MICROWAVE/STEAM STERILIZER

摘要

In the most preferred form, a microwave/steam sterilizer (10) and its method of operation are disclosed including a waveguide (24) having a waveguide conduit including a terminal aperture (27) located one quarter wavelength from the bottom (16) of a water reservoir and including a series of subapertures (27a) spaced in the range of one quarter wavelength from each other. The waveguide (24) further includes a mitered corner (26) moveable to shift the microwave standing waves to communicate with the terminal aperture (27) and/or the series of subapertures (27a) in response to conditions sensed in the working cavity (9). The waveguide (24) and the walls (13) of the working cavity (9) are angled with respect to each other to avoid reflection of microwave energy back to the microwave energy generator (23). The sterilizer (10) hydrates potential pathogens and subjects them to relatively uniform electromagnetic energy without arcing and without self-destruction of the microwave source (23) by reflected microwave energy.