JP3650227B2 - Sterilization method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sterilization method and an apparatus therefor, and more specifically, a surgical instrument such as a scalpel or tweezers, a surgical gown, gauze, or a worn patient's clothes or linen. It relates to sterilization.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In this type of conventional sterilization process, after a processing object is put into a sterilization tank, steam is sent to a steam chamber surrounding the sterilization tank, or heated air is sent into the sterilization tank to preheat, It consists of a vacuum process for discharging air, a sterilization process for sending saturated water vapor to sterilize, and a drying process for sending clean dry air to the object to be treated wet with saturated water vapor.
[0003]
The conventional sterilization apparatus (3) shown in FIG. 2 will be described. An object to be processed, such as a surgical garment worn by a doctor at the time of surgery or a patient's clothes already worn, constitutes a double sterilization tank. It is designed to be placed inside (1). The outer cylinder (2) surrounds the inner cylinder (1) and forms a vapor chamber (20) between them. A vacuum pump (4) is connected to the inner cylinder (1) via a discharge pipe (5), and after the sterilization is completed, clean air is fed into the inner cylinder (1), so that an air filter (11) The air pipe (14) provided with is connected. Connected to the outer cylinder (2) is a steam supply pipe (7) for supplying high-temperature and high-pressure saturated steam generated by the steam generator (6) to the steam chamber (20). Moreover, in order to send the vapor | steam in a steam chamber (20) into an inner cylinder (1), one end of the pipe | tube (8) with an on-off valve (18) becomes an inner cylinder (1), and the other end is an outer cylinder (2). Is connected to each.
[0004]
The operation method of the sterilization apparatus (3) configured as described above will be described.
The steam chamber (20) is filled with high-temperature steam supplied from the steam generator (6) to heat the air (steam) and the object to be processed in the inner cylinder (1). The air in the cylinder (1) is discharged by the vacuum pump (4), and then the on-off valve (18) is kept open for a short time to thereby provide a high temperature steam inner cylinder (20) in the steam chamber (20). 1) Repeat the inward operation. Thereby, the evacuation process for improving the familiarity between the processing object stored in the inner cylinder (1) and the high-temperature water vapor fed into the inner cylinder (1) is executed.
[0005]
After completion of the evacuation step, the on-off valve (18) is opened, and high-temperature and high-pressure saturated steam stored in the steam chamber (20) is sent into the inner cylinder (1), and the high-temperature and high-pressure is put into the inner cylinder (1). The sterilization process is carried out by filling with water vapor.
[0006]
When the sterilization process is completed, the on-off valve (18) is closed, and then the water vapor filled in the inner cylinder (1) is discharged. Next, the inside of the inner cylinder (1) is kept in a vacuum state by a vacuum pump (4), and the inside of the inner cylinder (1) is heated using the heat of high-temperature and high-pressure steam introduced into the steam chamber (20). However, by repeatedly supplying clean air filtered by the air filter (11) into the inner cylinder (1), the drying process of the processing object stored in the inner cylinder (1) is performed.
[0007]
As for the sterilization apparatus of this type that introduces high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder (1) in a wet state, there are many findings in JP-A-62-292164 and JP-A-4-28370. It is disclosed.
[0008]
In short, the sterilization method using the sterilization apparatus (3) of FIG. 2 preheats by supplying steam or heated air into the steam chamber (20) after putting the object to be processed into the inner cylinder (1). A process, a evacuation process for discharging air from the inner cylinder (1), a sterilization process for sending sterilization by sending saturated water vapor into the inner cylinder (1), and a dry air that is clean to the object to be treated wet by the introduction of saturated water vapor One cycle of the sterilization process is completed by sequentially executing a drying process for removing water.
[0009]
By the way, the evacuation step usually requires a time of about 20 minutes, and the sterilization step is executed by feeding saturated steam at around 132 ° C. for about 10 minutes. And after finishing a sterilization process, in order to remove a water | moisture content from the processing target wet by sending saturated water vapor | steam, clean dry air is sent into an inner cylinder (1) over 30 to 60 minutes, and a processing target is sent to it. Apply drying treatment.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the above-described sterilization process is performed, the processing object accommodated in the inner cylinder (1) is wetted by feeding saturated water vapor. Therefore, before taking out the objects to be treated, which have been sterilized, from the inner cylinder (1) to the outside of the system, they are sprayed with clean dry air for a considerably long time, usually 30 to 60 minutes. It is necessary to remove moisture. Since this drying process takes a long time, the total time required for the sterilization process is increased, and improvement in productivity is hindered. Further, since the high-temperature and high-pressure saturated steam generated by the steam generator (6) is blown to the processing object stored in the inner cylinder (1) in an unfiltered state, the steam generator (6) and steam supply There is also a problem that contaminants and soot adhering to the pipe (7) are brought into the inner cylinder (1) together with saturated water vapor and contaminate the object to be treated.
[0011]
Thus, conventional pressurized steam for sterilization has a large amount of condensed drain, moisture adheres to the object to be treated, and a drying process for a long time is required.
[0012]
Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to prevent the object to be processed from getting wet by spraying with saturated water vapor.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sterilization method using a sterilization apparatus equipped with a dual-structure sterilization tank composed of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. Inject and blow high-temperature pressurized steam into the water from the bottom of the sterilization tank to heat the interior of the sterilization tank to a predetermined temperature, and at the same time, bring it into contact with the water so that it is heated to a purified predetermined sterilization temperature. In addition, the pressurized steam heated to the predetermined sterilization temperature is introduced into a cyclone device provided above the sterilization tank to separate and clean the moisture and contain moisture. The present invention provides a sterilization method that sterilizes an object to be treated stored in an inner cylinder by generating non-sterilized pressurized steam and spraying the sterilized pressurized steam into the inner cylinder of the sterilization tank. (Claim 1).
[0014]
Further, the present invention provides a sterilization apparatus including a sterilization tank having a double structure including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, a water supply pipe for supplying water between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. An overflow pipe for overflowing the water stored in between, a steam blow-in pipe in which a pressurized steam outlet from the steam generator is opened in the storage space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and a steam supply pipe Sterilization process equipped with a cyclone device connected to the outer cylinder, a pure steam introduction tube extending from the upper end of the cyclone device into the inner cylinder, and a condensate drain pipe for discharging the condensed drain from the bottom of the inner cylinder An apparatus is provided (claim 2).
[0015]
By sterilizing by sending clean and dry pressurized steam (pure steam) into the sterilization tank (inner cylinder) containing the object to be treated, there is no wetting of the object to be treated by saturated steam. It becomes. Therefore, there is no contamination of the processing object due to wetting, and a drying step is not necessary.
[0016]
Further, since the inner cylinder is heated by blowing high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the water in the storage space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, no condensation occurs on the inner cylinder inner surface when the steam is introduced. Furthermore, even if condensed drain is generated, it can be forcibly discharged to the outside through the drain pipe. Therefore, the inside of the inner cylinder is always kept dry.
[0017]
The high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied from the steam generator is cleaned by passing water before being fed into the inner cylinder. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a filter for preventing dirt as in the prior art.
[0018]
When the condensate drain pipe is connected to the steam generator and the condensate drain is used as makeup water for the steam generator (Claim 3), not only can this save energy, but also surgical clothes with various germs attached, etc. There is also an advantage that germs are completely sterilized with a steam generator (boiler) even when sterilizing.
[0019]
A cyclone drain can be used as makeup water for the steam generator by connecting the bottom end of the cyclone device to the steam generator (Claim 4).
[0020]
If the processing target suitable for applying this invention is illustrated, a surgical instrument, a gauze, a surgical garment, a patient's worn clothes, etc. will be mentioned (Claim 5).
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 showing a specific example of a sterilization apparatus. In the following description, the same elements as those of the conventional apparatus already described with reference to FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
[0022]
The sterilization apparatus (40) includes an inner cylinder (1) that encloses a processing object (37) and an outer cylinder (2) that surrounds the periphery of the inner cylinder (1) to form a water storage space (21). And a dual-structure sterilization tank. A door (not shown) for inserting and removing the processing object (37) is provided on the front and back of the inner cylinder (1) (in the direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet).
[0023]
In order to supply water to the storage space (21), a water supply pipe (26) formed with an opening for water supply is provided on the wall surface of the outer cylinder (2). The water supply pipe (26) includes an on-off valve (25). An overflow pipe (23) for adjusting the water level is attached to the side wall of the outer cylinder (2) and connected to a steam generator (boiler) (6). An overflow valve (24) is provided to adjust the flow rate from the overflow pipe (23) to the steam generator (6). A drain pipe (5) having a drain valve (34) is attached to the bottom of the outer cylinder (2). A steam blowing pipe (7) for supplying pressurized steam (28) generated by the steam generator (6) to the storage space (21), and a steam outlet in the storage space (21) below the sterilization tank It arrange | positions so that it may be located. The steam blowing pipe (7) is provided with an on-off valve (22) as means for adjusting the amount of steam supplied. A drain pipe (35) for extracting condensed drain is attached to the bottom of the inner cylinder (1). The drain pipe (35) extends across the storage space (21) to the outside of the outer cylinder (2), and includes a drain valve (36).
[0024]
A cyclonic separator (hereinafter referred to as a cyclone apparatus) (31) is installed above the sterilization tank, and connected to the top of the outer cylinder (2) through a water vapor introducing pipe (29). One end of a pure steam supply pipe (32) is connected to the upper end of the cyclone device (31), and the other end is positioned inside the inner cylinder (1). The pure steam supply pipe (32) is provided with an on-off valve (33) for adjusting the flow rate of the pure steam. A cyclone drain pipe (38) with an on-off valve (30) is provided at the bottom end of the cyclone device (31). The cyclone drain (28C) separated from the pure steam (28B) by the cyclone device (31) is discharged into the atmosphere using the pressure difference and the opening / closing operation of the on-off valve (30), or a pipe line (not shown) To the steam generator (6).
[0025]
A sterilization method using the sterilization apparatus (40) will be described as follows.
[0026]
A closing door (not shown) is opened, a processing object (37), for example, a surgical garment or a worn patient's clothes, is placed in the inner cylinder (1), the closing door is closed, and the processing target is placed in the inner cylinder (1). After the product (37) is enclosed, the pure steam (28B) is sprayed from the pure steam supply pipe (32) into the inner cylinder (1) to perform sterilization. Since this pure steam (28B) is made by the operations described below, it is clean and dry and therefore does not require a drying step after the sterilization step.
[0027]
Prior to the introduction of the processing object, the on-off valve (25) is opened to introduce water (27) from the water supply pipe (26) into the storage space (21) between the inner cylinder (1) and the outer cylinder (2). . Subsequently, the on-off valve (22) is opened, and hot pressurized steam (28) is blown into the water (27) in the storage space (21) through the steam blowing pipe (7). Thereby, the inner cylinder (1) and its inside are heated (preheated) to a predetermined temperature.
[0028]
The high-temperature pressurized steam (28) blown into the storage space (21) is purified by contacting with the water (27), and is pressurized steam (28A) heated to a predetermined temperature according to the sterilization process. Float on the overflow surface. The purified pressurized steam (28A) is introduced into the cyclone device (31) from the upper part of the storage space (21) through the pressurized steam supply pipe (29).
[0029]
When flowing into the cyclone device (31), the pressurized water vapor (28A) forms a spiral swirl flow, at which time the water is separated and removed to become dry pressurized water vapor, ie, pure steam (28B). When the on-off valve (33) is opened, the pure steam (28B) is injected from the introduction pipe (32) into the inner cylinder (1).
[0030]
Therefore, when the on-off valve (33) is opened with the processing object (37) sealed in the inner cylinder (1), pure steam (28B) is injected into the inner cylinder (1), and the processing object (37 ) Is sterilized.
[0031]
The water (28C) separated from the pure steam (28B) by the cyclone device (31) accumulates at the bottom of the cyclone device (31) as a cyclodren. This cyclondren (28C) may be discharged into the atmosphere from the cyclondren pipe (38) by opening the on-off valve (30), but the cyclondren pipe (38) is connected to the steam generator (6). It can also be used effectively as makeup water to the steam generator (6).
[0032]
【Example】
When gauze was put into a sterilization bag as a processing object (37) and put into the inner cylinder (1), sterilized for 10 minutes under a temperature condition of 132 ° C., taken out without a drying step, and the weight was measured. While the weight before charging was 215.9 g, the weight immediately after taking out was 219.8 g, and the weight after standing for 15 minutes was 216.0 g. From this result, it is understood that the sterilization process is executed in a short time without providing a drying step. In order to confirm the sterilization effect, a bacterial culture test by attest was performed on the sterilized gauze, and complete sterilization was confirmed from the test result.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the use of pressurized steam that has been cleaned and dried (pure steam) eliminates wetness caused by saturated steam, which has been a problem in the past. It eliminates the need for soiling of objects and a drying process over a long period of time, greatly improving the processing capacity.
[0034]
Since the inner cylinder is heated by blowing high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the water in the storage space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, condensation that tends to occur on the inner surface of the inner cylinder when the steam is introduced is further prevented. Since the condensed drain generated in the inner cylinder can be forcibly discharged to the outside through the drain pipe, the inside of the inner cylinder is always kept dry, which greatly contributes to the prevention of the above-mentioned wetting. When condensate drain is used as makeup water for the steam generator, it not only saves energy, but also when the sterilization process is performed on surgical clothes with various germs attached, the germ is completely removed by the steam generator (boiler). There is also an advantage of being sterilized.
[0035]
Moreover, since the high-temperature and high-pressure steam supplied from the steam generator is cleaned with water before being sent into the inner cylinder, it is not necessary to install a filter means for preventing contamination, and the structure of the sterilization apparatus is simplified. Great effect is also seen in the reduction of maintenance and man-hours.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sterilization apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of a sterilization apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Inner cylinder (sterilization tank)
2 outer cylinder (sterilization tank)
6 Steam generator (boiler)
21 Water storage space 27 Water 28 Pressurized steam 28A Purified pressurized steam 28B Clean and dry pressurized steam (pure steam)
31 Cyclone device 37 Processing object 40 Sterilization processing device

Claims (5)

In the sterilization method using a sterilization apparatus equipped with a double-structure sterilization tank consisting of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder,
By injecting water between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in advance, blowing high-temperature pressurized steam into the water from the bottom of the sterilization tank, heating the interior of the sterilization tank to a predetermined temperature, and simultaneously contacting the water , Converted into pressurized steam that has been heated to a predetermined sterilization temperature that has been cleaned, and further, the pressurized steam that has been heated to the predetermined sterilization temperature is introduced into a cyclone device provided above the sterilization tank to provide moisture. Generating pressurized water vapor for sterilization that is clean and free of moisture,
A sterilization method characterized by sterilizing a processing object accommodated in an inner cylinder by spraying the pressurized steam for sterilization into the inner cylinder of a sterilization tank. In a sterilization apparatus equipped with a sterilization tank having a double structure consisting of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder,
A water supply pipe for supplying water between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
An overflow pipe for overflowing water stored between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
A steam blowing pipe that opens a spout of pressurized steam from the steam generator into a storage space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
A cyclone device connected to the outer cylinder via a water vapor supply pipe;
A pure steam introduction pipe extending from the upper end of the cyclone device toward the inside of the inner cylinder,
A sterilization apparatus provided with a condensate drain pipe for discharging condensate drain from the bottom of the inner cylinder. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the condensate drain pipe is connected to the steam generator and the condensate drain is used as makeup water for the steam generator. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cyclone drain is used as makeup water for the steam generator by connecting the bottom end of the cyclone device to the steam generator. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object to be treated is a surgical instrument, gauze, a surgical gown, or a patient's worn clothes.

Images