STERILIZATION APPARATUS AND PROCESS

• US 20120230870A1
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Franciskovich, Phillip P., Rosenhamer, Donald G., Fix, Kathleen A., Hall, Dana
• Application Number:
  US13/480,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20120230870A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/22 containing ingredients stabilising the active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/02 Saturated carboxylic acids or thio analogues thereof; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/16 containing the group; Thio analogues thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/44 containing at least one carboxylic group or a thio analogue, or a derivative thereof, and a nitrogen atom attached to the same carbon skeleton by a single or double bond, this nitrogen atom not being a member of a derivative or of a thio analogue of a carboxylic group, e.g. amino-carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/02 Sulfur; Selenium; Tellurium; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/182 Rigid packaging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

A sterilizing apparatus and a process for sterilizing an article in the sterilizing apparatus, the apparatus including a sterilization chamber and a sterilant introduction system, wherein the sterilant introduction system separately supplies components (A) and (B) to form a composition comprising the components (A) and (B), the components including (A) an anti-microbial agent comprising peracetic acid; and (B) a reagent mixture comprising a buffer, an anticorrosive agent and a chelator; in which the composition is characterized by the absence of molybdate. In the apparatus and in the process, components (A) and (B) may be introduced separately.

Claims

1. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a sterilization chamber and a sterilant introduction system, wherein the sterilant introduction system separately supplies components (A) and (B) to form a composition comprising the components (A) and (B), the components comprising:

(A) an anti-microbial agent comprising peracetic acid; and

(B) a reagent mixture comprising a buffer, an anticorrosive agent and a chelator;

the composition being characterized by the absence of molybdate,

wherein the components (A) and (B) in the sterilant introduction system are in an initial weight ratio of (A) to (B) from 0.45 to 1.3, component (A) comprises from 15% to 45% by weight of peracetic acid, and component (B) comprises from 35% to 98% by weight of the buffer, from 0.5% to 35% by weight of the anticorrosive agent, and from 0.3% to 60% by weight of the chelator.

2. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the components (A) and (B) are mixed with water to form a diluted composition.

3. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the water is deionized water.

4. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the water is tap water.

5. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein component (A) further comprises acetic acid.

6. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein component (A) further comprises hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid.

7. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein component (A) comprises 30% to 40% by weight, or 35.5% by weight, of peracetic acid.

8. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the buffer comprises an alkali metal phosphate, an alkali metal carbonate, or a mixture thereof.

9. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein component (B) comprises from 45% to 95% by weight, or from 55% to 90% by weight, of the buffer.

10. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the anticorrosive agent comprises benzotriazole, tolyltriazole, a sodium salt of benzotriazole, a sodium salt of tolyltriazole, or a mixture of two or more thereof.

11. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein component (B) comprises from 1% to 25% by weight, or from 2% to 14% by weight, of the anticorrosive agent.

12. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the chelator comprises ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid, a sodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, a sodium salt of hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid, or a mixture of two or more thereof.

13. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein component (B) comprises from 0.5% to 55% by weight, of the chelator.

14. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the composition is characterized by the absence of nonylphenol ethoxylate.

15. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the composition is characterized by the absence of an antifoaming agent.

16. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is from 0.5 to 1.3, or from 0.6 to 1.3.

17. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of peracetic acid to buffer is 0.1 or higher, or from 0.1 to 3, or from 0.3 to 3, or from 0.35 to 1.5.

18. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein components (A) and (B) are dispersed in water to form a liquid sterilant, the concentration of component (A) in the water being in the range from 0.5 to 10 grams per liter, and the concentration of component (B) in the water being in the range from 3.6 to 18 grams per liter.

19. The sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein components (A) and (B) are dispersed in water to form a liquid sterilant, the liquid sterilant having a pH in the range from 2 to 11, or from 5.5 to 7.

20. A process for sterilizing an article in the sterilizing apparatus of claim 1, comprising contacting the article with a liquid sterilant comprising the composition comprising the components (A) and (B).

21. The process of claim 20 wherein the article is made of a material comprising brass, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, plastic, glass, adhesive or a combination of two or more thereof.

22. The process of claim 20 wherein the article comprises a medical, dental, pharmaceutical, veterinary or mortuary instrument or device.

23. The process of claim 20 wherein the pH of the liquid sterilant is in the range from 2 to 11, or from 5.5 to 7.

24. The process of claim 20 wherein the temperature of the liquid sterilant is in the range from 20 to 80°

C., or from 40°

C. to 60°

C.

25. The process of claim 20 wherein the exposure time of the article to the liquid sterilant is in the range from 0.5 to 240 minutes, or from 2 to 60 minutes.

26. The process of claim 20 wherein the process is conducted in a the sterilizing apparatus, the process comprising:

placing the article in the sterilization chamber;

filling the sterilization chamber with water;

dissolving component (B) with the water filling the sterilization chamber;

flowing water through the sterilization introduction system in contact with dissolved component (B);

and then introducing component (A) to the sterilization chamber filled with the water containing the dissolved component (B) to form the liquid sterilant;

flowing the liquid sterilant in the sterilization chamber in contact with the article for an effective period of time to sterilize the article;

draining the liquid sterilant from the sterilization chamber;

flowing rinse water in the sterilization chamber in contact with the article; and

removing the article from the sterilization chamber.

27. The process of claim 20 wherein the process is conducted in the sterilization chamber in the sterilizing apparatus, the process comprising:

placing the article in the sterilization chamber;

filling the sterilization chamber with water;

dissolving component B with the water filling the sterilization chamber;

flowing water through the sterilant introduction system in contact with dissolved component (B),

and then introducing component (A) to sterilization chamber filled with water containing the dissolved component (B) to form the sterilant solution;

flowing the sterilant solution in the sterilization chamber in contact with the article for an effective period of time to sterilize the article;

draining the sterilant solution from the sterilization chamber;

rinsing the article in the sterilization chamber with water; and

removing the article from the sterilization chamber.