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Vapor sterilization

  • US 6,036,918 A
  • Filed: 03/17/1993
  • Issued: 03/14/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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:

  • (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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