Vapor sterilization
First Claim
1. A process for sterilizing a load of items to be disinfected by exposure to peracid sterilant vapor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing a load comprising items to be disinfected into a sterilization chamber adapted to contain and confine a sterilizing atmosphere;
(b) introducing an amount of peracid sterilant vapor into the sterilization chamber at a pressure below atmospheric pressure;
(c) introducing a quantity of a non-interfering gas, the gas being of a type which does not interfere with the sterilization procedure, to increase the pressure in the chamber to a value above that at which the chamber was after the peracid sterilant vapor was introduced but below atmospheric pressure, and forming, with the peracid sterilization vapor, a sterilization atmosphere; and
(d) exposing the load to the sterilization atmosphere for a desired period of time to sterilize the load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses the use of peracid vapor as a sterilant. A process is disclosed for sterilizing a load by exposure to peracid vapor, the load being disposed in a sterilization chamber adapted to contain the peracid vapor, including the steps of exposing the load to the peracid vapor in the sterilization chamber at reduced pressure, i.e., below atmospheric pressure and introducing a quantity of another gas, the gas being of a type which does not interfere with the sterilization procedure, to increase the pressure in the chamber to a value above that at which the chamber was when the peracid vapor alone was present but below atmospheric pressure, whereby the penetration of any vapor penetrable portions of the load to be sterilized by the peracid vapor is enhanced.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A process for sterilizing a load of items to be disinfected by exposure to peracid sterilant vapor, comprising the steps of:
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(a) introducing a load comprising items to be disinfected into a sterilization chamber adapted to contain and confine a sterilizing atmosphere; (b) introducing an amount of peracid sterilant vapor into the sterilization chamber at a pressure below atmospheric pressure; (c) introducing a quantity of a non-interfering gas, the gas being of a type which does not interfere with the sterilization procedure, to increase the pressure in the chamber to a value above that at which the chamber was after the peracid sterilant vapor was introduced but below atmospheric pressure, and forming, with the peracid sterilization vapor, a sterilization atmosphere; and (d) exposing the load to the sterilization atmosphere for a desired period of time to sterilize the load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 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, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. The process according to 41 wherein the partial pressure is about 10-15 torr.
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43. A process for sterilizing a load of items to be sterilized by exposure to peracid sterilant vapor, comprising the steps of:
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(a) introducing a load comprising items to be sterilized into a sterilization chamber adapted to contain and confine a sterilizing atmosphere; (b) generating an amount of peracid sterilant vapor in a manner such that it is introduced into the cterilization chamber at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, wherein the peracid is selected from the group consisting of peracetic acid (peroxyacetic acid), performic acid (peroxyformic acid), perpropionic acid (peroxypropionic acid), perfluoroperacetic acid, perfluoroperpropionic acid, perfluoroperbutyric acid, and mixtures thereof; (c) introducing a quantity of a non-interfering gas, the gas being of a type which does not interfere with the sterilization procedure, to increase the pressure in the chamber to a value from about 50 to 650 torr but above that at which the chamber was after the peracid sterilant vapor was introduced but below atmospheric pressure, and forming, with the peracids sterilization vapor, a sterilization atmosphere; (d) exposing the load to the sterilization atmosphere for a desired period of time to sterilize the load; and (e) removing the sterilant vapor by vacuum after exposure of the load for the desired period of time. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A process for sterilizing a load of items to be sterilized by exposure to peracid sterilant vapor, comprising the steps of:
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(a) introducing a load comprising items to be sterilized into a sterilization chamber adapted to contain and confine a sterilizing atmosphere wherein the sterilization chamber is connected to a vaporization chamber; (b) generating the peracid sterilant vapor in the vaporization chamber maintained at a pressure below atmospheric and allowing it to pass into the sterilization chamber; (c) maintaining the sterilization chamber at a pressure equal to or less than that of the vaporization chamber during introduction of the peracid sterilant vapor; (d) wherein the peracid is selected from the group consisting of peracetic acid (peroxyacetic acid), performic acid (peroxyformic acid), perpropionic acid (peroxypropionic acid), perfluoroperacetic acid, perfluoroperpropionic acid, perfluoroperbutyric acid, and mixtures thereof; (e) introducing a quantity of a non-interfering gas, the gas being of a type which does not interfere with the sterilization procedure, to increase the pressure in the chamber to a value between about 50 and 650 torr but above that at which the chamber was after the peracid sterilant vapor was introduced but below atmospheric pressure, and forming, with the peracid sterilization vapor, a sterilization atmosphere; and (f) exposing the load to the sterilization atmosphere for a desired period of time to sterilize the load; and (g) removing the sterilant vapor by vacuum after exposure of the load for the desired period of time. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification