Two=stage sterilisation of e.g. medical instruments

摘要

Sterilisation of e.g. medical instruments, which have a diffusion-limited zone and a non-diffusion-limited zone, comprises: (a) application of the fluid sterilisation agent especially hydrogen peroxide to the instrument, either inside or outside a sterilisation chamber; (b) placement of the instrument in the sterilisation chamber, followed by closing and sealing the door; (c) reduction of pressure in the chamber to a first level at which the liquid sterilisation agent in the diffusion-unlimited zone evaporates, thereby sterilising that part of the instrument which is not diffusion-limited; (d) change of pressure within the chamber to a second level at which the sterilisation agent in the diffusion-limited part evaporates, thereby sterilising this part, and (e) the minimum pressure in the second pressure range is lower than the maximum pressure in the first pressure range.