JP2696462B2 - Sterilizing gas supply device for gas sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizing gas supply apparatus used for vaporizing ethylene oxide sterilizing gas received from a filling container to a proper pressure and temperature for sterilization and sending the gas to a sterilizer. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ethylene oxide, which is a medicinal component of ethylene oxide sterilizing gas, has a strong bactericidal and penetrating power against various bacteria including viable bacteria and spores.
Because of its non-wetting properties, it is widely used in the medical device manufacturing industry and in the field of self-sterilization of hospital medical institutions.

[0003] This ethylene oxide gas is flammable and toxic, but its flammability is mitigated by dilution with a nonflammable liquefied gas. For example, “Freon-based ethylene oxide sterilizing gas” obtained by mixing Freon 12 (or Freon 11, 12) is frequently used in the field of private sterilizers because of its low container filling pressure (less than 10 kg / cm ^{2 at} room temperature). In addition, "carbon dioxide-based ethylene oxide sterilizing gas" obtained by mixing carbon dioxide has been widely used mainly in the field of industrial sterilizers because of its low pressure and high container filling pressure. However, the use of "Freon-based ethylene oxide sterilizing gas" has been restricted by recent Freon regulations,
In the field of self-sterilization that frequently uses the "sealable sterilizer" described below,
High filling pressure (for example, 30 ° C., ethylene oxide 10% (w
t), the filling pressure of 90% (wt) carbon dioxide gas is 65
kg / cm ² ), it is necessary to switch to the “carbon dioxide system”.

Regarding toxicity, as an example, even if sterilizing gas is diluted 10 times (by mass) with carbon dioxide gas, its limiting amount (8 hours) is 10 p. p. m, and has a strong, non-transitory toxic effect. Therefore, it should not be released unnecessarily around the indoor or workplace environment, and consumes and discharges a large amount of sterilization gas in industrial sterilizers (steel cans, In the case of the batch type), a waste gas treatment device such as a combustion method is often provided in the release gas system.

[0005] On the other hand, as a self-sterilizer at a hospital medical institution, a "sealable sterilizer" for small-scale sterilization is frequently used. This device automatically or semi-automatically vacuum-evacuates the inside of a small gas-permeable / cell-impermeable composite sterilization bag containing an object to be sterilized in advance with a nozzle that can be inserted and removed. , Sealed after a fixed amount of sterile gas sealed, and if necessary, put it in a heated incubator, etc.
It is sterilized over time. In this type of apparatus, a slight amount of gas leaks at the stage of enclosing in a bag or the like, but the amount of the leaked gas is very small, and no special measures for exhaust gas recovery are taken except for providing a ventilation fan and the like.

[0006]

However, as described above, a fluorocarbon-mixed ethylene oxide sterilizing gas having a low equilibrium vapor pressure (for example, 10 kg / cm ² or less at room temperature) frequently used in private sterilizers as a result of the regulations for fluorocarbons. Is restricted, and a high equilibrium steam pressure (for example, 30 ° C. C ₂ H ₄ O 20% (w
t), CO ₂ 80% (wt) 57 kg / cm ² ) CO2 mixed type ethylene oxide sterilizing gas is introduced into hospitals and medical sites in addition to the conventional industrial ones. Although the sterilization gas supply device caused by discontinuation of use is sealed in a vaporizer (such as a serpentine tube) and the chance of trouble occurrence due to accidental release of toxic gas due to high-pressure vaporization of the residual liquefied gas is increasing, At present, there is no system that adds a recovery device system to a sterile gas supply device for industrial use and private use, which is a problem in terms of safety. In addition, even if it is for industrial use, when the installation place of the sterilizer is far away, it is desirable that the sterilization gas supply device has its own recovery device for the emergency release gas by operating a safety valve or the like. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enhance the safety of the carbon dioxide mixed type ethylene oxide sterilizing gas supply device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration. That is, the sterilizing gas supply device according to the present invention is a liquefied gas receiving pipe connected to an ethylene oxide sterilizing gas container filled with ethylene oxide, which is a medicinal component of sterilization, and carbon dioxide as a diluting component, and filled in a liquefied gas state. A first-stage liquid decompression regulator that decompresses the liquefied gas taken out through the liquefied gas receiving pipe, a liquefied gas vaporizer that vaporizes the liquefied gas, and a second-stage gas decompression regulator that decompresses the vaporized gas, A connection pipe for supplying the sterilized gas whose pressure has been adjusted to the sterilizer, a gas safety valve and a gas release valve interposed in the pipe, and a release gas recovery pipe for collecting release gas released from the gas release valve. And a gas storage type recovery device connected to the outlet of the release gas recovery pipe, wherein the recovery gas storage part of the gas storage type recovery device is formed of a flexible, detachable and impermeable bag. It is characterized by a door.

[0008]

A liquefied gas is taken out from a high-pressure sterilization gas container filled with a mixed gas of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide in a liquid state through a receiving pipe, decompressed by a first-stage liquid pressure regulator, and then liquefied gas. It is vaporized by a vaporizer. The vaporized gas is decompressed to a predetermined pressure by the second-stage gas decompression regulator, and supplied to the sterilizer through the connection pipe.

A gas safety valve and a gas discharge valve are interposed in the pipe, and the gas discharged from the gas discharge valve is collected by a gas storage type recovery device through a discharge gas recovery pipe. The collected gas discharged from the safety valve or the like accidentally for a reason described above and collected in the collected gas storage bag of the collection device is replaced with an empty bag before it becomes full, and is separately burned or treated by a safe method.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be specifically described below.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention. This sterilizing gas supply device 1 is provided at an outlet of a container valve 3 provided in a container (high-pressure gas container) 2 filled with a carbon dioxide gas and ethylene oxide sterilizing gas. Is connected to a collecting pipe 7 via a container switching valve 5 and a connecting hose 6. This sterilization gas receiving piping system can be composed of a plurality of rows provided in parallel.

When the container valve 3 and the container switching valve 5 are opened, the liquefied sterilizing gas in the filling container 2 is taken out through the liquid delivery pipe 10 which is inserted into the filling container and has an opening at the bottom, and is taken out of the collecting pipe 7. It is sent through a strainer 13 to a first-stage liquid pressure-reducing regulator 14, where the sterilizing gas liquid has a pressure of 3
0kg / cm ² ~70kg / cm ² about the first stage vacuum outlet pressure from the pressure, for example, usually less than 10 kg / cm ^2,
Preferably, the pressure is reduced to less than 2 kg / cm ² . The liquefied gas is supplied to a vaporizer 1 using an air heat exchange system or an electric heating system.
5 and is heated in the flexible tube 15a to be gasified and gasified. The temperature is changed from the atmospheric temperature to an appropriate temperature of 80 ° C. or less, and is sent to the second-stage gas decompression controller 16, where it is sent. The inlet pressure to the sterilizer, for example, usually reduced to less than 2 kg / cm ² , preferably about 0.5 kg / cm ² ,
The sterilized gas is supplied from the sterilizing gas supply operation valve 21 incorporated in the sterilizer 20 to a sealed portion such as a can body of the sterilizer 20 in accordance with the cycle of the sterilization operation and sealed. In the figure, 22, 22 'are safety valves, 2
Reference numerals 3 and 23 'denote safety valve base valves, and 28 denotes a discharge valve.

When the sterilization gas supply operation valve 21 is closed, its decompression regulating valve is closed and the supply of new liquefied gas "liquid" to the vaporizer 15 is stopped. At the decompression pressure, there is no gas-liquid equilibrium condition, and all unsealed liquefied gas "liquid" that remains sealed is vaporized and its deadline range is raised. In some cases, the pressure is higher than the set pressure of the safety valve 22 and is discharged from the outlet or the like, and is exchanged through the release gas collection pipe 24, the collection cutoff valve 25, and the collection bag inlet cutoff cock (valve cock or pinch cock) 26. It is sent to the collected gas storage bag 30 in the bag type released gas recovery device 27, and its outer shape is expanded and expanded. The filled recovery gas storage bag is detached and replaced by the detachable joint 20. During repair, gas may be collected from the discharge valve 28 or the like.

[0014] The recovery gas storage section of the recovery device has a capacity
If the outer shape of the can is fixed, it is not appropriate because there are problems such as air removal and replacement inside and obstacles requiring pressure supply and pressure holding, but aluminum laminate or other impermeable synthetic resin composite film By making a collection bag that can be expanded, contracted, and foldable with a non-permeable resin-made cloth or the like, (a) no need for initial residual air purge (b) collection of released gas up to atmospheric pressure (c) no collection pump ( D) Advantages such as easy visual confirmation of collected state (e) Low pressure storage (f) Light weight (g) Easy replacement, etc.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of an exchangeable bag type released gas recovery apparatus. This recovery apparatus 27 is provided with an outer frame 33 made of steel pipe and stably self-supported by a height adjusting screw 31. I have. The recovered gas storage bag 30 is formed by folding the upper and lower ends of a cylindrical air-impermeable synthetic resin composite film and heat-sealing to form a bag-like shape. The lower portion of the recovered gas intake bag is made of transparent vinyl chloride or the like. The tube 34 is adhered, and its tip is connected to the release gas collection tube 24 made of a steel pipe of the sterilization gas supply device by a detachable one-touch coupling joint 35. The cock 37 is attached in an open state. Further, the recovered gas storage bag 30 is suspended from the upper part by an outer frame 33 by a hanging wire 40 with a grip, and the lower part is fixed by a grip 41 with a spring. Unexpectedly released collected gas passes through the collection shut-off valve 43 and is returned to the collected gas storage bag 30.
To inflate the bag.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the collection bag 30 is inflated. The cross-sectional shape of the central portion is close to a circle, and each portion is full when inflated. When this state is full, the collection shutoff valve 43 is closed, and the pinch cock (collection bag inlet shutoff valve) 37
Is closed, the one-touch coupling joint 35 is detached, the hanging portion is removed, the frame is removed from the outer frame, and the bag is replaced with a new bag.

The dimensions of the collection bag shown in the figure are, for example, B = 1.5
m, H = 2.2 m, and the collected gas capacity of this bag is about 3 m ³ . When the width of the entrance of the chamber is limited, a plurality of chambers having an allowable diameter may be installed.

[0018]

As is clear from the above description, the sterilizing gas supply device for a gas sterilizer of the present invention has a high equilibrium vapor pressure,
It is possible to adjust the conditions of carbon dioxide mixed system ethylene oxide sterilization gas with high container filling pressure practically and efficiently by using low normal pressure piping, and to automatically send vaporized gas to the sterilizer.
The safety can be improved because the emergency release gas can be automatically recovered.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an embodiment of an exchange bag type released gas recovery device.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the expanded state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sterilizing gas filling container 2 Gas container 3 Container valve 4 Container joint 5 Container switching valve 7 Collecting pipe 10 Liquid delivery pipe 14 First stage liquid pressure regulator 15 Gasifier 16 Second stage gas pressure regulator 20 Sterilizer 22 Primary Side safety valve 22 'Secondary side safety valve 28 Release valve 27 Exchangeable bag type released gas recovery device 30 Recovered gas storage bag

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A liquefied gas receiving pipe connected to an ethylene oxide sterilizing gas container filled with ethylene oxide, which is a medicinal ingredient for sterilization, as a diluent and filled with carbon dioxide as a liquefied gas, and the liquefied gas receiving pipe. A first-stage liquid decompression regulator for decompressing the liquefied gas taken out, a liquefied gas vaporizer for vaporizing the liquefied gas, a second-stage gas decompression regulator for decompressing the vaporized gas, and a sterilized gas that has been decompressed and adjusted. A connection pipe for supplying to the sterilizer, a gas safety valve and a gas release valve interposed in the pipe, a release gas recovery pipe for recovering release gas released from the gas release valve, and a release gas recovery pipe. A gas storage type recovery device connected to an outlet, wherein the recovery gas storage portion of the gas storage type recovery device is constituted by a flexible detachable air-impermeable bag. Sterilization Gas supply device.