JP2001017520A - Remaining gas indicator for sterilization bag and method for detection using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remaining gas indicator for a sterilization bag by which remaining gas can be detected without opening the sterilization bag and a method for detection using it. SOLUTION: By pushing open one main face 11a on which a notch 12 of a remaining gas indicator 10 stored in advance in a sterilization bag is formed from the outside of the sterilization bag, as an indicator 13 in the remaining gas indicator 10 is exposed to the atmosphere in the sterilization bag, it is possible to detect existence of the remaining gas without opening the sterilization bag by observing existence of color change of the indicator 13. In addition, when a plurality of closed containers 10 are connected with each other, it is possible to perform detections of the remaining gas a plurality of times.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a residual gas indicator for a sterilization bag and a detection method using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ozone sterilizer and an ozone sterilization method for sterilizing medical instruments and foods using a sterilizing gas, for example, ozone gas, have been developed.

[0003] In this type of sterilization method (sterilizer), an object to be sterilized is stored in a sterilization container (isolation room), and after a certain concentration of ozone gas is introduced for a predetermined time, the inside of the sterilization container (isolation room) is removed. The ozone gas is decomposed to make it harmless and then discharged.

Since ozone gas is dangerous to the human body, it is necessary to detect the presence or absence of residual gas after gas sterilization.

[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-308371 discloses a "confirmation method of ozone sterilization". A chemical type indicator is put in a chamber of an ozone sterilizer together with an object to be sterilized. Is checked, and the operation is terminated when sterilization is sufficient, and is restarted when sterilization is insufficient.

[0006]

However, although it is possible to judge whether or not the object to be sterilized in the chamber has been sterilized in the above-mentioned prior art, when the object to be sterilized is sterilized using a sterilization bag, There is a problem that the residual gas in the sterilization bag cannot be detected.

[0007] The sterilization bag has a storage opening which is sealed by a heat sealer after storing the sterilization object in the sterilization bag body for storing the sterilization object, and introduces and discharges the sterilization gas into the sterilization bag body. After that, a sterile gas inlet / outlet sealed with a heat sealer is formed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a residual gas indicator of a sterilization bag capable of detecting residual gas without opening the sterilization bag, and a detection method using the same.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a residual gas indicator according to the present invention is provided by introducing a sterilization gas into a sterilization bag containing an object to be sterilized, performing a sterilization process, and discharging the sterilization gas. A residual gas indicator for detecting residual sterilization gas in the sterilization bag, a transparent sealed container preliminarily housed in the sterilization bag and formed with a notch capable of breaking one main surface; And an indicator that is accommodated in the container and changes color when reacted with the sterilizing gas.

[0010] In addition to the above configuration, the residual gas indicator of the present invention may have a plurality of closed containers connected thereto.

According to the method for detecting residual gas in a sterilization bag of the present invention, a sterilization gas is introduced into a sterilization bag containing an object to be sterilized, sterilization is performed, and the residual sterilization gas in the sterilization bag after the sterilization gas is discharged. A method for detecting residual gas in a sterilization bag to be detected, wherein an indicator that changes color when reacting with the sterilization gas is stored, and a transparent sealed container in which a cutout capable of pushing one main surface is formed is formed in advance. Detects residual gas by storing in a sterilization bag together with the object to be sterilized, squeezing one main surface of the sealed container from the outside of the sterilization bag after exposing the sterilization gas, and exposing the indicator to the atmosphere in the sterilization bag. It is.

According to the present invention, the indicator in the residual gas indicator is pushed into the sterilization bag by pushing away one of the main surfaces of the residual gas indicator, which has been previously housed in the sterilization bag, in which the cut is formed. Since it is exposed to the internal atmosphere, by observing the presence or absence of discoloration of the indicator, the presence or absence of residual gas can be detected without opening the sterilization bag. When a plurality of closed containers are connected, detection of residual gas can be performed a plurality of times.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a plan view showing one embodiment of the residual gas indicator of the sterilization bag of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view of FIG. 1A.

The residual gas indicator 10 includes a transparent button-shaped closed container 11 in which a cut 12 capable of pushing through one main surface 11 a is formed, and a closed container 11.
An indicator (for example, potassium iodide starch solution, etc.) that changes color when it is contained in and reacts with a sterilizing gas (eg, ozone gas)
Any indicator that does not release substances that contaminate the inside of the sterilization bag before and after the reaction may be used. 13).
The material of the sealed container 11 is made of transparent plastic, and is preferably manufactured in a sterile room. In addition, the shape of the closed container is a disk shape in the figure, but is not limited thereto, and may be a triangle, a square, or a polygon. Further, it is preferable that the structure of the sealed container 11 is a structure in which the indicator 13 does not peel off (for example, the indicator 13 is soaked in paper or a thin sponge).

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the residual gas indicator shown in FIG. 1 is stored in a sterilization bag together with an object to be sterilized.

The sterilization bag 14 is stored in a sterilization bag body 16 for storing a sterilization target (eg, a medical instrument) 15 and then sealed with a heat sealer (not shown) along a broken line L1. A port 17 is formed, sterilization gas is introduced into the sterilization bag main body 16 to perform sterilization processing, and after the sterilization gas discharge processing is completed, a broken line L is formed by a heat sealer.
2. Sterilized gas port 18, 1 sealed along L3
9 is formed.

As the material of the sterilization bag 14, a transparent material having chemical resistance such as Teflon or high-density polyethylene is used.

Next, a detection method using a residual gas indicator of a sterilization bag will be described. The residual gas indicator 10 and the sterilization bag main body 16
After that, the storage opening 17 is sealed with a heat sealer along the broken line L1. One sterile gas port 1 of the sterilization bag 14
8 (or 19) is connected to the ozone gas introduction device, and the other sterilization gas inlet / outlet 19 (or 18) of the sterilization bag is connected.
To an ozone gas decomposer (both not shown),
After the pressure inside the sterilization bag 14 is reduced, ozone gas is introduced into the sterilization gas inlet / outlet 18 at a concentration required for sterilization, and after a certain period of time, sterilized air is supplied from the sterilization gas inlet / outlet 18 instead of the ozone gas. The ozone gas after the sterilization treatment is discharged from the other sterilization gas inlet / outlet 19 while being introduced. After a certain period of time, the ozone gas discharge processing is temporarily stopped, and one main surface 11a of the residual gas indicator 10 is pushed from outside the sterilization bag 14 to break the indicator 13
See the color change. When the indicator 13 is discolored, the ozone gas discharging process of the sterilization bag 14 is performed again, and the other main surface 11a of the remaining gas indicator 10 is pushed and observed. If the indicator 13 does not change color, the residual ozone gas has been eliminated, so the ozone gas discharge processing is terminated,
Both sterile gas inlets and outlets 18, 19 are dashed lines L2, L with a heat sealer.
By sealing along 3, sterilization processing and residual sterilization gas detection processing are completed.

In the present embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the one main surface 10a of the residual gas indicator 10 which is pushed is made of plastic.
A material that allows only sterile gas to pass therethrough may be attached to prevent the indicator from leaking. Although a plurality of residual gas indicators are scattered in the sterilization bag in the figure, the residual gas indicators may be connected.

As described above, according to the present invention, the indicator in the residual gas indicator is exposed to the atmosphere in the sterilization bag by pushing the residual gas indicator stored in the sterilization bag in advance from the outside of the sterilization bag. By observing the presence or absence of discoloration of the indicator, the presence or absence of residual gas can be detected without opening the sterilization bag.

[0022]

In summary, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.

The present invention can provide a sterilization bag residual gas indicator capable of detecting residual gas without opening the sterilization bag, and a detection method using the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is a plan view showing an embodiment of a residual gas indicator of a sterilization bag according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the residual gas indicator shown in FIG. 1 is stored in a sterilization bag together with an object to be sterilized.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Residual gas indicator 11 Sealed container 12 Cut 13 Indicator 14 Sterilization bag 15 Sterilization target

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A residual gas indicator for detecting a residual sterilization gas in a sterilization bag after introducing a sterilization gas into a sterilization bag accommodating an object to be sterilized and discharging the sterilization gas. A transparent hermetic container which is stored in advance in the sterilization bag and has a cut formed therein capable of breaking one main surface, and an indicator which is stored in the hermetic container and changes color when reacted with the sterilizing gas. A residual gas indicator for a sterilization bag, comprising: 2. The residual gas indicator of a sterilization bag according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the closed containers are connected. 3. A sterilization gas is introduced into a sterilization bag containing an object to be sterilized, sterilization is performed, and after the sterilization gas is discharged, the residual gas in the sterilization bag is detected. A method of detecting, in which an indicator that changes color when it reacts with the sterilizing gas is stored, and a transparent closed container in which a notch that can push one main surface is formed is previously stored in the sterilization bag in the sterilization target. After the sterilizing gas is discharged, the residual gas is detected by pushing one main surface of the closed container from the outside of the sterilization bag and exposing the indicator to the atmosphere in the sterilization bag. Method for detecting residual gas in a sterilization bag.