METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR VAPOUR PHASE STERILISATION

摘要

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for sterilising a sealable enclosure (10) comprising a circuit (11) for flow of a sterilising gas or gasses. The circuit is connected to the enclosure to be sterilised to form a closed circuit and pumps (19, 20) to circulate gas through the circuit and enclosure. The circuit has parallel branches (17, 18) one of which contains means (22) to deactivate a sterilant to be added to the carrier gas flowing through the circuit and means (23) to dehumidify the gas. The other branch contains means (25) to heat the gas and means (26) to supply a sterilant vapour or vapours to the gas. Control apparatus determines which of the parallel branches the gas flows through, the control apparatus including means (14) to determine the relative humidity of the gas exiting the enclosure maintains flow through said one branch passage until the relative humidity falls below a predetermined level and then to terminate flow through that branch and to initiate flow through the other branch and means (16) to measure condensation in the enclosure to close said other branch and to open said one branch when the required amount of condensation has built up in the enclosure.