US 5,919,418 A · Delivery system and method for delivering a plurality of packages containing a solid material

Abstract

A system to deliver gas/vapor from solid materials. Specifically, the delivery system for the use of gas or vapor released from a solid material, such as a non-aqueous/solid hydrogen peroxide complex. The system is comprised of a delivery system that is configured to receive a plurality of disks containing the solid material and provide these disks into an injector. The injector heats the disks to produce a gas or vapor that is then provided into a chamber. The sterilization process can be done by gas or vapor alone, or in combination with plasma or ultra violet radiation. In particular, a control system automatically induces the delivery system to provide the injector with a disk and then remove the disk once the injecfion sequence is complete.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A delivery system for delivering a plurality of packages containing a solid hydrogen peroxide complex capable of releasing hydrogen peroxide vapor upon heating, to an injection system, comprising:

a source cartridge containing a plurality of packages containing a solid hydrogen peroxide complex capable of releasing hydrogen vapor;
an upper delivery member that has a first aperture configure to receive said source cartridge, said upper delivery member being movable both vertically and rotationally;
and
a lower delivery member that has at least one aperture that is configure to receive one or more of said package from said source cartridge, said lower delivery member being vertically moveable so that said package can be positioned above an opening in said injection system, and further rotationally movable to deliver used packages to a destination, the injection system receiving one or more of the packages so as to release the hydrogen peroxide vapor into a sterilization system.

1 more element

A method of delivering a plurality of packages containing a solid hydrogen peroxide complex capable of releasing hydrogen peroxide vapor upon heating, to an injection system, comprising:

a) placing said plurality of packages in a source cartridge;
(b) placing said source cartridge in a first aperture of an upper delivery member, wherein the upper delivery member is movable both rotationally and vertically;
(c) placing a destination cartridge in a second aperture of said upper delivery member;
(d) moving a package from said source cartridge to an aperture in a lower delivery member, wherein said lower delivery member is movable both vertically and rotationally and where moving the package comprises attaching a vacuum source to the package and raising the upper delivery member and the source cartridge, thereby moving the package to the aperture in the lower delivery member;
(e) rotationally moving said lower delivery member so as to position said package which has been moved to said aperture in said lower delivery member in an opening in said injection system;
(f) releasing hydrogen peroxide vapor from said package in said injection system for injection into a sterilization system;
and
(g) rotationally moving said lower delivery member so as to deliver said package from which hydrogen peroxide vapor has been released to the destination cartridge, wherein said package is pushed into the destination cartridge through vertically upward movement by a vacuum source underneath said package and downward movement of the destination cartridge.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Delivery system and method for delivering a plurality of packages containing a solid material

Life of this patent

Delivery system and method for delivering a plurality of packages containing a solid material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20