US 8,945,468 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for sterilizing items

AssigneeMicropyretics Heaters International, Inc.

InventorsGanta S. Reddy, Ramgopal Vissa, Jaingesh A. Sekhar

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Abstract

A sterilizing apparatus includes an enclosure defining an interior chamber and a door for accessing the interior chamber. A fluid source communicates with the chamber to supply a working fluid thereto. A heater heats the fluid in the chamber and a pump moves the fluid in the chamber by the heater. A valve communicates with the chamber and with the exterior of the chamber and is configured to vent the fluid in the chamber to the exterior at a pressure of approximately one atmosphere. Such provides superheating and concentrating of the working fluid in the chamber. A method of sterilization includes introducing a working fluid into an interior chamber and circulating the fluid through at least one recirculation loop having a heater for heating the fluid to an operational temperature suitable for killing microorganisms. The method further provides for killing of very high temperature resistant microorganisms.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method of sterilizing at least one item, comprising:

introducing a first working fluid into an interior chamber having an inner wall;
holding the item to be sterilized;
circulating the first working fluid in the interior chamber through at least one fluid tight recirculation loop having a heater in thermal communication therewith;
heating the first working fluid up to an operational temperature of above the boiling point of the first working fluid at one atmosphere;
maintaining the first working fluid at the operational temperature of above the boiling point of the first working fluid for a period of time within the interior chamber;
venting fluid unobstructedly and continuously from the chamber to outside of the chamber through a one-way one atmosphere check valve projecting through the inner wall of the chamber so as to maintain a pressure therein of approximately one atmosphere;
continuously increasing the concentration of the first working fluid within the interior chamber to at least 85% concentration;
maintaining the at least 85% concentration of the first working fluid for a duration of at least an order of 100 seconds;
and exposing the item to be sterilized to the heated first working fluid in the interior chamber in a first mode of sterilization.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/465,201Filed 7 May 2012 · division
Priority: 15 Nov 2006
Published: US 2012/0230868 A113 Sep 2012
Granted: 3 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61L 2/07
Hot gas: steam
A61L 2/208
Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours: hydrogen peroxide
A61L 2103/15
Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation: laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps
A61L 2103/50
Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation: textiles, e.g. bedwear or towels

Family

Application60/858,944Us provisional application · filed 15 Nov 2006
Application60/901,007Us provisional application · filed 9 Feb 2007
Application60/907,944Us provisional application · filed 24 Apr 2007
Application60/924,958Us provisional application · filed 4 Jun 2007
Application60/929,637Us provisional application · filed 6 Jul 2007
Application60/935,160Us provisional application · filed 25 Jul 2007
Application60/935,967Us provisional application · filed 4 Sep 2007
Application12/514,502Parent of this division · filed 18 Dec 2009
US 2012/0230868 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 Sep 2012
US 2010/0150775 A1Published application
US 8,940,245 B2Related patent
US 8,945,468 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.