Patent ID: 6387332
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: A61L,G05B

Abstract:
A safety system for a gas sterilization facility including at least one sterilization chamber, each said sterilization chamber having a door for accessing the sterilization chamber, said safety system comprising:a locking mechanism connected to the door of each sterilization chamber; a gas measuring apparatus adapted to measure the concentration of a specified sterilization gas used in the sterilization chambers to sterilize articles; a chamber sample valve connected to each sterilization chamber; gas communication lines connecting each chamber sample valve and the gas measuring apparatus; a central processing unit; and electric communication lines connecting the central processing unit and each locking mechanism, each chamber sample valve and the gas measuring apparatus; whereby under the control of the central processing unit, each chamber sample valve selectively opens to obtain one or more gas samples from each sterilization chamber, the gas measuring apparatus determines the concentration of the specified sterilization gas in said gas samples and the locking mechanism unlocks the door of the sterilization chamber if the concentration of the specified sterilization gas in said gas samples obtained from said sterilization chamber is below a predetermined level, the central processing unit including means for measuring the length of time which lapses after the locking mechanism unlocks the door of the sterilization chamber and for relocking the door of the sterilization chamber if the door is not opened within a predetermined time.