JP2006263245A - Sterilizing bag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilizing bag executing sterilizing work by negatively charged oxygen atoms and capable of secularly preventing the pollution by microbes and virus due to storage after the sterilization. <P>SOLUTION: This sterilizing bag uses a sheet allowing transmission of the negatively charged oxygen atoms and not allowing transmission of bacteria as a component. The sheet does not allow the permeation of liquid-phase water, is a hydrophobic material, and electrostatically absorbs and permeates the negatively charged oxygen atoms. The negatively charged oxygen atoms are carried by at least one kind or more gas selected from noble gas, nitrogen and dry air. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilization bag that sterilizes instruments used for surgery or treatment using a negatively charged oxygen atom sterilizer and maintains the sterilized state until the instruments are used, preferably a sterilization bag for a negatively charged oxygen atom sterilizer About.

Instruments used for surgery, treatment, etc. need to be sterilized before use, and sterilization bags are used that hold the sterilized state until the instruments are used.
The sterilization step is performed, for example, by putting an instrument in a predetermined bag-like sterilization bag 20 as shown in FIG. 3 and sealing the bag opening. Such a bag-like sterilization bag 20 has a structure in which a predetermined paper sheet 21 and a synthetic resin film sheet 22 are stacked and bonded. In the figure, reference numeral 23 denotes adhesion marks.

As described above, as a sterilization method performed in a hospital or the like, an object to be sterilized such as a scalpel or forceps is placed in a sterilization bag having a region where at least gas is permeable and bacteria cannot pass, and is sealed. A method of sterilization using high-temperature steam, ethylene oxide gas (EOG), H ₂ O ₂ plasma gas, or the like is used. The instrument after sterilization is stored in this packaging bag until it is used for surgery or the like, and is opened and used when used for surgery or treatment. Therefore, the sterilization packaging bag is a thin body such as two rectangular sheets or films (hereinafter referred to as “film”) so that it can be easily opened even if doctors or practitioners use gloves in the hospital. Is peelable, or is manufactured using an easily tearable (easier to tear open) film. When opening, a tearing method or a so-called peel-open method for peeling two films is used. It is common that

When using sterilization gas such as pressurized steam, ethylene oxide gas (EOG), and H ₂ O ₂ plasma gas, which are conventionally used sterilization techniques, in order to sufficiently sterilize the sample to be sterilized inside the package In this case, the interior space of the apparatus must be pressurized or depressurized to replace the sterilization gas with air, and the apparatus and the packaging material must be filled with the sterilization gas. Pressurizing and depressurizing the internal space of the device not only increases the cost of the device, but also causes expansion and contraction of the package for the sample to be sterilized, resulting in a considerable amount of broken bags. In many cases, the antibacterial property is not maintained.

These sterilization packaging materials such as high-temperature steam sterilization, EOG sterilization, or H ₂ O ₂ plasma gas sterilization include cotton fabric and paper bags, but plastic film and paper or non-woven fabric (cellulosic fiber or polymer fiber irregular) A package called a “sterilization bag” in which the assembly is thermally bonded is generally used (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). These sterilization bags need to have the opposite performances of gas permeability and bacteria barrier properties at the same time, but in order to avoid the invasion of bacteria from the outside, priority must be given to the bacteria barrier property. As a result, gas permeability is sacrificed in a general sterilization bag, and the gas in the package is replaced by repeating pressurization and depressurization in the sterilization apparatus as described above.

  By sacrificing gas permeability, the following difficulties have occurred. In other words, in autoclave sterilization, water in which water vapor is liquefied remains in the package after sterilization, and processing time for drying is required. Depressurization is required and the total sterilization time is extended more than necessary. In particular, in the case of EOG, there is a drawback that even if it takes half a day to discharge, there is persistence.

In addition, currently used sterilization bags allow sterilization gas to permeate through parts made of paper or non-woven fabric, but these materials have non-linear voids to ensure air permeability. Although it has a bacterial barrier function, it has a poor barrier function against viruses. In particular, since ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O ₂ plasma gas are used together with high-temperature steam, the material constituting the sterilization bag needs to permeate water, and the sterilization bag uses a hydrophilic material. . Accordingly, there is a drawback in that moisture is easily attached during storage after sterilization, the moisture promotes the growth of bacteria, and the life of the sterilization bag is short.

  In addition, electron beam sterilization is also used. In electron beam sterilization, since a sample to be sterilized is irradiated with electrons generated by a high voltage to perform sterilization, it is only necessary to transmit electrons having high energy. However, since the electron beam sterilizer generates a voltage of 6 MeV or more, the device becomes a large scale and the electron beam itself becomes a very dangerous material. There is a drawback that cannot be sterilized.

The inventor has separately proposed the use of negatively charged oxygen atoms for sterilization. Negatively charged oxygen atoms are represented by O ⁻ , and are expected to be used for oxidation reactions, oxidation treatments of various substances, food fouling treatments, and sterilization using the strong oxidizing power of negatively charged oxygen atoms. . Various methods for producing negatively charged oxygen atoms have been developed. For example, Patent Document 3 is known.

In general, when sterilizing a sample to be sterilized, it is necessary to provide a package for maintaining sterility even after being removed from the sterilizer after sterilization until the sample is used. Even in a sterilization apparatus using atoms, packaging for isolating a sample to be sterilized from the outside after sterilization is necessary.
JP 2001-163351 A JP 2004-73723 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-1908

The present invention provides a sterilization bag capable of efficiently performing sterilization using a sterilizer using negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ⁻ ) having no persistence and preventing microorganisms or virus contamination due to storage after sterilization for a long period of time. For the purpose.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the sterilization bag of the present invention generates negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ⁻ ) in a state close to normal pressure, efficiently transmits the negatively charged oxygen atoms, and does not permeate bacteria. A sheet, preferably a synthetic resin sheet is used. In addition, this synthetic resin sheet contains a plastic film or a nonwoven fabric. That is, the sterilization bag of the present invention uses as a constituent material a sheet that can permeate negatively charged oxygen atoms but not bacteria.

  In addition, that a microbe does not permeate | transmit means that growth of a microbe is not recognized as a result of a test by the liquid thioglycolic acid culture medium I and a soybean casein digest medium by the test method shown below.

Test method Four sheets of nonwoven fabric were inserted into a sterilization bag made of the material used in the present invention, sterilized, and stored for 2 weeks under conditions of 23 ° C. and 50%. Except for the sterility test conditions shown below, the sterility test was conducted according to the 13th revised Japanese Pharmacopoeia (before the 1st revision of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Notification No. 248) General Test Method "Sterility Test Method (Direct Method)" Do.

Aseptic test conditions ・ Liquid thioglycolic acid medium I
Medium: Liquid thioglycolate medium I
[Product name: TGC medium (manufactured by Nissui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)]
Medium volume: 40 mL
Test container: Test tube 25mm x 200mm
Inoculation amount: 2 non-woven fabrics Medium temperature: 30-35 ° C
・ Soybean / Casein / Digest medium Medium: Soybean / Casein / Digest medium
[Product name: Tryptoise bouillon medium (manufactured by Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd.)]
Medium volume: 40 mL
Test container: Test tube 25mm x 200mm
Inoculation amount: 2 non-woven fabrics Medium temperature: 20-25 ° C
Further, the sheet does not transmit liquid water and is a hydrophobic material. Furthermore, the sheet is a material capable of electrostatically absorbing and transmitting negatively charged oxygen atoms.

  In the present invention, a material capable of electrostatically absorbing and transmitting negatively charged oxygen atoms includes not only a physically large hole through which negatively charged oxygen atoms can pass, but also such a physical size. Even if there is no hole, there is a positively charged portion where the material electrostatically attracts negatively charged oxygen atoms, from which negatively charged oxygen atoms interact with the material and are absorbed by the material, Furthermore, it means a material that is pushed out by negatively charged oxygen atoms that flow continuously and permeates the material.

  The material of the sheet constituting the sterilization bag is that, since negatively charged oxygen atoms have a negative charge, that is, they possess extra electrons and are stable negatively charged atoms, It is preferable that the negatively charged oxygen atoms can continuously permeate the sheet material.

  Suitable materials include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR), and ethylene-propylene rubber. (EPM, EPDM) and the like, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS) are preferable.

The negatively charged oxygen atoms are transported by at least one gas selected from a rare gas, nitrogen and dry air.
Alternatively, the present invention is a sterilization method for generating the negatively charged oxygen atoms and irradiating the sterilized bag with the generated negatively charged oxygen atoms by entrained flow.

  Furthermore, the entrained flow is a sterilization method comprising at least one gas selected from a rare gas, nitrogen and dry air. Furthermore, it is a sterilization method of irradiating the sterilization bag with the entrained flow through a 3-5 mmφ nylon or Teflon (registered trademark) tube.

Since negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ⁻ ) are atoms, they can pass through pores smaller than the molecules of ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O ₂ . The pores have a size that does not allow bacteria to permeate.
In addition, since negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ⁻ ) do not require moisture during sterilization, the sterilization bag can use a hydrophobic material. Therefore, moisture hardly adheres to the bag, bacteria can be prevented from being generated by the moisture, and the life of the bag is long.

Furthermore, a rare gas such as He, which is a carrier gas for negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ⁻ ), has a diffusivity of about 5 times higher than that of air, and the negatively charged oxygen atoms themselves have a high diffusibility. As a result, even if negatively charged oxygen atoms are generated in a state close to normal pressure, they can penetrate into the bag sufficiently, so that a high pressure during sterilization is required such as ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O _2. do not do. Thus, according to the present invention, the packaging material can be permeated without filling the sterilization apparatus with negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ⁻ ) in the sterilization gas. As a result, the packaging material can be simply, efficiently, and reliably. As sterilization is performed, the sterilization operation is shortened and the toxicity is low as described below. Therefore, long-term storage in an O ^- environment after sterilization is also possible.

Furthermore, even if negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ⁻ ) remain, they return to O ₂ within a short period of time. Therefore, deaeration after sterilization is fundamental, such as ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O _2. Is unnecessary. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the sterilization bag of the present invention can be sterilized without replacing all the gas in the apparatus by pressurization and decompression.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the sterilization bag 1 of the present invention. The sterilization bag 1 has a bottom surface 3 made of a gas-impermeable material such as PET, and a negative charge oxygen atom gas permeable synthetic resin sheet on the bag is used for the top surface 2 thereof.

  However, “negatively charged oxygen atom gas permeability” means that even if negatively charged oxygen atoms are generated near normal pressure, negatively charged oxygen atoms can permeate with resistance below atmospheric pressure, but liquid water is permeated. This refers to the structure of a material having on its surface holes that cannot be sized.

Thus, the biggest feature of the sterilization bag of the present invention is that the size of the fine holes on the surface is greatly different from that of the conventional sterilization bag. Since the negatively charged oxygen atom (O ⁻ ) is an atom, it is smaller in size than the molecule and has a high diffusibility. Therefore, the pores are not large as in the case where ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O ₂ permeate, and no pressurization / decompression is required during sterilization. In addition, high-temperature steam sterilization requires high-pressure steam (water). However, since sterilization with negatively charged oxygen atoms does not require water (dry system), the material does not need to permeate water, and a hydrophobic material that repels water can be used, so that it can be kept dry after sterilization. Thus, there is a merit that the propagation of bacteria is hindered compared to a conventional sterilization bag in which moisture is easily adsorbed using a hydrophilic material even in the air, and moisture permeates.

Further, even if the negatively charged oxygen atom (O ⁻ ) remains, it returns to O ₂ within a short period of time and is not toxic. For this reason, there is basically no need for deaeration after sterilization like toxic ethylene oxide gas (EOG) or H ₂ O ₂ . Therefore, the sterilization bag of the present invention has an excellent effect that sterilization can be completed without replacing all the gas in the apparatus by pressurization / depressurization or the like unlike the conventional case.

FIG. 2 shows the outline of the sterilization apparatus of the present invention.
An object to be sterilized such as a surgical instrument is placed in the sterilization bag 10 in advance and placed in the sterilization box 9. The system is filled with a rare gas, and negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ⁻ ) generated by the O ⁻ generator 8 are transported by an entrained flow (a rare gas such as He and / or nitrogen) and are put together with the entrained flow in a sterilization box. To introduce. When the same state is maintained for 4 hours while continuously supplying O ⁻ , sterilization is performed by the negatively charged oxygen atom (O ⁻ ) gas. Then, O ^- by stopping the generation and noble gas, it is possible to take out a sterile bag. The sterilized sterilized bag is stored in a clean environment and is opened and used at the time of use such as surgery.

In the sterilization apparatus using negatively charged oxygen atoms, if the sterilization bag of the present invention is used, if the number of negatively charged oxygen atoms in the inert gas is 10 ⁵ / L or more, the entire interior space of the sterilizer is filled with negatively charged oxygen atoms. Therefore, there is no need to pressurize and depressurize the inside of the apparatus.

  The sheet used in the present invention, preferably a synthetic resin sheet, is a material in which negatively charged oxygen atoms can efficiently permeate with a concentration difference, preferably a pressure difference of less than atmospheric pressure, bacteria do not pass through, and preferably liquid water does not pass through. Any hydrophobic material can be used. For example, a plastic film or a non-woven fabric can be mentioned, and it is not limited by physical factors such as molecular weight and structure, but a low-density polyethylene film having a high permeability coefficient is preferable. For example, “a thermoplastic polymer film having a thickness of 200 μm or less, which is a polymer of nonionic molecules such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polycarbonate, has a low crystallinity”.

The sheet used in the present invention, preferably a synthetic resin sheet is preferably not passing the H ₂ O _2, and more preferably none of the ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O ₂ which is a material that does not pass.

It is preferable that the film thickness is thin, and it is possible to more efficiently transmit negatively charged oxygen atoms into the packaging material. Further, a hydrophobic film can be used, and for example, PTFE, vinyl chloride, polyvinyl, or the like can be used. Moreover, a more practical sterilization bag can be created by attaching a polymer film to a nonwoven fabric in order to give strength.
Further, negatively charged oxygen atoms, and further may be printed or affixed chemical indicator that changes color in a sterile bag with ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O ₂ or the like.

  FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a sterilization method using the negative charge oxygen atom production apparatus and the sterilization bag of the present invention. An apparatus for producing negatively charged oxygen atoms has a negatively charged oxygen atom generating member made of a calcined body of calcium aluminum composite oxide (preferably, a molar ratio of calcium oxide: aluminum oxide is 12: 7). A cathode 33 is disposed on the bottom surface inside the negative charge oxygen atom generating member 32, and a heating means 24 such as an electric heater for heating the fired body and a halogen lamp is provided. The oxygen chamber 26 is separated from the oxygen atom generation chamber 27, and normal pressure oxygen is supplied to the oxygen chamber 26 through the oxygen supply port 28.

  On the other hand, the negative charge oxygen atom generation chamber 27 is provided with an anode 30 acting as an extraction electrode in the vicinity of the negative charge oxygen atom generation portion 29 of the negative charge oxygen atom generation member 32, and the generation voltage E1 is Applied. Moreover, the irradiation part 31 which irradiates a negative charge oxygen atom is provided with the acceleration electrode 42 which accelerates the generated negative charge oxygen atom, and an acceleration voltage is applied from the acceleration power supply E2. Further, the sterilization bag 43 of the present invention is placed on the front surface of the acceleration electrode.

  Further, the generation chamber 27 is provided with an entrainment inlet 34 and an entrainment discharge outlet 35, and the entrainment flow 36 from the negative charge oxygen atom generation unit 29 toward the irradiation unit 31 of the negative charge oxygen atoms in the generation chamber 27. Is formed. The entrained flow is preferably at least one gas selected from a rare gas, nitrogen and dry air, and more preferably a rare gas and / or nitrogen.

  Further, a cooling means 37 is provided on the wall surface of the generation chamber 27 to circulate the refrigerant 18 to prevent the temperature of the generation chamber 27 from rising. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the radiant heat applied by the heating means 24 and the heat transmitted from the negative charge oxygen atom generation unit by the entrained flow from being transmitted to the irradiation unit.

  Further, it has been explained that the negative charge oxygen atom generating member of the present invention is a self-supportable member in which a calcium aluminum composite oxide is used as a cylindrical sintered body. A coating layer of calcium aluminum composite oxide may be formed thereon, or may be formed on the support by a film forming method that does not alter the composition of the raw material oxide such as plasma spraying or sputtering.

  Since the cathode is disposed in the oxygen chamber, it is preferable to use a conductive material such as a metal or a conductive oxide that does not cause alteration when heated in an oxygen atmosphere, such as platinum, gold, or a noble metal, nickel, stainless steel, etc. The material such as platinum is preferable, and platinum and gold are particularly preferable. The cathode can be formed by a coating method, a vacuum film forming method, or the like.

The fired body can be heated by providing a heating means such as a heater in contact with the fired body or by disposing a halogen lamp.
Examples of the anode functioning as an extraction electrode include gold-stable noble metals such as gold and platinum, metals such as nickel, and alloys such as stainless steel (SUS304, SUS430, etc.). Among these, platinum is preferable, and rod-like bodies, linear bodies, net-like bodies, or those coated on a substrate can be used. The distance between the generation part of the fired body and the anode is preferably 10 mm or less in order to generate negatively charged oxygen atoms at a low voltage. If it is possible to form an interval on the order of μm with an insulating member and hold the anode horizontally, the smaller the interval, the greater the electric field strength formed between the anode and the cathode. Operation with voltage becomes possible.

  The potential difference between the cathode and the anode is 1 to 2000 V / cm, preferably 10 to 1000 V / cm, and more preferably 50 to 500 V / cm. When it is lower than 1 V / cm, the production efficiency is low, and when it is higher than 2000 V / cm, the fired body or the electrode may be damaged.

  The fired body is preferably heated to 200 to 1000 ° C, more preferably 500 to 800 ° C. When the temperature is lower than 200 ° C, the generation efficiency is insufficient, and when the temperature is higher than 1000 ° C. Is not preferable because the influence of heat on the surroundings becomes large and countermeasures are required.

Further, in the negative charge oxygen atom production apparatus, it is possible to efficiently irradiate the irradiation part with negative charge oxygen atoms generated by forming an entrained flow in the generation chamber.
The entrained flow in the generation chamber has an action of transferring heat from the heated generation portion of the negatively charged oxygen atoms. Therefore, since heat is transmitted not only to the negatively charged oxygen atoms but also to the irradiated portion to the irradiated portion, the flow velocity of the accompanying flow needs to be determined in consideration of the temperature rise of the irradiated portion.

  As the entrained flow, the smaller molecular weight is preferable because the amount of disappearance of negatively charged oxygen atoms can be reduced, and helium, xenon, or the like can be used. In particular, helium is easier to obtain than xenon and has a large mean free path of negatively charged oxygen atoms, so that the amount of negatively charged oxygen atoms disappearing can be reduced.

In addition, it is preferable to consider the arrangement of the inlet of the entrained flow into the generation chamber so that the entrained flow is stably formed from the generation portion of the negatively charged oxygen atoms to the irradiation portion.
Moreover, the speed of the negatively charged oxygen atoms irradiated to the sample placed on the irradiation unit is adjusted by adjusting the voltage applied between the anode acting as the extraction electrode and the acceleration electrode arranged in the irradiation unit. It is possible to do that.

  Thus, in the negatively charged oxygen atom production apparatus, not only the voltage applied to the anode, but also an entrained flow is formed in the production chamber, and an acceleration voltage is applied between the anode and the irradiated portion. Since they can be adjusted, negatively charged oxygen atoms having an energy level according to the purpose can be given to the sample of the irradiated portion.

  For example, it is possible to sterilize substances that are altered under reduced pressure at normal pressure, and to adjust the negatively charged oxygen atoms to be irradiated according to the type of bacteria to be sterilized. Even in the case of bacterial cells having a large property, sterilization becomes possible by increasing the accelerating voltage and irradiating negatively charged oxygen atoms having a large effect.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the sterilization method using the sterilization bag of the present invention.
In the figure, 51 is negatively charged oxygen atoms (O ^-) a generator, the O ^- O generated by the generator ^- together with pulled to the right in FIG spatial electrode 46, a cylinder of a noble gas or nitrogen 44 Incorporated with a rare gas or nitrogen fed from the air, it is carried to the reaction section 43 via a nylon tube (or Teflon (registered trademark) tube) 47. The reaction unit 43 is, for example, a medical sterilization box 48. A sterilization bag 49 of the present invention is installed in the sterilization box. The generation of O ⁻ can be confirmed by the ammeter 48 and the ion measuring instrument 50. The carrier gas may be dry air.

O ⁻ has a strong oxidizing power and a correspondingly strong bactericidal power, but in other words, it is easily oxidized to return to the original O ₂ . In particular, when it encounters moisture, it easily returns to the original O ₂ and disappears.

Therefore O ^- as the gas for transporting chemically stable noble gases used. However, since a rare gas such as He is expensive, nitrogen or dry air is used instead of the rare gas in the case of a medical sterilizer that dissipates in the air.

In particular, when the O ⁻ is transported by an entrained flow composed of a rare gas or the like using a transport tube, there are the following problems.
O ⁻ tends to diffuse in the radial direction of the tube within the tube, and when it hits the side wall of the tube, it accumulates at that location and forms an O ⁻ layer. As a result, the O ⁻ layer is negatively charged up, so that the O ⁻ floating in this vicinity repels the O ⁻ layer and consequently the flow of O ⁻ is inhibited. Further, the material must not be affected by O ⁻ , and therefore, the tube is suitably made of nylon or Teflon (registered trademark). Further, a flow rate at which the O ⁻ layer near the tube side wall is difficult to form is preferable, and the size of the diameter needs to be appropriately selected.

In addition, there is a standard for the diameter of the medical tube, and this embodiment is set to 4 mmφ in accordance with this standard. It was confirmed that the flow rate of the carrier gas in the tube is preferably 0 to 500 cm / s in the 4 mmφ tube. In addition, the flow rate of the carrier gas in the O ^- generation chamber (for example, between 27 in FIG. 4 and 51 and 46 in FIG. 5) is usually 0.1 cm / s to 30 cm / s, and the carrier gas in the tube is used. The flow rate of the gas is approximately 10 times the flow rate of the carrier gas in the production chamber, although it depends on the cross-sectional area of the production chamber.

The negative charge oxygen atom generation part of the embodiment of FIG. 5 can have the same configuration as that of FIG. However, in this embodiment, the generation chamber 27 and the sample chamber (sterilization box 48) in which the sample 43 is placed are separated, and the nylon tube or Teflon (registered trademark) It is tied with a tube. In this case, the accelerating electrode 42 is placed near the exit of the production chamber or in a sterilization box.
1. Sterilization test of sterilization bag The sterilization bag of FIG. 1, the sterilization bag used in FIG. 2, the sterilization bag used in FIG. 4 and the sterilization bag used in FIG. 5 were tested by the following test methods. . As a result of the test, none of the above sterilized bags showed growth of bacteria.

Test method Four sheets of nonwoven fabric were inserted into a sterilization bag made of the material used in the present invention, sterilized, and stored for 2 weeks under conditions of 23 ° C. and 50%. Inoculate the sterility test according to the 13th revised Japanese Pharmacopoeia (before the 1st revision by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Notification No. 248) except for the following sterility test conditions. went. In addition, the repetition was 2 times.

Aseptic test conditions ・ Liquid thioglycolic acid medium I
Medium: Liquid thioglycolic acid medium I
[Product Name: TGC Medium (Nissui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)]
Medium volume: 40 mL
Test container: Test tube 25mm x 200mm
Inoculation amount: 2 non-woven fabrics Medium temperature: 30-35 ° C
・ Soybean / Casein / Digest medium Medium: Soybean / Casein / Digest medium
[Product name: Tryptosoy broth medium (Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd.)]
Medium volume: 40 mL
Test container: Test tube 25mm x 200mm
Inoculation amount: 2 non-woven fabrics Medium temperature: 20-25 ° C

The sterilization bag of the present invention is sterilized by using negatively charged oxygen atoms. Since the negatively charged oxygen atoms are atoms, they can pass through pores smaller than ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O ₂ molecules.

Moreover, the diffusibility of He etc. which is carrier gas, or negative charge oxygen atom itself is also high. As a result, even if negatively charged oxygen atoms are generated in a state close to normal pressure, they can penetrate into the bag sufficiently, so that a high pressure during sterilization is required such as ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O _2. do not do. Thus, according to the present invention, the packaging material can be easily and efficiently permeated without filling the sterilization apparatus with negatively charged oxygen atoms, which are sterilization gas, and as a result, sterilization is performed reliably and at the same time. Work is shortened and long-term storage after sterilization is possible.

  Therefore, the performance of the sterilization bag can be satisfied more easily than the conventional product against the conflicting demands of “gas permeability” and “bacterial barrier property”. That is, the sterilization bag of the present invention has a surface pore smaller than that of the conventional product, so that bacteria do not easily pass through it, and since water is not used and a hydrophobic material is used, moisture remaining when using the conventional hydrophilic material is caused. The disadvantage that bacteria easily propagate is also eliminated.

In addition, even if negatively charged oxygen atoms remain, they return to O ₂ within a short period of time, so that deaeration after sterilization is basically unnecessary, such as ethylene oxide gas (EOG) and H ₂ O _2. . Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the sterilization bag of the present invention can be sterilized without replacing all the gas in the apparatus by pressurization and decompression.

  These excellent characteristics of the present invention eliminate the need for an apparatus for pressurization / depressurization in sterilization, simplify the maintenance after sterilization, and are significantly more than sterilization bags and sterilization methods using conventional sterilization apparatuses. The cost can be reduced and the industrial utility is high.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the sterilization bag of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the apparatus at the time of sterilization of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional sterilization bag. It is a figure which shows one Example of the sterilization method using the sterilization bag of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other Example of the sterilization method using the sterilization bag of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

Etc. 8 1 sterile bag 2 top 3 bottom 4 surgical tool O ^- generator
9 Sterilization box 10 Sterilization bag 20 Sterilization bag 24 Heating means 25 Bulkhead 26 Oxygen chamber 27 Generation chamber 28 Oxygen supply port 29 Generation unit 31 Irradiation unit 32 Negative charge oxygen atom generation member 33 Cathode 34 Entrainment inlet 35 Accompaniment discharge port 36 Accompaniment flow 37 Cooling means 43 Sterilization bag 44 Gas cylinder 46 Space electrode 47 Tube 48 Ammeter 49 Sterilization bag 50 Ion measuring device 51 O ^- generating part 52 O ^- conveying part 53 Reaction part

Claims (7)

  A sterilization bag comprising a sheet that can transmit negatively charged oxygen atoms but not bacteria.   The sterilization bag according to claim 1, wherein the sheet does not allow liquid water to permeate and is made of a hydrophobic material.   The sterilization bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet is a material capable of electrostatically absorbing and transmitting negatively charged oxygen atoms.   The sterilization bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the negatively charged oxygen atoms are conveyed by at least one gas selected from a rare gas, nitrogen, and dry air.   The sterilization method of generating the negatively charged oxygen atom and irradiating the generated negatively charged oxygen atom to the sterilization bag according to any one of claims 1 to 4 by entrained flow.   The sterilization method according to claim 5, wherein the entrained flow is composed of at least one gas selected from a rare gas, nitrogen, and dry air.   The sterilization method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the entrained flow is irradiated to the sterilization bag according to any one of claims 1 to 4 through a tube made of nylon or Teflon (registered trademark) having a diameter of 3 to 5 mm.

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