| 摘要 |
The present invention concerns an apparatus and a method for sterilization of at least one item with ozone gas. The method includes the steps of providing a housing having a sterilization chamber in which at least one item is placed; providing said at least one item with a first electrical potential; and supplying water vapour to said sterilization chamber. An oxygen containing gas is electrostatically ionized to a second electrical potential in a ionization unit. Based on said electrostatically ionized oxygen containing gas ionized ozone gas is generated in an ozone generator; said ionized ozone gas is supplied to said sterilization chamber for attracting said ionized ozone gas to the surfaces of said at least one charged item; and said at least one item is exposed to the ionized ozone gas for a predetermined time period. Said apparatus and method provides for a rapid, safe and inexpensive sterilization. A substantial increase in sterilization efficiency is achieved because the ionized ozone gas is able to make contact with the items to be sterilized on all available surfaces, even small or complex surfaces, due to the electrical potential difference between an item and the ionized ozone gas. Due to the relatively low temperatures and pressures being utilized by the method according to the invention, the sterilized equipment will exhibit reduced deformations and wear, and the item is ready for use substantially immediately after sterilization. This is especially advantageous when sterilizing complex medical devices such as ultrasound transducers and endoscopes, because the sterilization wear of these devices have been reduced significantly, which results in longer durability of these often very costly devices, which effectively reduces their operational cost. Indeed, even other non-medical types of equipment such as reusable hygienic articles may be sterilized effectively by the present invention.
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