Vapor phase decontamination of containers
First Claim
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1. A vapor decontamination system for decontaminating a plurality of items, the system comprising:
- a flash vaporizer for vaporizing into a vapor a liquid which includes an antimicrobial;
a means for introducing the liquid from a source to the flash vaporizer;
a first duct along which a carrier gas passes, the first duct being fluidly connected with at least one fill line which selectively supplies vapor and carrier gas to at least one of the items;
a second duct, fluidly connected with an outlet of the vaporizer, for supplying the vapor into the first duct for mixing into the carrier gas passing through the first duct.
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Abstract
A flash vapor generator (10) provides a constant flow of vaporized hydrogen peroxide for rapidly sterilizing a large decontamination tunnel (11) with a high container throughput. The vaporizer includes a heated block which defines an interior bore or bores. The conditions within the decontamination tunnel are carefully monitored to avoid condensation of the vapor while maintaining the vapor as close as possible to the saturation limit.
117 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A vapor decontamination system for decontaminating a plurality of items, the system comprising:
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a flash vaporizer for vaporizing into a vapor a liquid which includes an antimicrobial;
a means for introducing the liquid from a source to the flash vaporizer;
a first duct along which a carrier gas passes, the first duct being fluidly connected with at least one fill line which selectively supplies vapor and carrier gas to at least one of the items;
a second duct, fluidly connected with an outlet of the vaporizer, for supplying the vapor into the first duct for mixing into the carrier gas passing through the first duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36)
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24. A method of decontaminating containers in an defined region, the method comprising:
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conveying the containers through the defined region;
pumping a carrier gas through a duct to the defined region;
injecting an antimicrobial vapor into the duct at a mixing zone upstream of the defined region.
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35. A method of decontaminating items comprising:
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conveying the items through a defined region;
providing a first carrier gas stream and a second carrier gas stream, the first stream having a lower flow rate than the second stream;
introducing the first stream to a passage;
introducing a flow of an aqueous solution of an antimicrobial into the passage, the aqueous solution mixing with the first stream, walls of the passage being heated to vaporize the aqueous solution;
mixing the vaporized aqueous solution and first carrier gas stream with the second carrier gas stream in a mixing zone downstream of the passage;
introducing the mixed vaporized aqueous solution and first and second carrier gas streams to the defined region; and
contacting the items with the antimicrobial.
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Specification