Patent ID: 6290906
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
A method of removing sterilant from a load disposed in a chamber, said method comprising the steps of:evacuating to a subatmospheric pressure a chamber containing a load having sterilant contained therein;providing a diffusion gas that is non-flammable and non-condensible at 0-32 psig;introducing the diffusion gas into the chamber in an amount effective to create a superatmospheric diffusion pressure in the chamber during a diffusion period;allowing the amount of the diffusion gas to diffuse throughout the chamber and the load, thereby causing sterilant to diffuse from within the load and away from the load during the diffusion period with the chamber substantially closed to external flow of diffusion gas; andremoving portions of the diffusion gas and sterilant from the chamber during an evacuation period.