Process for dry sterilization of medical devices and materials
First Claim
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1. A method for sterilization of medical devices and materials comprising the steps of:
- placing said devices and materials within a gas-tight confining chamber, at least a portion of said chamber being formed from non-metallic material,evacuating said chamber to a substantially low pressure and introducing a gas into said chamber,initiating a microwave discharge in said gas to create a gas plasma within said chamber by application of microwave energy to a microwave cavity located at one end of said chamber remote from and not encompassing said devices and materials, thereby creating a substantially field-free zone away from said cavity, said field-free zone containing said devices and materials whereby said devices and materials are contacted by a 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 andwithdrawing the said devices and materials from said chamber.
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Abstract
A process for dry sterilization of medical devices and materials in which these materials are subjected to an electrical discharge in a gaseous atmosphere to produce an active plasma for surface sterilization of the devices and materials.
86 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for sterilization of medical devices and materials comprising the steps of:
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placing said devices and materials within a gas-tight confining chamber, at least a portion of said chamber being formed from non-metallic material, evacuating said chamber to a substantially low pressure and introducing a gas into said chamber, initiating a microwave discharge in said gas to create a gas plasma within said chamber by application of microwave energy to a microwave cavity located at one end of said chamber remote from and not encompassing said devices and materials, thereby creating a substantially field-free zone away from said cavity, said field-free zone containing said devices and materials whereby said devices and materials are contacted by a 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 and withdrawing the said devices and materials from said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification