US 5,344,622 AGranted

Ozone sterilization system vapor humidification component with disposable water source

AssigneeCyclo.sub.3 pss Medical Systems, Inc.

InventorsChris G. Faddis, Paul O. Shepherd

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Abstract

A vapor humidification component with a disposable water source for a medical instrument sterilization system that utilizes ozone as a sterilization agent. The humidification component of the invention receives a measured input of water that is vaporized therein and injected into an ozone-oxygen mixture flow for passage into a primary sterilization chamber wherein the humidified ozone-oxygen mixture is circulated to scour and sterilize, during a sterilization cycle, medical instruments contained therein, whereafter the ozone-oxygen mixture is passed to a destruction chamber for heat destruction and venting to atmosphere. Mixture temperature, pressure and water vapor content are sensed during flow to the primary sterilization chamber and that sensed data is transmitted to a controller that directs operation of a plunger that travels into a water containing cylindrical vessel of a disposable syringe type device, that plunger travel forcing a measured amount of water from the cylindrical vessel that travels into a humidity chamber wherein the water is heated to a vapor state and is passed into the ozone-oxygen mixture flow. The ozone-oxygen mixture is humidified to within its saturation curve for its temperature and pressure, and which mixture temperature is maintained by line heaters under the direction of the controller to where it is passed into the primary sterilization chamber.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A vapor humidification component with a disposable water source in combination with a medical instrument sterilizer with an ozone generator comprising, a humidification chamber that is a block body and is arranged as a component of a medical instrument sterilizer with an ozone generator, which said block body is open therethrough and includes a heater means for vaporizing a volume of water injected through a water inlet line that is then passed out of said block body through a vapor exhaust line for mixing into an ozone-oxygen mixture flow;

an ozone-oxygen mixture flow;
an outlet line connected to receive said vapor exhaust line and to a sterilization chamber where through said ozone-oxygen mixture flows;
a water reservoir means for connection to and for injecting a measured volume of water into said humidification chamber that includes a vessel for containing water and a plunger means for movement in said vessel for urging water therefrom into said water inlet line of said humidification chamber, said vessel and plunger means to be removable for disposal and replacement;
means for moving said plunger means into said vessel to pass a controlled volume of water therefrom into said humidification chamber water inlet line;
means for sensing temperature and humidity conditions of said ozone-oxygen mixture flow;
means for heating said ozone-oxygen mixture flow;
and means for controlling said means for heating said ozone-oxygen mixture flow and said plunger means travel for providing a humidification of said ozone-oxygen mixture flow that is within the saturation curve of said ozone-oxygen mixture.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.