JPH04189361A - Steam sterilizer and method for operating this sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the sure sterilization treatment of the bacteria and virus intruded into gas and drain by bringing the bacteria and virus contained in the gas in a sterilizing vessel into contact with sterilizing fluid in a treating tank and discharging the same after a sterilization treatment, subjecting the drain thereof to the sterilization treatment in a treating tank, and discharging the same. CONSTITUTION:A material to be sterilized is housed into an inside cylinder 1 and after this cylinder 1 is hermetically closed, high-temp. and high-pressure steam is fed through 2nd and 3rd steam feeding means 23, 25 into 1st and 2nd jackets 13, 17 to heat the sterilizing container 12 and the treating tank 14; thereafter, the high-temp. and high-pressure steam is fed through the 1st steam feeding means 21 into the inside cylinder 1 and the sterilizing fluid through a sterilizing fluid supplying means 28 respectively into the inner tank 15 to sterilize the inside of the inside cylinder and the inner tank. A sluice valve 10 is then opened to transfer the drain accumulated in the bottom of the inside cylinder to the inner tank. The drain is rested for a prescribed period of time in this inner tank. An exhaust valve 37 is thereafter opened to discharge the steam in the inner tank and a liquid drain valve 32 is opened to discharge the fluid in the inner tank.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The steam sterilizer and its operating method according to the present invention are used in hospitals and various research institutes to treat various articles and excrement contaminated with bacteria, viruses, etc. Used for sterilization.

(Prior art) In hospitals and various research institutes, patients' clothes, laboratory instruments,
Before reusing articles contaminated with bacteria or viruses, such as excreta, or removing them to general living areas, such articles and excreta must be sterilized.

For this reason, articles such as those described above have conventionally been sterilized using a steam sterilizer as shown in FIG.

In this FIG. 2, 1 is an inner cylinder that can freely store objects to be sterilized, 2 is an outer cylinder that surrounds the inner cylinder 1, and 3 is the inner surface of this outer cylinder 2 and the above-mentioned inner cylinder 1. 4 is a heating jacket provided between the outer surface of the inner cylinder 1 and the first steam supply pipe 4, which can freely feed high temperature and high pressure steam into the inside of the inner cylinder 1; 5 is a heating jacket provided in the middle of the first steam supply pipe 4; A first steam supply valve 6 is provided in the second steam supply pipe 6, which is capable of freely sending high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inside of the heating jacket 3, and 7 is provided in the middle of the second steam supply pipe 6. A second steam supply valve 8 is a first drain pipe for discharging condensate accumulated at the bottom of the inner cylinder 1, and 9 is a first drain pipe for discharging condensate accumulated at the bottom of the heating jacket 3. This is the second drain pipe.

The downstream ends of the first and second drain pipes 8.9 are connected to a kill tank (not shown), in which bacteria and viruses mixed in the drain are sterilized.

Also, an exhaust pipe 1 branched from the middle of the first drain pipe 8
A water ring type vacuum pump 11 is provided in the middle of the inner cylinder 1, so that the gas inside the inner cylinder 1 can be freely discharged. The gas discharged from the vacuum pump 11 along with the water is also sent to the kill tank.

When sterilizing objects to be sterilized, such as clothes for patients and laboratory instruments, using the steam sterilizer configured as described above, first, the No. 20 steam supply valve 7 is opened to supply high temperature and high pressure inside the heating jacket 3. At the same time, the objects to be sterilized are stored in the inner cylinder 1 described above.

Thereafter, the first steam supply valve 5 is opened to send high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder 1 to sterilize the objects to be sterilized stored in the inner cylinder 1.

It is generated when water vapor sent from the second steam supply pipe 6 condenses inside the heating jacket 3, and the drain collected at the bottom of the heating jacket 3 is transferred to the first steam supply pipe through the second drain pipe 9. It is generated when water vapor sent from 4 condenses in the inner cylinder 1, and the drain collected at the bottom of the inner cylinder 1 is discharged to the kill tank through the first drain pipe 8, and bacteria mixed in the drain are removed. After sterilizing the bacteria and viruses, they are discharged into drainage facilities such as sewage.

Once the objects to be sterilized stored in the inner cylinder 1 have been sterilized by sending high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder 1, the steam flows into the heating jacket 3 through the second steam supply pipe 6. The vacuum pump 11 is operated while feeding continues, the inside of the inner cylinder 1 is made negative pressure, the object to be sterilized which has been wetted by the steam sterilization process is dried, and then the object to be sterilized is removed from the inner cylinder 1. Take it out.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, since bacteria and viruses attached to objects to be sterilized are mixed into the drain discharged from the inner cylinder 1, this drain is discharged as is to drainage facilities such as sewage. Therefore, as mentioned above, the drain is sterilized in a kill tank before being discharged to a drainage facility.

However, depending on the virus, there is a possibility that some viruses may pass through the filter of the genus A in the kill tank, so it is possible to exclude the possibility that sterilization cannot be performed reliably by sterilization in the kill tank, and to prevent secondary infection. In order to prevent this, it is desirable to be able to sterilize the drain more reliably.

The steam sterilizer and operating method of the present invention have been conceived in view of the above-mentioned circumstances.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Among the steam sterilizer and its operating method of the present invention, the steam sterilizer includes an outer cylinder surrounding a sealable inner cylinder with objects to be sterilized stored therein, A sterilization container having a first steam jacket provided between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder, an outer tank surrounding the inner tank, and a space between the inner surface of the outer tank and the outer surface of the inner tank. A processing tank as a second steam jacket, a discharge pipe having one end connected to the bottom of the inner cylinder and the other end connected to the inner tank, a gate valve provided in the middle of the discharge pipe, and the inner cylinder. a second steam supply means capable of freely supplying high temperature and high pressure steam into the first steam jacket; and a second steam supply means capable of supplying high temperature and high pressure steam into the first steam jacket; a third steam supply means capable of freely supplying high-temperature, high-pressure steam to the inner tank; a sterile fluid supply means capable of freely supplying sterile fluid into the inner tank; and a drain pipe having one end connected to the bottom of the inner tank. It consists of a drain valve provided in the middle of this drain pipe, an exhaust pipe whose one end is connected to the upper part of the inner tank, and an exhaust valve and a sterilization filter provided in the middle of this exhaust pipe. There is.

In addition, a method of operating a steam sterilizer that sterilizes objects to be sterilized using the steam sterilizer configured as described above is to store the objects to be sterilized in the inner cylinder, seal the inner cylinder, and then , high-temperature, high-pressure water vapor is sent into the first and second steam jackets through the third steam supply means to sterilize the inner cylinder and outer cylinder that constitute the sterilization container, and the inner tank and outer tank that constitute the processing tank. After heating, high-temperature, high-pressure steam is fed into the inner cylinder through the first steam supply means, and sterilizing fluid is fed into the inner tank through the sterilizing fluid supply means to sterilize the inside of the inner cylinder and the inner tank. Then, by opening the gate valve that had been closed until then, the drain accumulated at the bottom of the inner cylinder is evacuated into the inner tank, and left in this inner tank for a predetermined period of time. By opening the closed exhaust valve, the steam in the inner tank will be discharged through the exhaust pipe, and by opening the previously closed drain valve, the liquid in the inner tank will be discharged through the drain pipe. It is something that is discharged.

(Function) According to the steam sterilizer and operating method of the present invention configured as described above, bacteria and viruses contained in the gas in the sterilization container are destroyed by contact with the sterilization fluid in the processing tank. After being thoroughly sterilized, it is discharged through the exhaust pipe.

Bacteria and viruses can also be mixed into the drain produced by condensation of water vapor sent into the sterilized container.
This drain is also sterilized in the processing tank and then discharged through the drain pipe.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail while explaining the illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the steam sterilizer of the present invention.

In this Figure 1, 12 is a sterile container, and this sterile container 1
2 is provided with an inner cylinder 1 that can freely store objects to be sterilized, an outer cylinder 2 surrounding the inner cylinder 1, and an inner surface of the outer cylinder 2 and an outer surface of the inner cylinder 1. First steam jacket 13
A guise consisting of.

Further, 14 is a processing tank, and this processing tank 14 is provided between an inner tank 15, an outer tank 16 surrounding the inner tank 15, and an inner surface of the outer tank 16 and an outer surface of the inner tank 15. A second steam jacket 17 is provided.

The upper end of a discharge pipe 18 is connected to the bottom surface of the inner cylinder 1 constituting the sterilization container 12, and the lower end of this discharge pipe 18 is connected to the upper part of the inner tank 15 constituting the processing tank 14. A gate valve 19 is provided in the middle of the discharge pipe 18 to control communication between the inner cylinder 1 and the inner tank 15.

On the other hand, one end of a first steam supply pipe 20 constituting a first steam supply means for supplying high temperature and high pressure steam into the inner cylinder 1 is connected to the inner cylinder 1. A first steam supply valve 21 is provided in the middle of the steam supply pipe 20. Further, the first steam jacket 13 has a
One end of a second steam supply pipe 22 constituting a second steam supply means capable of freely supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam to the interior of A valve 23 is provided.

Further, one end of a third steam supply pipe 24 constituting a third steam supply means capable of freely supplying high temperature and high pressure steam into the second steam jacket 17 is connected to the second steam jacket 17. However, a third steam supply valve 2 is installed in the middle of this third steam supply pipe 24.
5 has been established.

Further, the inner tank 15 is provided with a fourth steam supply pipe 2, which constitutes a sterile fluid supply means that can freely supply sterile fluid into the inner tank 15, together with a formalin supply pipe 26 to be described later.
7, and a fourth steam supply valve 28 is provided in the middle of this fourth steam supply pipe 27. In the middle of this fourth steam supply pipe 27, its lower end is connected to a part closer to the inner tank 15 than the fourth steam supply valve 28, and a formalin supply pipe 26 is provided with a formalin supply valve 30 in the middle. The upper end is connected to the bottom of formalin tank 29.

Further, one end of a drain pipe 31 is connected to the bottom of the inner tank 15, and the other end of the drain pipe 31 is passed through a drainage facility (not shown) such as sewage.

In the middle of this drain pipe 31, a drain valve 32 and a check valve 33 are provided. A sample valve 3 in the middle of the branch pipe 34 is provided at a portion closer to the inner tank 15 than the drain valve 32.
5 to freely extract the liquid discharged through the drain pipe 31, so that it can be confirmed whether there are still living bacteria or viruses mixed in the liquid discharged from the drain pipe 31. I have to.

Furthermore, one end of an exhaust pipe 36 is connected to the upper part of the inner tank 15. In the middle of this exhaust pipe 36, an exhaust valve 37 and a sterilization filter 3 are arranged in order from the inner tank 15 side.
8 and a gate valve 39 are provided. The other end of the exhaust pipe 36 is connected to an inlet of a vacuum pump (not shown).

In the middle of the exhaust pipe 36, the sterilization filter 38 and the gate valve 3
A branch pipe 40 which also has a sample valve 41 is provided between the exhaust pipe 9 and the exhaust pipe 36, so that the gas discharged through the exhaust pipe 36 can be freely extracted, so that any bacteria still living in the gas discharged from the exhaust pipe 36 can be removed. This makes it possible to check whether or not there is a virus mixed in.

In addition, in the middle of the first steam supply pipe 20, the first steam supply valve 21
One end of an intake pipe 42 is connected to a portion closer to the inner cylinder 1 than the inner cylinder 1. An intake valve 43 and a check valve 44 are connected at one end of the intake pipe 42, and an air filter 45 is provided at the other end.

Moreover, each of the first, second, third, and fourth steam supply pipes 20.22
．． The other end of 24 and 27 communicates with one steam supply pipe 46 that communicates with a boiler or the like.

Using the steam sterilizer of the present invention configured as described above,
When sterilizing objects to be sterilized by the operating method of the present invention,
Do it as follows.

First, after storing the object to be sterilized in the inner cylinder 1 and sealing the inner cylinder 1, the second and third steam supply valves 23.25 are opened, and the first and second steam jackets 13.17 are opened. High-temperature, high-pressure steam is sent inside to heat the inner cylinder 1 and outer cylinder 2 that constitute the sterilization container 12, and the inner tank 15 and outer tank 16 that constitute the processing tank 14.

Thereafter, the first and fourth steam supply valves 21 and 28 are opened to send high-temperature and high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder 1 and inner tank 15. In this case, depending on the type of bacteria etc. attached to the object to be sterilized, instead of opening the fourth steam supply valve 28, the formalin supply valve 30 may be opened and the inner tank 15 may be opened.
Formalin is pumped inside instead of water vapor.

As a result, the inside of the inner cylinder 1 and the inner tank 15 are sterilized by steam or Polmarine.

Once the inside of the inner cylinder 1 and the inner tank 15 have been sterilized as described above, the drain accumulated at the bottom of the inner cylinder 1 can be removed by opening the gate valve 19, which had been closed until then.
It is poured into the inner tank 15 through the discharge pipe 18 and left in the inner tank 15 for a predetermined period of time. As a result, the drain and the gas sent into the inner tank together with the drain are exposed to high temperature (or come into contact with formalin) in the inner tank 15 and are sterilized.

After the drain and gas have been sterilized, the steam in the inner tank 15 is discharged through the exhaust pipe 36 by opening the exhaust valve 37, which had been closed until then, and the steam inside the inner tank 15 is discharged through the exhaust pipe 36. By opening the drain valve 32, the liquid in the inner tank 15 is drained into the drain pipe 31.
discharge through.

As a result, the bacteria and viruses contained in the gas in the inner cylinder 1 of the sterilized container 12 and the bacteria and viruses mixed in the gas produced by the condensation of the water vapor sent into the inner cylinder 1 are eliminated. , are all sterilized in the processing tank 14 and then discharged through the exhaust pipe 36 or the drain pipe 31, thereby preventing live bacteria and viruses from being released into the surrounding area.

After completing the sterilization of bacteria floating in the inner cylinder 1 as described above, the first and fortieth steam supply valves 21
．． 28. By opening the gate valve 19.39 and the exhaust valve 37 and operating the vacuum pump installed at the other end of the exhaust pipe 36, the inner cylinder 1
Air present in the object to be sterilized is discharged while flowing water vapor inside the inner tank 15.

Next, the gate valve 19 is closed, and the inner cylinder 1 is filled with high-temperature, high-pressure steam to sterilize the object stored in the inner cylinder 1. The subsequent operation is the same as that of a conventional steam sterilizer, so the explanation will be omitted.

In order to more reliably sterilize bacteria and the like floating in the inner cylinder 1, - After exhausting the steam in the precinct side tank 1 through the exhaust pipe 36, the first steam supply valve 21 should be opened again. is opened to send high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder 1, and by opening the fourth steam supply valve 28 or formalin supply valve 30, water vapor or formalin is sent into the inner tank 15. It is also possible to re-sterilize the inside of the inner cylinder 1 and inner tank 15.

In addition, living bacteria etc. are likely to exist in the discharge pipe 18 connecting the inner cylinder 1 and the inner tanks 1 and 5, but the inner tank 1
After exhausting the steam in 5 through the exhaust pipe 36, the drain valve 3
1 and the exhaust valve 36 are closed, and the gate valve 19 is opened,
The work of feeding high temperature and high pressure steam into the second steam jacket 17 through the third steam supply pipe 24 and the first steam supply pipe 20
By alternately performing the work of sending high-temperature, high-pressure water vapor into the inner cylinder 1 through the drain tube 1, and flowing high-temperature, high-pressure water vapor or formaldehyde into the discharge pipe 18, the interior of the discharge pipe 18 can be sterilized reliably.

That is, when the third steam supply valve 25 is closed and the first steam supply valve 21 is open, the steam sent into the inner cylinder 1 moves to the inner tank 15 through the discharge pipe 18, so that this discharge is The inside of the pipe 18 is heat sterilized, and on the other hand, when the third steam supply valve 25 is opened and the first steam supply valve 21 is closed, the inner tank 1
High-temperature water vapor generated by the evaporation of the drain in the inner tank 15, or polymeraldehyde produced by heating the polymerin in the inner tank 15, is sent into the inner cylinder 1 through the discharge pipe 18, and is also sent to the inner cylinder 1 through the discharge pipe. Sterilize the inside of 18.

(Effects of the Invention) The steam sterilizer and operating method of the present invention are configured and operate as described above, so that bacteria and viruses mixed in gas and drain can be reliably sterilized. This can further reduce the risk of secondary infection.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a steam sterilizer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional steam sterilizer. 1: Inner cylinder, 2. Outer cylinder, 3. Heating jacket, 4. First steam supply pipe, 5. First steam supply valve, 6. Second steam supply pipe, 7. Second steam supply valve. 8. First drain pipe, 9: Second drain pipe, 10: Exhaust pipe, 11 Vacuum pump, 12. Sterilization container, 1
3: First steam jacket, 14: Processing tank, 15:
Inner tank, 16: Outer tank, 17. Second steam jacket, 18・Discharge pipe, 19: Gate valve, 2o: First steam supply pipe, 21: First steam supply valve, 22・Second steam supply pipe, 23
: second steam supply valve, 24; third steam supply pipe, 25. 30th steam supply valve, 26. formalin supply pipe, 27. 40th steam supply pipe,
28 No. 40 Steam supply valve, 29: Formalin tank, 30.
Formalin supply valve, 31/Drain pipe, 32 Drain valve, 33
．． Check valve, 34: Branch pipe, 35 Sample valve, 36 Exhaust pipe, 37: Exhaust valve, 38: Sterilization filter, 3 gate valve, 40: Branch pipe, 41: Sample valve, 42, Intake pipe, 4
3: Intake valve, 44: Check valve, 45: Air filter, 46
．． Steam supply pipe. Patent applicant Chiyoda Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A sterilization container in which an outer cylinder surrounds an inner cylinder that can be sealed while the object to be sterilized is stored therein, and a first steam jacket is provided between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder. and a processing tank with an outer tank surrounding the inner tank and a second steam jacket between the inner surface of the outer tank and the outer surface of the inner tank, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the inner cylinder, and the other end of the processing tank. a discharge pipe connected to the inner tank; a gate valve provided in the middle of the discharge pipe; a first steam supply means capable of freely supplying high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the inner cylinder; a second steam supply means capable of freely supplying high-temperature, high-pressure water vapor into the jacket; a third steam supply means capable of freely supplying high-temperature, high-pressure water vapor into the second steam jacket; and sterilization within the inner tank. A sterile fluid supply means capable of freely supplying fluid, a drain pipe having one end connected to the bottom of the inner tank, a drain valve provided in the middle of the drain pipe, and one end thereof connected to the top of the inner tank. A steam sterilizer consisting of an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust pipe, an exhaust valve and a sterilization filter installed in the middle of the exhaust pipe. (2) A method of operating a steam sterilizer, which sterilizes objects to be sterilized by the steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the objects to be sterilized are stored in an inner cylinder, and after the inner cylinder is sealed, second,
High-temperature, high-pressure steam is sent into the first and second steam jackets through the third steam supply means to heat the inner cylinder and outer cylinder that constitute the sterilization container and the inner tank and outer tank that constitute the processing tank. After heating, high-temperature, high-pressure steam is fed into the inner cylinder through the first steam supply means, and sterilization fluid is fed into the inner tank through the sterilization fluid supply means to sterilize the inside of the inner cylinder and the inner tank. Next, by opening the gate valve that had been closed until then, the drain that had accumulated at the bottom of the inner cylinder was transferred to the inner tank, and was left in this inner tank for a predetermined period of time. By opening the exhaust valve, the steam in the inner tank is discharged through the exhaust pipe, and by opening the drain valve, which had been closed until then, the liquid in the inner tank is discharged through the drain pipe. How to operate a steam sterilizer. (3) After discharging the steam in the inner tank through the exhaust pipe, high-temperature, high-pressure steam is again supplied to the inner cylinder through the first steam supply means, and sterile fluid is supplied to the inner tank through the sterilization fluid supply means. 3. The method of operating a steam sterilizer according to claim 2, wherein the inside of the inner cylinder and inner tank is re-sterilized by feeding the steam sterilizer. (4) After discharging the steam in the inner tank through the exhaust pipe, close the drain valve and exhaust valve, and with the gate valve open, high temperature and high pressure is supplied to the second steam jacket through the third steam supply means. Claims 2 to 4, wherein the operation of feeding water vapor and the operation of feeding high-temperature, high-pressure water vapor into the inner cylinder through the first steam supply means are carried out alternately, and the high-temperature, high-pressure water vapor or the vapor of a sterilizing fluid is circulated in the discharge pipe. 3. The method of operating a steam sterilizer according to any one of 3.