Method and apparatus for rapid sterilization of material
First Claim
1. An assembly for use in sterilizing at least one object by vapor under pressure, including:
- a collapsible pouch comprising flexible vapor-impermeable sheet material forming an interior and a sealable opening into said interior through which said at least one object can be introduced into said interior, said sheet material including a first wall portion comprising microwave electromagnetic radiation shield material substantially surrounding and defining a first interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is adapted to receive said at least one object and which is maintained substantially free from microwave electromagnetic radiation during irradiation of said pouch by microwave irradiating means, and a second wall portion comprising microwave electromagnetic radiation transparent material substantially surrounding and defining a second interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is exposed to microwave electromagnetic radiation during irradiation of said pouch by microwave irradiating means; and
means for positioning said pouch such that said first shielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch that is substantially free of radiation during irradiation is elevated to a position that is higher than said second unshielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is exposed to said radiation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for rapidly sterilizing material including articles such as dental handpieces include introducing the article and liquid sterilant solution into a collapsible pouch formed of vapor-impermeable sheet material, sealing the collapsible pouch to form a gas-tight assembly, and vaporizing the liquid sterilant solution by heating it to produce an atmosphere of hot sterilant vapor. The liquid sterilant is introduced into the pouch in a quantity sufficient to create an overpressure when vaporized which is indicated by the collapsible pouch expanding to a distended condition. In one embodiment, the liquid sterilant solution is vaporized by irradiating the gas-tight assembly with microwave radiation in which case the material is sterilized under the combined effects of chemical vapor and microwave irradiation. In other embodiments particularly suited for sterilizing material comprising a plurality of articles, the at least one article is surrounded by shielding, which may be separate from or integrated with the pouch, and which may be provided on or in, i.e. as part of, the sheet material forming the pouch, which presents a barrier to the transmission of microwave radiation. The pouch containing the shielded article or articles and liquid sterilant is sealed and the gas-tight assembly is irradiated with microwave radiation to vaporize the sterilant whereupon the article or articles are sterilized under the effect of chemical vapor.
23 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An assembly for use in sterilizing at least one object by vapor under pressure, including:
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a collapsible pouch comprising flexible vapor-impermeable sheet material forming an interior and a sealable opening into said interior through which said at least one object can be introduced into said interior, said sheet material including a first wall portion comprising microwave electromagnetic radiation shield material substantially surrounding and defining a first interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is adapted to receive said at least one object and which is maintained substantially free from microwave electromagnetic radiation during irradiation of said pouch by microwave irradiating means, and a second wall portion comprising microwave electromagnetic radiation transparent material substantially surrounding and defining a second interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is exposed to microwave electromagnetic radiation during irradiation of said pouch by microwave irradiating means; and means for positioning said pouch such that said first shielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch that is substantially free of radiation during irradiation is elevated to a position that is higher than said second unshielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is exposed to said radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for sterilizing at least one object by vapor under pressure, comprising:
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a collapsible pouch formed of flexible vapor-impermeable sheet material; said flexible sheet material including a first wall portion comprising microwave electromagnetic radiation shield means substantially surrounding a first interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is thereby shielded from microwave electromagnetic radiation, said sheet material of said pouch including a second wall portion comprising material transparent to microwave radiation substantially surrounding a second non-shielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch; said first shielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch adapted to receive said at least one object; said second non-shielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch adapted to receive a quantity of liquid; said collapsible pouch being sealable after receiving said at least one object and said liquid to form a gas-tight assembly; said liquid contained within said pouch being of a quantity sufficient to create an overpressure within said gas-tight assembly when vaporized, indicated by said collapsible pouch expanding to a distended condition; means for irradiating said gas-tight assembly with microwave electromagnetic radiation to vaporize said liquid to produce an atmosphere of hot vapor under pressure in said gas-tight assembly with said shield means presenting a barrier to transmission of substantial microwave electromagnetic radiation to said at least on object thereby preventing arcing or sparking and; means for positioning said gas-tight assembly during irradiation such that said first shielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch that is substantially free of said radiation is elevated to a position that is higher than said second unshielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is exposed to said radiation, whereby upon irradiating said gas-tight assembly with microwave electromagnetic radiation, said at least one object situated in said first interior portion of said pouch is substantially entirely shielded from said radiation, and said liquid situated in said second interior portion is exposed to said radiation whereupon it is heated and then vaporized thereby, whereupon the vapor moves into said first shielded interior portion of said pouch in which some of said vapor may condense whereupon the condensate then flows downwardly under gravity into said second unshielded interior portion of said pouch in which it is revaporized, whereupon said at least one object is sterilized under the effect of vapor under pressure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for sterilizing at least one object by vapor under pressure, comprising:
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a gas-tight collapsible pouch formed of flexible vapor-impermeable sheet material at least partially transparent to microwave electromagnetic radiation, said pouch having a sealable opening through which said at least one object can be introduced into the interior thereof; liquid receivable within said pouch in a quantity sufficient such that when said pouch opening is sealed and said liquid is vaporized, an overpressure is created within said gas-tight pouch which causes said pouch to expand to a visually-apparent distended condition; means for irradiating said gas-tight pouch with microwave electromagnetic radiation to vaporize said liquid to produce an atmosphere of hot vapor under pressure in said gas-tight pouch which expands said collapsible pouch to a visually-apparent distended condition; shielding means associated with said collapsible pouch for dividing the interior of said pouch into a first shielded interior portion which is substantially free of said microwave electromagnetic radiation during irradiation of said gas-tight pouch by said irradiating means and a second unshielded interior portion which is exposed to said microwave electromagnetic radiation during irradiation of said gas-tight pouch by said irradiating means, said first interior portion being receivable of said at least one object to be sterilized and said second interior portion being receivable of said liquid, and means for positioning said gas-tight pouch during irradiation such that said first shielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch that is substantially free of said radiation is elevated to a position higher than said second unshielded interior portion of said collapsible pouch which is exposed to said radiation; whereby upon irradiating said gas-tight pouch with microwave electromagnetic radiation, said at least one object situated in said first interior portion of said pouch is substantially entirely shielded from said radiation, and said liquid situated in said second interior portion is exposed to said radiation whereupon it is heated and then vaporized thereby, whereupon the vapor moves into said first shielded interior portion of said pouch in which some of said vapor may condense whereupon the condensate then flows downwardly under gravity into said second unshielded interior portion of said pouch in which it is revaporized, whereupon said at least one object is sterilized under the effect of vapor under pressure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification