Method of sterilization using ozone
AssigneeLynntech, Inc.
InventorsOliver J. Murphy, G. Duncan Hitchens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of using ozone have been developed which sterilize instruments and medical wastes, oxidize, organics found in wastewater, clean laundry, break down contaminants in soil into a form more readily digested by microbes, kill microorganisms present in food products, and destroy toxins present in food products. The preferred methods for killing microorganism and destroying toxins use pressurized, humidified, and concentrated ozone produced by an electrochemical cell.
Claims33
A method of sterilizing a biologically contaminated instrument comprising the steps of:
- placing the biologically contaminated instrument into an enclosed chamber;
- then
- evacuating air from the enclosed chamber;
- then
- maintaining humidity within the enclosed chamber;
- introducing a gas having an ozone concentration greater than about 7 weight percent into contacting the instrument with the gas for a period of time sufficient to allow the ozone to sterilize contaminants on the instrument;
- removing the gas from the chamber;
- and
- removing the sterilized instrument.
A method of sterilizing a biologically contaminated instrument comprising the steps of:
- placing the biologically contaminated instrument into an enclosed chamber;
- evacuating air that is essentially free of ozone from the enclosed chamber;
- maintaining humidity within the enclosed chamber;
- introducing a gas having an ozone concentration greater than about 7 weight percent into the chamber;
- contacting the instrument with the gas for a period of time sufficient to allow the ozone to sterilize contaminants on the instrument;
- removing the gas from the chamber;
- and
- removing the sterilized instrument.
A method of sterilizing a biologically contaminated instrument comprising the steps of:
- placing the biologically contaminated instrument into an enclosed chamber;
- then
- evacuating air from the enclosed chamber to draw a vacuum;
- then
- maintaining humidity within the enclosed chamber;
- introducing a gas having an ozone concentration greater than about 7 weight percent into the chamber;
- contacting the instrument with the gas for a period of time sufficient to allow the ozone to sterilize contaminants on the instrument;
- removing the gas from the chamber;
- and
- removing the sterilized instrument.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.