Method and apparatus for sterilizing articles
First Claim
1. A method for sterilizing at least one article by vapor under pressure comprising the steps of:
- providing an expandable pouch formed of flexible, vapor-impermeable sheet material, said expandable pouch existing in a collapsed condition in its normal state and having the ability to expand to a visually apparent substantially distended condition;
introducing at least one article to be sterilized into said pouch while said pouch is in said collapsed condition;
introducing a quantity of liquid into said pouch while said pouch is in said collapsed condition, said quantity of liquid being sufficient so that when said pouch is sealed to form a gas-tight assembly and said liquid is vaporized, an over-pressure is created within said pouch which will expand said pouch to said visually apparent substantially distended condition;
sealing said pouch to form a gas-tight assembly;
vaporizing said liquid to produce an atmosphere of hot vapor under pressure in said gas-tight assembly so that said pouch expands from said collapsed condition to said visually apparent substantially distended condition under the effect of said pressure; and
verifying that an atmosphere of hot vapor under pressure exists in said gas-tight assembly by utilizing the expansion of said pouch as an indication thereof;
whereby said at least one article situated within said gas-tight assembly is sterilized under the effect of vapor under pressure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for sterilizing articles including introducing the article and liquid solution into a collapsible pouch formed of vapor-impermeable sheet material, sealing the collapsible pouch to form a gas-tight assembly, and heating the gas-tight assembly to vaporize the liquid solution to produce an atmosphere of hot vapor. The liquid 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 solution is vaporized by irradiating the gas-tight assembly with microwave radiation. In other embodiments particularly suited for sterilizing a plurality of metallic articles, the at least one article is surrounded by shielding, which may be separate from or integrated with the pouch, which presents a barrier to the transmission of microwave radiation. The pouch containing the shielded article or articles and liquid solution is sealed and the gas-tight assembly is irradiated with microwave radiation to vaporize the liquid whereupon the article or articles are sterilized under the effect of vapor under pressure.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for sterilizing at least one article by vapor under pressure comprising the steps of:
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providing an expandable pouch formed of flexible, vapor-impermeable sheet material, said expandable pouch existing in a collapsed condition in its normal state and having the ability to expand to a visually apparent substantially distended condition; introducing at least one article to be sterilized into said pouch while said pouch is in said collapsed condition; introducing a quantity of liquid into said pouch while said pouch is in said collapsed condition, said quantity of liquid being sufficient so that when said pouch is sealed to form a gas-tight assembly and said liquid is vaporized, an over-pressure is created within said pouch which will expand said pouch to said visually apparent substantially distended condition; sealing said pouch to form a gas-tight assembly; vaporizing said liquid to produce an atmosphere of hot vapor under pressure in said gas-tight assembly so that said pouch expands from said collapsed condition to said visually apparent substantially distended condition under the effect of said pressure; and verifying that an atmosphere of hot vapor under pressure exists in said gas-tight assembly by utilizing the expansion of said pouch as an indication thereof; whereby said at least one article situated within said gas-tight assembly is sterilized under the effect of vapor under pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification