Patent ID: 6162395
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: A61B,A61L

Abstract:
A method of gas phase sterilization of devices of interest of a class having internal surfaces which include one or more elongate passages of interest, said passages having end openings and being susceptible of sustaining a flow of gas therealong the method comprising the steps of:(a) connecting an empty removable closed chamber to said devices of interest to one end of said passages of interest, said closed chamber being open to each said passage of interest and wherein said closed chamber has a volume greater than the total volume of all connected passages of interest to be sterilized;(b) establishing a net flow of sterilant gas through each passage of interest in a selected direction by subjecting the one or more end openings not connected to said removable closed chambers to transient alternating cycles of decreasing pressure and pressurization thereby producing a directionally reversing net flow through said one or more passages of interest;(c) introducing sterilant vapor with said repressurization steps of said cycles; and(d) varying said pressure sufficiently that said net flow in each direction exceeds the volume of said one or more passages;(e) providing vapor permeability for sterilizing the portion of said devices of interest at the connection with said closed chamber.