Apparatus and method for sterilization of an article

A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing an article having a lumen with sterilant, the sterilization apparatus comprising:

• a first chamber sized and shaped to receive the article, the first chamber having a sterilant inlet configured to be fluidly connected to a sterilant source for supplying sterilant to the first chamber;
• a second chamber having a flow opening;
• an article connector configured to attach to an open end of the article and fluidly connect to the lumen of the article, the article connector being fluidly connectable to the second chamber through the flow opening to form a flow path along which sterilant flows from the first chamber to the second chamber through the lumen of the article and through the flow opening when the article is disposed in the first chamber and sterilant is introduced into the first chamber via the sterilant inlet;
• a fluid inlet configured to be fluidly connected to a fluid source for supplying fluid separate and distinct from the sterilant, the fluid inlet being fluidly connectable to the article connector to permit the fluid to flow through the lumen of the article to heat the lumen of the article;
• and
• an article container sized and shaped to removably receive the article and the article connector, the first chamber being sized and shaped to receive the entire article container, the article container having a container inlet arranged to allow the egress of sterilant from the first chamber when the article container is received in the first chamber, the article container having a container outlet being fluidly connectable to the article connector along the flow path such that sterilant flows from the first chamber to the second chamber through the container outlet when the article is disposed in the article container and the article container is disposed in the first chamber.