Device for detecting the presence of noncondensable gas in steam sterilizers

A device adapted for insertion into a sterilization chamber for indicating the presence of unacceptable levels of noncondensable gas comprising:

• a heat sink having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said heat sink being adapted for such open communication with the sterilization chamber when said device is inserted therein that the steam enters said heat sink, and said heat sink being adapted to absorb latent heat from the steam until the temperature of said heat sink is in equilibrium with the ambient sterilizer temperature;
• a housing defining a chamber proximate said lower end of said heat sink;
• said heat sink defining a path through which steam travels from said upper end of said heat sink toward said chamber, said path being adapted to provide sufficient exposure of the steam to said heat sink so that the steam condenses within said path, releasing any noncondensable gas associated with the steam, forcing the noncondensable gas so released toward said chamber and concentrating such noncondensable gas within said chamber;
• means disposed in said chamber for indicating the presence of noncondensable gas concentrated therein;
• means for preventing the condensate formed from the condensed steam from effecting said indicating means but permitting the noncondensable gas concentrated within said chamber to pass to said indicating means.