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Decontamination system including environmental control using a decontaminating substance

  • US 9,017,607 B2
  • Filed: 05/23/2012
  • Issued: 04/28/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for decontaminating a medical device, the system comprising:

  • a decontamination chamber configured to retain the medical device;

    a chemical dispersion assembly configured to deliver a decontaminating fluid containing peracetic acid to the decontamination chamber;

    a pressure control assembly connected to the decontamination chamber and configured to control the pressure in the decontamination chamber; and

    a system controller configured to control the decontamination chamber, chemical dispersion assembly, and pressure control assembly to;

    reduce a pressure in the decontamination chamber to within a sub-atmospheric pressure range in a first evacuation step;

    add a decontaminating fluid into the decontamination chamber at a first rate while increasing the pressure in the decontamination chamber, wherein adding the decontaminating fluid increases a relative humidity in the decontamination chamber to a level that improves the efficacy of the decontaminating fluid;

    immediately following the addition of the decontaminating fluid at the first rate, add the decontaminating fluid into the decontamination chamber at a second rate higher than the first rate while increasing the pressure in the decontamination chamber to within a hold pressure range;

    hold the decontaminating fluid in the decontamination chamber for a hold time within the hold pressure range;

    reduce the pressure in the decontamination chamber after the hold time to within the sub-atmospheric pressure range in a second evacuation step; and

    vent the decontamination chamber to atmospheric pressure, wherein after the addition of the decontaminating fluid at the first rate and before the addition of the decontaminating fluid at the second rate, the relative humidity in the decontamination chamber is between about 50% and about 90%.

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