JP2012091003A - Device for maintaining sterile environment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for maintaining a sterile environment, sterilizing the inside of an aseptic room in a shorter time than before without denaturing a tissue-derived biomaterial.SOLUTION: The device includes: the aseptic room 10; a buffer chamber that communicates with the aseptic room 10; a sterilization material supply unit that supplies a sterilization material to the buffer chamber; and a sterilization material activation unit that activates the sterilization material in the buffer chamber. The sterilization material activation unit is provided with an infrared irradiation unit 6 that emits an infrared ray of wavelength of 7.5-10.0 μm, activates the sterilization material by irradiation of an infrared ray, and supplies the sterilization material activated in the buffer chamber to the aseptic room 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to an aseptic environment maintaining apparatus and an aseptic worktable that can maintain an internal space in an aseptic environment such as an isolator and a clean bench.

  A sterile environment is an environment that is almost as dust-free aseptic to avoid mixing materials other than those necessary for the work, and the sterile workbench has a sterile environment maintenance device, An apparatus for performing work in an aseptic room maintained in an aseptic environment by the aseptic environment maintaining apparatus. Typical examples include an isolator for cell preparation, a clean bench, a safety cabinet, and the like.

  An isolator is an aseptic work table that can be operated in an aseptic room while maintaining a biological isolation between the aseptic room and the surrounding environment. As shown in FIG. In the closed state, the isolation state of the aseptic chamber can be maintained by the operation through the glove (102) (operation means that enables the operation in the aseptic chamber).

  A clean bench is an aseptic workbench that maintains the aseptic condition of the aseptic room by controlling the air flow in the aseptic room, and the front door of the aseptic room is in a half-open state (working means that enables work in the aseptic room) during work. Even if it exists, aseptic condition is maintained by the said airflow.

  A safety cabinet is an aseptic workbench where the aseptic condition of the aseptic room is maintained by airflow control in the aseptic room, and the front door of the aseptic room is in a half-open state (working means that enables work in the aseptic room) during work. Even in such a case, the sterility is maintained by the air flow, and the air flow is controlled so that the substance in the sterilization chamber does not diffuse to the surroundings.

Conventionally, in an isolator, a sterilization chamber (10) having an intake port (11) and an exhaust port (12) is formed in a cabinet (1) as shown in FIG. 16, and the sterilization chamber (10) has an intake port. HEPA filters (3) and (3) for the purpose of collecting fine particles are installed so as to block (11) and the exhaust port (12), respectively.
In the aseptic room (10), a hydrogen peroxide supply pipe (21) (sterilizing substance supply unit) for supplying hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing substance from the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) (sterilizing substance generation unit) is provided. A hydrogen peroxide removal filter (40) is installed near the exhaust port (12).
Further, the sterilization chamber (10) is provided with a sensor unit (90) for detecting temperature, humidity, hydrogen peroxide concentration, etc., and the detection signal is supplied to the control device (70). The hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and the like are controlled by the above.

In the isolator, after one operation in the sterilization chamber (10) is completed, in the next operation, hydrogen peroxide gas is sprayed from the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) into the sterilization chamber (10). The aseptic chamber (10) is filled with hydrogen peroxide gas to sterilize the sterile chamber (10) (see Patent Document 1). In this way, the sterilization chamber (10) can be made into an aseptic environment by supplying a sterilizing substance to the sterilization chamber (10).
After completion of the sterilization step, air is taken in from the intake port (11) through the HEPA filter (3), and the hydrogen peroxide gas in the sterilization chamber (10) is passed through the HEPA filter (3) and the exhaust port (12 ) And a gas replacement process is performed in which the hydrogen peroxide gas in the aseptic chamber (10) is replaced with air.

In the isolator, as shown in FIG. 17, after the sterilization process by spraying hydrogen peroxide,
It is necessary to carry out detoxification treatment by gas replacement, and the sum of the hydrogen peroxide spraying time and the gas replacement time is the time required for sterilization (sterilization time).

When repeated sterilization operations are performed in an isolator, it is necessary to shorten the sterilization time. In other words, in the isolator, when performing different operations for different samples, it is necessary to perform a sterilization operation between the operations in order to avoid mixing the samples. However, in order to efficiently perform the continuous operation in the isolator. Therefore, it is necessary to shorten the sterilization time.
For this purpose, the time required to uniformly disperse the sterilizing material by the required amount in the sterilization chamber is shortened, the time required for the sterilizing material to complete the sterilization of the object to be sterilized, and the sterilizing material is decomposed and rendered harmless. It is necessary to shorten the time required to complete the process.

Thus, it has been proposed to irradiate the object to be sterilized directly and sterilize by heating with infrared rays (Patent Document 2).
In sterilization of food containers using hydrogen peroxide solution, after bringing the hydrogen peroxide solution into contact with the container, ultraviolet rays and infrared rays are irradiated at the same time, and moisture drying is promoted by heating with infrared rays. It has been proposed to remove hydrogen and consequently shorten the sterilization time (Patent Document 3).
JP 2002-360672 A Japanese Patent No. 3650925 JP 63-110124 A

However, the object of the sterilization operation performed by the isolator is an inner wall of the sterilization chamber, various instruments installed in the sterilization chamber, a container in which a biological material such as a medium is accommodated, and the like. Since many of them are inactivated when exposed to high temperatures, the method of sterilization by heating with infrared rays may cause denaturation of biological materials.
Here, the biological material means a material containing an organism itself including cells, a substance constituting the organism, or a substance produced by the organism. Deactivation means a state in which the original ability is lost and the original function cannot be performed. Further, denaturation means changing from the original state (shape, properties, etc.).

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic environment maintaining apparatus that can make an aseptic environment in a sterile chamber in a shorter time than before without causing denaturation of a biological material.

A first sterile environment maintaining device according to the present invention activates a sterile room for performing work on biological material, a sterile substance supply unit for supplying a sterile substance into the sterile room, and a sterile substance in the sterile room A sterilizing substance activating unit to be converted to a temperature, and a temperature adjusting unit for adjusting the temperature in the sterile room to a temperature at which the biological material is not denatured.
The temperature adjustment by the temperature adjustment unit can be realized, for example, by controlling the operation of the sterilizing substance activation unit.

  In the first sterile environment maintaining apparatus, when sterilization is performed in the sterile room, the sterile substance is supplied from the sterile substance supply unit into the sterile room, and the sterile substance in the sterile room is activated by the sterile substance activation unit. In a sterile room, the article to be sterilized is sterilized by the activated sterilizing substance. As a result, the time required for the object to be sterilized is shortened. However, since the temperature of the biological material in the sterilization chamber may increase with the activation of the sterilizing substance by the sterilizing material active unit, the temperature adjustment unit prevents the temperature of the biological material from being denatured. Adjust the temperature with. Thereby, denaturation of the biological material is prevented.

  A second aseptic environment maintenance device according to the present invention includes a sterilization chamber for performing work on a biological material, a buffer chamber communicating with the sterilization chamber, and a sterilization material supply unit for supplying a sterilization material to the buffer chamber And a sterilizing substance activating unit that activates the sterilizing substance in the buffer chamber, and the sterilizing substance activated in the buffer chamber is supplied to the aseptic chamber.

  In the second aseptic environment maintaining apparatus, when sterilization is performed in the sterile room, the sterile substance is supplied from the sterile substance supply unit into the buffer chamber, and the sterile substance activation unit activates the sterile substance in the buffer chamber. The activated sterilizing material flows from the buffer chamber into the sterile chamber and fills the sterile chamber. In a sterile room, the article to be sterilized is sterilized by the activated sterilizing substance. As a result, the time required for the object to be sterilized is shortened. Here, since activation of the sterilizing substance by the sterilizing substance active part is performed in the buffer chamber, there is no possibility that the temperature of the biological material in the sterilization chamber will rise, and therefore there is no possibility that the biological material will be denatured.

  In a specific configuration, the sterilizing substance activating unit includes an infrared irradiating unit, and the infrared irradiating unit is effective for activating the sterilizing substance and can suppress a temperature rise of the biological material to a minimum. It emits infrared light of a specific wavelength.

  According to the specific configuration, the molecular movement of the sterilized substance is activated by the infrared irradiation by the infrared irradiation unit, and the sterilization action of the sterilized substance on the sterilized material is strengthened. As a result, the sterilized material is sterilized. The time required to do this will be shortened.

  Here, the infrared rays emitted from the infrared irradiation unit have a specific wavelength that is effective in activating the sterilizing substance and can suppress the temperature rise of the biological material to a minimum. The molecular motion of the substance is activated, but the temperature rise of the biological material is suppressed to a minimum, thereby preventing the biological material from being denatured.

For example, a biological material is enclosed in a container, the biological material contains water such as a medium, and the sterilizing substance is hydrogen peroxide gas or fine liquid particles, or ozone gas or fine liquid particles. In this case, among the wavelength bands that are easily absorbed by hydrogen peroxide and ozone, the wavelength band excluding the infrared wavelength band of 5 to 7.5 μm that is easily absorbed by water vapor around the container is 7.5 to 7.5 μm. Infrared rays having a wavelength of 10 μm are used.
As a result, the temperature rise in the sterile chamber that causes the temperature rise of the biological material is suppressed to a minimum, and further, by adjusting the temperature as necessary, a temperature at which there is no possibility of degeneration of the biological material, for example, The temperature is suppressed to 35 ° C. or lower.

  In addition, when a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ozone is used as the sterilizing substance, the amount of active oxygen species generated increases due to the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ozone. As a result, compared to hydrogen peroxide or ozone alone. Sterilization performance is improved.

  According to the aseptic environment maintaining apparatus according to the present invention, an aseptic environment can be made into an aseptic environment in a shorter time than before without causing denaturation of the biological material. Moreover, according to the aseptic work table using the aseptic environment maintaining apparatus, the work can be performed in an aseptic room while having the above-described effects.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention in an isolator will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a first isolator of the present invention corresponding to the aseptic work table shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a sterilization chamber (10) having an intake port (11) and an exhaust port (12) is formed in a cabinet (1), and the sterilization chamber (10) has an intake port (11) and an exhaust port. HEPA filters (3) and (3) are installed so as to block the mouth (12).
An inside air circulation fan (8) is installed in the sterilization chamber (10), and an exhaust fan (not shown) is disposed at the outlet of the HEPA filter (3) on the exhaust side. In addition, a glove (102) serving as a working means for enabling work in the sterilization chamber (10) is connected to the side wall of the sterilization chamber (10).
An ozone / hydrogen peroxide removal filter (4) made of activated carbon or the like is installed between the exhaust port (12) and the HEPA filter (3).

The cabinet (1) is provided with a hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and an ozone generator (5). Connected to the sterilization chamber (10) is a hydrogen peroxide supply pipe (21) for supplying hydrogen peroxide, which is a sterilizing substance, from the hydrogen peroxide generator (2), and a sterilizing substance from the ozone generator (5). An ozone supply pipe (60) for supplying ozone is connected. The sterilization chamber (10) is provided with an infrared irradiator (6).
Furthermore, the sterilization chamber (10) is provided with a sensor unit (9) for detecting humidity, hydrogen peroxide concentration, ozone concentration, and a radiation thermometer (91) for measuring the temperature in the sterilization chamber (10). These detection signals are supplied to the control device (7), and the operations of the hydrogen peroxide generator (2), the ozone generator (5), the infrared irradiator (6), the internal air circulation fan (8), etc. are performed. It is controlled.

  Thus, the sterilization chamber (10) having the intake port (11) and the exhaust port (12), the HEPA filter (3) (3), the internal air circulation fan (8), the ozone / hydrogen peroxide removal filter (4), By the hydrogen peroxide supply pipe (21), the ozone supply pipe (60), the infrared irradiator (6), the sensor unit (9), and the radiation thermometer (91), the first aseptic environment maintenance device according to the present invention is provided. According to the present invention, a glove (102) serving as a working means is connected to the aseptic environment maintaining device, and a hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and an ozone generator (5) are provided. A first isolator is configured.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the infrared irradiator (6) includes a ceramic heater (61), a reflector (62) that reflects infrared rays emitted from the ceramic heater (61), and the ceramic heater (61). A band-pass filter (63) that allows infrared rays emitted to pass through the wavelength band of 7.5 to 10 μm is provided.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, an infrared irradiation area having a certain angle range is formed from the infrared irradiator (6) toward the center of the sterilization chamber (10).

The above wavelength band of 7.5 to 10 μm is an effective wavelength band (5 to 10 μm) for activating the molecular motion of hydrogen peroxide and ozone (“Revised 4th edition Chemical Handbook Basics II”) The Chemical Society of Japan), and is defined as a band excluding a wavelength band (5 to 7.5 μm) having a high water absorption rate (see “Infrared Optics” by Osamu Kuno, edited by the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers).
It should be noted that other wavelength bands effective for activating hydrogen peroxide and ozone are known ("Revised 4th edition Chemical Handbook II", The Chemical Society of Japan).

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the infrared irradiator (6) is provided with a motor (64) for swinging the direction of emitting infrared rays as necessary.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the infrared irradiator (6) swings within a certain angle range, and the irradiation area is enlarged.

  The ozone generator (5) can be constituted by an ozone mist generator shown in FIG. In the ozone mist generator, pure water (52) in the pure water tank (51) is supplied from the water seal cap (53) into the electrolytic cell (54) under the control of the control base (59), Ozone water is generated by the ozone generating electrode (56) in the electrolytic cell (54), and the ozone mist (58) is generated by applying ultrasonic vibration from the ultrasonic oscillator (57) to the ozone water. Is. The ozone mist (58) is supplied to the outside through an ozone supply pipe (60).

  Further, the ozone generator (5) can be constituted by an ozone gas generator shown in FIG. In the ozone gas generator, oxygen is supplied from the oxygen supply source (501) to the discharge type ozone generator (503) through the supply unit (502), and ozone is generated by the discharge in the discharge type ozone generator (503). The ozone gas is supplied to a humidifier (505) and humidified with pure water (504) to obtain humidified ozone (506).

  The hydrogen peroxide generator (2) can be constituted by a hydrogen peroxide mist generator shown in FIG. In the hydrogen peroxide mist generator, the hydrogen peroxide solution (23) in the hydrogen peroxide solution tank (22) is transferred from the water sealing cap (24) to the hydrogen peroxide solution tank (24) under the control of the control board (28). 25) to generate hydrogen peroxide mist (27) by applying ultrasonic vibration from the ultrasonic oscillator (26) to the hydrogen peroxide solution in the hydrogen peroxide tank (25) It is.

  Further, the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) can be constituted by a hydrogen peroxide vaporizer shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b). In the hydrogen peroxide vaporizer, air taken into the air duct (207) from the air inlet (201) by the operation of the air fan (202), the element (205) installed at the outlet of the air duct (207) The hydrogen peroxide solution is discharged from the exhaust port (206) via the pump, while the hydrogen peroxide solution is pumped up from the hydrogen peroxide solution tank (204) by the pump (203) and dropped onto the element (205), thereby passing through the element (205). The hydrogen peroxide solution is vaporized by the air flow. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas is supplied to the outside from the hydrogen peroxide supply pipe (21).

In the isolator, the process of pattern 1 or pattern 3 shown in FIG. 15 is executed in order to sterilize the inside of the sterilization chamber (10).
In Pattern 1, after the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and the ozone generator (5) are simultaneously operated for sterilization to generate and spray sterilization gas (hydrogen peroxide gas and ozone gas), A gas purge is performed for the detoxification process. In addition, infrared irradiation by the infrared irradiator (6) is performed throughout the period of sterilization and detoxification, thereby activating the sterilization gas and increasing the efficiency of the detoxification process.

  In infrared irradiation, the temperature distribution in the sterilization chamber (10) is monitored by a radiation thermometer (91), and an infrared irradiator (6) is used so that the maximum temperature in the temperature distribution in the sterilization chamber (10) is 35 ° C. or less. ) Is controlled. Therefore, the infrared irradiation is not continuous but intermittent. Thus, a temperature adjustment unit is configured to adjust the temperature in the sterile room to a temperature at which the biological material is not denatured.

  In Pattern 3, after the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and the ozone generator (5) are simultaneously operated for sterilization to generate and spray sterilization gas (hydrogen peroxide gas and ozone gas), A gas purge is performed for the detoxification process. Also, during the sterilization period, the degree of sterilization gas activation by infrared irradiation is adjusted by repeatedly turning on / off the infrared irradiation by the infrared irradiator (6).

11 and 12 show a control procedure executed by the control device (7) for the sterilization process.
First, in the preparation process shown in FIG. 11, the inside air circulation fan is turned on, the ozone generator and the hydrogen peroxide generator are turned on, and then the infrared irradiation flag is turned on. Next, the infrared irradiation loop shown in FIG. 12 is turned on.

In the infrared irradiation loop, the temperature distribution in the sterile room is measured, and if there is a part where the temperature reaches 35 ° C. or higher, the infrared irradiator is turned off, while if the temperature is lower than 35 ° C., Turn on the infrared irradiator.
Thereafter, the infrared irradiation flag is determined. If the infrared irradiation flag is ON, the process returns to the temperature measurement after waiting for 0.5 seconds. If the infrared irradiation flag is off, the infrared irradiator is turned off and the infrared irradiation loop is turned off.
Infrared irradiation on / off control based on the above temperature distribution measurement prevents denaturation of the biological material.

As shown in FIG. 11, after the infrared irradiation loop is completed, the ozone concentration is measured. If the ozone concentration is less than the sterilization concentration, the measurement of the ozone concentration is repeated after one second. If the ozone concentration is equal to or higher than the sterilization concentration, the process proceeds to the sterilization process.
Here, the ozone gas concentration is measured as a representative of the sterilization gas concentration, but the hydrogen peroxide gas concentration can also be measured.

In the sterilization process, after the time measurement is started, the ozone concentration is measured. If the ozone concentration is less than the sterilization concentration, the ozone generator and the hydrogen peroxide generator are turned on. If so, turn off the ozone generator and hydrogen peroxide generator.
Subsequently, time determination is performed. If the time is less than the predetermined time, the measurement of the ozone concentration is repeated after 1 second. If the time is longer than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to the detoxification process.
By the above sterilization process, the sterile room is exposed for an appropriate time at an appropriate sterilization gas concentration. Note that the hydrogen peroxide concentration can be measured instead of the ozone concentration measurement.

  In the detoxification process, the ozone generator and hydrogen peroxide generator are turned off, the exhaust fan is turned on, and then the ozone concentration is measured. If the ozone concentration is higher than the allowable concentration, the measurement of the ozone concentration is repeated after 1 second. If the ozone concentration is less than the allowable concentration, the infrared irradiation flag is turned off, the exhaust fan and the inside air circulation fan are turned off, and the sterilization process is terminated.

In the first isolator, the ozone generator (5) and the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) operate simultaneously during the sterilization process, and ozone and hydrogen peroxide as sterilization gases are supplied to the sterilization chamber (10). As a result, ozone and hydrogen peroxide are mixed.
Here, when the mixed gas of ozone and hydrogen peroxide is irradiated with infrared rays having a wavelength of 7.5 to 10 μm, the molecular motion of ozone and hydrogen peroxide is activated, and the mixed gas is activated. Will be.

FIG. 14 shows the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and ozone. Hydrogen peroxide and ozone, as a simple substance, are decomposed into water and oxygen after a complex chain reaction of active oxygen species and the like, as indicated by the broken line. By mixing hydrogen peroxide and ozone, It is considered that the amount of active oxygen species generated is greater than that of a single substance. In particular, hydrogen peroxide and ozone are irradiated with infrared rays to activate molecular motion and increase the degree of mixing, so that a large amount of active oxygen species is generated. In addition, the molecule | numerator which attached the underline in a figure absorbs infrared rays with a wavelength of 7.5-10 micrometers.
The sterilization performance of the sterilization gas is considered to depend on the amount of reactive oxygen species having high reactivity, and high sterilization performance can be obtained by a large amount of reactive oxygen species.

By activating the sterilization gas by infrared irradiation as described above, the sterilization performance is improved in the sterilization process, and the decomposition (detoxification) of the sterilized substance is promoted in the detoxification process.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, the sterilization performance is improved as compared with the conventional technique in which infrared irradiation is not performed, and the amount of sterilization gas used is reduced with the improvement of the sterilization performance. Shortening and detoxification processing time can be shortened.

In the sterilization process, biological materials such as the medium in the sterilization chamber (10) are also irradiated with infrared rays, but the infrared wavelength band is limited to 7.5 to 10 μm. Although hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are selectively activated, the absorption of water vapor molecules is low, so that the temperature rise in the sterilization chamber (10) can be suppressed.
However, in the isolator, the operation of the infrared irradiator (6) is controlled so that the temperature in the sterilization chamber (10) is less than 35 ° C., so the temperature in the sterilization chamber (10) is less than 35 ° C. Maintained.
Therefore, there is no possibility that the biological material such as the medium in the sterile room (10) is denatured.

  In the first isolator, 35 ° C., which is the upper limit value of the temperature in the sterilization chamber (10), is an example of the upper limit value of the temperature at which there is no possibility of degeneration of the biological material housed in the sterilization chamber (10). Therefore, it is determined as appropriate according to the characteristics of the biological material housed in the sterile room (10).

In the second isolator according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a sterilization chamber (10) having an intake port (11) and an exhaust port (12) in a cabinet (1), and the sterilization chamber (10) And a buffer chamber (13) communicating with each other via a communication pipe (14). The sterile chamber (10) has a HEPA filter (3) so as to block the intake port (11) and the exhaust port (12), respectively. (3) is installed.
An inside air circulation fan (8) is installed in the sterilization chamber (10), and an exhaust fan (not shown) is disposed at the outlet of the HEPA filter (3) on the exhaust side. In addition, a glove (102) serving as a working means for enabling work in the sterilization chamber (10) is connected to the side wall of the sterilization chamber (10).
An ozone / hydrogen peroxide removal filter (4) made of activated carbon or the like is installed between the exhaust port (12) and the HEPA filter (3).

The cabinet (1) is provided with a hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and an ozone generator (5). Connected to the buffer chamber (13) is a hydrogen peroxide supply pipe (21) for supplying hydrogen peroxide, which is a sterilizing substance, from the hydrogen peroxide generator (2), and the sterilizing substance is supplied from the ozone generator (5). An ozone supply pipe (60) for supplying ozone is connected.
The buffer chamber (13) is provided with an infrared irradiator (6).

Further, the sterilization chamber (10) is provided with a sensor unit (9) for detecting temperature, humidity, hydrogen peroxide concentration, ozone concentration, etc., and its detection signal is supplied to the control device (7) for peroxidation. The operations of the hydrogen generator (2), the ozone generator (5), the infrared irradiator (6), the inside air circulation fan (8) and the like are controlled.
The hydrogen peroxide generator (2), the ozone generator (5), and the infrared irradiator (6) are a hydrogen peroxide generator (2), an ozone generator (5) and It is the same structure as an infrared irradiator (6) (refer FIGS. 3-10).

  Thus, the sterilization chamber (10) having the intake port (11) and the exhaust port (12), the buffer chamber (13), the HEPA filter (3) (3), the internal air circulation fan (8), ozone / hydrogen peroxide The removal filter (4), the hydrogen peroxide supply pipe (21), the ozone supply pipe (60), the infrared irradiator (6), and the sensor unit (9) constitute the second aseptic environment maintenance device according to the present invention. In addition, a glove (102) serving as a working means is connected to the sterilized environment maintaining device, and a hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and an ozone generator (5) are provided. Two isolators are constructed.

In the isolator, the process of pattern 2 or pattern 4 shown in FIG. 15 is executed in order to sterilize the inside of the sterile room (10).
In pattern 2, the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and the ozone generator (5) are simultaneously operated for sterilization, and after generating and spraying sterilization gas (hydrogen peroxide gas and ozone gas), A gas purge is performed for the detoxification process. In addition, during the period of sterilization, infrared irradiation with an infrared irradiator (6) is performed to activate the sterilization gas.

In Pattern 4, after the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and the ozone generator (5) are operated simultaneously for sterilization to generate and spray sterilization gas (hydrogen peroxide gas and ozone gas), A gas purge is performed for the detoxification process. Also, during the sterilization period, the degree of sterilization gas activation by infrared irradiation is adjusted by repeatedly turning on / off the infrared irradiation by the infrared irradiator (6).

FIG. 13 shows a control procedure executed by the control device (7) for the sterilization process.
First, in the preparation process shown in FIG. 13, the inside air circulation fan is turned on, the ozone generator and the hydrogen peroxide generator are turned on, and then the infrared irradiation is turned on. Next, the ozone concentration is measured, and if the ozone concentration is less than the sterilization concentration, the measurement of the ozone concentration is repeated after 1 second. If the ozone concentration is equal to or higher than the sterilization concentration, the process proceeds to the sterilization process.

In the sterilization process, after the time measurement is started, the ozone concentration is measured. If the ozone concentration is less than the sterilization concentration, the ozone generator and the hydrogen peroxide generator are turned on. If so, turn off the ozone generator and hydrogen peroxide generator.
Subsequently, time determination is performed. If the time is less than the predetermined time, the measurement of the ozone concentration is repeated after 1 second. If the time is longer than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to the detoxification process.
Here, the ozone gas concentration is measured as a representative of the sterilization gas concentration, but the hydrogen peroxide gas concentration can also be measured.

  In the detoxification process, the ozone concentration and the hydrogen peroxide generator are turned off, the infrared irradiation is turned off, the exhaust fan is turned on, and then the ozone concentration is measured. If the ozone concentration is higher than the allowable concentration, the measurement of the ozone concentration is repeated after 1 second. If the ozone concentration is less than the allowable concentration, the exhaust fan and the inside air circulation fan are turned off and the sterilization process is terminated.

In the second isolator, the ozone generator (5) and the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) operate simultaneously during the sterilization process, and ozone and hydrogen peroxide as sterilization gases are supplied to the buffer chamber (13). As a result, ozone and hydrogen peroxide are mixed.
Here, when the mixed gas of ozone and hydrogen peroxide is irradiated with infrared rays having a wavelength of 7.5 to 10 μm, the molecular motion of ozone and hydrogen peroxide is activated and activated. Become.

The activated mixed gas (sterilized substance) of ozone and hydrogen peroxide is supplied from the buffer chamber (13) to the sterilization chamber (10) through the communication pipe (14). Thereby, in the aseptic chamber (10), the activated mixed gas of ozone and hydrogen peroxide exhibits high sterilization performance.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, the sterilization time is shortened as compared with the prior art including an infrared irradiator. Further, since the amount of sterilization gas used is reduced as the sterilization performance is improved, the detoxification processing time can be shortened.

  Since activation of ozone and hydrogen peroxide by infrared irradiation is performed in the buffer chamber (13), the temperature in the sterilization chamber (10) is maintained at less than 35 ° C. and is stored in the sterilization chamber (10). There is no risk that biological materials such as culture media will be denatured by temperature rise.

  As described above, according to the isolator according to the present invention, the aseptic room can be made aseptic environment in a shorter time than before without causing denaturation of living body-derived materials such as culture medium, and the sterilization time can be shortened. I can do it.

Each part configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, the first and second isolators include both the hydrogen peroxide generator (2) and the ozone generator (5), but a configuration equipped with only one of them can also be employed.
In the first isolator, the temperature of the sterilization chamber (10) is controlled to 35 ° C. or lower. However, the upper limit is not limited to 35 ° C., and there is no risk that the biological material may be denatured. What is necessary is just to set a suitable temperature.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the 1st isolator which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the 2nd isolator which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of an infrared irradiator. It is an exploded perspective view of an infrared irradiator. It is a figure which shows the infrared irradiation area by an infrared irradiation device. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a swing type infrared irradiation device. It is a figure which shows the structure of an ozone generator. It is a figure which shows the other structure of an ozone generator. It is a figure which shows the structure of a hydrogen peroxide generator. It is a figure which shows the other structure of a hydrogen peroxide generator. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure in a 1st isolator. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of an infrared irradiation loop. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure in a 2nd isolator. It is a figure which shows the reaction chemical formula of hydrogen peroxide and ozone. It is the time chart which compared the sterilization process and the detoxification process in the prior art and the isolator of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional isolator. It is a time chart of the conventional sterilization processing and detoxification processing. It is sectional drawing showing opening and closing of the door in an aseptic work table.

(1) Cabinet
(10) Aseptic room
(11) Air intake
(12) Exhaust port
(13) Buffer room
(14) Connecting pipe
(2) Hydrogen peroxide generator
(3) HEPA filter
(4) Ozone / hydrogen peroxide removal filter
(5) Ozone generator
(60) Ozone supply pipe
(6) Infrared irradiator
(7) Control device
(9) Sensor unit

Claims (4)

A sterilization chamber, a buffer chamber communicating with the sterilization chamber, a sterilization material supply unit that supplies a sterilization material to the buffer chamber, and a sterilization material activation unit that activates the sterilization material in the buffer chamber,
The sterilizing material activation unit includes an infrared irradiation unit that emits infrared light having a wavelength of 7.5 to 10.0 μm. The sterilizing material is activated by irradiating the infrared light, and the sterilizing material activated in the buffer chamber is placed in the aseptic room. Aseptic environment maintenance equipment to be supplied.   The sterile environment maintaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization chamber is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, and a particulate collection filter is installed so as to close the air inlet and the air outlet.   3. The sterile environment maintaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing substance is hydrogen peroxide gas or fine liquid particles, ozone gas or fine liquid particles, or a mixture of both.   An aseptic work table having working means for enabling work in an aseptic room and comprising the aseptic environment maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.