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Forced hot air sterilizing method and apparatus

  • US 6,039,926 A
  • Filed: 04/16/1997
  • Issued: 03/21/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A table-top apparatus for sterilizing medical or dental instruments or other small professional or domestic instruments that may require occasional or periodic sterilization, comprising:

  • a. a housing defining a chamber therein and constructed and arranged to receive air heated to at least a predetermined sterilizing temperature, said housing having a greater height than width so as to occupy a minimal amount of space on said table-top;

    b. support means for supporting instruments to be sterilized within said chamber;

    c. an air inlet to permit air from outside the housing to be drawn into said chamber;

    d. heater means for heating said air to the sterilizing temperature;

    e. blower means for forcing heated air and outside air into said chamber at different times, whereby heated air and outside air sequentially are forced into contact with said instruments, said heated air sterilizing said instruments located in said chamber;

    f. means for exhausting said heated air and said outside air sequentially from said chamber and from said housing; and

    g. timer means connected to said heater means and said blower means for receiving data input by a user defining a characteristic heating interval and a characteristic cooling interval, for switching the heater means from an on state to an off state after the heater means has been in the on state for a period of time substantially equal to the characteristic heating interval, and for switching the blower means from an on state to an off state after the blower means has been in the on state for a period of time substantially equal to the characteristic heating interval plus the characteristic cooling interval.

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