Process for the plasma sterilization of dielectric objects comprising a hollow part

摘要

There is provided a process for sterilizing a dielectric contaminated object having at least one hollow part. The process comprises (a) producing a plasma by submitting a gas or a mixture of gases to an electromagnetic field; (b) treating the exterior of the object by means of an after-glow of the plasma; and (c) treating the at least one hollow part of the object by means of a discharge of the plasma, the discharge being produced inside the at least one hollow part. Step (c) is carried out before or after step (b). This process is particularly useful for sterilizing various medical or dental instruments. There is also provided a device for carrying such a process.