JPS6077762A - Gas pasturizing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a gas sterilization method and apparatus suitable for medical needles, syringes, and other instruments that require sterilization, and which cannot be treated at high temperatures. Regarding.

(Prior art) After placing a sterilized instrument such as a syringe into the sterilization chamber,
A method of sterilizing the chamber by simply feeding a sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide, formalte:hyde, etc. diluted with a diluting gas into the chamber has been implemented.

However, in the conventional method, it is difficult to sufficiently diffuse the gas into the interior of the injection needle, and there are problems in that sufficient sterilization cannot be performed or that sterilization takes a long time.

(Objective of the Invention) To provide a gas sterilization method and device that allows sterilization gas to easily reach even narrow spaces inside instruments that require sterilization, and that enables quick and reliable sterilization.

(Structure of the Invention) (1) The first invention reduces the pressure inside the sterilization chamber of a gas sterilizer, then sends sterilization gas into the chamber, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, removes the sterilization gas from inside the chamber and reduces the pressure. This is a gas sterilization method characterized by pumping air into a chamber to return it to atmospheric pressure.

(2) In the second invention, a vacuum bonder is connected to the exhaust port of a sterilization chamber having an air intake port that can be opened and closed, and the exhaust direction of the vacuum pump can be freely switched between the exhaust path and the gas tank communication path. This gas sterilization method is characterized in that the passage is connected to the inlet of the gas tank, and the outlet of the gas tank is communicated with the air supply port of the sterilization chamber via a valve that can be opened and closed.

(Example) In FIG. 1, a sterilization chamber 1 is a box-shaped member made of stainless steel that can maintain an airtight state, and has a door (not shown) for taking in and out instruments to be sterilized. An air intake port 2 is provided in the side wall of the chamber 1, and communicates with an air filter 5 leading to the outside via a pipe 4 having a valve 3 in the middle. The bottom wall 1a of the chamber 1 is inclined downward toward the center, and a discharge port 6 is opened at the lowest end. A drain 7 opens at the discharge port 6, and the drain 7 opens to the outside via a valve 8, a steam outlet 19 (a trough that discharges water but not gas), and a check valve 10. A pipe 11 is installed between the drain 7 and the pipe 4 to communicate the two, and the pipe 11 has a door safety valve 12 interlocked with the door of the chamber 1 in the middle. Further, a temperature sensor 13 is provided in the drain 7, so that the temperature inside the chamber 1 can be observed indirectly.

The exhaust pipe 20 is branched on the side of the discharge port 6 from the valve 8 in the drain 7, and t20 has an automatic valve 2 on the way.
1, and its tip is open to the intake port of the vacuum pump 22. In addition, the pipe 2OK is connected to a water seal water pipe 24 for a vacuum pump having a valve 23 in the middle.
and the gas tank communication path 26. The communication path 26 has a forward check valve 27 in the middle thereof, and communicates with an inlet 38 of a gas tank 30 for sterilizing gas.

The gas tank 80 has a pressure-resistant structure, and is connected with a sterile gas supply pipe 32 having a valve 31 in the middle, and also has a pressure gauge 3.
3 is provided. A pipe 36 having a valve 35 in the middle is connected to the outlet 34 of the tank 30, and the other end of the pipe 36 is connected to a power supply port 37 provided at the upper end of the channel t<-1 (A-A゛). .

The outer station of chamber 1 is equipped with a floor temperature jacket 40 at intervals.
It is said by Chan t<-1 and jacket 4
0 is an airtight steaming chamber 41. A pipe 42 into which heating steam flows is opened at one end of the chamber /<-41. The pipe 42 has valves 43 and 44 at two locations, and the pipe 42 between each valve 43 and 44
It has a bypass 45 that branches off from the chamber 41 and communicates with the chamber 41 . Bypass 45 has a manual l<Ipass・
/< loop 54. A steam drain 46 is opened at the lower end of the chamber 41, and the drain 46 has a steam ant trap 47 in the middle.

A pipe 48 is installed at the upper end of the chamber 1 and the chamber 41 to communicate each chamber 1.41, and the pipe 48 has a steam release valve 49 in the middle. Further, eight force gauges 50 and 51 are provided at one end of each chamber 1.41, and pressure gauge piping 52 is provided within the chamber 1.
, a buffer plate 53 is installed at a portion corresponding to the openings of the air supply port 37 and the piping 48 with a slight interval therebetween.

Next, a gas sterilization method using the above device will be explained.

(a) First, put the sterilized instruments into chamber 1 and close the door. The valves 3, 8, 35, and 49 are closed, the valve 21 is opened, and the vacuum pump 22 is set to discharge to the exhaust path 25 side, and then the pump 22 is operated to evacuate the air in the chamber 1. After reducing the pressure to, for example, about 730 mm Hg, the valve 21 is closed to stop the vacuum bomb 7''. Next, the valve 35 is opened to send the sterilizing gas in the tank 30 into the chamber 1.

(b) On the other hand, heating steam is constantly fed into the chamber 41 from a pipe 42, and the temperature inside the chamber 1 is adjusted to a temperature suitable for the properties of the gas used as the sterilization medium, for example, about 7,000 yen in the case of ethylene oxide gas. I'm stunned. Water condensed within the chamber 41 is discharged to the outside through the drain 46.

(Q) After feeding gas into the chamber 1 until it reaches a predetermined pressure, the pulp 35 is closed and the valve 49 is opened.

The internal pressure of the chamber 1 is set lower than that of the chamber 41, and the water vapor in the chamber 41 flows into the chamber 1. When the valve 8 is opened, water condensed within the chamber 1 is discharged to the outside through the drain 7.

(d) After a predetermined period of time, close the valve 49 and close the valve 21.
22.The gas in the chamber 1 is drawn out into the gas tank 30, and the gas in the chamber 1 is removed.
The interior becomes decompressed. Then, the valve 21 is closed and the bomb 22 is stopped.

(e) Repeat steps (C) and (d) in section h several times.

(X) Finally, remove as much gas from the chamber 1 as possible using the pump 22, close the valve 21, and pump 22.
stop. Then, after opening the valve 3 and sending air into the chamber 1 to return it to atmospheric pressure, the door is opened and the sterilized instruments are taken out.

(Effect of the invention) After reducing the pressure in advance and removing the air in the chamber 1,
Since the sterilizing gas is fed into the chamber 1, the sterilizing gas can easily reach even the narrow places inside the stool sterilizing instrument, thereby providing the advantage of speedy and reliable sterilization.

(Another Example) (a) In the above example, the supply and discharge of sterilizing gas to and from the chamber 1 are repeated several times, which has the advantage of smooth gas diffusion. A sufficient sterilization effect can be obtained even if the air is removed from the container in advance.

(b) Water vapor may be introduced into the chamber 1 as needed, and may not be introduced. In that case, the hub 10.49, the trap 9, etc. can be omitted.

(0) There is no need to connect the exhaust pipe 20 to the drain 7,
For example, it may be connected to the pipe 4 between the air intake port 2 and the valve 3, or it may be directly installed inside the chamber 41.

(Ill) The pressure reduction by the pump 22 is not limited to about 730 mmHg, and the degree of pressure reduction may be set as necessary.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the layout of a gas sterilizer according to the present invention. ■... Sterilization chamber, 2... Air intake port, 6... Outlet port (an example of a wandering electric port), 22... Vacuum pump, 25... Discharge path, 26... Gas tank communication path , 30... Gas tank, 34... Exit, 35...
・Valve, 37...Air supply port, 38...At the time of inlet
Applicant Technology Control Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Tadaka Omori 1: Figure 1 i! ,2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Reduce the pressure inside the sterilization chamber of the gas sterilizer, then send sterilization gas into the chamber, and after a predetermined period of time, remove the sterilization gas from the chamber, and send air into the chamber dedicated to reduced pressure state 1. A gas sterilization method characterized by returning to atmospheric pressure. (2) Sterilization chamber with an air intake that can be opened and closed
- A vacuum pump is connected to the wandering electric port, and the exhaust direction of the vacuum pump can be freely switched between the discharge path and the gas tank communication path,
A gas sterilizer characterized in that a gas tank communication path is connected to an inlet of the gas tank, and an outlet of the gas tank is connected to a power supply port of a sterilization chamber via a pulp that can be opened and closed.