Microwave pressure vessel and method of sterilization

A microwave sterilizing apparatus for medical waste, comprising:

• a pressure vessel having first and second pressure hulls that are movably engageable with each other so as to form a sealably closed vessel in operation;
• a treatment chamber defined within said pressure vessel, and having means for supporting a container of medical waste to be processed and means for receiving and focusing microwaves within said treatment chamber;
• means for generating microwaves, said generating means being operatively connected to transmit microwaves into said pressure vessel and said treatment chamber;
• and
• means for feeding water into said treatment chamber, whereby steam and pressure are generated within said treatment chamber by operation of said microwave generating means and said feeding means, and a combination of steam, pressure and microwaves in said treatment chamber effects sterilization of said medical waste to be processed, wherein
• said microwave receiving and focusing means of said treatment chamber includes first and second output elements fixedly mounted in said first and second pressure hulls, respectively, of said pressure vessel, whereby said supporting means is operatively positioned between said first and second output elements, and
• said microwave generating means includes first and second microwave generating assemblies operatively connected to input microwaves into said pressure vessel and said treatment chamber via said first and second output elements, respectively.