JPS63264066A - Method for replacing bomb for gas sterilizer - 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 a0 Purpose of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The method for replacing gas sterilizer cylinders according to the present invention is to sterilize used medical instruments, laboratory instruments, etc. before reusing them. It is used when replacing the cylinder that supplies sterilizing gas in the sterilization container of a gas sterilizer, and prevents sterilizing gas harmful to the human body from leaking outside during the replacement work.

(Prior art) It is widely practiced to sterilize used laboratory instruments, medical instruments, etc. before reusing them to prevent infections caused by bacteria adhering to these instruments. There is.

As a sterilizer used for such purposes, there is a gas sterilizer that uses sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide. As shown in the drawing, this gas sterilizer includes a sterilization container 1 that can be sealed to store objects to be sterilized such as used laboratory instruments and medical instruments, and a vacuum chamber for discharging the gas inside the sterilization container 1. It consists of a pump 2 and a cylinder 3 for supplying sterilizing gas into the sterilizing container 1.

Sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide stored in liquid form in the cylinder 3 is connected to a discharge port 5 to which an on-off valve 4 is attached and an end opening of this discharge port 5 via a connector 6. The gas is sent to a vaporizer 9 via a gas feed pipe 8 provided with an intermediate opening/closing valve 7, vaporized in the vaporizer 9, and then sent into the sterilization container 1.

Of the two on-off valves 4.7, the original on-off valve 4 attached to the discharge port 5 of the cylinder 3 is closed only when replacing the cylinder 3, and is normally left open. The intermediate opening/closing valve 7 in the middle of the waste feed pipe 8 opens and closes depending on the progress of the sterilization work.

When sterilizing objects to be sterilized using the gas sterilizer configured as described above, first, the objects to be sterilized are stored in the sterilization container 1, the sterilization container 1 is sealed, and the middle part is opened and closed. Valve 7
Operate the vacuum pump 2 while keeping it closed.

The operation of the vacuum pump 2 creates a vacuum inside the sterilization container 1, and the gas present inside the object to be sterilized is also exhausted, and the sterilization gas that is later sent into the sterilization container 1 enters the inside of the object to be sterilized. It will be easy to enter until then.

Once the gas in the sterilization container 1 and the objects to be sterilized stored in the sterilization container 1 have been sufficiently exhausted, the vacuum pump 2
The operation of the sterilizer is stopped, the intermediate opening/closing valve 7, which had been closed until then, is opened, and the sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide in the cylinder 3 is sent into the sterilizing container 1 to sterilize the sterilizing container 1. Fill with gas.

After the sterilization process that leaves the sterilization container 1 filled with sterilization gas has been performed for a certain period of time, the intermediate opening/closing valve 7 is closed and the vacuum pump 2 is operated again to keep the sterilization container 1 filled with sterilization gas. Exhaust sterile gas.

After the sterilization gas is discharged, clean air is fed into the vacuumed sterilization container 1 through another system (not shown).

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Although the gas sterilizer is configured and operates as described above, the remaining amount of sterilizing gas in the cylinder 3 that supplies sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide into the sterilizing container 1 is insufficient. When it runs low, it must be replaced with a new cylinder.

When performing this linear replacement work, conventionally, the original on-off valve 4 attached to the discharge port 5 of the cylinder 3 and the intermediate on-off valve 7 provided in the middle of the gas feed pipe 8 are closed, and the discharge port 5 and gas feed pipe 8 are closed. The connector 6 provided at the connection with the tube 8 is removed, and the cylinder 3 with a low remaining amount of sterilizing gas is replaced with a new cylinder 3.

Conventionally, the number of sterilizations was recorded as a guideline for knowing when to replace the cylinder, and the cylinder was replaced when the number of sterilizations reached a certain number, but when the weight of cylinder 3 was measured, this weight fell below a certain value. Alternatively, the amount of gas used can be measured with a flow meter installed in the middle of the gas flow path, and it can be configured so that it can be replaced when the amount of gas used reaches a certain level. This measurement, recording, and replacement instructions can all be performed by a microcomputer built into the sterilizer.

However, in the conventional cylinder replacement work performed in this manner, when the connector 6 is removed, both on-off valves 4.
It is unavoidable that the sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide present between 7 and 7 will be diffused into the surrounding area.

Although the amount of sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide that exists between the two on-off valves 4.7 is small, it is in liquid form, so if it evaporates and spreads to the surrounding area, it will cause damage to the workers and others who are performing the replacement work. It may have an adverse effect on the health of those who use it.

The gas sterilizer cylinder replacement method of the present invention eliminates these inconveniences.

b1 Structure of the invention (means for solving the problem) The method for replacing a cylinder for a gas sterilizer of the present invention is used when replacing a cylinder that supplies sterilizing gas into the sterilization container of a gas sterilizer. .

When carrying out the replacement method of the present invention, first, close the main on-off valve 4 attached to the gas discharge port 5 of the cylinder 3 whose remaining amount of gas is low, and remove the sterilizing gas remaining in the cylinder 3. , so that it is no longer sent out from the end of the discharge port 5.

After the main on-off valve 4 is closed, the middle on-off valve 7 provided in the middle of the gas feed pipe 8 that communicates the gas discharge port 5 with the inside of the sterilization container 1 remains open, and the sterilization container is opened. A vacuum pump 2 is operated to discharge the gas inside the vacuum pump 1.

By operating the vacuum pump 2 in such a state, the inside of the sterilization container 1 and the inside of the gas feed pipe 8 become vacuum, so that no unevaporated liquid sterilization gas exists in the gas feed pipe 8. The sterilizing gas drawn out by the vacuum pump 2 from inside the sterilizing container 1 and the gas feed pipe 8 is absorbed by the water flowing through the vacuum pump 2 while passing through the water-ring type vacuum pump 2, and is left as it is. Discharged to drainage facilities, etc.

In this way, after discharging the sterilizing gas in the gas feed pipe 8 that feeds sterile gas from the cylinder 3 into the sterile container 1, the connector 6 at the connection between the gas discharge port 5 and the gas feed pipe 8 is removed, The gas discharge port 5 of a new cylinder 3 is connected to this gas feed pipe 8. When performing the work of attaching and detaching this connector 6,
It is preferable that the intermediate opening/closing valve 7 provided in the middle of the gas feed pipe 8 remains closed.

The original on-off valve 4 attached to the discharge port 5 of the new cylinder 3 is opened after the connection work of the connector 6 portion is completed.

C2 Effects of the Invention The method for replacing a cylinder for a gas sterilizer according to the present invention is configured as described above, so when replacing the cylinder, sterilizing gas harmful to the human body is released to the outside, albeit in a small amount. It is highly effective in preventing leakage, causing no harm to the health of workers, and allowing them to work safely.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing is a schematic circuit diagram showing a gas sterilizer to which the present invention is applied. 1: Sterile container, 2: Vacuum pump, 3: Cylinder, 4: Main on-off valve, 5: Discharge port, 6: Connector, 7: Intermediate on-off valve,
8: Gas feed pipe, 9: Vaporizer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] This is a method of replacing the cylinder that supplies sterilizing gas into the sterilization container of a gas sterilizer, in which the original on-off valve attached to the gas discharge port of the cylinder with low gas remaining is closed, and the gas discharge port and the gas discharge port are replaced. With the intermediate opening/closing valve installed in the middle of the gas feed pipe that communicates with the inside of the sterilization container open, a vacuum pump for discharging the gas inside the sterilization container is operated, and the gas is sent through the inside of the sterilization container. After discharging the sterilizing gas remaining in the pipe, removing the connection between the gas discharge port and the gas feed pipe, and then connecting the gas discharge port of a new cylinder to the gas feed pipe, replacing the cylinder for a gas sterilizer. Method.