JP2018102635A - Sterilization method, and sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilization method and a sterilizer capable of certainly and efficiently sterilizing the whole surface of an article to be sterilized without consuming much energy and a large amount of agents.SOLUTION: A sterilization method includes a preparation step for tightly accommodating a sterilizing gas containing a sterilizing component of a prescribed concentration and an article to be sterilized in the inner space of a sterilization vessel and a UV-rays irradiation step for irradiating the article accommodated in the sterilization vessel through a UV-rays permeation part with UV-rays emitted from a UV-rays source arranged outside the sterilization vessel. The preparation step includes a sterilizing gas amount adjusting step for adjusting the amount of a sterilizing gas to be introduced in the inner space of the sterilization vessel according to a shape and/or size of the article to be sterilized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilization method and a sterilization apparatus for an object to be sterilized.

  Methods for sterilizing commodities such as daily necessities, hygiene products, medical products, etc. include a method of heating an object to be sterilized such as high-pressure steam sterilization, dry heat sterilization, a method of sterilization using chemical substances, a method of sterilization using ultraviolet rays, etc. These sterilization methods all have various advantages and disadvantages.

  Ultraviolet sterilization is excellent in that the object to be sterilized can be easily sterilized in a short time, but has a problem that the shaded portion where ultraviolet rays do not reach is not sterilized at all.

  Then, the sterilization method which uses ultraviolet sterilization and the sterilization method using a chemical substance together is proposed.

  Patent Documents 1 to 3 describe a sterilization method using hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet irradiation in combination. When hydrogen peroxide and UV sterilization are used in combination, hydrogen radicals are irradiated with ultraviolet rays to generate hydroxyl radicals that have a strong oxidizing effect. Therefore, compared to sterilization with oxygen peroxide alone or UV irradiation alone, a stronger sterilization effect Can be obtained.

Patent Document 1 discloses a disinfectant attaching step for attaching a hydrogen peroxide-containing solution to the inside of a food packaging container having an opening at the top, and UV for sterilizing the inside of the container to which hydrogen peroxide is attached by irradiating ultraviolet rays. A method is described that includes a sterilization step and a sterilizing agent removal step of removing hydrogen peroxide from the inside of the container by blowing an inert gas as a removal gas into the container to which hydrogen peroxide is adhered. Patent Document 2 discloses a method for manufacturing a packaging container with a very small amount of microorganism adhesion by treating packaging material with a combination of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) having a concentration of 0.1 to 5% by weight and ultraviolet rays. Is described. Further, in Patent Document 3, (1) (a) a hydrogen peroxide-containing gas having a temperature of 10 to 60 ° C. and a concentration of 10 to 200 ppm is sprayed into a packaging container to be sterilized, and hydrogen peroxide is injected into the surface of the packaging container. (B) a step of irradiating the inner surface of the packaging container with ultraviolet rays; and (c) aseptic air having a temperature of 10 to 60 ° C. is ejected into the packaging container, and the hydrogen peroxide-containing gas in the packaging container is blown into the air. A purging method for replacing a packaging container is provided.

  Patent Document 4 describes a sterilization method using ultraviolet irradiation and ozone gas in combination. Patent Document 4 relates to a device for sterilizing a member such as a surgical instrument or a health diagnostic instrument, a dental tool, an endoscope, a catheter, or the like. Patent Document 4 describes a member sterilization apparatus including an ultraviolet source for irradiating a storage and a member, and an ozone source. According to this apparatus, the inner surface of the member which is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays is sterilized by ozone.

JP 2004-59014 A JP 2010-521378 A International Publication No. 2013/008426 Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 2002-512086

  The devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 use both hydrogen peroxide sterilization and ultraviolet irradiation, and can be expected to have a high sterilization effect. However, the devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are intended to sterilize a specific portion of an article having the same shape, such as the inside of a bottle or a packaging container, and the entire surface of the article or an article having an irregular shape. Sterilization of articles of different sizes is not envisaged. According to this apparatus, even if it is a location where ultraviolet rays do not reach, a specific location where hydrogen peroxide is sprayed can be sterilized. However, since the apparatus has a structure in which hydrogen peroxide is sprayed on a specific portion such as a container or packaging container having the same shape, the hydrogen peroxide does not contact the entire surface of the article. As a result, there were places where ultraviolet rays did not reach and oxygen peroxide was not in sufficient contact, and such places could not be sterilized sufficiently. Such a problem is particularly remarkable when an object having a complicated shape having a sterilized body or a concave portion having a different shape or size is to be sterilized.

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 4, by using ozone gas sterilization in addition to ultraviolet sterilization, it becomes possible to sterilize the concave portion of the sterilized body to which ultraviolet rays do not reach and the shadow portion between the sterilized bodies. . However, in order to reliably sterilize, it is necessary to contact the entire surface of the object to be sterilized with ozone gas. For this purpose, the entire housing must be filled with ozone gas, and a large amount of ozone gas is consumed. . In addition, ozone gas is highly dangerous to the human body, and it took time and effort to recover and dispose of ozone gas remaining in the sterilized enclosure.

  In view of such conventional technology, the present invention provides a sterilization method and a sterilization apparatus that can sterilize the entire surface of an object to be sterilized reliably and efficiently without consuming a great deal of heat energy or a large amount of medicine. The purpose is to provide.

The sterilization method of the present invention comprises:
A container having an opening, a sealing means capable of sealing the air tightly by closing the opening, and an ultraviolet ray transmitting portion made of an ultraviolet ray transmissive material, wherein the object to be sterilized is introduced through the opening and A preparatory step for airtightly storing a sterilizing gas containing a sterilizing component at a predetermined concentration and the object to be sterilized in an internal space of a sterilizing container made of a container that can be stored in the internal space of the container; and disposed outside the sterilizing container. An ultraviolet irradiation step of irradiating the object to be sterilized accommodated in the internal space of the sterilization container through the ultraviolet light transmitting portion with the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source;
The preparation step includes a sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting step of adjusting the amount of the sterilizing gas introduced into the internal space of the ultraviolet sterilization container according to the shape and / or size of the object to be sterilized. The sterilization method characterized by the above.

  In the sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting step in the sterilizing method of the present invention, the volume of the space where the sterilizing gas exists in the sterilizing container internal space in the state where the sterilizing object and the sterilizing gas are introduced, and It is preferable to adjust the introduction amount of the bactericidal gas by changing the pressure of the bactericidal gas.

The second aspect of the present invention
A container having an opening, a sealing means capable of sealing the air tightly by closing the opening, and an ultraviolet ray transmitting portion made of an ultraviolet ray transmissive material, wherein the object to be sterilized is introduced through the opening and A sterilization container comprising a container that can be accommodated in the internal space of the container;
Bactericidal gas supply means for supplying the bactericidal gas to the internal space of the bactericidal container;
An ultraviolet light source disposed outside the sterilization container;
Sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting means,
The sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting means includes a volume of the space in which the sterilizing gas is enclosed and / or a sterilizing gas in the internal space of the sterilization container in a state where the sterilizing object and the sterilizing gas are introduced. Adjust the amount of bactericidal gas introduced by changing the pressure,
The sterilizing apparatus is characterized in that the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is irradiated to the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization container through the ultraviolet light transmitting part.

The sterilization apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention has a plurality of the sterilization containers having different internal space volumes and / or shapes,
The sterilizing gas amount adjusting means selects one sterilizing container having the smallest volume capable of accommodating the object to be sterilized in the internal space from the plurality of sterilizing containers, and the selected one sterilizing container It is preferable that it is a sterilizer which performs the said adjustment of the introduction amount of the said bactericidal gas by using.

In the sterilization apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the sterilization container has a side wall, a ceiling, and a bottom, and a part of the side wall or the ceiling and / or the bottom is slid while keeping airtightness. , Having a deformation mechanism for changing the volume and / or shape of the internal space of the sterilization container,
Further, the sterilizing gas amount adjusting means operates the deforming mechanism to deform the sterilizing container so that the object to be sterilized can be accommodated in the inner space of the sterilizing container and the volume thereof is reduced. A sterilizer that performs the adjustment of the amount of gas introduced is preferable.

  The sterilization apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention further includes an exhaust means for exhausting the gas present in the sterilization container, and a processing apparatus for decomposing or adsorbing the sterilization gas, and is introduced into the sterilization container. The disinfecting gas is preferably exhausted by the exhaust means, and the exhausted disinfecting gas is preferably decomposed or adsorbed by the processing device.

  The second sterilizing apparatus of the present invention preferably has a hydrogen peroxide-containing sterilizing gas adjusting device for adjusting a sterilizing gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing component from hydrogen peroxide water.

  According to the sterilization method of the present invention, a container having an opening, a sealing means that seals the opening and can be hermetically sealed, and an ultraviolet transmissive portion made of an ultraviolet transmissive material, the object to be sterilized By using a sterilization container made of a container that can be accommodated in the interior space of the container by introducing the opening, and by adjusting the amount of sterilizing gas introduced in the space, less sterilizing gas is used than before The amount of sterilization gas can be sufficiently brought into contact with shadow areas where ultraviolet rays do not reach, or where the intensity of ultraviolet rays is weak and cannot be sterilized sufficiently. It is possible to reliably sterilize the entire surface of the sterilized object including the recesses and the shadows between the sterilized objects. According to the sterilization method of the present invention, since the amount of the sterilizing gas used can be reduced, not only can the cost of the sterilizing agent be reduced, but also the processing load of the sterilizing gas after sterilization can be reduced. .

  The sterilization method of the present invention is not only capable of treating objects to be sterilized having the same shape, but is also effective when treating objects to be sterilized having different shapes and sizes simultaneously or sequentially. That is, since the conventional sterilization method sprays a sterilizing gas on a specific part of a specific article, it is possible to sterilize the same part in an object to be sterilized such as an opening of a bottle. However, the sterilizing gas could not be brought into contact with the entire surface of the object to be sterilized. In particular, it was not possible to reliably sterilize the entire body to be sterilized having different shapes and sizes or the body to be sterilized having a complicated shape portion. According to the sterilization method of the present invention, even when the shapes and sizes of the objects to be sterilized are different, the sterilizing gas can be brought into contact with the entire surface of each object to be sterilized, and the ultraviolet irradiation is insufficient. Even certain parts can be sterilized reliably.

  In the sterilization method of the present invention, when hydrogen peroxide gas is used as the sterilizing gas, hydroxyl radicals having a strong oxidizing action (hereinafter also referred to as OH radicals) are effectively generated by irradiating hydrogen peroxide with ultraviolet rays. be able to. Therefore, even if only a small amount of hydrogen peroxide is used compared to the case of using only hydrogen peroxide without ultraviolet irradiation, specifically, a low concentration of a small amount of hydrogen peroxide solution or a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Even when hydrogen oxide gas is used, an effective sterilizing effect can be obtained. As a result, it is possible to reduce the burden when performing post-processing.

  Furthermore, since the sterilization can be performed by both the sterilization by the oxidation action of the OH radical and the sterilization mechanism in which ultraviolet rays directly act on the DNA of microorganisms such as bacteria, the latter is compared with the case where hydrogen peroxide is not used. Thus, the bactericidal effect on bacteria having an envelope that is difficult to act can be enhanced. On the contrary, the bactericidal effect on bacteria having no envelope can be enhanced as compared with the case of using only hydrogen peroxide without ultraviolet irradiation. Such a synergistic effect is not only further enhanced by simultaneously irradiating ultraviolet rays in a wavelength region effective in each sterilization mechanism, but even if a shadow portion that is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays is formed, ultraviolet irradiation is performed. The portion can be sterilized by the original sterilizing effect of hydrogen peroxide which does not need to be used.

  Moreover, according to the sterilization method of the present invention, the sterilized object can be stored without being contaminated by storing the sterilized object in the sterilization container.

  Furthermore, in the sterilization method and sterilization apparatus of the present invention, since the light source is not brought into contact with the sterilizing gas, the light source and its peripheral members (for example, an electric cord) are deteriorated due to the chemical action of the sterilizing gas. It can be used stably for a long time without receiving.

This figure is a schematic view of a typical sterilization container used in the sterilization method of the present invention. This figure is a schematic diagram of another typical sterilization container used in the sterilization method of the present invention. This figure is a schematic diagram of another typical sterilization container used in the sterilization method of the present invention. This figure is a schematic view of a typical sterilization apparatus of the present invention. This figure is a schematic view of another typical sterilization apparatus of the present invention. This figure is a schematic view of another typical sterilization apparatus of the present invention. This figure is a flowchart of S10 showing one embodiment of the sterilization method of the present invention. This figure is a flowchart of S20 showing one embodiment of the sterilization method of the present invention. This figure is a flowchart of S30 showing one embodiment of the sterilization method of the present invention.

The sterilization method of the present invention comprises:
A container having an opening, a sealing means capable of sealing the air tightly by closing the opening, and an ultraviolet ray transmitting portion made of an ultraviolet ray transmissive material, wherein the object to be sterilized is introduced through the opening and A preparatory step for airtightly storing a sterilizing gas containing a sterilizing component at a predetermined concentration and the object to be sterilized in an internal space of a sterilizing container made of a container that can be stored in the internal space of the container; and disposed outside the sterilizing container. An ultraviolet irradiation step of irradiating the object to be sterilized accommodated in the internal space of the sterilization container through the ultraviolet light transmitting portion with the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source;
The preparation step includes a sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting step of adjusting the amount of the sterilizing gas introduced into the internal space of the ultraviolet sterilization container according to the shape and / or size of the object to be sterilized. It is characterized by.
[To be sterilized]
The object to be sterilized by the sterilization method of the present invention is not particularly limited, but according to the sterilization method of the present invention, by using sterilization with a sterilizing gas and ultraviolet light sterilization in combination, and using a sterilization container In addition to the entire surface of the object to be sterilized, it is possible to sufficiently sterilize a shadowed part that is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays or a portion where the intensity of ultraviolet rays is low and cannot be sufficiently sterilized, so that the present invention can be sterilized. The sterilization method of the present invention is particularly suitable for sterilization of an article having a complicated shape portion, particularly an article having an uneven portion on the surface, protrusions (including dense hair like fur fur), grooves, or overlapping portions having narrow gaps. It is valid. Moreover, it is possible to process not only the same-shaped object to be sterilized but also different-shaped objects to be sterilized simultaneously or sequentially. Furthermore, according to the sterilization method of the present invention, since the shadow portion where the objects to be sterilized overlap can be sterilized, a plurality of objects to be sterilized can be treated at a time.

Specific examples of such objects to be sterilized include daily commodities such as combs, brushes, fur products, gloves, caps, masks, contact lens containers, sanitary products such as toothbrushes, food containers, packaging materials, scalpels, forceps And medical instruments such as needle holders and dental instruments such as mouthpieces, combiners, and vacuums.
[Bactericidal gas]
The sterilizing gas used in the sterilizing method of the present invention includes a sterilizing component, and as the sterilizing component, ozone, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide are preferable, and hydrogen peroxide is particularly preferable. In the case of using a sterilizing gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing component, hydrogen peroxide in addition to the original sterilizing effect when only hydrogen peroxide is used and the sterilizing effect when only ultraviolet sterilization is used. This is because a sterilizing effect of OH radical having a strong action generated by irradiating UV light on the surface can be obtained. Due to the effect of the OH radical, an effective sterilizing effect can be obtained even when a small amount of hydrogen peroxide solution or a low concentration hydrogen peroxide gas is used. As a result, it is possible to reduce the burden when performing post-processing.

  The bactericidal gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing component can be produced by vaporizing hydrogen peroxide and diluting with aseptic air or aseptic nitrogen gas as necessary. Specifically, for example, the hydrogen peroxide gas generator described in International Publication No. 2011-125823 and Patent Document 4 can be used.

  When a bactericidal gas containing peroxide water is used as a bactericidal component, the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the bactericidal container is preferably 1 ppm to 1000 ppm, and particularly preferably 10 to 200 ppm.

  When ethylene oxide is included as a sterilizing component, the concentration is preferably 100 to 2000 ppm, and more preferably 450 to 1200 ppm.

  When ozone is contained as a sterilizing component, the concentration is preferably 0.5 to 10 ppm, and particularly preferably 1 to 3 ppm.

When chlorine dioxide is included as a sterilizing component, the concentration is preferably 0.01 to 10 ppm, and more preferably 0.01 to 1 ppm.
[Sterilization container]
A sterilization container used in the sterilization method of the present invention is a container having an opening, a sealing means that can be sealed airtight by closing the opening, and an ultraviolet transmissive portion made of an ultraviolet transmissive material. A sterilized body is introduced from the opening and is made of a container that can be accommodated in the internal space of the container.

  In the present invention, ultraviolet light means light having a wavelength of 200 to 400 nm. Therefore, the ultraviolet transmissive material constituting the ultraviolet transmissive portion refers to a material having transparency to ultraviolet rays in a wavelength region of 200 nm to 400 nm.

  Examples of ultraviolet transmissive materials include inorganic materials such as sapphire, natural or synthetic quartz, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and glass, fluorine resins such as PFA, FEP, ETFE, and PTFE, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, and polycarbonate. An organic material and a composite material thereof (for example, an exposed surface of calcium fluoride or magnesium fluoride coated with a fluorine-based resin) can be preferably used.

  Also, polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl terpene or polyolefin copolymer resins, fluorine resins such as polytetrafluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymers, methacrylic resins, polytetrafluoroethylene, Epoxy resin, alicyclic polyimide resin, polyamide resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol resin, etc. (all do not contain additives such as UV absorbers and plasticizers that absorb UV rays irradiated in the UV irradiation process) It is also possible to use a flexible material. These ultraviolet light transmitting resins may be used alone or in a composite form such as a laminate. Regarding the ultraviolet transmittance of the resin film, “Touzo Matsui, Yoshihiro Shimizu,“ UV Transmissivity of Plastic Film II ”, Toyo Foods Institute, Toyo Food Research Laboratory, 102-111 (1967)” , “Daikin Industries, Ltd. Technical Document GX-27e“ Neofrene ™ Film ”” and http://jp.mitsuichem.com/service/functional_polymeric/polymers/tpx/spec.htm.

  The ultraviolet light transmitting portion has a thickness of 30.0% or more and 99.5% of ultraviolet light having a wavelength corresponding to the main peak when ultraviolet light having a single or plural peaks in 200 nm to 400 nm is transmitted. It is preferably 50% or more and 98% or less, more preferably 60% or more and 97% or less.

  The shape and size of the sterilization container are not particularly limited as long as the object to be sterilized can be accommodated, but from the viewpoint of increasing the efficiency of sterilization, reducing the consumption of the sterilizing gas, and reducing the post-treatment of the sterilizing gas. It is preferable that the volume is as small as possible within a range that does not interfere with the housing and workability of the sterilized body.

  The sterilization container can evacuate the outside air entering the sterilization container and the sterilization gas used for sterilization, and supply / exhaust of the sterilization gas and / or non-sterilization gas. It is preferable to have a gas inlet.

  The gas exhaust port and the gas supply port may be the same or may be provided separately.

  The sterilization container may be made of a hard material or may be made of a flexible material.

  The sterilization container has an opening capable of accommodating an object to be sterilized and a sealing means that seals the opening and hermetically seals it.

  An example of such a sterilization container is a box made of a hard material. In addition, as an example of the sealing means in this case, there is a sealing means that has an O-ring at the opening, can be sealed airtight by closing the lid and locking.

The sterilization method of the present invention includes a sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting step for adjusting the amount of the sterilizing gas introduced into the sterilization container. In the internal space of the sterilization container in the introduced state, it may be performed by 1) changing the volume of the space in which the sterilizing gas exists 2) changing the pressure of the sterilizing gas, or a combination thereof. Preferably, in the case of 1), the volume of the space is changed by the sterilization container.

As a specific aspect of the sterilization container that can change the volume of the space,
A) A plurality of sterilization containers each having a different volume and / or shape of the internal space,
B) It has a side wall, a ceiling and a bottom, and the volume and / or shape of the internal space of the sterilization container is changed by sliding a part of the side wall or the ceiling and / or the bottom while maintaining airtightness. A sterilization container having a deformation mechanism,
C) The sterilization container which consists of a flexible container is mentioned.

Although the aspect of the said sterilization container of A) -C) and the outline | summary of the preparation process for every aspect are demonstrated below, embodiment of this invention is not limited to this.
A) A plurality of sterilization containers each having a different volume and / or shape of the internal space. In this case, 1) the volume of the space is changed by the sterilization container.
a) One sterilization container having the smallest volume capable of accommodating the object to be sterilized in the internal space is selected from the plurality of sterilization containers, and the selected one sterilization container is used.

An example is shown in FIG. The sterilization containers 11, 12, and 13 are each a box made of a hard ultraviolet transmissive material and have different volumes. From among these, the sterilization container 12 that can accommodate the object to be sterilized and has the smallest volume is selected. The sterilization container 12 has an opening 21 for accommodating the object A to be sterilized. The opening 21 has a seal structure 23 such as an O-ring or packing, and the lid 22 is hermetically sealed by a lock mechanism (not shown). After the object to be sterilized A is accommodated from the opening 21 and the lid 22 is closed and sealed, the sterilization container is passed through the gas supply port 31 and the gas exhaust port 32 for sucking and exhausting the sterilizing gas and / or the non-sterilizing gas. The sterilizing gas and / or the sterilizing gas can be sucked and exhausted, and 2) the pressure of the sterilizing gas can be changed.
B) It has a side wall, a ceiling and a bottom, and the volume and / or shape of the internal space of the sterilization container is changed by sliding a part of the side wall or the ceiling and / or the bottom while maintaining airtightness. In this case, 1) The volume adjustment by the sterilization container is as follows:
This is performed by operating a deformation mechanism so that the object to be sterilized can be accommodated in the internal space of the sterilization container and the volume is reduced.

The sterilization container 14 shown in FIG. 2 is slidable while the ceiling 24 is kept airtight, and the volume of the internal space of the sterilizer 14 can be changed by sliding while keeping the airtightness. it can. After accommodating the body A to be sterilized from the opening 21, the ceiling 24 is attached to the opening. The ceiling 24 has a sealing structure 23 such as a packing or an O-ring at the contact portion with the cylindrical portion 25. When the ceiling 24 is attached, the opening 21 is hermetically sealed. The ceiling 24 can slide up and down while maintaining hermeticity, and the ceiling 24 preferably slides down to reduce the volume as much as possible. When sliding, by opening the gas exhaust port 32, the outside air entering the sterilization container can be evacuated unavoidably when the sterilized body A is accommodated. The ceiling 24 can be locked (not shown) at an optimum volume. After the object to be sterilized A is accommodated, the sterilizing gas and / or sterilizing gas is sucked into and exhausted through the gas supply port 31 and the gas exhaust port 32, and 2) the pressure of the sterilizing gas is changed. it can.
C) Sterilization container comprising a flexible container 1) In this case, the volume adjustment by the sterilization container is as follows:
This is performed by deforming the flexible container so that the object to be sterilized can be accommodated in the internal space and the volume is reduced.

  The sterilization container 15 shown in FIG. 3 has a flexible bag body 25 and an airtightly sealable chuck 27. When the chuck 27 is closed, the opening 21 is hermetically sealed. It is preferable to deform the sterilization container 15 so that the sterilization target A can be accommodated and the volume of the sterilization container 15 is reduced after the sterilization target A is accommodated. Thereby, the external air which enters into a sterilization container unavoidably at the time of accommodation of the to-be-sterilized body A can be exhausted. The deformation for reducing the volume of the sterilization container 15 may be performed before the chuck 27 is hermetically sealed, or may be performed after the chuck 27 is hermetically sealed. When the deformation is performed after the chuck 26 is hermetically sealed, the gas exhaust port 32 is opened and the gas exhaust port 32 is exhausted. In this case, it is preferable that the gas exhaust port 32 has a check valve structure that can exhaust outside air from the internal space of the sterilization container and prevents external air from entering the internal space from the outside. After containing and sealing the object to be sterilized A, the sterilizing gas and / or the sterilizing gas is sucked into and exhausted through the gas supply port 31 and the gas exhaust port 32, and 2) the pressure of the sterilizing gas is changed. be able to.

2) Change the pressure of sterilizing gas,
2-1) Exhaust of outside air that inevitably enters when the object to be sterilized is accommodated from the sterilization container. 2-2) A combination of sterilization gas supply to the sterilization container is performed.

  The pressure of the sterilizing gas can be changed by 2-1) not exhausting the outside air that inevitably enters when the object to be sterilized is accommodated from the sterilizing container, and 2-2) only supplying the sterilizing gas to the sterilizing container. It can also be done. In this case, since the sterilizing gas is diluted with the outside air, it is preferable to supply a high concentration sterilizing gas as compared with the case where the outside air is exhausted. In this case, it is preferable that finally the total pressure in the sterilization container is slightly increased.

  By opening the gas exhaust port of the sterilization container and supplying the sterilizing gas from the gas supply port, 2-1) while pushing out the outside air that inevitably enters the sterilized container when being sterilized, 2-2 ) Supply of sterilizing gas to the sterilizing container The inside of the sterilizing container can be replaced with the sterilizing gas. In this case, it is preferable that the total pressure in the sterilization container is finally set to atmospheric pressure or slightly pressurized.

  In addition, using a vacuum pump or the like, 2-1) after exhausting from the sterilization container of outside air that inevitably enters when the object to be sterilized is accommodated, 2-2) supplying sterilizing gas to the sterilization container It can also be done. In this case, the outside air contained in the sterilization container may not be completely exhausted and a part of the outside air may remain. Even if the outside air remains, 2-2) a predetermined concentration of the bactericidal gas may be introduced by the supply of the bactericidal gas to the sterilization container to reach the predetermined concentration. When exhausting, it is preferable that the total pressure in the sterilization container finally becomes atmospheric pressure or slightly reduced pressure.

  Further, if necessary, the concentration of the sterilizing gas may be adjusted by supplying the sterilizing gas into the sterilizing container.

One object to be sterilized may be accommodated in one sterilization container, or a plurality of objects to be sterilized may be accommodated in one sterilization container and sterilized. Since the sterilization method of the present invention uses both sterilization by ultraviolet irradiation and sterilization by a sterilizing gas, when two or more objects to be sterilized are accommodated in one sterilization container, the objects to be sterilized overlap each other to reach ultraviolet rays. Even if the part which does not do is made, it is possible to sterilize a shadow part by the bactericidal gas contacting the surface.
[Ultraviolet irradiation process]
In the sterilization method of the present invention, it is necessary to irradiate ultraviolet rays in the ultraviolet irradiation step. As the ultraviolet light source, UV lamps such as mercury lamps and excimer lamps, which are well known as ultraviolet light sources (hereinafter, UV light may be abbreviated as UV), ultraviolet light emitting diodes (hereinafter abbreviated as UV-LEDs). Can also be used.

Among these light sources, it is preferable to use a UV-LED because it is compact, saves power, has a long life, does not use mercury, and can be turned on and off instantaneously. The UV-LED is preferably a UV-LED that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 250 nm to 300 nm, and is particularly preferably a UV-LED that emits ultraviolet light of 250 nm to 280 nm. However, in the case where a bactericidal gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a bactericidal component is used as the bactericidal gas, in order to effectively generate OH radicals from hydrogen peroxide, it is 200 nm or more and less than 250 nm in combination with the ultraviolet rays in the above wavelength region. It is preferable to use a UV-LED that emits ultraviolet rays.
[Sterilizer]
The sterilization apparatus of the present invention is a container having an opening, a sealing means that closes the opening and can be hermetically sealed, and an ultraviolet transmissive portion made of an ultraviolet transmissive material. A sterilization container composed of a container that can be introduced from the opening and accommodated in the internal space of the container;
Bactericidal gas supply means for supplying the bactericidal gas to the internal space of the bactericidal container;
An ultraviolet light source disposed outside the sterilization container;
Sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting means,
The sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting means includes a volume of the space in which the sterilizing gas is enclosed and / or a sterilizing gas in the internal space of the sterilization container in a state where the sterilizing object and the sterilizing gas are introduced. Adjust the amount of bactericidal gas introduced by changing the pressure,
The ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is applied to the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization container through the ultraviolet transmissive part.

The sterilization apparatus of the present invention preferably has at least one of the following sterilization containers A) to C).
A) A plurality of the sterilization containers, each having a different volume and / or shape of the internal space, B) having a side wall, a ceiling and a bottom, and sliding a part of the side wall or the ceiling and / or the bottom while maintaining airtightness. A sterilization container having a deformation mechanism that changes the volume and / or shape of the internal space of the sterilization container, and a sterilization container comprising a flexible container. It is preferable to have the sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting means a) to c), respectively.
a) Sterilization by selecting one sterilization container having the smallest volume capable of accommodating the object to be sterilized in the internal space from the plurality of sterilization containers and using the selected one sterilization container Bacterial gas introduction amount adjusting means b) Bactericidal gas introduction amount adjusting means c) by operating the deformation mechanism so that the object to be sterilized can be accommodated in the internal space of the sterilization container and the volume is reduced. Bactericidal gas introduction amount adjusting means by deforming the flexible container so that the object to be sterilized can be accommodated in the internal space and the volume is reduced. FIG. 4 is a sterilization according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus 100. FIG.

  The sterilizer 100 includes a sterilization container 16. The sterilization container is one of the above-described A), B), and C), and has a gas supply port 31. Further, the sterilizer 100 includes a sterilizing gas supply unit 110. Furthermore, the sterilizer 100 has an ultraviolet light source 121.

  The sterilizer 101 includes a sterilizing gas generator 111. The bactericidal gas generator may be a bactericidal gas storage cylinder that stores bactericidal gas. For example, the ozone gas generating apparatus described in Patent Document 4, International Publication No. 2011-125823, or Hydrogen peroxide described in Patent Document 4 It may be a device that generates a sterilizing gas on the spot, such as a gas generating device. The sterilizing gas preferably contains ozone, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, chlorine dioxide as a sterilizing component, and particularly preferably contains hydrogen peroxide. The sterilizing gas generator 111 is particularly preferably a hydrogen peroxide-containing sterilizing gas adjusting device that adjusts a sterilizing gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing component from hydrogen peroxide water.

  The sterilizing gas supply means 110 includes a sterilizing gas supply port 113 that can be connected to a sterilization container, a gas supply line 114 that guides the sterilizing gas from the sterilizing gas generator 111 to the sterilizing gas supply port 113, and a gas supply line. 114 has a valve 112 provided in the middle. After the object to be sterilized is accommodated in the sterilization container and hermetically sealed, the sterilization gas supply port 113 and the gas supply port 31 of the sterilization container 16 are connected, the valve 112 is opened, and the sterilization gas is supplied to the sterilization container. To do.

  The sterilizing gas introduction amount is adjusted by the sterilizing gas supply amount in addition to the adjustment by any one of the above-mentioned a), b) and c). The gas supply line 114 preferably has a sterilizing gas introduction amount confirmation means for confirming the sterilizing gas supply amount directly or indirectly, specifically, a sterilizing gas concentration monitor, a flow meter, a pressure gauge and the like. It is preferable that the inside of the sterilization container is finally adjusted to a slight pressure.

When the sterilizing gas is supplied to the sterilization container, the surface of the object to be sterilized is sterilized with the sterilizing gas.
The sterilizer 100 has an ultraviolet light source 121. The ultraviolet light source 121 has a substrate 123 and UV-LEDs 122 arranged on the surface of the substrate. It arrange | positions at the board | substrate 123 in the direction which UV-LED emitted light goes to the to-be-sterilized body. The UV-LED 122 is preferably a UV-LED that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 250 nm or more and 300 nm or less, and is particularly preferably a UV-LED that emits ultraviolet light of 250 nm or more and 280 nm or less. However, in the case where a bactericidal gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a bactericidal component is used as the bactericidal gas, in order to effectively generate OH radicals from hydrogen peroxide, it is 200 nm or more and less than 250 nm in combination with the ultraviolet rays in the above wavelength region. It is preferable to use a UV-LED that emits ultraviolet rays.

  Each UV-LED 121 is connected to a power supply device (not shown), and is energized to irradiate ultraviolet rays having the above wavelengths toward the sterilized body. The object to be sterilized A is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the upper surface, the lower surface, and the side surface. The sterilizer 101 has a mesh-like sterilization container support 130 that does not block ultraviolet rays irradiated from the lower surface.

When the sterilization container containing the sterilization object and the sterilization gas is placed on the sterilization container support 130 and irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet rays pass through the ultraviolet transmissive member of the sterilization container and irradiate the surface of the sterilization object. The sterilized body is sterilized by ultraviolet rays. Further, when the sterilizing gas contains hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing component, when the sterilizing gas in the sterilizing container is irradiated with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 250 nm or less, preferably 210 to 240 nm, from the hydrogen peroxide. OH radicals are generated, and the surface of the object to be sterilized is more reliably sterilized by the oxidizing action of the OH radicals. From the viewpoint of more efficiently generating OH radicals, the irradiance of ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 250 nm or less, preferably 210 to 240 nm, is preferably 1 mW / cm ² or more, and more preferably 50 mW / cm ² or more. preferable. Although an upper limit is not restrict | limited, Usually, it is 500 mW / ² or less.
In the ultraviolet irradiation, by controlling the distance between the light source and the object to be sterilized and the irradiation time according to the output of the light source, the production irradiation amount on at least a part of the surface of the object to be sterilized can be 50 mJ / cm ² or more. Preferably, it is particularly preferably 100 mJ / cm ² or more.

  Note that a light source as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5591305 can also be used as the ultraviolet light source because it can emit high-intensity ultraviolet light. That is, the light source disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5591305 has a rod-shaped light source that emits ultraviolet light and a light collecting device that collects the ultraviolet light emitted from the rod-shaped light source, and the rod-shaped light source is cylindrical. Or it is a rod-shaped light source having a polygonal column-shaped substrate and a plurality of UV-LEDs, and the plurality of UV-LEDs pass through the central axis of the cylindrical or polygonal column-shaped substrate. As described above, by being arranged on the side surface of the cylindrical or polygonal column-shaped substrate, ultraviolet rays are emitted radially with respect to the central axis, and the condensing device has a long elliptic reflection mirror, The rod-shaped light source is disposed on the focal axis of the reflection mirror, and the ellipse reflection mirror has an ultraviolet emission opening for emitting ultraviolet rays collected on the condensing axis of the ellipse reflection mirror, UV emission The opening is a light source having a collimating optical system to improve the directivity of the focused beam is ultraviolet, capable of emitting a high intensity UV by condensing. According to the embodiment in which the light source is used as a deep ultraviolet light source, the ultraviolet light is emitted as a band-shaped light beam, so that a certain sterilization effect can be obtained by irradiating the workpiece with the belt-shaped light beam.

  FIG. 5 shows a sterilizer 102 according to the second embodiment. The description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted, and the description will focus on the parts different from the first embodiment.

  The sterilizer 102 includes a sterilization container 17. The sterilization container is one of the above-described sterilization containers A), B), and C), and the sterilization container 17 has a gas supply port 31 and a gas exhaust port 32.

  The sterilizer 102 is provided in the middle of the gas supply line 114, a sterilization gas supply port 113 that can be connected to the sterilization container, a gas supply line 114 that leads the sterilization gas from the sterilization gas storage cylinder to the sterilization gas supply and suction port, and The valve 112 is provided. After the object to be sterilized is accommodated in the sterilization container and hermetically sealed, the sterilization gas supply port and the sterilization container are connected, the valve 112 is opened, and the sterilization gas is supplied to the sterilization container. At this time, the gas exhaust port of the sterilization container 17 is preferably open. The gas exhaust port 32 is opened, and the sterilizing gas is supplied from the gas supply port 31 on the opposite side across the sterilization container, so that the object to be sterilized is unavoidably placed in the sterilization container when accommodated in the sterilization container. The stored outside air is pushed out and the inside of the sterilization container can be filled with the sterilizing gas. After supplying a certain amount of sterilizing gas, the gas exhaust port 32 is closed and the gas supply port 31 is closed. At this time, the total pressure in the sterilization container is preferably atmospheric pressure or slightly pressurized. The mode of the ultraviolet light source is the same as that of the sterilizer 100.

  FIG. 6 shows a sterilizer 103 according to the third embodiment. Description of the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments will be omitted, and different parts from the first and second embodiments will be mainly described. The sterilizer 103 has a sterilization container 18. The sterilization container 18 is any one of the above-described A), B), and C), and the sterilization container 18 has a gas supply / exhaust port 33.

  The gas supply / exhaust port 33 is connected to the gas supply / exhaust line 115. A sterilizing gas / air supply line 116 is connected to the gas supply / exhaust line 115. The sterilizing gas / air supply line 116 is provided with a valve 112a. A sterilizing gas generator 111 is connected to the sterilizing gas supply line 117. The sterilizing gas supply line 117 is provided with a valve 112b.

  An air supply line 118 is connected to the sterilizing gas / air supply line 116, and a valve 112 c is provided in the air supply line 118. A compressor 119 that supplies air is connected to the air supply line 118.

  The gas supply / exhaust port 33 is connected via a gas supply / exhaust line 115 to a sterilizing gas processing device 140 for processing sterilizing gas and a vacuum pump 141 as a gas exhausting means. As described above, when the sterilizing gas generating device 111 is a hydrogen peroxide-containing sterilizing gas adjusting device that adjusts a sterilizing gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing component from hydrogen peroxide water, the sterilizing gas processing device 140 is used. Is preferably a hydrogen peroxide treatment apparatus for treating hydrogen peroxide contained in a hydrogen peroxide-containing sterilizing gas. The gas exhaust line 119 is provided with a valve 112d.

The object A to be sterilized is accommodated in the sterilization container 18 and its opening is hermetically sealed, and then the gas supply / exhaust port 33 is connected to the gas supply / exhaust port.
With the valve 112d open and the valves 112a, 112b, and 112c closed, the vacuum pump 114 is started to evacuate, the air in the sterilization container 18 is exhausted, and the inside of the sterilization container 18 is decompressed. After removing air from the sterilization container 18, the vacuum pump 15 is stopped and the valve 112d is closed. When the valves 112a and 112b are opened, the inside of the sterilization container is filled with the sterilizing gas, the sterilizing gas comes into contact with the surface of the object A to be sterilized, and sterilization is started. Then, ultraviolet irradiation is irradiated and a to-be-sterilized body is sterilized by bactericidal gas and ultraviolet rays. After the object A to be sterilized is sterilized for a predetermined time, the valves 112a and 112b are closed, the vacuum pump 114 is started and the valve 112b is opened, and the sterilizing gas in the sterilization container is exhausted. The sterilizing gas exhausted at this time is processed by the sterilizing gas processing device 140. After the sterilizing gas is removed from the sterilization container, the vacuum pump 141 is stopped and the valve 112d is closed. Thereafter, 112a and 112c may be opened to start the compressor and supply air. Further, the steps of evacuation and air supply in the sterilization container may be repeated.
[Sterilization method]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining S10 which is an embodiment of the sterilization method of the present invention. The cleaning method S10 is a method for sterilizing an object to be sterilized using the sterilization apparatus 101 including the above-described A) a plurality of the sterilization containers having different internal space volumes and / or shapes.

  S11 selects the one sterilization container having the smallest volume capable of accommodating the object to be sterilized in the internal space from the plurality of sterilization containers as the sterilizing gas introduction amount adjustment step, and the selected sterilization container It is a sterilization container selection process by using 1 sterilization container. In S11, according to the shape and / or size of the object to be sterilized, the sterilization container that can accommodate the object to be sterilized and has the smallest volume is selected.

  S12 is a to-be-sterilized body accommodation process which accommodates a to-be-sterilized body in a sterilization container. In S12, the body to be sterilized is housed from the body to be sterilized container 21 of the sterilization container, and the body to be sterilized body 21 is hermetically sealed.

  S13 is a sterilizing gas introduction step for introducing a sterilizing gas into the sterilization container. The gas supply port 31 and the gas supply port 113 of the sterilization container are connected, and sterilizing gas is supplied. After the sterilizing gas in the sterilization container reaches a predetermined concentration, the gas supply port 31 of the sterilization container is hermetically sealed. By the process of S11-13, the bactericidal gas which contains a to-be-sterilized body and a bactericidal component by predetermined density | concentration is accommodated airtightly in the inside of a sterilization container.

S14 is an ultraviolet irradiation process which irradiates ultraviolet rays to the sterilization container in which the sterilizing gas containing the object to be sterilized and the sterilizing component at a predetermined concentration is stored in an airtight manner. In the ultraviolet irradiation step S14, a current is supplied to the UV-LED 121, and ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 to 400 nm, preferably a wavelength of 250 to 300 nm, particularly preferably a wavelength of 250 to 280 nm are accommodated in the sterilization container. Irradiate the object to be sterilized. However, in the case where a bactericidal gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a bactericidal component is used as the bactericidal gas, in order to effectively generate OH radicals from hydrogen peroxide, it is 200 nm or more and less than 250 nm in combination with the ultraviolet rays in the above wavelength region. It is preferable to use a UV-LED that emits ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet irradiation time can be appropriately determined according to the output of the light source. From the viewpoint of more surely sterilizing, the integrated irradiation amount on at least a part of the surface to be sterilized is preferably 50 mJ / cm ² or more, and the irradiation time is preferably determined so as to be 100 mJ / cm ² or more. The irradiation process may be performed while the sterilizing gas introduction process is performed in parallel.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining S20 which is an embodiment of the sterilization method of the present invention. The sterilization method S20 has the above-described B) side wall, ceiling and bottom, and slides a part of the side wall or the ceiling and / or bottom while maintaining airtightness, whereby the internal space of the sterilization container is obtained. This is a method for sterilizing an object to be sterilized using a sterilization apparatus 102 including a sterilization container having a deformation mechanism for changing the volume and / or shape of the sterilization object.

  S21 is a to-be-sterilized body accommodation process which accommodates a to-be-sterilized body in a sterilization container, and seals an opening airtightly.

  S22 is a sterilization container sliding step as a sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting step. In S21, the deformation mechanism of the sterilization container is operated to deform the sterilization container so that the sterilization object can be accommodated in the internal space of the sterilization container and the volume is reduced according to the shape and / or size of the sterilization container. To lock.

S23 is a sterilizing gas introduction step for introducing a sterilizing gas into the sterilizing container. The gas supply port 31 and the gas supply port 113 of the sterilization container are connected, the gas exhaust port 32 of the sterilization container is opened, and the sterilization gas is supplied from the gas supply port 31 so that the object to be sterilized is contained in the sterilization container. While pushing out the outside air that inevitably enters during storage, the inside of the sterilization container is replaced with the sterilization gas. After the sterilizing gas in the sterilization container reaches a predetermined concentration, the gas supply port 31 of the sterilization container is hermetically sealed. In this case, it is preferable that the total pressure in the sterilization container is finally set to atmospheric pressure or slightly pressurized. By the processes of S21 to 23, the sterilizing gas containing the object to be sterilized and the sterilizing component at a predetermined concentration is housed in the sterilization container in an airtight manner.
S24 is an ultraviolet irradiation process similar to S14.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating S30, which is an aspect of the sterilization method of the present invention. The sterilization method S30 is a method for sterilizing an object to be sterilized using the sterilization apparatus 103 including the sterilization container composed of the above-described C) flexible container.

  S31 is a to-be-sterilized body accommodation process which accommodates a to-be-sterilized body in a sterilization container. In S31, the object to be sterilized is accommodated in the sterilization container, and the chuck 26 is airtightly closed.

  S32 is a sterilization container deformation process as a sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting means. By opening the gas exhaust port having the check valve and deforming the flexible container so that the object to be sterilized can be accommodated in its internal space and the volume is reduced, Exhaust outside air that enters unavoidably.

  S33 is an outside air exhaust process in which the outside air is exhausted from the sterilization container that is unavoidably entered when the object to be sterilized is accommodated by the vacuum pump. The gas supply / exhaust port 33 is connected to the gas intake / exhaust line 115. The vacuum pump is activated and exhaust is performed through the gas exhaust line 119.

  S34 is a sterilizing gas introduction step. The sterilizing gas is supplied from the sterilizing gas generator to the sterilizing container through the sterilizing gas supply line and the sterilizing gas / air supply line. After the sterilizing gas in the sterilization container reaches a predetermined concentration, the gas supply / exhaust port 33 of the sterilization container is hermetically sealed.

  S35 is an ultraviolet irradiation process similar to S14 and S24.

  S36 is a sterilizing gas exhausting process for exhausting the sterilizing gas in the sterilization container after the sterilization is completed. The vacuum pump is activated, and the sterilizing gas in the sterilization container is exhausted from the sterilization container through the gas exhaust line 119 and processed by the sterilizing gas processing apparatus.

  The object to be sterilized can be stored in a sterilization container after sterilization. By storing in a sterilization container, it is possible to store it in a sterile state until use.

  Specifically, the sterilization method and sterilization apparatus of the present invention are useful for sterilization of daily necessities, sanitary goods, food containers, packaging materials, medical instruments, dental instruments, and the like used for surgery, treatment, health checkup, and the like. .

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 ... sterilization container 21 ... opening 22 ... lid 23 ... seal structure 24 ... ceiling 25 ... cylindrical body 26 .... Bag 27 ... Chuck 31 ... Gas supply port 32 ... Gas exhaust port 33 ... Gas supply / exhaust port 101, 102, 103 ... Sterilizer 110 ... Disinfectant gas supply Means 111 ... sterilizing gas generator 112, 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d ... valve 113 ... sterilizing gas supply port 114 ... gas supply line 115 ... gas intake / exhaust line 116 ...・ Bactericidal gas / air supply line 117... Bactericidal gas supply line 118 ... Air supply line 119 ... Gas exhaust line 121 ... UV light source 122 ... UV-LED
123 ... Substrate 130 ... Sterilization container support 140 ... Sterilization gas processing device

Claims (8)

A container having an opening, a sealing means capable of sealing the air tightly by closing the opening, and an ultraviolet ray transmitting portion made of an ultraviolet ray transmissive material, wherein the object to be sterilized is introduced through the opening and A preparatory step for airtightly storing a sterilizing gas containing a sterilizing component at a predetermined concentration and the object to be sterilized in an internal space of a sterilizing container made of a container that can be stored in the internal space of the container; and disposed outside the sterilizing container. An ultraviolet irradiation step of irradiating the object to be sterilized accommodated in the internal space of the sterilization container through the ultraviolet light transmitting portion with the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source;
The preparation step includes a sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting step of adjusting the amount of the sterilizing gas introduced into the internal space of the ultraviolet sterilization container according to the shape and / or size of the object to be sterilized. A sterilization method characterized by the above.   In the sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting step, the volume of the space where the sterilizing gas exists and / or the pressure of the sterilizing gas in the internal space of the sterilization container in the state where the sterilizing gas and the sterilizing gas are introduced. The sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the introduction amount of the sterilizing gas is adjusted by changing the value. A container having an opening, a sealing means capable of sealing the air tightly by closing the opening, and an ultraviolet ray transmitting portion made of an ultraviolet ray transmissive material, wherein the object to be sterilized is introduced through the opening and A sterilization container comprising a container that can be accommodated in the internal space of the container;
Bactericidal gas supply means for supplying the bactericidal gas to the internal space of the bactericidal container;
An ultraviolet light source disposed outside the sterilization container;
Sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting means,
The sterilizing gas introduction amount adjusting means includes a volume of the space in which the sterilizing gas is enclosed and / or a sterilizing gas in the internal space of the sterilization container in a state where the sterilizing object and the sterilizing gas are introduced. Adjust the amount of bactericidal gas introduced by changing the pressure,
The sterilizing apparatus, wherein the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is irradiated to the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization container through the ultraviolet light transmitting part. A plurality of the sterilization containers having different internal space volumes and / or shapes,
The sterilizing gas amount adjusting means selects one sterilizing container having the smallest volume capable of accommodating the object to be sterilized in the internal space from the plurality of sterilizing containers, and the selected one sterilizing container The sterilization apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment of the introduction amount of the sterilizing gas is performed by using a gas. The sterilization container has a side wall, a ceiling and a bottom, and by sliding a part of the side wall or the ceiling and / or the bottom with airtightness maintained, the volume of the internal space of the sterilization container and / or It has a deformation mechanism that changes the shape,
The sterilizing gas amount adjusting means operates the deformation mechanism to deform the sterilizing container so that the object to be sterilized can be accommodated in the internal space of the sterilizing container, and the volume is reduced. The sterilizer according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment of the amount is performed. The sterilization container comprises a flexible container;
The sterilizing gas amount adjusting means deforms the flexible container so that the object to be sterilized can be accommodated in its internal space and the volume is reduced, thereby adjusting the introduction amount of the sterilizing gas. The sterilizer of Claim 3 which performs.   An exhaust means for exhausting the gas present in the sterilization container; and a treatment device for decomposing or adsorbing the sterilization gas; and exhausting the sterilization gas introduced into the sterilization container The sterilizing apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the sterilizing gas exhausted by the means is decomposed or adsorbed by the processing apparatus.   The sterilizer according to any one of claims 3 to 7, further comprising a hydrogen peroxide-containing sterilizing gas adjusting device that adjusts a sterilizing gas containing hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing component from hydrogen peroxide water.

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