Apparatus and method for sterilizing endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11696967-B2
Application number	US-202016843366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2020
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

Abstract

A method of sterilizing an article includes receiving the article in a sterilization chamber. The method also includes applying a vacuum to a first pressure less than 100 torr. The method also includes introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber. The method also includes maintaining the first pressure in the sterilization chamber for a first period of time. The method also includes venting the sterilization chamber to a second pressure less than 100 torr. The method also includes maintaining the second pressure. The method also includes venting the sterilization chamber to a third pressure. The method also includes maintaining the third pressure. The method also includes venting the sterilization chamber to atmospheric pressure. The method further includes between venting and maintaining steps applying a vacuum to a fourth pressure less than 100 torr, introducing additional sterilant, and maintaining the fourth pressure.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of sterilizing an article, the method comprising:
(a) receiving the article in a sterilization chamber;
(b) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce pressure within the sterilization chamber to a first pressure, wherein the first pressure is less than 100 torr;
(c) introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber;
(d) maintaining the first pressure in the sterilization chamber for a first period of time;
(e) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure but is still less than 100 torr;
maintaining the second pressure in the sterilization chamber for a second period of time;
(g) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a third pressure;
(h) maintaining the third pressure in the sterilization chamber for a third period of time; and
(i) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to atmospheric pressure,
wherein the method further comprises, between at least one of steps (d) and (e) or between steps (f) and (g):
(A) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce pressure within the sterilization chamber to a fourth pressure that is less than 100 torr,
(B) introducing additional sterilant into the sterilization chamber, and
(C) maintaining the fourth pressure in the sterilization chamber for a fourth period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating sub-steps (A) through (C) between at least one of steps (d) and (e) or between steps (f) and (g).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein sub-steps (A) through (C) are performed between steps (d) and (e).

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing sub-steps (A) through (C) between steps (f) and (g).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein sub-steps (A) through (C) are performed between steps (h) and (i).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein sub-steps (A) through (C) are performed between steps (d) and (e) and between steps (f) and (g).

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein sub-steps (A) through (C) are performed between steps (d) and (e), between steps (f) and (g), and between steps (h) and (i).

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating steps (g) and (h) at least once.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a plasma to the sterilization chamber between steps (b) and (c).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth pressures are each below 100 torr.

11. A method of sterilizing an article, the method comprising:
(a) receiving the article in a sterilization chamber;
(b) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce pressure within the sterilization chamber to a first pressure, wherein the first pressure is less than 100 torr;
(c) introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber;
(d) maintaining the first pressure in the sterilization chamber for a first period of time;
(e) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure but is still less than 100 torr;
maintaining the second pressure in the sterilization chamber for a second period of time;
(g) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a third pressure;
(h) maintaining the third pressure in the sterilization chamber for a third period of time; and
(i) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to atmospheric pressure,
wherein the method further comprises, between at least one of steps (d) and (e) or between steps (f) and (g):
(A) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a fourth pressure that is less than 100 torr,
(B) introducing additional sterilant into the sterilization chamber,
(C) maintaining the fourth pressure in the sterilization chamber for a fourth period of time, and
(D) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a fifth pressure that is less than 100 torr.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising repeating sub-steps (A) through (D) between at least one of steps (d) and (e) or between steps (f) and (g).

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein sub-steps (A) through (D) are performed between steps (d) and (e).

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein sub-steps (A) through (D) are performed between steps (f) and (g).

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising performing sub-steps (A) through (D) between steps (h) and (i).

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein sub-steps (A) through (D) are performed between steps (d) and (e) as well as between steps (f) and (g).

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein sub-steps (A) through (D) are performed between steps (d) and (e), between steps (f) and (g), and between steps (h) and (i).

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising repeating steps (g) and (h) at least once.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying a plasma to the sterilization chamber between steps (b) and (c).

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth pressures are each below 100 torr.

21. A method of sterilizing an endoscope, the method comprising:
(a) receiving the endoscope in a sterilization chamber;
(b) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce pressure within the sterilization chamber to a first pressure, wherein the first pressure is less than 10 torr;
(c) introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber without either heating the sterilant or heating the sterilization chamber prior to introducing the sterilant into the sterilization chamber;
(d) maintaining the first pressure in the sterilization chamber for a first period of time;
(e) venting the sterilization chamber to atmosphere to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure but is still less than 30 torr; and
(f) applying a vacuum or venting to atmospheric pressure then applying the vacuum.

Assignees

• Asp Global Mfg Gmbh

Inventors

• Nowruzi Keyvan
• Omidbakhsh Navid

Classifications

• A61L2202/122

  Chambers for sterilisation · CPC title

• A61L2202/18

  Aseptic storing means · CPC title

• A61L2/186

  Peroxide solutions · CPC title

• A61L2/202

  Ozone · CPC title

• A61L2/14

  Plasma, i.e. ionised gases · CPC title