초록 ▼

To establish predetermined humidity levels within a sterile treatment chamber, and maintain sterility, water, preferably deionized, is conducted to an evaporator outside of a container defining the treatment chamber, to be there heated to superheated steam, for example in the order of 300°C., and co

To establish predetermined humidity levels within a sterile treatment chamber, and maintain sterility, water, preferably deionized, is conducted to an evaporator outside of a container defining the treatment chamber, to be there heated to superheated steam, for example in the order of 300°C., and conducted to a bypass duct (1) in atmospheric communication with the treatment chamber (10), for mixing with the atmosphere within the treatment chamber. Preferably, the treatment chamber is surrounded by heat exchanger elements, such as electrical heating wires and/or cooling coils, the heaters being controlled to rapidly heat the treatment chamber to a temperature in the order of 180°C. during pauses of treatment for sterilizing the interior of the container, and/or maintaining temperature levels at a desired treatment level in operation. Additional gases to establish controlled atmospheres can be admitted to the interior of the treatment chamber, preferably after having passed through a heat exchanger for establishment of a desired temperature level.

대표청구항 ▼

Method of treating biological materials comprising positioning the materials in a container; providing a housing structure (11) defining a treatment chamber (10) and a bypass duct (1); introducing at least one container with the materials therein into the chamber; maintaining the temperature within

Method of treating biological materials comprising positioning the materials in a container; providing a housing structure (11) defining a treatment chamber (10) and a bypass duct (1); introducing at least one container with the materials therein into the chamber; maintaining the temperature within the chamber at a predetermined temperature level; selectively introducing gas components into the chamber; humidifying the atmosphere within the chamber to provide a predetermined humidity level within the chamber, wherein the step of providing the predetermined humidity level comprises generating sterile water vapor; cooling the water vapor to a desired temperature; controllably introducing the cooled water vapor into the bypass duct (1); mixing the cooled water vapor with the gas component; and circulating the atmosphere within the treatment chamber and the bypass duct to provide for uniformity of atmosphere and gaseous and vapor mixtures within the chamber and the bypass duct, and mixing of the components of the atmosphere and the vapor by turbulence.