METHOD OF PERFORMING STERILIZATION CYCLE

摘要

A method of sterilizing articles, using a low-vapor-pressure sterilant in a compact sterilizer, including a pre-pulse injection of sterilant to condition a sterilization chamber.

主权项

1. A method of sterilizing articles using a low-vapor-pressure sterilant, comprising the steps of:
a. evacuating a closed chamber containing an article to a pressure P1 below atmospheric pressure; b. injecting a predetermined amount of sterilant into said chamber sufficient to establish a desired initial level of sterilant into said chamber; c. evacuating said closed chamber to approximately pressure P1; d. introducing only a sterilant vapor into the closed chamber in an amount effective to raise the pressure in the chamber to a predetermined second subatmospheric pressure P2; e. allowing the introduced amount of sterilant vapor to diffuse throughout the closed chamber and into the article for a predetermined period of time which is less than or equal to twice the half-life of the sterilant vapor in the chamber; f. introducing a compression gas into the closed chamber in an amount effective to raise the pressure in the chamber to a third subatmospheric pressure P3 in a compression time period, wherein the third pressure is substantially greater than the second pressure and wherein the pressure differential between the third pressure and the second pressure is effective to drive the diffused sterilant vapor further into the article than the vapor has diffused such that the sterilant vapor substantially penetrates the article; and g. repeating steps (c) through (f) until sterilization of the article is achieved.