Sterilization system and device

摘要

A system, device and method for sterilizing or decontaminating an object that by exposing the object to a sterilant gas comprised of one or more oxides of nitrogen, such as NO, NO2, NO3, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5, N2O and mixtures thereof. The source of the sterilant gas can be generated from a sterilant gas-generating composition or provided by a source of the sterilant gas.

主权项

1. A method for sterilizing an object in a gas-tight sterilizing chamber comprising:
generating a sterilant gas comprising a selected amount of NO2 in a gas generating chamber; opening a fluid communication path between the gas generating chamber and a sterilizing chamber to allow a selected amount of the sterilant gas to flow into the sterilizing chamber; exposing the object to the selected amount of the sterilant gas for a time period sufficient for the selected amount of NO2 to sterilize the object in the presence of humidity in the range of 40-80%; and recirculating the selected amount of the sterilant gas through the sterilizing chamber during the exposing.