common identifier (18,18a) is an alpha, numeric or alphanumeric marking.
9. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the common identifier is an on-farm management identifier used for visual identification of the animal.
10. The system of claim 7 wherein the common identifier can be part of the unique number (29) of an electronic identification device (27).
11. The system of claim 2 wherein the tray (11) includes a recess (14) configured to removably retain the head of a male part (12) of an eartag which forms the identification device.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the tray (11) includes a retention device with which a female part (13) of the eartag is removably retained.
13. The system of claim 11 wherein the retention device includes a recess (16) in which a part of the female part of the eartag can reside, and a stud onto which the female part can be installed.
14. The system of claim 11 further including a second recess (26) for the head of a male part (28) of a second identification device and a second recess (25) with stud (15) for a female part of a second identification device.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the second identification device is an electronic identification device (29).
16. The system of any one of claims 11 to 15 wherein the tray (11) is formed as one of a plurality of conjoined trays.
17. The system of any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein the tray (11) is of a plastic moulded form.
18. The system of any one of claims 11 to 17 wherein the common identifier is an on-farm management identifier used for visual identification purposes.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the common identifier forms part of a unique number of an electronic identification device.
20. A method of identification of an animal including providing an animal identification device marked with an identifier marking, a secure storage device, the secure storage device also being marked with the same identifier marking, taking a sample of organic material from the animal and placing the sample in the secure storage device and applying the identification device to the animal and placing the storage device in a secure storage facility.
21. A system for identification of animals substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.