US 2011/0085938 A1 · DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GAS STERILIZATION

Abstract

A system for gas sterilization includes a sterilization chamber, a source of sterilant gas, and a sterilant gas remediation mechanism. Embodiments relate to systems and methods for delivering humidified air to a sterilization chamber, systems and methods for removing gaseous NO2 from an exhaust gas stream of a sterilization chamber, systems and methods for removing and replacing a source of sterilant gas, an exhaust gas scrubber and/or supplies for a humidification system. Some embodiments relate to hardware and software for user interface in a sterilizing device and hardware and software for control of a sterilization cycle. Some embodiments relate to chamber, chassis and door configurations of a sterilizer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of sterilizing an object comprising, in the following order:

depressurizing a pre-chamber in controllable fluid communication with a liquid nitrogen dioxide supply;
allowing a controlled dose of nitrogen dioxide from the liquid nitrogen dioxide supply to flow into the pre-chamber;
isolating the pre-chamber from the liquid nitrogen dioxide supply;
opening a fluid communication channel between the pre-chamber and a depressurized sterilization chamber containing the object;
and
exposing the object to the nitrogen dioxide in a gaseous state for a selected duration, at a selected pressure and in a selected concentration.

3 more elements

A device for sterilization, comprising:

a source of liquid NO2;
a pre-chamber, in fluid communication with the source of liquid NO2;
a valve arrangement, constructed and arranged to, when the pre-chamber is at a low pressure, controllably allow NO2 to flow from the source of liquid NO2 to the pre-chamber to charge the pre-chamber with a controlled dose of NO2;
a sterilization chamber, in fluid communication with the pre-chamber, such that, when the sterilization chamber is held at a pressure lower than a pressure of the pre-chamber, at least a portion of the NO2 will flow into the sterilization chamber;
a source of humidity, constructed and arranged to provide a controlled level of humidity in the sterilization chamber;
a controller, configured and arranged to control a duration of exposure to the sterliant gas of an object to be sterilized in the sterilization chamber;
and
an exhaust, in fluid communication with the sterilization chamber and including a chemical scrubber constructed and arranged to remediate the NO2 gas prior to exhausting it.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device and method for gas sterilization

Life of this patent

Device and method for gas sterilization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20