System and method for recycling sterilant gas

• US 20080080999A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bondar, Douglas E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,666,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/206 Ethylene oxide

Abstract

A system for recovery and reutilization of sterilant gas mixture from a sterilizer chamber includes a storage tank in gaseous communication with a sterilizer chamber via a gas recovery assembly, wherein after sterilization the gas recovery assembly evacuates the sterilant gas mixture to the storage recovery tank. The system also includes an inert purge gas supply adapted to supply a purge gas to the sterilizer chamber after the sterilant gas mixture is withdrawn to the storage recovery tank, wherein the gas recovery assembly evacuates an additional portion of the purge gas from the sterilizer chamber to the storage tank to enrich the gas mixture for later reutilization in subsequent sterilization cycles.

Claims

1. A system for recovery of sterilant gas mixture from a sterilizer chamber comprising:

a storage tank in gaseous communication with a sterilizer chamber via a gas recovery assembly, wherein after sterilization the gas recovery assembly evacuates a sterilant gas mixture to the storage tank such that the pressure of the sterilant gas mixture is lowered; and

a purge gas supply adapted to supply a purge gas to the sterilizer chamber after the sterilant gas mixture is evacuated to the storage tank, wherein the gas recovery assembly evacuates the purge gas from the sterilizer chamber to the storage tank to further enrich the mixture of the sterilant gas mixture in the storage tank.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the storage tank has a volume larger than a volume of the sterilizer chamber.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein after the sterilant gas mixture is withdrawn to the storage tank, the storage tank is adapted to store the sterilant gas mixture at pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the purge gas is an inert gas.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the storage tank is evacuated prior to the sterilant gas mixture being withdrawn from the sterilizer chamber.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the purge gas is supplied to the sterilizer chamber to pressurize the sterilizer chamber at a pressure lower than or equal to the atmospheric pressure.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the gas recovery assembly pressurizes the sterilizer chamber at the atmospheric pressure after the purge gas is withdrawn from the sterilizer chamber to the storage tank.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein after the purge gas is withdrawn to the storage tank, the storage tank is adapted to store the mixture of the sterilant gas mixture and the purge gas at the atmospheric pressure.

9. A method for recovery of sterilant gas mixture from a sterilizer chamber, comprising the steps of:

withdrawing a sterilant gas mixture after sterilization from a sterilizer chamber via a gas recovery assembly to a storage tank such that the pressure of the sterilant gas mixture is lowered;

supplying a purge gas to the sterilizer chamber after the sterilant gas mixture is withdrawn to the storage tank; and

withdrawing the purge gas from the sterilizer chamber to the storage tank to form a mixture of the sterilant gas mixture and the purge gas.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the storage tank has a volume higher than a volume of the sterilizer chamber and wherein, during the step of withdrawing the sterilant gas mixture, the storage tank is adapted to store the sterilant gas mixture at pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the purge gas is an inert gas and wherein during the step of withdrawing the purge gas, nitrogen gas is withdrawn from the sterilizer chamber to the storage tank to form a mixture of the sterilant gas mixture and nitrogen gas.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of:

evacuating the storage tank prior to withdrawing the sterilant gas mixture from the sterilizer chamber.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of supplying the purge gas further includes supplying the purge gas to the sterilizer chamber to pressurize the sterilizer chamber at a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure.

14. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of:

pressurizing the sterilizer chamber at the atmospheric pressure after the purge gas is withdrawn from the sterilizer chamber to the storage tank.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of withdrawing the purge gas from the sterilizer chamber further includes storing the mixture of the sterilant gas mixture and the purge gas at the atmospheric pressure within the storage tank.

16. A system for recovery of sterilant gas mixture comprising:

a first sterilizer chamber in gaseous communication with a second sterilizer chamber via a gas recovery assembly, wherein after sterilization of the first sterilizer chamber the gas recovery assembly withdraws a sterilant gas mixture to the second sterilizer chamber to sterilize the second sterilizer chamber; and

a purge gas supply adapted to supply a purge gas to the first sterilizer chamber after the sterilant gas mixture is withdrawn to the second sterilizer chamber, wherein the gas recovery assembly withdraws the purge gas from the first sterilizer chamber to the second sterilizer chamber to form a mixture of the sterilant gas mixture and the purge gas.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the purge gas is an inert gas.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the second sterilizer chamber is evacuated prior to the sterilant gas mixture being withdrawn from the first sterilizer chamber.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the gas recovery assembly pressurizes the first sterilizer chamber at the atmospheric pressure after the purge gas is withdrawn from the first sterilizer chamber to the second sterilizer chamber.