Patent ID: 7850906
Filing Date: 2010-12-14
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
1. A method for sterilising a sealable enclosure comprising circulating a carrier gas in a closed loop fashion through the enclosure and through a flow path having an inlet to the enclosure and an outlet from the enclosure, the method further comprising: initiating flow of a carrier gas along the flow path and through the enclosure, adding a sterilant vapour or vapours to the gas passing through the flow path until condensation of the sterilant takes place in the enclosure, terminating supply of the sterilant vapour or vapours to the carrier gas whilst continuing to circulate the gas for a predetermined period of time through the flow path and through the enclosure without extracting the sterilant vapour from the gas to ensure sterilisation of the enclosure and then extracting sterilant from the circulating gas and rendering the sterilant suitable for disposal and reducing a relative humidity of the circulating gas; wherein the flow path has a pair of parallel branches comprising a first branch and a second branch, the first and second branches being configured to provide alternate flow paths for circulating the carrier gas through the enclosure such that when the first branch is opened the second branch is closed and vice versa, wherein: