초록 ▼

A process, system and pressure chamber for the automated sterilization of articles, particularly medical or dental instruments is disclosed, which is simple to use and economically efficient by comparison with conventional autoclaves and steam sterilizing system. Steam is generated by the pulsed inj

A process, system and pressure chamber for the automated sterilization of articles, particularly medical or dental instruments is disclosed, which is simple to use and economically efficient by comparison with conventional autoclaves and steam sterilizing system. Steam is generated by the pulsed injection of a controlled quantity of water into a heated boiler whenever it runs dry. The boiler is coupled in a closed-loop system to a relatively small pressure chamber in the form of a cassette that is readily inserted and removed from a holder connecting the chamber to a steam inlet conduit and a venting conduit, the latter being closed off during pressurization of the chamber. By automated monitoring of the boiler and chamber temperatures, conditions in the chamber are measured and the boiler and valves in the system controlled to effect a sterilization cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for producing a vapor from a liquid comprising: boiler means for vaporizing said liquid, pump means for supplying discrete doses of said liquid to said boiler means, control means for detecting when substantially all of said liquid supplied to said boiler means has been vaporized comprisin

Apparatus for producing a vapor from a liquid comprising: boiler means for vaporizing said liquid, pump means for supplying discrete doses of said liquid to said boiler means, control means for detecting when substantially all of said liquid supplied to said boiler means has been vaporized comprising a temperature sensing means fixed within the boiler for detecting an abrupt increase in temperature as a function of time and means for causing said pump means to supply a said dose of said liquid to said boiler means in response to the abrupt increase in temperature as a function of time from the temperature sensing means whereby heating power available to said boiler is maximally employed in the production of said vapor.