Method of microwave sterilizing a metallic surgical instrument while preventing arcing
First Claim
1. A method of sterilizing a metallic object with microwaves while preventing arcing of the metallic object, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing said metallic object within a volume of space defined by a surface of material, wherein said surface comprises a microwave-to-heat transducer that comprises a first susceptor material and a microwave absorbing material positioned between said first susceptor material and said volume of space;
exposing said surface of material to microwave radiation;
converting a portion of said microwave radiation exposing said surface of material to radiant thermal energy within said volume of space;
exposing said metallic object to said radiant thermal energy in an amount sufficient to sterilize said metallic object; and
preventing substantially all of said microwave radiation impinging on said surface of material from entering said volume of space.
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Abstract
The present invention concerns a container for preventing arcing of a metal object placed therein and subjected to microwave radiation. The surgical instrument container has a first surface having an exterior surface and a support surface and a second surface attached to the bottom having an exterior surface and an inner surface facing the first surface. The support surface and the inner surface define a volume of space into which the surgical instrument is placed therein. The inner surface has a microwave-to-heat transducer that absorbs microwave radiation impinging on the exterior surface of the second surface and converts the absorbed microwave radiation to radiant energy. The microwave-to-heat transducer also prevents substantially all of the microwave radiation impinging on the exterior surface of the second surface from entering the volume of space.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of sterilizing a metallic object with microwaves while preventing arcing of the metallic object, said method comprising the steps of:
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placing said metallic object within a volume of space defined by a surface of material, wherein said surface comprises a microwave-to-heat transducer that comprises a first susceptor material and a microwave absorbing material positioned between said first susceptor material and said volume of space; exposing said surface of material to microwave radiation; converting a portion of said microwave radiation exposing said surface of material to radiant thermal energy within said volume of space; exposing said metallic object to said radiant thermal energy in an amount sufficient to sterilize said metallic object; and preventing substantially all of said microwave radiation impinging on said surface of material from entering said volume of space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification