JP2004222915A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilizer that can be improved in sterilizing effect by utilizing physical energy. <P>SOLUTION: This sterilizer is constituted of a container 1 in which plasma P is generated, a supporting device 7 which is disposed in the container 1 and holds an object T to be sterilized in the container 1, and power sources 23 and 46 which project electric power not resulting from the plasma P upon the object T. In the peripheral area of the object T, a radical is generated, because a gas 13 or 14 in the container 1 is polarized and, in addition, excited by the electric power. As the electric power, a high frequency 45 or laser beam 25 can be utilized appropriately. The microbial organisms adhering on the surface of the object T become extinct due to the polarization or radical. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sterilizer, and more particularly, to a sterilizer capable of rapidly reducing the number of bacteria in a shorter time.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Bacteria are variously attached to the container. Equipment that requires sterilization and sterilization, such as a drip container, a medicine bottle, a container that does not allow bacteria to grow inside, such as a container filled with pure water, and a scalpel that does not have bacteria attached to the outside There are known medical instruments and laboratory instruments such as flasks in which bacteria must not exist inside and outside. Addressing the crime of attaching extremely harmful toxin-releasing bacteria to the surface of postal envelopes addressed to government officials has become an urgent task to combat international terrorism. It is important that the number of bacteria and fungi present on the surface including the inner surface of such a device, or the bacteria and fungi adhering to everyday articles is reliably and drastically reduced.
[0003]
As a technique for performing such sterilization processing, a sterilization apparatus as shown in FIG. 9 is known. A processing target 103 is placed on a turntable 102 disposed in a vacuum vessel 101, a processing gas 104 is introduced into the vacuum vessel 101, and a microwave 106 is introduced through a waveguide 105, and After completion, the processing gas 104 is discarded from the exhaust pipe 107. OH radicals of excited species generated by plasma generated in the vacuum vessel 101 into which the microwave is introduced have an effective sterilizing effect on bacteria adhering to the surface of the processing target 103. Such a bactericidal effect is a chemical effect. As a sterilization processing technique, a sterilizer as shown in FIG. 10 is further known. A processing target 110 is placed on an electrode 109 disposed in a vacuum vessel 108, a processing gas 111 is introduced into the vacuum vessel 108, and electric power of a high-frequency power supply 112 is supplied to the inside of the vacuum vessel 108 through an electrode 113. The processing gas 111 is introduced from the introduction pipe 114 and is disposed of through the exhaust pipe 115. The excited species OH radicals generated by the plasma 116 generated in the vacuum vessel 108 have an effective germicidal effect on bacteria adhering to the surface of the processing target 110.
[0004]
Such a known sterilizing apparatus uses high-concentration hydrogen peroxide as the processing gas 104, 111 in order to generate excited species having a high sterilizing effect. In order to generate plasma and sterilize effectively, hydrogen peroxide is concentrated to 30% or more. Hydrogen peroxide, which is considered to have carcinogenicity, needs to be treated when its concentration is high. OH radicals in the discharge plasma used by known devices for sterilization have a germicidal effect due to chemical action, but the amount of radicals is small in a chemical action state, and the radicals are diffused. Dispersed and sterilization efficiency is poor. In the above-mentioned fields where the number of bacteria is required to be drastically reduced by 4 to 6 digits or more, about 50 to 90 minutes are required as a processing time for the sterilization. In the known apparatus, the shape of the electrode 102 or the plasma defined in the microwave mode is often incompatible with the shape of the processing targets 103 and 110, and furthermore, there is a problem that the sterilization process becomes uneven and becomes non-uniform. Existing. Known sterilizers have a non-uniform amount of radicals flying from a discharge zone to an object to be sterilized, the size of the processing chamber is limited by the life of the radicals, and it is difficult to increase the capacity, and the processing time is long. It has the problem of becoming.
[0005]
As effective energy for killing bacteria, laser light (see Patent Document 1 below), microwave (see Patent Document 2 below), high frequency (see Patent Document 3 below), pulse voltage or atmospheric pressure (see later) Patent Document 4) is assumed. The laser light utilizes a discharge plasma generation effect using breakdown and a discharge maintenance effect by electromagnetic waves. Laser light, microwaves, high frequency, and pulse voltage are consumed by the discharge energy, and their disinfection effect is equivalent to the plasma disinfection effect, and the efficiency is lower than the plasma disinfection efficiency. It is important that the energy input for sterilization be input directly and effectively to the bacteria. It is required that the germicidal effect be further enhanced by utilizing not only the chemical effect of the highly diffusive plasma but also the physical energy of the particles of the plasma. It is required to surely reduce the number of cells by 4 digits or more, more preferably 6 digits or more.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-52-156074
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-61-011049
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-57-200156
[Patent Document 4]
JP-A-63-318947
[Non-patent document 1]
M. Moisan, J .; Barbeau, S .; Moreau, J .; Pelletier, M.A. Tabrizian, and L'H. Yahia,
International Journal of Pharmaceutics 226, 1 (2001).
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization apparatus that can establish a technology for increasing the sterilization effect by utilizing the physical energy of particles of plasma without relying only on the chemical effect of plasma having high diffusivity. To provide.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing apparatus capable of enhancing a sterilizing effect based on a biological property of a cell or a cell wall.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing apparatus capable of surely reducing the number of cells by four digits or more.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Means for solving the problem are expressed as follows. The technical items appearing in the expression are appended with numbers, symbols, etc. in parentheses (). The numbers, symbols, and the like are technical items that constitute at least one embodiment or a plurality of embodiments of the embodiments or the embodiments of the present invention, in particular, the embodiments or the embodiments. Corresponds to the reference numbers, reference symbols, and the like assigned to the technical matters expressed in the drawings corresponding to. Such reference numbers and reference symbols clarify the correspondence and bridging between the technical matters described in the claims and the technical matters of the embodiments or examples. Such correspondence / bridge does not mean that the technical matters described in the claims are interpreted as being limited to the technical matters of the embodiments or the examples.
[0009]
The sterilization apparatus according to the present invention includes a container (1) in which gas is introduced and a plasma (P) is generated, and a sterilization processing target (T) disposed in the container (1) in the container (1). The apparatus comprises a supporting device (7) for supporting and an electric power source (23, 46) for supplying electric power not due to plasma to the sterilization target (T). Quantum energy resulting from the electric power is generated and stored in molecules or atoms in the peripheral region of the sterilization target (T).
[0010]
In a plasma atmosphere, energy is received from electric power to generate quantum energy, which is a non-dischargeable energy mass. Quantum energy is poorly discharged, destroys the cell surface of bacteria, and penetrates cell walls to enter cells and destroy its cell activity. The gas does not contain hydrogen peroxide and the post treatment is simple. The quantum energy is energy due to polarization or energy due to radicals. Energy due to polarization or energy due to radicals changes to discharge energy, which discharge energy moves to other substance particles, and does not move to the cells as energy released by the substance particles, but remains quantum Invades cells as clumps. The polarization energy or radical energy of the polarization energy holding atom / molecule or the radical energy holding atom / molecule is stably stored in the molecule or atom until they come in close contact with the cell wall. Laser light has an inductive property to induce polarization in cells.
[0011]
The power includes electric field energy, magnetic field energy, or electromagnetic waves. Electric power polarizes the surface to be processed by a strong electric field or a strong magnetic field, or induces local heating on the surface to be processed, and causes photons that are energy masses to be incident on the surface to be processed, or Preferably, it is a high frequency (45) or a laser beam (25) that directly excites gas around the surface to efficiently generate radicals.
It is preferable that the laser beam (25) be focused on the vicinity of the surface of the sterilization target (T) in a scanning manner in order to surely input the sterilization effect. It is preferable that the laser light (25) is a two-wavelength laser light in that different radicals can be efficiently generated. It is preferable that the two-wavelength laser light is alternately irradiated to the object of the sterilization treatment, since the same microorganism can be attacked multilaterally (multi-energy) by different radicals. The two-wavelength laser light is preferably formed from the visible laser light (31) and the infrared laser light (33) in that the diversification of plasma and excited species can be promoted.
[0012]
It is preferable to add an electric accelerator for accelerating electrons and ions in the reverse direction with respect to the sterilization target (T). The electric accelerator intermittently accelerates electrons and ions in opposite directions. The electric accelerator is formed as an electrode (5). A DC pulse or an AC pulse is applied to the electrode (5), or a DC pulse and an AC pulse are periodically and alternately applied. By hitting the microorganisms with electrons to physically kill the microorganisms with a single blow, the biological activity of the microorganisms can be chemically or biologically nullified by radicals, and various attacks are possible.
[0013]
The inclusion of water in the gas avoids the use of hydrogen peroxide. It is more effective that the gas further contains oxygen, and no hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the container (1) from outside the container.
[0014]
The electric accelerator is formed as an electrode, and the electrode is formed as a mesh electrode (48) covering the sterilization target (T). The object of the sterilization treatment has transparency to the laser beam (25). The laser light effectively exerts a sterilizing effect on a container formed of a transparent material such as a PET bottle.
[0015]
The electric accelerator (5) intermittently accelerates electrons and ions in opposite directions. With the combined use of the DC electrode and the AC electrode, electrons or ions are accelerated and injected into cells to be sterilized, and radicals are injected into the cell or the surface of the cell in a thermokinetic manner regardless of the polarity of the electrode. Since a plasma sheath is generated near the periphery of the DC electrode, and electrons or ions are accelerated by Coulomb force on the DC electrode, the sterilization effect is remarkably excellent. The cell or cell wall is weak to radicals generated by plasma, and the chemical action of the radical destroys the biological function of the cell without depending on the magnitude of the kinetic energy, and the ions (electrons) that are electrically accelerated around the cell The kinetic energy of the impact on the cell wall dynamically destroys the cell wall. As a result, the use of hydrogen peroxide can be avoided. The use of hydrogen peroxide is not preferred in that it causes toxic side effects, and the complete non-use of hydrogen peroxide is preferable in that it does not cause toxic side effects. However, if it is possible to avoid the occurrence of toxic side effects, If it does, it cannot be ruled out that it is effective. In order to make radical injection effective, it is effective to reverse the polarity of the DC voltage in one sterilization process. The effect of such an action is dramatically increased synergistically with the combined use of laser light.
[0016]
The substance forming the plasma includes water. Water is converted into plasma to generate OH radicals. The water is turned into plasma, and the gas that has turned into plasma is recombined to form hydrogen peroxide. However, the plasma (P) has a high density around the DC electrode (5), and the amount of generated hydrogen peroxide is as follows. Few. When the substance forming the plasma further contains oxygen, the sterilizing power is further increased. To use water, a water tank (15) and a heater (18) for generating water vapor from the water are added. Water vapor generated by heating the water in the water tank (15) by the heater (16) is introduced into the container (1). It is important that hydrogen peroxide is not introduced into the container from the outside, since the post-treatment can be simplified.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Corresponding to the figure, the embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention uses a gas sealed container and a laser beam irradiator for radical generation. As shown in FIG. 1, a laser light irradiator 2 is arranged together with the gas sealing container 1. The gas sealed in the gas sealing container 1 is excited by the laser light irradiated into the gas sealing container 1 by the laser light irradiator 2 to generate radicals. A first plasma generator 3 and a second plasma generator 4 are additionally arranged in the gas enclosure 1.
[0018]
The first plasma generator 3 is formed from a first electrode 5 and a first power supply 6. The second plasma generator 4 also serves as a support base 7 for supporting the container T to be treated on which the substance to be destroyed chemically or whose chemical activity is required to be stopped is attached. . The support 7 is made of an electrically conductive material (for example, metal). The processing object container T is electrically directly connected to the first electrode 5. The second plasma generator 4 includes a second electrode 8 and a second power supply 9. The chemical substance to be destroyed includes a biological substance to be destroyed (eg, bacteria, viruses, prions, and other human toxic substances). The substance whose chemical activity is to be destroyed is hereinafter simply referred to as bacteria or bacteria-attached dust particles.
[0019]
The gas enclosure 1 is provided with a gas inlet 11 and a gas outlet 12.
It is desirable that a filter (not shown) that prevents bacteria-attached dust particles from entering the gas enclosure 1 is provided at each of the gas inlet 11 and the gas outlet 12. The first gas 13 and the second gas 14 are introduced from the gas inlet 11. The first gas 13 is preferably a mixed gas of water vapor, oxygen, nitrogen, and an inert gas such as helium, but they may be used alone or air may be used.
[0020]
Air is sealed in the first cylinder 15. The air is released into the water 17 of the steam generator 16 via a valve and a pressure reducing valve (not shown). The water 17 is heated by a heater 18 attached to the steam generator 16, and is introduced into the gas sealing container 1 through the mixed gas supply pipe 19 together with air as the first gas 13. The second gas 14 is sealed in the second cylinder 21. A rare gas is preferably used as the second gas 12.
[0021]
The laser beam irradiator 2 includes a laser 22, a laser power supply 23, and an optical system 24. The optical system 24 includes a collimator (a laser beam adjuster such as a telescope), a lens (eg, a convex lens for focusing), a laser beam scanner (eg, a position control rotary mirror), a lens position controller, a lens position and position control. And a scanning condenser for controlling the position of the rotating mirror and condensing the laser beam in an arbitrary position in a scanning manner. An optical window 26 through which a laser beam 25 output from a laser 22 is transmitted and introduced into the gas enclosure 1 is mounted on the gas enclosure 1.
[0022]
The first electrode 5 is connected to a first power supply 6 arranged outside the gas enclosure 1 via a current introduction terminal mounted on the wall of the gas introduction port 11. The first power supply 6 includes a first high-frequency power supply 27 and a DC pulse power supply 28. The first high-frequency power supply 27 and the DC pulse power supply 28 are connected to the first electrode 5 independently of each other via a current introduction terminal. The DC pulse power supply 28 can supply the first electrode 5 with a negative voltage DC pulse, a positive voltage DC pulse, or a combination pulse of a negative voltage DC pulse and a positive voltage DC pulse. The second power supply 9 is easily prepared as a second high-frequency power supply. The second power supply 9 is connected to the second electrode 8 via the second current introduction terminal 29. The gas enclosure 1 is grounded.
[0023]
The laser 22 includes a first laser 32 that outputs a first-wavelength laser light 31 and a second laser 34 that outputs a second-wavelength laser light 33. A visible wavelength is preferably exemplified as the first laser wavelength, and an infrared wavelength is preferably exemplified as the second laser wavelength. Instead of the combination with the two oscillators 32 and 34, a variable-length laser oscillator that converts the wavelength of the laser light output from the single laser light oscillator to oscillate various wavelength laser lights can be effectively used. The first laser 32 and the second laser 34 can be selectively used by the laser beam selecting optical component 35 unilaterally or alternatively. The first laser wavelength light 31 and the second laser wavelength light 33 have their focal points in the entire surface of the outer surface of the container T to be processed or the inner surface of the container T to be processed or in the vicinity thereof by optical scanning and variable focus control. It can be controlled to be located and focused on each. The first laser wavelength light 31 and the second laser wavelength light 33 are not focused near the processing target container T, and their beam diameters may be enlarged so as to irradiate the entire processing target container T. It is possible.
[0024]
An ultrasonic transducer 36 is further added. The ultrasonic transducer 36 is mechanically joined to the first electrode 5. The ultrasonic transducer 36 is driven by an ultrasonic generator 37.
[0025]
Oxygen, water vapor, nitrogen, and an inert gas are introduced into the gas enclosure 1 in a flow ratio at an appropriate ratio. The overall pressure of oxygen, water vapor and nitrogen and their partial pressure ratios are adjusted. The first laser wavelength light 31 and the second laser wavelength light 33 are selectively used, and the first laser wavelength light 31 or the first laser 32 is absorbed by a gas adjusted to an appropriate pressure. The atoms or molecules that have absorbed the laser beam 25 are excited to generate radicals. OH (-) is appropriate as a radical. The gas in the vicinity of the surface of the container T to be processed thermally oscillates, and a part of the gas molecules which move by receiving the heat instantaneously instantaneously cause the bacteria-attached dust particles attached to the surface of the container T to be processed. Heat to destroy the biological activity of the bacteria. Some of the radicals generated around the container T to be treated chemically destroy the biological activity of the cell wall or the biological environment of the intracellular environment. A part of the laser light 25 penetrates the gas and is absorbed by the cell wall or penetrates the cell through the cell wall, and the photon energy physically changes the biological activity of the cell wall or the biological environment of the intracellular environment. Destroy. The strong electric field caused by the laser light induces polarization in the cell, and physically and electrically inactivates the cell.
[0026]
Depending on the type of bacteria, the laser wavelength shows different bactericidal effects. The laser light selection optical component 35 can select the optimum positive sterilization effect by selecting the first laser wavelength light 31 and the second laser wavelength light 33. As the selection, any of the following combinations is effective.
(1) The optical system 24 simultaneously focuses the first laser wavelength light 31 and the second laser wavelength light 33 on an arbitrary point on the surface of the container T to be processed.
(2) The optical system 24 condenses the first laser wavelength light 31 and the second laser wavelength light 33 at an arbitrary point on the surface of the processing target container T with a delay.
(3) The optical system 24 scans and focuses the first laser wavelength light 31 on the entire area of the entire surface of the processing target container T, and subsequently, focuses the second laser wavelength light 31 on the entire area of the entire processing target container T. 33 is condensed by scanning.
(4) The optical system 24 irradiates the first laser wavelength light 31 simultaneously and continuously in a diffuse manner over the entire area of the entire surface of the container T to be processed. The second laser wavelength light 33 is condensed in a scanning manner over the entire area of the entire surface.
[0027]
The combined use of gas and laser light can completely avoid the use of hydrogen peroxide or can significantly reduce the amount of hydrogen peroxide used. Biological activity, which is a set of three actions of physical action, chemical action and thermal action, is effectively performed by physical action, chemical action and thermal action caused by interaction between laser light and gas. To disable. The scanning of one cycle of the laser beam is performed instantaneously, the sterilization cycle is short, the sterilization process is accelerated, and the energy density of the laser beam focused on the focus changes instantaneously, and its biological activity is effective. Invalidation. When the container T to be treated is transparent like a PET bottle, the laser beam is effective for organisms that pass through the thin film of the container T to be treated and adhere to the inner surface of the container T to be treated. Laser light traveling on one straight line can kill bacteria adhering to the four surfaces.
[0028]
Such a sterilizing effect of the laser beam is synergistically enhanced by turning the surface of the processing target container T into plasma. FIG. 2 shows preferable power waveforms of the first high-frequency power supply 27 and the DC pulse power supply 28. The DC pulse power supply 28 generates a first DC pulse 38 having a DC negative voltage of V1 and a pulse width of τ1 at an appropriate period (charging time), and has a DC positive voltage of V3 and a pulse width of τ3. Is generated at an appropriate cycle (charging time). The first high-frequency power supply 27 periodically or continuously generates an AC pulse 41 whose positive and negative voltages are positive and negative V2. As the rf condition of the AC pulse 41, the frequency is set to f, the peak voltage is set to V2, and the pulse width is set to τ2. The AC pulse 41 is inserted between one first DC pulse 38 and one second DC pulse 39. The AC pulse 41 rises with a delay of an appropriate time width from the fall time of the first DC pulse 38. Similarly, an appropriate time width is provided between the AC pulse 41 and the second DC pulse 39. The next AC pulse 41 is inserted between the second DC pulse 39 and the first DC pulse 38. The order of the first DC pulse 38, the second DC pulse 39, and the AC pulse 41 is arbitrary, and any two of the first DC pulse 38, the AC pulse 41, and the second DC pulse 39 are used in combination. It is important that these three are used in combination.
[0029]
By adjusting the parameters constituting the negative voltage pulse condition and the rf condition to adjust the ion implantation energy distribution, the energy peak, and the plasma density, it is possible to control the sterilization time until a specified sterilization rate is obtained. . By adjusting the duty ratio determined by the number of repetitions of the pulses of the periods τ1, τ2, τ3, the sterilization processing speed, which is the ion flux incident on the sterilization target T per unit time, can be more effectively controlled. By using a positive voltage instead of the negative voltage of the DC pulse 38, substantially the same sterilizing effect can be obtained. The magnitude of such a parameter affects the pulse width τ1 of the first DC pulse 38, the speed of charge transfer on the surface of the sterilization target T (insulator in this case), the sterilization target T and the particles in the plasma. Is determined in consideration of the charge elimination speed resulting from the collision with the charge.
[0030]
The pulse width of the first DC pulse 38 and the second DC pulse 39 is on the order of μs to ms, and its voltage is preferably about several tens kV at the maximum. However, the peak value of the current is adjusted to be equal to or less than the set value of the circuit component. The repetition width of the first DC pulse 38 is preferably on the order of several hundred pps to several thousand pps.
[0031]
Water, oxygen, nitrogen, and a rare gas are introduced into the gas enclosure 1, and a first DC pulse 38 and an AC pulse 41 are already described from the first high-frequency power supply 27 and the DC pulse power supply 28 to the bonding electrode 5 to be processed. Is applied under the application condition of. A metal is exemplified as the material of the sterilization target T. By appropriate setting of the application conditions and setting of the gas pressure at which a high voltage is maintained without non-uniform discharge and arc generation, the plasma P is uniformly generated in the peripheral region of the sterilization target T or in the vicinity thereof. .
[0032]
An AC pulse 41 is applied to the first electrode 5 temporally before the first DC pulse 38 or the second DC pulse 39. A plasma P is generated around the sterilization target T of the conductor electrically connected to the support 7. The first DC pulse 38 is applied to the first electrode 5 with a time delay of Δt from the application of the AC pulse 41. Positive ions and electrons of the plasma P around the sterilization target T receive an electrostatic force. The electrons are strongly repelled from the surface of or near the surface of the sterilization target T and move away from the sterilization target T, and ions resulting from positive ions being attracted to the sterilization target T and remaining around the sterilization target T. The sheath positively accelerates ionized positive ions toward the sterilization target T. The positive ions accelerated in this manner damage microbial cells existing on the surface of the target T to be sterilized. Such damage is caused by ions having kinetic energy, which is physical energy, being driven into cells or into cell walls. When the first electrode 5 is positively charged, electrons are driven into cells or into cell walls. Thus, microorganisms are killed by physical effects.
[0033]
During the first DC pulse 38 that is periodically supplied, the ion sheath is eliminated, and the radical is an excited species activated in the plasma P by the afterglow and present near the target T to be sterilized. Can efficiently reach the surface of the target T to be killed and kill microorganisms. Such killing is based on chemical effects that are the same as those of known devices. As described above, according to the present invention, the number of cells present can be reduced by an order of four or six orders due to a combined effect of a physical effect and a chemical effect.
[0034]
Such radicals are OH radicals due to water vapor, oxygen radicals due to oxygen, and ozone. By using water as a radical-causing substance, a reliable bactericidal effect can be expected. Where treatment with water and harmless gases is possible, the chemical process can be made much safer and water or small amounts of hydrogen peroxide mixtures can be used without resorting to the presence of harmful hydrogen peroxide. The chemical disinfection effect of the OH radical generated by the decomposition can be reliably used.
[0035]
The first DC pulse 38 or the second DC pulse 39 has an electric ability to generate plasma in a region near the surface of the sterilization target T by its own self-discharge. The AC pulse 41 further increases the excitation energy of the plasma generated by the first DC pulse 38 or the second DC pulse 39, and increases the amount of excited species / radicals in a wide range. The plasma sheath formed by the self-discharge of the first DC pulse 38 applied to the same electrode as the electrode for generating the plasma in the presence of the plasma has a shape corresponding to the surface shape of the sterilization target T. An electric accelerating field for uniformly injecting positive ions or electrons into the surface layer of the sterilization target T having various different shapes (for example, uneven surface shape) is formed. Such homogenization of the accelerating electric field gives an even sterilization performance of the entire surface of the target T to be sterilized. The addition of the second electrode 8 further increases the excited species of the plasma generated over a wide area, and a larger amount of radicals diffused over a wide area is injected into the target T to be sterilized, thereby increasing the sterilization efficiency and the set mortality. It is possible to shorten the processing time until it is obtained. The addition of the ultrasonic transducer 36 can further promote the above-described sterilizing effect.
[0036]
The laser light 25 is further applied to the plasma P generated by the first plasma generator 3 and surrounding the vicinity of the surface of the container T to be processed. The sterilization effect of the plasma P and the sterilization effect of the laser light described above are synergistic, and radical energy is instantaneously chained in large quantities by inductive energy injection by the laser light in a state where energy is injected into atoms and molecules. , And its bactericidal effect is dramatically improved. The radicals are not limited to OH (-), and water vapor and oxygen in the air are stimulated inductively to effectively utilize oxygen radicals, and the generated ozone exerts a bactericidal effect.
[0037]
The plasma sheath is formed along the shape of the processing target container T by the self-discharge by the voltage pulse and the voltage application in the presence of the plasma generated by the rf voltage, and the ions are uniformly implanted on the surface of the processing target container T. Such ion implantation is effective for a complicated shape in which the processing target container T has an uneven surface, and exerts a uniform sterilizing effect. Laser light causes the excited species to multiply significantly. Excited species that are implanted into the target surface allow for short-time sterilization of large, complex surfaces.
[0038]
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a light source 42 is used instead of the second electrode 8 of the above-described embodiment. The light source 42 emits light when driven by the power supply 43. The light source 42 emits ultraviolet rays to infrared rays 44. The ultraviolet to infrared rays 44 supply various light energies to atoms / molecules in an energy state in which it is difficult to generate excited species by the laser beam 25, and generate excited species of various energies in an auxiliary manner.
[0039]
FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the second electrode 8 or the light source 42 of the above-described embodiment is omitted, and a pulsed or continuous wave high frequency 45 is used instead of the laser beam 25. The high frequency wave 45 is generated by a high frequency generator 46, guided through the waveguide 47, and introduced into the gas sealing container 1 through a vacuum window 47 provided in the waveguide 47.
[0040]
FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a mesh electrode 48 is used instead of the first electrode 5 of the embodiment of FIG. The outer surface of the container T to be processed is almost completely covered with the mesh electrode 48. The laser light 25 irradiates the half of the outer surface of the processing target container T diffractively or scattered through the holes of the mesh electrode 48. In the present embodiment, it is important that the container T to be processed is a transparent body or a translucent body with respect to a laser beam like a PET bottle. A part of the light energy of the laser beam 25 is applied to the first outer surface of the container T to be processed, and the other part is transmitted through the container T and irradiated to the first inner surface of the container T to be processed. The other part of the light passes through the internal space of the container T to be processed and is irradiated on the second inner surface of the container T to be processed, and another part of the light passes through the container T to be processed. The second outer surface of the processing target container T is irradiated. The point that plasma is generated around the mesh electrode 48 and various excited species are generated synergistically by laser light and plasma energy is the same as the other embodiments.
[0041]
FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, as the processing target container T to be joined to the first electrode 5 in the embodiment of FIG. 1, an object having a thin hole such as an injection needle is exemplified. A needle-like ground electrode 49 is inserted into the central hole of the injection needle T. The needle-like ground electrode 49 is covered with a dielectric 51. Outputs of the first high frequency power supply 27 and the DC pulse power supply 28 are applied to the injection needle T. The laser light 25 is mainly applied to the outer surface of the injection needle T. The gas pressure and the discharge voltage in the gas enclosure 1 are properly controlled. As shown in FIG. 7, when a voltage is applied to the needle electrode 49 ', the injection needle T is grounded.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
The sterilization apparatus according to the present invention reliably improves the sterilization effect by chemically and physically destroying cells. In particular, there is an effect of reducing the number by four digits or four or more digits.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an embodiment of a sterilizer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing a power wave.
FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing still another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing still another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing still another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing still another embodiment of the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a front sectional view showing a known device.
FIG. 9 is a front sectional view showing another known device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1… Container
5 ... Electrode
7 ... Supporting device
13 ... gas
14 ... gas
23 Power source
25 ... Laser light
31 ... Visible laser beam
33 ... Infrared laser light
45 ... High frequency
46 Power source
48 ... Mesh electrode
T: Sterilization target

Claims (21)

A container into which gas is introduced and turned into plasma,
A support device that is disposed in the container and supports the sterilization target in the container, and a power source that supplies a power wave not due to plasma to the sterilization target,
A sterilizer in which quantum energy due to the electric power is generated into molecules or atoms in a peripheral region to be sterilized. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas does not include hydrogen peroxide. The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the quantum energy is energy due to polarization. The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the quantum energy is energy due to radicals. The sterilizer according to claim 2, wherein the gas is an inert gas. The sterilizer according to claim 2, wherein the gas is one or more gases selected from a set including an inert gas, water vapor, oxygen, and nitrogen. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric force wave is a high frequency wave. The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric force wave is a laser beam. 9. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the laser beam scans and focuses near a surface of the sterilization target. 9. The sterilizer according to claim 8, wherein the laser light is a two-wavelength laser light. The sterilizer according to claim 10, wherein the two-wavelength laser light is alternately applied to the target of the sterilization treatment. The two-wavelength laser light is
Visible laser light,
The sterilizer according to claim 10 or 11, which forms an infrared laser beam. Further comprising an electric accelerator for accelerating electrons and ions in the reverse direction for the sterilization target,
The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the electric accelerator intermittently accelerates the electrons and the ions in opposite directions. 14. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the electric accelerator forms an electrode, and a DC pulse is applied to the electrode. 14. The sterilizer according to claim 13, wherein the electric accelerator forms an electrode, and an AC pulse is applied to the electrode. The sterilizer according to claim 13, wherein the electric accelerator forms an electrode, and a DC pulse and an AC pulse are periodically applied to the electrode. 17. The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the gas includes water. 18. The sterilizer of claim 17, wherein said gas further comprises oxygen. 14. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the electric accelerator forms an electrode, and the electrode is formed as a mesh electrode covering the object to be sterilized. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the object of the sterilization processing has transparency to the laser beam. 21. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the electric accelerator forms an electrode, and the electrode is formed as a mesh electrode covering the object to be sterilized.

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