Autoclave and method for treating regulated medical waste using injection of bursts of stream

摘要

A steam autoclave for treating Regulated Medical Waste that uses a condensate drainage system that provides for condensate drainage while the steam autoclave chamber remains pressurized during the steam treatment cycle to create pressure variations in the autoclave which are used to initiate the introduction of repeated bursts of steam into the waste during the steam treatment cycle. The repeated bursts of steam into the autoclave during the steam treatment cycle agitates the steam and waste contained in the autoclave, thereby enhancing steam penetration into the waste being treated and thereby enhancing biological kill efficacy.

主权项

1. A method of treating Regulated Medical Waste in an autoclave for treating Regulated Medical Waste, comprising the steps of
(a) placing Regulated Medical Waste to be treated into a sterilization chamber of the autoclave, (b) removing air from the sterilization chamber, (c) feeding steam into the sterilization chamber until a selected first pressure level is reached and then discontinuing feeding the steam into the sterilization chamber when the selected first pressure level is reached, (d) heating the sterilization chamber and the Regulated Medical Waste contained therein with the steam for a desired period of time, (e) drawing a vacuum in the sterilization chamber, (f) feeding steam into the sterilization chamber again until the selected first pressure level is reached and then discontinuing feeding steam into the sterilization chamber when the selected first pressure level is reached, (g) heating the sterilization chamber and the Regulated Medical Waste contained therein again for a desired period of time, (h) drawing a vacuum in the sterilization chamber again, and (i) during either or both of steps (d) and (g), draining condensate from the sterilization chamber, sensing a pressure drop in the sterilization chamber caused by the condensate draining while the sterilization chamber is pressurized, and automatically feeding additional steam into the sterilization chamber when the pressure drop reaches a second selected pressure level and continuing to do so until the selected first pressure level in the sterilization chamber is reached again.