LOW TEMPERATURE PLASMA STERILISING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

The invention concerns a system and a method for sterilising objects, in particular medical instruments and accessories, using gas plasma, also called ionised gas. The gases used to form said plasma do not require to exhibit an intrinsic sterilising activity. The sterilising properties result from the passage through an electric field generating the plasma, electric field which is provided by microwaves, a gas stream comprising oxygen in molecular form (O2) or as a gas element, and atomic or molecular species capable of emitting UV radiation once they have been energised. The invention provides the advantage of making it possible to treat heat-sensitive and thermolabile objects at temperatures less than 50 DEG C using gases presenting no risks for the operator.