# US 2010/0166603 A1 · Powder Sterilization

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2010/0166603 A1
- Document ID: US20100166603A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/608,750
- Filed: 2009-10-29
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-31
- Assignees: Noxilizer, Inc.
- Inventors: David OPIE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166603A1

## CPC

- A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
- A61L 2/07: Steam
- A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

A system for sterilizing a powder includes a device for agitating the powder during application of a sterilizing gas including nitrogen dioxide and humidity. A related method includes agitating the powder while applying the sterilizing gas.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of sterilizing a powdered material comprising:
placing the powdered material in a sterilization chamber;
exposing the powder to nitrogen dioxide gas in the sterilization chamber at substantially room temperature, wherein the exposing includes controlling a concentration of nitrogen dioxide gas to which the powder is exposed; and
during the exposing, agitating the powder, wherein the agitating the powder includes controlling an amount and duration of the agitating.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the exposing further comprises controlling an amount of humidity in the sterilization chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the controlling a concentration of nitrogen dioxide gas includes controlling an amount of diluent gas added to the sterilization chamber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 4)

A method as in claim 4, wherein the diluent gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of: dry air, humidified air, water vapor, nitrogen gas and combinations thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the powder is in a container, and the agitating comprises rotating the container during the exposing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method as in claim 5, wherein the container comprises a vial having at least one gas-permeable portion and at least one gas-impermeable portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method as in claim 6, wherein the vial is rotated by at least one rotating roller in contact with the vial.

### Claim 8

A vial for use in a gas-exposure process, comprising:
a substantially tubular body member having an opening at one end;
a seal, the seal configured to close the opening and including a self-healing portion and a gas-permeable portion, the gas-permeable portion being permeable to a gas used in the gas exposure process.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A vial as in claim 8, wherein the gas-permeable portion is permeable to at least NO2.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A vial as in claim 9, wherein the gas-permeable portion is further permeable to at least one gas selected from the group consisting of: dry air, nitrogen gas, humidified air, water vapor and combinations thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A vial as in claim 8, wherein the gas-permeable portion comprises a nonwoven spunbonded olefin fiber and the self healing portion comprises a rubber material.

### Claim 12

A device for sterilizing a powder comprising:
a process chamber;
an agitation device, configured and arranged to agitate the powder within the process chamber during the sterilizing; and
a gas supply, configured and arranged to provide a nitrogen dioxide gas to the process chamber in a controlled amount.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A device as in claim 12, wherein the gas supply is further configured and arranged to provide humid air to the chamber in a controlled amount.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A device as in claim 12, wherein the gas supply further comprises:
a source of liquid nitrogen dioxide;
a sterilization pre-chamber, in fluid communication with the source of liquid nitrogen dioxide such that gaseous liquid nitrogen dioxide produced by vaporization of the liquid nitrogen dioxide may be contained in the sterilization pre-chamber, the sterilization pre-chamber further being in fluid communication with the process chamber such that gaseous liquid nitrogen dioxide may be controllably delivered into the process chamber.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A device as in claim 14, further comprising a source of humidity in fluid communication with the process chamber such that a humidity of the process chamber may be controlled.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

A device as in claim 14, wherein the agitation device comprises a roller, operable to rotate a container containing the powder during use.