Method of sterilization of musical wind instruments

A method of sterilizing an item, wherein the item is one of a musical instrument and a musical instrument accessory using a gas diffusion process, comprising steps of:

• placing at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory into an interior of a container;
• evacuating air from the container;
• sealing the container;
• positioning the container in a sterilization room having temperature control and a ventilation system for removal of exhaust gas from the room;
• creating a sterilizing atmosphere within the interior of the container by releasing into the sterilization room a gas sterilant in a concentration sufficient to act as a sterilant;
• heating the gas sterilant to an appropriate sterilization temperature;
• maintaining the sterilization temperature of the gas sterilant for a sufficient time to sterilize at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory;
• and
• removing the container from the sterilization room after at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory is sterilized.

An item, wherein the item is one of a sterile musical instrument and a sterile musical instrument accessory, which is sterilized by a gas sterilant diffusion process comprising:

• placing at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory into an interior of a gas permeable container;
• evacuating air from the container;
• sealing the container;
• positioning the container in a sterilization chamber having temperature control and a ventilation system for removal of exhaust gas from the chamber;
• creating a sterilizing atmosphere within the interior of the container by releasing into the chamber a gas sterilant at a concentration sufficient to act as a sterilant;
• heating the gas sterilant to an appropriate sterilization temperature;
• maintaining the sterilization temperature of the gas sterilant for a sufficient time to sterilize at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory;
• and
• removing the container from the chamber after at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory is sterilized.

A method of sterilizing an item, wherein the item is one of a musical wind instrument and a musical instrument accessory, the method comprising:

• providing an open, sealable diffusion bag;
• placing at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory into an interior of the open diffusion bag;
• sealing the diffusion bag;
• positioning the diffusion bag in a chamber of a sterilizer, the sterilizer having a ventilation system;
• evacuating the chamber to a first pressure;
• introducing a vapor of an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into the chamber;
• allowing the hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) vapor to circulate in the chamber for a period of time;
• reducing pressure in the chamber to a second pressure;
• creating a plasma of the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) vapor;
• and
• maintaining the second pressure of the chamber for a period of time sufficient for the hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) plasma to sterilize at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory.

An item, wherein the item is one of a sterile musical instrument and a sterile musical instrument accessory, which is sterilized by a method using a gas sterilant plasma comprising:

• providing an open, sealable diffusion bag;
• placing at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory into an interior of the open diffusion bag;
• sealing the diffusion bag;
• positioning the diffusion bag in a chamber of a sterilizer, the sterilizer having a ventilation system;
• evacuating the chamber to a first pressure;
• introducing a vapor of an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into the chamber;
• allowing the hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) vapor to circulate in the chamber for a period of time;
• reducing pressure in the chamber to a second pressure;
• creating a plasma of the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) vapor;
• and
• maintaining the second pressure of the chamber for a period of time sufficient for the hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) plasma to sterilize at least one of the musical instrument and the musical instrument accessory.