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Process and apparatus for dry sterilization of medical devices and materials

  • US 4,818,488 A
  • Filed: 07/14/1987
  • Issued: 04/04/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for sterilization of medical devices and material comprising the steps of,placing said devices and materials within a metallic perforated electrode, generally cylindrical in shape, said electrode being positioned within, and generally concentric with, a gas-tight confining chamber, said chamber being generally cylindrical, formed from metal and connected to a point of potential reference,evacuating said chamber to a substantially low pressure and introducing a gas consisting of argon, or helium, or a mixture thereof, into said chamber,initiating an electrical discharge in said gas within said chamber by application of RF voltage between said internal perforated electrode and the metal chamber wall, creating a gas plasma, having a substantially field free and glowless volume within the perforated electrode containing said devices and materials, whereby said devices and materials are contacted by substantially electrically neutral active species at a temperature below that which would be detrimental to said devices and materials,maintaining said gas plasma for a controlled period of time,maintaining a flow of said gas through said chamber during said electrical discharge;

  • andevacuating the gas plasma residual gases from said chamber prior to withdrawing said devices and material from it.

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