Apparatus and method for sterilizing endoscope

A method of sterilizing an article, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving the article in a sterilization chamber;
• (b) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce pressure within the sterilization chamber to a first pressure, wherein the first pressure is less than 100 torr;
• (c) introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber;
• (d) maintaining the first pressure in the sterilization chamber for a first period of time;
• (e) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure but is still less than 100 torr;
• maintaining the second pressure in the sterilization chamber for a second period of time;
• (g) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a third pressure;
• (h) maintaining the third pressure in the sterilization chamber for a third period of time;
• and
• (i) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to atmospheric pressure,
• wherein the method further comprises, between at least one of steps (d) and (e) or between steps (f) and (g):
• (A) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a fourth pressure that is less than 100 torr,
• (B) introducing additional sterilant into the sterilization chamber,
• (C) maintaining the fourth pressure in the sterilization chamber for a fourth period of time, and
• (D) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a fifth pressure that is less than 100 torr.

A method of sterilizing an endoscope, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving the endoscope in a sterilization chamber;
• (b) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce pressure within the sterilization chamber to a first pressure, wherein the first pressure is less than 10 torr;
• (c) introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber without either heating the sterilant or heating the sterilization chamber prior to introducing the sterilant into the sterilization chamber;
• (d) maintaining the first pressure in the sterilization chamber for a first period of time;
• (e) venting the sterilization chamber to atmosphere to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure but is still less than 30 torr;
• and
• (f) applying a vacuum or venting to atmospheric pressure then applying the vacuum.