JP2005027753A - Sterilization apparatus using gaseous chlorine dioxide - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilization apparatus using gaseous chlorine dioxide which performs sterilization by the gaseous chlorine dioxide without using carcinogenic EOG and eliminates the problem of carcinogenicity. <P>SOLUTION: Inside a sterilization object housing container 1 for housing a sterilization object to be sterilized, a mixer/vaporizer 2 for mixing and vaporizing supplied liquid sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid and generating the gaseous chlorine dioxide is disposed. Reaction is accelerated by arranging a heating means in the mixer/vaporizer. Also, circulation is accelerated by disposing the circulation path 7 of the gaseous chlorine dioxide inside the sterilization object housing container and arranging a fan 8 in the circulation path, an ultraviolet ray lamp 9 for emitting ultraviolet rays for neutralizing the gaseous chlorine dioxide and sterilizing the sterilization object is arranged inside the sterilization object housing container, or piping 11 connected so as to be communicated with the sterilization object housing container for introducing the gaseous chlorine dioxide inside the sterilization object housing container to a sterilization bag housing the sterilization object may be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus that can sterilize medical equipment using chlorine dioxide gas.
[0002]
[Prior art]
EOG sterilizers filled with ethylene oxide gas (hereinafter referred to as “EOG”) are widely used for sterilization of medical equipment and the like in hospitals because they can be sterilized at a low temperature and have a simple structure (Patent Document 1). , See Patent Document 2).
[0003]
Although EOG is toxic and harmful to the human body, many EOG sterilizers are used because there is no alternative to EOG sterilization.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP2003-181244
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-224199 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, EOG is recognized as having carcinogenicity, and sterilization by EOG is regulated by occupational safety and health laws. Therefore, complicated management is required for EOG countermeasures for sterilizers used in hospitals, and an alternative method to replace EOG sterilization has been desired.
[0007]
Then, this invention is providing the sterilization apparatus using chlorine dioxide gas which can eliminate the problem of carcinogenicity by sterilizing by chlorine dioxide gas, without using EOG which has carcinogenicity.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The sterilization apparatus using chlorine dioxide gas according to the present invention generates chlorine dioxide gas by mixing and vaporizing the fed sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid in a sterilization target container for storing a sterilization target. A mixer / vaporizer is provided.
[0009]
The mixing / vaporizer is provided with a heating means to promote the reaction, and a chlorine dioxide gas circulation passage is provided in the container to be sterilized, and a fan is disposed in the circulation passage to promote circulation, A UV lamp that irradiates UV light to neutralize chlorine dioxide gas and sterilize the object to be sterilized is placed in the container to be sterilized, or connected to the container to be sterilized so that it can communicate with the object to be sterilized. You may provide the piping which introduce | transduces the chlorine dioxide gas in a thing storage container into the bag for sterilization which stores a sterilization target object.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of the sterilization apparatus of the present invention.
[0011]
In the container 1 for sterilization, a mixer / vaporizer 2 is arranged. In the mixer / vaporizer 2, sodium chlorite (NaClO ₂ ) 4 is supplied by a liquid feed pump 3, and hydrochloric acid (HCl is added by a liquid feed pump 5. ) 6 is supplied. The mixer / vaporizer 2 has a dish-like shape, and a fiber having excellent chemical resistance such as glass fiber is laid on the bottom. Chlorine dioxide gas (ClO ₂ ) is generated when hydrochloric acid and sodium chlorite are mixed at a certain ratio, leaving water and sodium chloride. Chlorine dioxide gas is widely used for sterilization, deodorization, pool water treatment, etc. and has no carcinogenicity.
[0012]
The glass fiber laid on the bottom of the mixer / vaporizer 2 can continuously release a stable chlorine dioxide gas. By changing the amount of hydrochloric acid and sodium chlorite, the concentration of chlorine dioxide gas can be easily adjusted. Further, the mixing / vaporizer 2 may be provided with heating means such as a heat transfer heater in order to promote the reaction.
[0013]
A circulation path 7 for circulating the generated chlorine dioxide gas is formed in the sterilization object storage container 1, and a fan 8 for forcibly circulating the chlorine dioxide gas is disposed in the circulation path 7. The sterilization effect of chlorine dioxide gas is promoted.
[0014]
An ultraviolet lamp 9 is arranged in the sterilization target container 1. By irradiating the ultraviolet lamp 9 with ultraviolet rays, the chlorine dioxide gas concentration can be attenuated and the sterilization target can be sterilized.
[0015]
A pipe 11 communicating with the inside of the sterilization object storage container 1 can be provided outside the sterilization object storage container 1 in order to store the sterilization target object in the sterilization bag 10 and sterilize and store it. A sterilization bag 10 can be connected to a nozzle 13 of a pipe 11 having an injection pump 12 that sucks and injects chlorine dioxide gas from the inside of the sterilization target container 1. A backflow prevention valve 14 is provided at the nozzle connection portion of the sterilization bag 10. A suction pump 15 that sucks air from the sterilization bag 10 is connected to the pipe 11.
[0016]
Next, a method for using the sterilization apparatus of the present invention will be described.
[0017]
(1) When sterilizing in a sterilization target container, put a sterilization target in the sterilization target container 1, and use a liquid feed pump 3 for sodium chlorite 4 and a liquid feed pump 5 for hydrochloric acid 6 at a certain ratio. By sending the liquid to the mixer / vaporizer 2, the two liquids are mixed and reacted to generate chlorine dioxide gas and vaporize it. The vaporized chlorine dioxide gas is circulated in the sterilization object storage container 1 through the circulation passage 7 by the fan 8 to fill the sterilization object storage container 1 with a certain amount of chlorine dioxide gas.
[0018]
The sterilization target in the sterilization target container 1 is sterilized with chlorine dioxide gas for a certain period of time and then irradiated with ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet lamp 9 to attenuate the chlorine dioxide gas concentration and sterilize the sterilization target by the effect of ultraviolet rays. Is also performed at the same time.
[0019]
After irradiating the ultraviolet lamp 9 for a certain time until the chlorine dioxide gas concentration reaches a safe concentration, the object to be sterilized is taken out.
[0020]
(2) When sterilizing with a sterilization bag Put an object to be sterilized in the sterilization bag 10 and seal it with a heat sealer or the like, and insert the nozzle 13 at the tip of the pipe 11 into the backflow prevention valve 14 of the sterilization bag 10. The suction pump 15 is operated to suck the air in 10 into the sterilization object storage container 1, and the sterilization bag 10 is brought to a negative pressure and stopped.
[0021]
Next, the injection pump 12 is operated to fill the sterilization bag 10 with chlorine dioxide gas in the sterilization object storage container 1 and stop the operation. After that, the nozzle 13 is removed from the backflow prevention valve 14. The object to be sterilized in the sterilization bag 10 can be sterilized by holding the sterilization bag 10 for a certain time.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
Since the sterilization apparatus of the present invention does not require the use of carcinogenic EOG, the problem of carcinogenicity can be solved, and management of the sterilization apparatus is greatly simplified compared to conventional EOG management. The
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a sterilization apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Container for sterilization 2: Mixer / vaporizer 3: Liquid feed pump 4: Sodium chlorite liquid 5: Liquid feed pump 6: Hydrochloric acid 7: Circulating passage 8: Fan 9: Ultraviolet lamp 10: Sterilization bag 11 : Piping 12: Injection pump 13: Nozzle 14: Backflow prevention valve 15: Suction pump

Claims (5)

A sterilization object storage container for storing sterilization objects to be sterilized is provided with a mixing / vaporizing device that generates chlorine dioxide gas by mixing and vaporizing the delivered sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid. Sterilizer using chlorine dioxide gas. 2. The sterilization apparatus using chlorine dioxide gas according to claim 1, wherein a heating means is provided to promote the reaction in the mixer / vaporizer. The sterilization apparatus using chlorine dioxide gas according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a circulation path for chlorine dioxide gas is provided in the container to be sterilized, and a fan is disposed in the circulation path. The use of chlorine dioxide gas according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an ultraviolet lamp for irradiating ultraviolet light for neutralizing chlorine dioxide gas and sterilizing the object to be sterilized is disposed in the container for sterilization object. Sterilization equipment. A pipe connected to a sterilization object storage container so as to be able to communicate and introducing chlorine dioxide gas in the sterilization object storage container into a sterilization bag for storing the sterilization object. A sterilization apparatus using chlorine dioxide gas according to 1, 2, 3 or 4.

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