Patent ID: 7588720
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: A61L,C01B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for sterilizing an article in a sterilization gas atmosphere, comprising the steps of: a) providing a sterilization chamber; b) placing the article into the sterilization chamber; c) sealing the sterilization chamber; d) evaporating water on the article and equalizing the temperature of the article and an atmosphere in the sterilization chamber for equalizing any localized cooling of the article caused by the evaporation of water on the article, by evacuating the atmosphere in the sterilization chamber and re-circulating a major portion of the evacuated atmosphere into the chamber, while exhausting a minor portion of the evacuated atmosphere to ambient for gradually reducing a pressure in the chamber; e) terminating the re-circulating and reducing the pressure in the sterilization chamber to a vacuum sufficient to lower the boiling point of water to a temperature of an atmosphere in the chamber; f) humidifying the atmosphere in the chamber by supplying water to the sterilization chamber under the vacuum; g) supplying ozone-containing gas to the sterilization chamber; h) maintaining the sterilization chamber sealed for a preselected treatment period; and i) releasing the vacuum in the sterilization chamber, wherein the sterilization chamber remains sealed from step c) to step i) of the process.