Electromagnetic wave sterilization

• US 9,089,623 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maguffin Microwave, LLC
• Original Assignee: Maguffin Microwave, LLC
• Inventors: Michalik, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chorbaji, Monzer R
• Application Number:
  US13/894,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20130315785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 422 21- 24, 422/28, 422/295, 422/300, 422/307, 250/432.R, 250/455.11, 250/492.1, 250/505.1, 600/133, 604/533
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/12 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/18 Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking

Abstract

An apparatus for sterilizing a fluid fitting includes a microwave source disposed in a shielded chamber, a pressure chamber inside the shielded chamber for receiving the luer lock and a sterilizing medium. The pressure chamber is in microwave communication with the microwave source. The apparatus also includes mechanical fluid clamps at each end of the pressure chamber for enabling pressurization of the pressure chamber.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sterilizing a fluid fitting, said apparatus comprising a microwave source disposed in a shielded chamber, a pressure chamber inside said shielded chamber for receiving said luer lock and a sterilizing medium, said pressure chamber being in microwave communication with said microwave source, mechanical fluid clamps at each end of said pressure chamber for enabling pressurization of said pressure chamber, and a low-pass filter disposed to suppress leakage of microwave radiation, wherein said low-pass filter comprises a microwave choke having an outer ring shielded by a dielectric material loaded with a material selected from the group consisting of iron and carbon.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a phase-change material disposed under said microwave source for absorbing energy from said shielded chamber for disposal outside said shielded chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an infra-red temperature sensor to monitor a temperature of said sterilizing medium within said pressure chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mode stirrer for dithering a spatial location of a focal point of said microwave energy within said pressure chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microwave choke comprises joints filled with a dielectric material having a dielectric constant relative to free space of at least fifteen.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dielectric material is loaded with iron but not carbon.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dielectric material is loaded with carbon but not iron.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microwave source comprises a self-oscillating transistor.

9. An apparatus for sterilizing a fluid fitting, said apparatus comprising a microwave source disposed in a shielded chamber, a pressure chamber inside said shielded chamber for receiving said luer lock and a sterilizing medium, said pressure chamber being in microwave communication with said microwave source, mechanical fluid clamps at each end of said pressure chamber for enabling pressurization of said pressure chamber, and an infra-red temperature sensor to monitor a temperature of said sterilizing medium within said pressure chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a phase-change material disposed under said microwave source for absorbing energy from said shielded chamber for disposal outside said shielded chamber.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a mode stirrer for dithering a spatial location of a focal point of said microwave energy within said pressure chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a low-pass filter disposed to suppress leakage of microwave radiation.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said low-pass filter comprises a microwave choke having joints filled with a dielectric material having a dielectric constant relative to free space of at least fifteen.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said microwave source comprises a self-oscillating transistor.

15. An apparatus for sterilizing a fluid fitting, said apparatus comprising a microwave source disposed in a shielded chamber, a pressure chamber inside said shielded chamber for receiving said luer lock and a sterilizing medium, said pressure chamber being in microwave communication with said microwave source, mechanical fluid clamps at each end of said pressure chamber for enabling pressurization of said pressure chamber, and a mode stirrer for dithering a spatial location of a focal point of said microwave energy within said pressure chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a phase-change material disposed under said microwave source for absorbing energy from said shielded chamber for disposal outside said shielded chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a low-pass filter disposed to suppress leakage of microwave radiation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said low-pass filter comprises a microwave choke having joints filled with a dielectric material having a dielectric constant relative to free space of at least fifteen.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said low-pass filter comprises a microwave choke having an outer ring shielded by a dielectric material loaded with a material selected from the group consisting of iron and carbon.