Method of sterilization specimen conditioning
AssigneeNoxilizer, Inc.
InventorDavid Opie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for modifying a temperature of a product to be sterilized while the product is in a sterilization chamber. Temperature modification may be achieved through air circulation, through manipulation of a temperature of one or more walls of the sterilization chamber, and/or through manipulation of pressure within the sterilization chamber. Using the capabilities of the sterilization chamber to accelerate product warming may reduce the time required to warm a product to be sterilized from a refrigerated state to a temperature at which sterilization is to be performed. After sterilization, the product may also be cooled in the sterilization chamber.
Claims15
A method of sterilizing a product comprising:
- removing the product from cold storage;
- placing the product in a sterilization chamber while the product remains below room temperature;
- warming the product in the sterilization chamber by cycling pressure, in a warming cycle, within the sterilization chamber between a first pressure and a second pressure, the second pressure being lower than the first pressure, the cycling pressure including:
- reducing pressure over a first period of time from the first pressure to the second pressure;
- dwelling at the second pressure for a second period of time;
- increasing pressure over a third period of time from the second pressure to the first pressure;
- and
- dwelling at the first pressure for a fourth period of time;
- and
- sterilizing the product in the sterilization chamber,
- wherein the first period of time is longer than the third period of time.
A sterilization system comprising:
- a sterilization chamber configured to contain a product, the sterilization chamber including:
- a sterilant source configured to communicate a sterilant into the sterilization chamber, the sterilant configured to sterilize the product;
- a vacuum source configured to adjust pressure in the sterilization chamber;
- and
- a blower configured to circulate air in the sterilization chamber;
- and
- a control and monitoring system for controlling conditions in the sterilization chamber, the control and monitoring system configured to perform a method comprising:
- warming the product in the sterilization chamber by cycling pressure within the sterilization chamber between a first pressure and a second pressure via the vacuum source, the second pressure being lower than the first pressure, the cycling pressure including:
- reducing pressure over a first period of time from the first pressure to the second pressure via the vacuum source;
- dwelling the sterilization chamber at the second pressure for a second period of time;
- allowing gas to enter sterilization chamber to increase pressure over a third period of time from the second pressure to the first pressure, the first period of time longer than the third period of time;
- and
- dwelling at the first pressure for a fourth period of time;
- and
- sterilizing the product in the sterilization chamber using the sterilant source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.