초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for vapor sterilization of articles such as medical devices and instruments with lumens. The lumens are connected in a sterilization chamber to a conduit which leads to an exhaust flow restrictor, which exhausts to a vacuum pump. The exhaust flow restrictor has a bypass also

An apparatus and method for vapor sterilization of articles such as medical devices and instruments with lumens. The lumens are connected in a sterilization chamber to a conduit which leads to an exhaust flow restrictor, which exhausts to a vacuum pump. The exhaust flow restrictor has a bypass also which exhausts to the vacuum pump. The majority of the gas from the sterilization chamber flows through the bypass on the exhaust flow restrictor while only a portion of the gas flows through the lumen. Because most of the gas flows through the bypass rather than through the lumens, the sterilization chamber can be pumped down rapidly. The attached lumens are sterilized effectively in spite of the rapid pumpdown rate.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [21.] A method for sterilizing the interior and exterior of a device with at least two open ends and a flow path therebetween, comprising the steps of:(a) placing said device into a sterilization chamber having an exhaust port;(b) connecting one of said open ends of said devic

[ What is claimed is:] [21.] A method for sterilizing the interior and exterior of a device with at least two open ends and a flow path therebetween, comprising the steps of:(a) placing said device into a sterilization chamber having an exhaust port;(b) connecting one of said open ends of said device to a first end of a gas and vapor flow conduit having a first and second end, the second end of which is connected to a first flow path of a vapor exhaust flow restrictor having at least two flow paths, said first flow path of said vapor exhaust flow restrictor allowing exhaust flow out of said sterilization chamber through a vacuum valve and vacuum source;(c) introducing a liquid or vapor sterilant into said sterilization chamber;(d) exposing said device to negative pressure with the use of said vacuum source for a time sufficient to provide sterilization vapor directly to the interior and exterior of said device, wherein said exposing can be before or after said introducing in step (c);(e) exposing said device to negative pressure with the use of said vacuum source to create a negative pressure differential at said exhaust port of said sterilization chamber and the use of said vapor exhaust flow restrictor for a time sufficient so that part of said sterilization vapor flows through said flow path of said device to sterilize said devices, through said gas and vapor flow conduit, and out of said sterilization chamber and the remainder of said sterilization vapor flows directly out of said sterilization chamber without passing through said gas and vapor flow conduit and said flow path of said device.