Optimum hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method
First Claim
1. A sterilization method comprising:
- injecting a hydrogen peroxide and water vapor mixture into a closed sterilization chamber having a predetermined volume at a predetermined temperature in an initial amount approaching the saturation limit of said vapor mixture in said chamber at said temperature and said volume; and
,thereafter, injecting a plurality of intermittent make-up injections of said vapor mixture into said chamber, said make-up injections being at a rate and each said make-up injection being in a variable amount necessary to maintain the concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor at a level effective for sterilization but less than that concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor which would raise the concentration of said vapor mixture to the saturation limit which will be present in said chamber immediately following injection of such make-up injection at said temperature.
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Abstract
A sterilization method including the steps of injecting a hydrogen peroxide and water vapor mixture into a closed sterilization chamber of a predetermined volume at a predetermined temperature in an initial amount up to the saturation limit of such vapor mixture and thereafter, injecting a plurality of intermittent make-up injections of such vapor mixture into the chamber. The rate of the make-up injections and the amount of each such make-up injection is based on the rate and amounts necessary to maintain the concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor at a level effective for sterilization but less than that which would raise the concentration of the vapor mixture to the saturation limit which will be present in the chamber immediately following injection of a make-up injection.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A sterilization method comprising:
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injecting a hydrogen peroxide and water vapor mixture into a closed sterilization chamber having a predetermined volume at a predetermined temperature in an initial amount approaching the saturation limit of said vapor mixture in said chamber at said temperature and said volume; and
,thereafter, injecting a plurality of intermittent make-up injections of said vapor mixture into said chamber, said make-up injections being at a rate and each said make-up injection being in a variable amount necessary to maintain the concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor at a level effective for sterilization but less than that concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor which would raise the concentration of said vapor mixture to the saturation limit which will be present in said chamber immediately following injection of such make-up injection at said temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification