JP2002360673A - Ozone sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ozone sterilizer capable of performing sterilizing treatment while restraining corrosion of a sterilizing object composed of resin and metal weak against oxidation. SOLUTION: This ozone sterilizer has a treating vessel 3 for housing the sterilizing object 2 housed in a sterilizing bag 1, an ozone supply device 6 for supplying ozone in the treating vessel 3, and a CO2 adding device 23 for adding CO2 in the treating vessel 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ozone sterilizer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, it is necessary to sterilize various medical instruments and the like, and sterilization using steam or the like is performed on an object to be sterilized even if heat is applied. An object to be sterilized is subjected to a sterilization process using ozone (O ₃ ).

[0003] As a sterilizing apparatus using this kind of ozone, there has hitherto been, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-271512, in which an object to be sterilized is placed in a pressure vessel. Thereafter, the pressure inside the pressure vessel is reduced, and ozone is supplied to sterilize the object to be sterilized.

[0004]

However, since ozone has a very strong oxidizing power, when an object to be sterilized made of a resin or a metal which is susceptible to oxidation is sterilized, the object to be sterilized can be sterilized. The material to be sterilized has corroded,
There is a possibility that the original function is lost.

[0005] Incidentally, in a state where ozone has moisture,

[Formula 1] ^{_{O 3 + OH - → HO 2}} · + O 2 - O 2 - + O 3 → O 3 - · + O 2 O 3 - · + H + → HO 3 · HO 3 · → · OH + O _As shown by the reaction formula _2, a more oxidizing chemical species, .OH (OH radical), is generated.
Most of the organic substances in the oxidizing power of H radical are CO ₂ and H ₂
Decomposed to O.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ozone sterilization apparatus capable of performing a sterilization process while suppressing corrosion of an object to be sterilized made of a resin or a metal which is susceptible to oxidation.

[0007]

The present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION may, CO ₂ is added to the processing vessel to be sterilized is housed, and an ozone supplying device for supplying ozone into the processing vessel, the CO ₂ into the processing chamber An ozone sterilizer comprising an addition device.

According to the above means, the following effects can be obtained.

When ozone is supplied from an ozone supply device into the processing container in a state where the object to be sterilized is placed in the processing container, the object to be sterilized is sterilized by a reaction between ozone and bacteria. After supplying ozone into the processing vessel from the apparatus or simultaneously with the supply of ozone, CO is introduced into the processing vessel.
The addition of CO ₂ from ₂ adding device, the CO ₂ is, CO ₃ reacts with OH radicals generated by the reaction of ozone and water ^- becomes a radical, is suppressed excessive oxidation of object to be sterilized by OH radicals In addition, the object to be sterilized is less likely to corrode, and loss of its original function can be avoided.

In the above-mentioned ozone sterilizer, an ozone supply device is constituted by a discharge type ozone generator for converting oxygen to ozone, and ozone from the ozone supply device is supplied to a processing vessel through a humidifier. In this case, the water required when ozone inactivates the bacteria is supplied into the processing vessel together with the ozone, and the ozone can be efficiently sterilized in a short time with the ozone. Nitrogen oxides generated by the discharge type ozone generator can be easily removed by the humidifier.

[0011] Further, the CO ₂ addition device, while it can compose liquefied CO ₂ cylinder, the CO ₂ dry ice to be added to the processing vessel from the CO ₂ adding device, or an acid to bicarbonate It may be generated by adding.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Basically, an object 2 to be sterilized is placed in a sterilization bag 1.
, An ozone supply device 6 for supplying ozone into the processing container 3, and CO 2 in the processing container 3.
_And a CO ₂ adding device 23 for adding ₂ .

In the illustrated example, the CO_TwoAddition device 23
Is liquefied CO_TwoLiquefied CO filled with _TwoCylinder 23a,
The liquefied CO_TwoCO from cylinder 23a_TwoTo processing container 3
CO to add_TwoAnd the valve 23b.
In the processing container 3, the temperature 7 in the processing container 3 is detected.
Temperature sensor 8 and humidity for detecting humidity 9 in processing container 3
The sensor 10 and the ozone concentration 11 in the processing container 3 are detected.
And an ozone concentration sensor 12
Heating device such as a heater for heating the inside of 3 to the sterilization temperature range
4, a humidifier 5 for humidifying the inside of the processing vessel 3,
Before supplying the solution, the inside of the processing vessel 3 is decompressed and sterilized.
After the sterilization of the object 2 is completed, the ozone in the processing container 3 is exhausted.
Pump 13 as a pressure reducing device for
After the end of the sterilization of the material 2, the pressure reducing pump 13 is operated.
Decomposes ozone in the processing container 3 that is exhausted from the air and renders it harmless
Catalytic ozone decomposer 14 for release to the atmosphere
And the pressure reducing pump 1 after the sterilization of the object 2 is completed.
When the ozone in the processing container 3 is exhausted by the operation of the
A valve 15 for introducing air into the processing vessel 3;
Bacteria existing in the atmosphere when the lube 15 is opened are in the processing vessel 3.
With a sterile filter 16 to prevent
A temperature 7 detected by the temperature sensor 8;
The humidity 9 detected by the humidity sensor 10 and the ozone concentration sensor
Control for inputting the ozone concentration 11 detected by the sensor 12
A device 17 is provided.
7, humidity 9, ozone concentration 11
The state inside the processing container 3 is grasped,
Control signal 18 for heating the inside to the sterilization temperature range.
The temperature is output to the heating device 4 and the inside of the processing container 3 is subjected to a sterilization process temperature range.
Control signal 19 for supplying ozone after heating to the
Output to the ozone supply device 6 and after ozone supply or ozone
CO is supplied into the processing vessel 3 simultaneously with the supply._TwoControl signal to add
24 to the CO_TwoCO of the addition device 23_TwoExit to valve 23b
When the pressure inside the processing vessel 3 is reduced before supplying ozone,
In both cases, after the sterilization of the object 2 is completed,
A control signal 20 for exhausting the gas is output to the pressure reducing pump 13.
After the sterilization of the object 2 to be sterilized,
Ozone in the processing vessel 3 exhausted by the operation of
The control signal 21 to be detoxified and released to the atmosphere is
Output to the disassembly device 14 and after the sterilization of the object 2
Ozone in the processing vessel 3 is activated by the operation of the pressure reducing pump 13.
Signal that introduces air into the processing vessel 3 when exhausting air
No. 22 is output to the valve 15.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ozone supply device 6 includes an oxygen generator 6a for generating oxygen, and a discharge ozone generator 6b for converting oxygen supplied from the oxygen generator 6a into ozone. And the ozone from the ozone supply device 6 is passed through the humidifier 5
It is designed to be supplied inside.

Next, the operation of the illustrated example will be described.

First, when the object 2 to be sterilized placed in the sterilization bag 1 is stored in the processing container 3, the temperature 7 detected by the temperature sensor 8, the humidity 9 detected by the humidity sensor 10,
The ozone concentration 11 detected by the ozone concentration sensor 12 and the ozone concentration 11 are input to the control device 17, and the control signal 20 output from the control device 17 activates the pressure reducing pump 13 to supply ozone to the processing container 3. Is below a predetermined pressure (about 100
[Torr] = 100 × 1.33322 × 10 ² [P
a] or less, and the heating device 4 is operated by the control signal 18 output from the control device 17 so that the inside of the processing container 3 is in the sterilization processing temperature range (for example, about 35 to 40).
[° C.]), and the oxygen generator 6a and the discharge ozone generator 6b of the ozone supply device 6 are operated by the control signal 19 output from the controller 17,
Oxygen from the oxygen generator 6a of the ozone supply device 6 is converted into ozone by the discharge type ozone generator 6b and the humidifier 5
To the inside of the processing container 3 to sterilize the article 2 to be sterilized.

The opening of the CO ₂ valve 23b of the after supplying ozone to the ozone supply device 6 from the processing chamber 3, or ozone supply at the same time, the control unit 17 CO ₂ dosing device 23 by a control signal 24 output from the There is adjusted, the liquefied CO ₂ cylinder CO ₂ filled in 23a is added to the processing vessel 3. Addition of CO ₂ from the CO ₂ addition device 23, the processing chamber 3 is stopped before the positive pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.

[0019] The process CO ₂ from the CO ₂ adding device 23 in the container 3 in is added, the CO ₂ is,

## STR2 ## _{CO 2 + H 2 O → 2H} + + CO 3 2- CO 3 2- + · OH → CO 3 - · + OH - as indicated in Scheme that is produced by the reaction of ozone with water Reacts with the OH radicals to form CO ₃ ^- radicals, which suppresses excessive oxidation of the object to be sterilized by the OH radical, makes the object to be sterilized less likely to corrode, and prevents loss of its original function.

On the other hand, the ozone from the ozone supply device 6 is supplied through the humidifier 5 into the processing vessel 3, so that the water necessary for the ozone to inactivate the bacteria is ozone. Is supplied into the processing container 3 together with the humidifier 5, and the humidifier 5 can easily remove the nitrogen oxides generated by the discharge type ozone generator 6b while efficiently sterilizing the object 2 with ozone in a short time.

In the illustrated example, the CO ₂ adding device 2
3 is produced by it is constituted by a liquefied CO ₂ cylinder 23a, CO ₂ is added to the processing vessel from the CO ₂ addition device is applied by dry ice or an acid to the hydrogencarbonate salt such as sodium hydrogen carbonate You may make it.

When the time required for sterilization of the object to be sterilized 2 elapses and the sterilization process is completed, the depressurizing pump 13 is operated again by the control signal 20 output from the controller 17 and the output from the controller 17 is output. The ozone decomposing device 14 is operated by the control signal 21 and the ozone in the processing container 3 is decomposed and made harmless and released to the atmosphere. Subsequently, the valve 15 is opened by the open signal 22 output from the control device 17. And the atmosphere is passed through the sterilizing filter 16 to the processing container 3.
After being introduced into the inside, the object 2 to be sterilized in the processing container 3 is taken out. After the release of ozone in the processing container 3 to the atmosphere,
When the valve 15 is opened, the air is sucked into the processing container 3. However, since the air passes through the sterilizing filter 16, there is no concern that bacteria existing in the air enter the processing container 3.

By the way, the biological index (BI: Biol)
In the sterilization bag 1, a plurality of samples prepared by inoculating bacteria such as cellulose, polystyrene, stainless steel and the like into a sterilization bag 1 are prepared, and a copper plate is prepared.
As described above, the inside of the processing container 3 is heated under reduced pressure, and after supplying ozone, CO ₂ is added. After the sterilization treatment is completed, the sample taken out is put into a culture solution, and a predetermined culture is performed. The sterilization state is evaluated based on the number of positive samples and the number of negative samples, and an experiment is performed to confirm the discoloration of the copper plate. The sterilization is performed by introducing air through a sterilization filter 16 instead of CO _2. After the treatment is completed, the removed sample is put into a culture solution, a predetermined culture is performed, and the sterilization state is evaluated based on the number of positive samples and the number of negative samples, and an experiment for confirming discoloration of the copper plate. As a result, the number of positive samples and the number of negative samples were substantially the same in each experiment, and under the condition that the sterilization conditions were substantially equal, CO
_{When 2} was added, there was no discoloration of the copper plate, whereas C
When O ₂ was not added, it was confirmed that the copper plate turned black.

In this way, it is possible to perform the sterilization process while suppressing the corrosion of the object 2 made of resin or metal that is susceptible to oxidation.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The CO ₂ is mixed with the ozone supplied from the ozone supply device 6 into the processing container 3 along the same path as the ozone. The CO ₂ from the addition device 23 is added to the processing vessel 3. Even in this case, the same operation and effect as in the example shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained.

Incidentally, the ozone sterilizer of the present invention is not limited to the above-described illustrated examples, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0027]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention is as described above.
According to the ozone sterilizer described in any one of the items (1) to (4), an excellent effect that a sterilization process can be performed while suppressing corrosion of an object to be sterilized made of a resin or a metal that is weak to oxidation can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 sterile bag 2 to be sterilized 3 processing vessel 4 heating device 5 humidifying device 6 ozone supply device 6b discharge type ozonizer 23 CO ₂ adding device 23a liquefied CO ₂ cylinder

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A processing container for storing an object to be sterilized, an ozone supply device for supplying ozone into the processing container, and a CO ₂ adding device for adding CO ₂ to the processing container. Ozone sterilizer characterized. 2. An ozone supply device comprising a discharge type ozone generator for converting oxygen into ozone, wherein ozone from the ozone supply device is supplied to a processing vessel through a humidifier. The ozone sterilizer according to the above. 3. The ozone sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the CO ₂ adding device is constituted by a liquefied CO ₂ cylinder. 4. CO ₂ The CO ₂ by dry ice addition from the addition unit into the processing vessel, or ozone sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the so produced by adding an acid to bicarbonate.