Device for sterilizing products at high pressure

Device for the sterilization of a product at high pressure, comprising, in combination,

• (a) a sealed vessel including a bottom wall having an opening for connection to means for feeding fluid under pressure;
• (b) a cover;
• (c) a fixing means for assembling and fixing said cover to said bottom wall;
• (d) a slidable piston having a first active surface on a bottom wall of said slidable piston, and adjacent said bottom wall, said slidable piston being mounted in a sealed manner in said vessel to be slidable in said vessel under the effect of pressure exerted by said fluid on said active surface of said slidable piston;
• (e) a sterilization pressure treatment chamber provided in said slidable piston for receiving a product to be sterilized;
• and
• (f) a fixed piston connected to said cover and adapted to penetrate said sterilization pressure treatment chamber when said slidable piston is moved for the purpose of compressing said product to be sterilized, said fixed piston having a free end defining a second active surface, a ratio between areas of said first and second active surfaces being approximately 1:20;
• (g) wherein said slidable piston comprises at least two sleeves and a protective inner sheath, said at least two sleeves and said inner sheath being concentric and interconnected.