Patent ID: 6379616
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
A sterilization apparatus comprising:an aerosol generator being adapted to generate an aerosol of a sterilizing agent, the generator including an ultrasonic transducer being operatively coupled to or forming part of a reservoir which is adapted to contain the sterilizing agent, and a tube positioned adjacent the reservoir such that a fountain of the sterilizing agent as produced by the ultrasonic transducer spouts into the tube; and a sterilization chamber operatively coupled to the aerosol generator so as to receive a recirculatory flow of the aerosol, the kinetic energy of the fountain being effective in increasing the static pressure of the aerosol within the tube thereby inducing a pressure drop across the tube which alone is sufficient to propel the aerosol through the tube to produce the recirculatory flow, and the sterilization chamber being designed to receive an article requiring sterilization whereby in operation the recirculatory flow of the aerosol through the sterilization chamber is effective in sterilizing the article.