Hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization system
First Claim
1. A process of plasma sterilization using hydrogen peroxide as a precursor of the active species in the plasma comprising the steps ofcontacting the item to be sterilized with a liquid hydrogen peroxide solution,placing the item into a sterilization chamber, said item retaining residual hydrogen peroxide.generating a plasma around the item within the sterilization chamber to generate an active species from said residual hydrogen peroxide,maintaining the item in said plasma for a time period sufficient to effect sterilization by said active species of said residual hydrogen peroxide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sterilization process wherein articles contacted with hydrogen peroxide and containing trace amounts of residual hydrogen peroxide are subjected to plasma treatment to generate an active species from the residual hydrogen peroxide which effects sterilization of the article and concurrently removes the residual hydrogen peroxide by converting it into non-toxic decomposition products.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A process of plasma sterilization using hydrogen peroxide as a precursor of the active species in the plasma comprising the steps of
contacting the item to be sterilized with a liquid hydrogen peroxide solution, placing the item into a sterilization chamber, said item retaining residual hydrogen peroxide. generating a plasma around the item within the sterilization chamber to generate an active species from said residual hydrogen peroxide, maintaining the item in said plasma for a time period sufficient to effect sterilization by said active species of said residual hydrogen peroxide.
- 11. A process of removing residual hydogen peroxide from items which have been sterilized by exposure to hydrogen peroxide which comprises placing said sterile item containing residual hydrogen peroxide into a plasma chamber and generating a plasma around said item for a period of time sufficient to decompose said residual hydrogen peroxide into nontoxic decomposition products.
Specification