Patent ID: 8663555
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
1. A vacuum sterilization process for sterilization of articles, such that the sterilization process makes provision for the articles to be sterilized to be arranged and subjected to vacuum in a stainless steel chamber; wherein the process uses, connected to the stainless steel chamber, a vacuum system comprising at least one mechanical vacuum pump; wherein the process makes provision for a device comprising an injector system for sterilizing gas and a system for admission of atmospheric air, comprising a filter; wherein said process is an automated process controlled by a programmable logic controller and wherein said process is further characterized: a) in application of vapour of a solution of hydrogen peroxide and residual gas plasma from atmospheric air, excited by pulsed electrical discharge; b) in that the vacuum system further comprises at least one liquid ring pump connected in parallel with said at least one mechanical vacuum pump and the vacumm system is linked to said stainless steel chamber by one or more valves; c) in that evaporation and separation of water from the hydrogen peroxide take place in the device; d) in that the system for the admission of atmospheric air further comprises a dehumidifier and wherein such system is connected to the stainless steel chamber by the one or more valves and to the dehumidifier by another valve; e) in that the interior of the stainless steel chamber is provided with a stand, composed of flat surfaces, which, as well as providing support to the articles which are to be sterilized, also comprise electrodes at which the residual gas plasma is formed for the sterilization process; f) in that the programmable logic controller is responsible for: reduction of pressure on the articles which are to be sterilized, by means of the liquid ring pump, which is employed prior to action of the mechanical vacuum pump, in order to attain a required pressure of the plasma; elimination of residual vapour from the solution of hydrogen peroxide by way of dilution with filtered atmospheric air and using the at least one liquid ring pump; application of the vapour from the solution of hydrogen peroxide evaporated in vacuum with heating and separation of the water from the solution; dilution of the vapour from the hydrogen peroxide by the injection of filtered air into the stainless steel chamber; provision of at least one stand, acting as a source electrode for generating a pulsed DC discharge, and the discharge of plasma close to the articles arranged on the at least one stand; generation of plasma from the residual atmospheric air with the excitation of pulsed DC in order to obtain an adequate temperature for sterilization; generation of pulsed DC discharge plasma from atmospheric air in order to complement the sterilization and elimination of residues; and the application of a vacuum within a pressure range of 5×10