Patent ID: 9358315
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: A61L

Claim Text:
1. A method of sterilizing an object to achieve 6 log or greater total reduction in micro organisms comprising the steps of: i) placing an article to be sterilized in a sterilization chamber; ii) providing, in a delivery phase of a sub-cycle, a sterilizing mist of liquid droplets of sterilant in a gas to the sterilization chamber at atmospheric pressure or above, thereby to contact said article for a first duration; and iii) providing, in a waste removal phase of the sub-cycle, a gas flow to said chamber for a second duration, thereby to displace, where present, said sterilizing mist and to remove, where present, condensed mist from said article and to dry the surface of the article to be sterilized; wherein the total duration encompassing the first duration and the second duration is specifically selected in order to produce a total reduction in micro organisms to be less than 6 log; wherein the sub-cycle is repeated at least once to achieve a predetermined sum total of sterilizing provided to the sterilization chamber, or a predetermined level of sterilization.