Patent ID: 6036918
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: A01N,A61L

Abstract:
A process for sterilizing a load of items to be disinfected by exposure to peracid sterilant vapor, comprising the steps of:(a) introducing a load comprising items to be disinfected into a sterilization chamber adapted to contain and confine a sterilizing atmosphere;(b) introducing an amount of peracid sterilant vapor into the sterilization chamber at a pressure below atmospheric pressure;(c) introducing a quantity of a non-interfering gas, the gas being of a type which does not interfere with the sterilization procedure, to increase the pressure in the chamber to a value above that at which the chamber was after the peracid sterilant vapor was introduced but below atmospheric pressure, and forming, with the peracid sterilization vapor, a sterilization atmosphere; and(d) exposing the load to the sterilization atmosphere for a desired period of time to sterilize the load.