GB901156A - Apparatus for biological sterilization - Google Patents

Abstract

901,156. Sterilizing apparatus. THOMAS, A. Feb. 6, 1961 [Feb. 9, 1960], No. 4370/61. Class 81 (1). A sterilizing device comprises in combination an enclosure having a first gas inlet adapted to be connected to a source of treating gas, a second gas inlet adapted to be connected to an ozone-generating unit associated with the enclosure, a third gas inlet for introducing a flushing gas, an outlet for effluent gas from the enclosure and an ultra-violet ray generator unit. As shown, the sterilizing apparatus comprises in combination the enclosure 1 mounted on the generating unit 2, a first gas inlet 10 into the enclosure connectable with a source of treating gas, an inlet 16 into the ozone generating unit connectable with a source 19 of oxygen containing gas, and an outlet 11 for effluent gas from the enclosure, the outlet 20 for the ozone-containing mixture from the unit connectable with a second inlet 21 into the enclosure, and ultra-violet rays generator unit 12 within the enclosure. The enclosure is provided with two openings sealed by flexible sleeve elements 9 formed as gloves at their ends allowing the operator to insert his forearms and so handle the objects in the enclosure under sterile conditions. In use there is first delivered into the enclosure a current of sterilizing gas, e.g. ethylene oxide, at a rate substantially below that required to produce effective sterilization and then an ozone containing gas is passed through the enclosure at a rate substantially below that required to produce effective sterilization by the ozone-containing gas alone, the combined result of the successive gas treatments being to produce effective sterilization of the enclosure contents. The contents may be irradiated concurrently with at least one of the gas treatments with ultraviolet rays at a rate substantially below that required to produce effective sterilization by the rays alone.