Liquid/vapor sterilization container systems
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for sterilization of articles using liquid sterilant, comprising:
- a container for holding articles to be sterilized;
a bottom surface in said container;
at least one well formed in said bottom surface which defines a known volume, said well having a lip over which excess liquid in said well will flow to said claim thereby determining said known volume;
a drain on said bottom surface, through which liquid on said bottom surface will drain; and
wherein said well is positioned so that when said liquid sterilant is introduced onto said bottom surface, a known volume of said liquid sterilant fills said well and when said liquid sterilant is drained from said surface, said known volume of liquid sterilant remains in said well so that a subsequent sterilization process can be performed on said articles positioned in said container with said known volume of liquid sterilant; and
a heat source or a vacuum source for vaporizing the liquid sterilant in said well.
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Abstract
A tray and process for hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization of medical articles. The tray includes a bottom surface and side walls defining a space to receive articles to be sterilized. The bottom surface of the tray includes a number of inlet passages and wells with a known volume. In the process of the present invention, articles to be sterilized are placed in the tray, and aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide is delivered into the tray. When the excess hydrogen peroxide is drained through the inlet passages, a known volume of peroxide remains in the wells. Such remaining hydrogen peroxide is then vaporized to achieve sterilization.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sterilization of articles using liquid sterilant, comprising:
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a container for holding articles to be sterilized; a bottom surface in said container; at least one well formed in said bottom surface which defines a known volume, said well having a lip over which excess liquid in said well will flow to said claim thereby determining said known volume; a drain on said bottom surface, through which liquid on said bottom surface will drain; and wherein said well is positioned so that when said liquid sterilant is introduced onto said bottom surface, a known volume of said liquid sterilant fills said well and when said liquid sterilant is drained from said surface, said known volume of liquid sterilant remains in said well so that a subsequent sterilization process can be performed on said articles positioned in said container with said known volume of liquid sterilant; and a heat source or a vacuum source for vaporizing the liquid sterilant in said well. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for sterilization of an article comprising:
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placing said article in a container; providing said container with a bottom surface having one or more wells formed therein, each of said wells defining a known volume; introducing liquid sterilant onto said bottom surface, thereby filling said one or more wells with said known volume of sterilant; draining said liquid sterilant through a drain on said bottom surface, whereby said known volume of liquid sterilant remains in said one or more wells; and vaporizing said known volume of sterilant in said one or more wells, thereby sterilizing said article using the vaporized liquid sterilant. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification