MEDICAL STERILIZER

摘要

A steam sterilizer (10) operable under various pressures and temperatures above ambient. The sterilizer (10) has a chamber (25) in valved communication with a surrounding jacket (30). Steam is input into the jacket (30) and removed from the chamber (25) through parallel valved circuits. The jacket (30) is desirably of larger volume than the chamber (25) to provide a step change in chamber temperature at cycle startup. Steam flow between the jacket (30) and chamber (25) is controllable at variable flow rates by manipulation of inlet (36, 40) and exhaust valves (34, 38) in combination to maintain the temperature or pressure setpoint with a fast response and without significant setpoint overshoot.