Abstract:
A highly versatile method of a sterilization and a sterilization apparatus, in which objects with poor heat resistance that are to be sterilized, such as plastic products, can be sterilized without incurring thermal damage, with such a strong sterilization power that spores can be killed. A treatment chamber is filled with a treatment gas containing HCHO, and any sterilization objects placed in the treatment chamber are sterilized. During sterilization, while maintaining the interior of the treatment chamber at a pre-determined temperature (T 1 ), the treatment gas is fed into the treatment chamber, and the sterilization objects are exposed to the treatment gas for a pre-determined period of time (h 1 ). Thereafter, the feeding of treatment gas into the treatment chamber is discontinued, and while the treatment gas remains in the treatment chamber, the interior of the treatment chamber is heated to a heat treatment temperature (T 2 ) that is higher than the pre-determined temperature (T 1 ) but does not exceed the heat-resistance temperature (T 0 ) of the objects to be sterilized.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to technology for the sterilization of various types of objects to be sterilized, including clean rooms and surgeries, surgical tools, medical materials, and nursing care goods, and in particular, relates to a method of sterilization for killing heat-resistant spores at a temperature lower than the actual extinction temperature of the spores (at a temperature at which the biological defense mechanism operates). 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    The extinction temperature of heat-resistant spores (simply spores hereafter) is usually 100° C. or higher, and when sufficient sterilization to spores is to be obtained in a relatively short amount of time, the object to be sterilized must be heated to a high temperature of 120° C. or higher. Therefore, an object that is damaged (deformed, degenerated, or similarly impaired) below a temperature of 100° C., such as a plastic product, cannot be subjected to sterilization by heat. 
         [0003]    Several methods of sterilization are known for killing spores at a temperature lower than the spore extinction temperature. However, these methods have disadvantages in that the bacterial cell is destroyed by adiabatic expansion of a medium that is forced to invade the bacterial cell by adiabatic compression, or an aqueous bactericide solution is used; therefore, the objects that can be sterilized are limited (See JP Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) 2004-121161, and JP Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) 2004-2229). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A very versatile method of sterilization and a sterilization apparatus capable of sterilization treatment with strong sterilization power capable of killing spores but without thermally damaging an object to be treated having poor heat resistance, such as a plastic product. 
         [0005]    In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first method of sterilization of the present disclosure is one wherein a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient is filled inside a sterilization chamber and an object to be sterilized is sterilized inside the treatment chamber. At this time, the treatment gas is fed to the inside of the treatment chamber and the object to be sterilized is exposed to the treatment gas while the inside of the treatment chamber is kept at a pre-determined temperature; then the supply of treatment gas to the inside of the treatment temperature is stopped; and the temperature inside the treatment chamber is raised to as high a heat treatment temperature as possible within a temperature range higher than the pre-determined temperature but not exceeding the upper limit of the heat-resistance temperature of the object to be sterilized. 
         [0006]    By means of this method of sterilization, the heat resistance of the spores that are present on the surface and inside the object to be sterilized can be reduced by exposing the object to be sterilized to a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient such as HCHO; therefore, spores can be killed at a temperature that is much lower than the actual extinction temperature by then heating the inside of the treatment chamber. By setting the heat treatment temperature at as high a temperature as possible within a range that does not exceed the upper limit of the heat resistance temperature of the object to be sterilized, it is possible to sterilize with a strong sterilization power capable of killing the spores without thermally damaging the object to be sterilized having poor heat resistance, such as a plastic product. All spores should be eventually killed by heat treatment. Therefore, when HCHO is used as the active sterilization ingredient, for instance, a treatment gas having a low HCHO concentration of 200 ppm or less can be used. Even though the concentration is low, the HCHO itself has a strong permeating force relative to the object to be sterilized and this ingredient is therefore certain to kill spores up to the inside of the object to be sterilized. Moreover, it is possible to sterilize a variety of diverse objects because the mechanism by which a treatment gas is forced to invade the inside of the bacterial cell is not used, nor is an aqueous bactericide solution used. 
         [0007]    The second method of sterilization of the present disclosure is one wherein, after an object to be sterilized has been exposed to a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient, the object to be sterilized is heated to as high a heat treatment temperature as possible within a temperature range higher than the pre-determined temperature but not exceeding the upper limit of the heat-resistance temperature of the object to be sterilized. 
         [0008]    By means of this method of sterilization, the heat resistance of the spores that are present on the surface and inside the object to be sterilized can be reduced by exposing the object to be sterilized to a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient such as HCHO; therefore, spores can be killed at a temperature that is much lower than the actual extinction temperature by then heating the inside of the treatment chamber. By setting the heat treatment temperature at as high a temperature as possible within a range that does not exceed the upper limit of the heat resistance temperature of the object to be sterilized, it is possible to sterilize with a strong sterilization power capable of killing the spores without thermally damaging the object to be sterilized having poor heat resistance, such as a plastic product. All spores should be eventually killed by heat treatment. Therefore, when HCHO is used as the active sterilization ingredient, for instance, a treatment gas having a low HCHO concentration of 200 ppm or less can be used. Even though the concentration is low, the HCHO itself has a strong permeating force relative to the object to be sterilized; therefore, this ingredient is certain to kill spores up to the inside of the object to be sterilized. Moreover, it is possible to sterilize a variety of diverse objects because the mechanism by which a treatment gas is forced to invade the inside of the bacterial cell is not used, nor is an aqueous bactericide solution employed. 
         [0009]    The third method of sterilization of the present disclosure is one wherein, after an object to be sterilized has been exposed to an active sterilization ingredient, the object to be sterilized is irradiated with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays. 
         [0010]    By means of this method of sterilization, it is possible to reduce the resistance to gamma rays or ultraviolet rays of the spores that are present at the surface and on the inside of an object to be sterilized by exposing the object to be sterilized to a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient such as HCHO; therefore, the spores that are present at the surface and on the inside of the object to be sterilized can be killed by irradiation of the object to be sterilized with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays. Heat treatment is not performed; therefore, the sterilization can be performed with a sterilization power capable of killing the spores without thermally damaging the object to be sterilized having low thermal resistance, such as a plastic product. Moreover, it is possible to sterilize a variety of diverse objects because the mechanism by which a treatment gas is forced to invade the inside of the bacterial cell is not used nor is an aqueous bactericide solution employed. 
         [0011]    The first sterilization apparatus of the present disclosure comprises a treatment chamber for holding an object to be sterilized, an electric heater for heating the treatment chamber, a treatment gas generator for generating treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient, a gas conveyance system for introducing the treatment gas generated by the treatment gas generator to inside the treatment chamber, and a control unit; and sterilizes an object to be sterilized inside the treatment chamber when a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient such as HCHO is filled inside this treatment chamber. At this time, the control unit controls the operation of the treatment gas generator and the gas conveyance system and the supply of electricity to the electric heater so that the treatment gas is fed to inside the treatment chamber and the object to be treated is exposed to treatment gas while the inside of the treatment chamber is kept at a pre-determined temperature but; then the supply of treatment gas to inside the treatment temperature is stopped; and the inside of the treatment chamber is heated to as high a heat-treatment temperature as possible within a temperature range higher than the predetermined temperature but not exceeding the upper limit of the heat resistance temperature of the object to be sterilized. 
         [0012]    By means of this sterilization apparatus, the heat resistance of the spores that are present on the surface and inside the object to be sterilized can be reduced by exposing the object to be sterilized to a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient such as HCHO; therefore, spores can be killed at a temperature that is much lower than the actual extinction temperature by then heating the inside of the treatment chamber. By setting the heat treatment temperature at as high a temperature as possible within a range that does not exceed the upper limit of the heat resistance temperature of the object to be sterilized, it is possible to sterilize with a strong sterilization power capable of killing the spores without thermally damaging the object to be sterilized having poor heat resistance, such as a plastic product. All spores should be eventually killed by heat treatment. Therefore, when HCHO is used as the active sterilization ingredient, for instance, a treatment gas having a low HCHO concentration of 200 ppm or less can be used. Even though the concentration is low, the HCHO itself has a strong permeating force relative to the object to be sterilized; therefore, this ingredient is certain to kill spores up to the inside of the object to be sterilized. Moreover, it is possible to sterilize a variety of diverse objects because the mechanism by which a treatment gas is forced to invade the inside of the bacterial cell is not used nor is an aqueous bactericide solution employed. 
         [0013]    The second sterilization apparatus comprises a treatment chamber for holding an object to be sterilized, a radiation source for irradiation of the object to be sterilized inside the treatment chamber with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays, a treatment gas generator for generating treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient, a gas conveyance system for introducing the treatment gas generated by the treatment gas generator to inside the treatment chamber, and a control unit, wherein this control unit controls the operation of the treatment gas generator, the gas conveyance system, and the radiation source so that the treatment gas is fed to inside the treatment chamber and the object to be treated is exposed to treatment gas while the inside of the treatment chamber is kept at a pre-determined temperature, then the supply of treatment gas to inside the treatment temperature is stopped, and the object to be treated is irradiated with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays. 
         [0014]    By means of this method of sterilization, it is possible to reduce the gamma-ray or ultraviolet-ray resistance of the spores that are present at the surface and on the inside of an object to be sterilized by exposing the object to be sterilized to a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient such as HCHO; therefore, the spores that are present at the surface and on the inside of the object to be sterilized can be killed by the irradiation of the object to be sterilized with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays. Heat treatment is not performed; therefore, sterilization can be performed with a strong sterilization power capable of killing the spores but without thermally damaging the object to be sterilized that has low thermal resistance, such as a plastic product. Moreover, it is possible to sterilize a variety of diverse objects because the mechanism by which a treatment gas is forced to invade the inside of the bacterial cell is not used, nor is an aqueous bactericide solution employed. 
         [0015]    Preferably, 80° C. is the maximum heat treatment temperature of the method of sterilization and the sterilization apparatus of the present disclosure. 
         [0016]    Preferably, a treatment gas that contains an active species generated by the oxidation of methanol is the treatment gas of the first and second methods of sterilization and of the first sterilization apparatus. 
         [0017]    Once the supply of treatment gas to inside the treatment chamber has been stopped, it is possible to raise the temperature inside the treatment chamber up to a treatment temperature that is higher than the predetermined temperature but lower than the heat resistance temperature of the object to be sterilized with treatment gas remaining inside the treatment chamber of the first method of sterilization and the first sterilization apparatus. By allowing the treatment gas to remain inside the treatment chamber even after the supply of the treatment gas has been stopped, a strong sterilizing effect can be expected due to the synergism of the sterilizing effect of the active sterilization ingredient in the treatment gas and the sterilizing effect of heating. 
         [0018]    By means of the present disclosure, the heat resistance of the spores present at the surface and inside an object to be sterilized is reduced and then sterilization is performed by raising the treatment temperature to a temperature that is lower than the heat resistance temperature of the object to be treated; therefore, it is possible to perform sterilization treatment with a strong sterilization power capable of killing the spores but without thermally damaging a variety of diverse objects to be sterilized. 
         [0019]    By means of the present disclosure, the resistance of spores present at the surface and inside the object to be sterilized is reduced and then sterilization is performed by irradiation of the object to be sterilized with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays; therefore, it is possible to perform sterilization treatment with a strong sterilization power capable of killing the spores but without thermally damaging a variety of diverse objects to be sterilized. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of the outside of a structural example of the sterilization apparatus for conducting the method of sterilization of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an oblique view of a conceptual representation of the structure of the sterilization apparatus. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a structural drawing of a treatment gas feed device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a structural drawing of a treatment gas generator. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a temperature curve graph showing an example of changes in temperature inside an object to be sterilized when sterilization is performed by the method of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    Preferred embodiments for conducting the present disclosure will now be described while referring to the drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of the outside, showing a structural example of the sterilization apparatus for conducting the method of sterilization of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is an oblique view of a conceptual representation of the structure of the sterilization apparatus in  FIG. 1 . This sterilization apparatus comprises a treatment chamber  20  for holding an object to be sterilized and a treatment gas feed device  30  for feeding treatment gas to the inside of closed treatment chamber  20 . 
         [0027]    Treatment chamber  20  is chemical-resistant, heat-resistant and pressure-resistant. An opening  21  for introducing and removing the object to be sterilized is disposed in the front surface of treatment chamber  20 . A door  22  is disposed at opening  21  and is designed such that when door  22  is closed, the inside of treatment chamber  20  is sealed airtight. An inlet  23  for introducing treatment gas and an evacuation port  24  for the evacuation of exhaust gas are disposed inside treatment chamber  20 . The descending current end of a treatment gas introduction tube  31  is connected to inlet  23 , while the ascending current end of an evacuation tube  32  is connected to evacuation port  24 . The ascending current end of treatment gas introduction tube  31  is connected to a treatment gas evacuation port  30   a  of treatment gas feed unit  30 , while the descending end of evacuation tube  32  is connected to an exhaust gas intake  30   b  of treatment gas feed unit  30 . 
         [0028]    Moreover, an electric heater  25  for heating the inside of treatment chamber  20  is disposed on the inside surface of treatment chamber  20 . A temperature sensor, which is not illustrated, is disposed inside treatment chamber  20 , and the output of this temperature sensor is input to a control unit  60  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) inside treatment gas feed device  30 . 
         [0029]    Moreover, various switches  61  for setting the treatment gas concentration, temperature, humidity, and supply time h 1 , the temperature inside treatment chamber  20  (the temperature when treatment gas is fed (pre-determined temperature T 1 ), the heat treatment temperature T 2 ), and similar parameters, as well as a status display unit  62  are disposed at the front surface of treatment gas feed unit  30 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a structural drawing of treatment gas feed unit  30 . Treatment gas feed unit  30  comprises a treatment gas generator  40 , a gas conveyance system  50  for introducing treatment gas generated by treatment gas generator  40  to inside sealed treatment chamber  20 , and control unit  60 . Control unit  60  has both a function for controlling the operation of treatment gas generator  40  and a function for controlling electricity sent to electric heater  25  of treatment chamber  20 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a structural drawing of treatment gas generator  40 . A gasification chamber  42  for feeding methanol from a methanol feed source, which is not illustrated, through a conveyance tube  41 , a first temperature regulator  43  for heating gasification chamber  42  from around the outside of the chamber, a substantially cylindrical catalyst cell  44  connected to the top of gasification chamber  42 , and a second temperature regulator  45  for heating catalyst cell  44  from around the outside of the cell are disposed inside treatment gas generator  40 . A catalyst  46  that has been converted to particulate form is packed inside catalyst cell  44 . Platinum, copper, aluminum, carbon, or a mixture thereof is used as catalyst  46 . 
         [0032]    A predetermined amount of methanol is first fed to gasification chamber  42  when treatment gas is to be generated by treatment gas generator  40 . Methanol fed to gasification chamber  42  is gasified by heating and fed to catalyst cell  44 . Treatment gas containing HCHO and various types of seed radicals is generated as a result of exposing the methanol gas inside the catalyst cell to a catalyst. The amount of treatment gas generated depends on the amount of methanol gasification in gasification chamber  42 , the amount of methanol gas fed to catalyst cell  44 , the heating temperature of catalyst cell  44 , and similar conditions. 
         [0033]    Gas conveyance system  50  has a suction pump (treatment gas conveyor)  51  for feeding outside air or treatment gas (treatment gas or a mixture of treatment gas and outside air) to the inside of treatment chamber  20 , a humidity regulator  52  for adjusting the humidity of the treatment gas fed to inside treatment chamber  20 , a temperature regulator  53  for adjusting the temperature of the treatment gas fed to inside treatment chamber  20 , an exhaust gas treatment unit  54  for treatment (deactivation) of exhaust gas from inside treatment chamber  20 , and an evacuation pump (gas evacuation unit)  55  for evacuating the treated exhaust gas. The exhaust port-side path of evacuation pump  55  and the intake-side path of suction pump  51  are connected by a reflux air path  56 . 
         [0034]    Treatment gas generator  40 , suction pump  51 , humidity regulator  52 , temperature regulator  53 , exhaust gas treatment unit  54 , and evacuation pump  55  are controlled by control unit  60 . 
         [0035]    Control unit  60  controls the concentration (amount generated) of treatment gas to a predetermined concentration range by controlling treatment gas generator  40  as it controls the temperature and humidity of the treatment gas fed to inside treatment chamber  20  by controlling humidity regulator  52  and temperature regulator  53 , and also controls the amount of treatment gas fed to inside treatment chamber  20  and the amount of exhaust gas emitted from inside treatment chamber  20  by controlling suction pump  51  and evacuation pump  55 . 
         [0036]    Moreover, control unit  60  controls the amount of current introduced to electric heater  25  in accordance with the detection values of the temperature sensor inside treatment chamber  20 . 
         [0037]    The method of sterilization by sterilization apparatus  10  designed as described above will now be described. 
         [0038]    A specially-trained worker handles the object to be treated, treatment chamber  20 , and treatment gas feed device  30  at the time of sterilization. 
         [0039]    When sterilization is performed, the object to be sterilized is housed inside treatment chamber  20  with door  22  closed. Then a temperature T 1  at the time treatment gas is fed (selected from a range of 20 to 40° C.), a heat treatment temperature T 2  (T 1 &lt;T 2 &lt;T 0 ≦80° C.; T 0  is the heat-resistance temperature of the object to be treated), and humidity (selected from within a range of a relative humidity of 70 to 90%), and other parameters are set and sterilization apparatus  10  is turned to the sterilization treatment mode. As a result, electricity is sent to electric heater  25  and the temperature inside treatment chamber  20  rises to the pre-determined temperature T 1 . Once the inside of treatment chamber  20  becomes temperature T 1 , treatment gas is fed to inside treatment chamber  20  and the object to be sterilized housed inside treatment chamber  20  is sterilized. In this case, the temperature of the treatment gas fed to the inside of treatment chamber  20  is controlled at a pre-determined temperature T 1  that is the same as the temperature inside treatment chamber  20 . Moreover, the humidity of the treatment gas that is supplied is controlled to the set humidity H 1 . 
         [0040]    Once a pre-determined time h 1  has passed after starting the feed of treatment gas, the supply of treatment gas is stopped. At the same time, the amount of electricity sent to electric heater  25  is increased and the inside of treatment chamber  20  is heated until it reaches the heat treatment temperature T 2 . Treatment gas remains inside treatment chamber  20  during this time. 
         [0041]    When the inside of treatment chamber  20  reaches temperature T 2 , the electricity to electric heater  25  is cut off. In essence, suction pump  51  and exhaust pump  55  are turned on when treatment gas generator  40  is turned off. Moreover, the exhaust gas from inside treatment chamber  20  is treated by exhaust gas treatment unit  54 . The exhaust gas treated by exhaust gas treatment unit  54  is fed to suction pump  51  through reflux air path  56  and air inside treatment chamber  20  is recycled by being fed once again to the inside of treatment chamber  20 . This treatment is performed until the concentration of treatment gas inside treatment chamber  20  becomes lower than a pre-determined concentration. Ventilation is performed whereby outside air is introduced to treatment chamber  20 . 
         [0042]    Once the above-mentioned series of steps is completed, the operator removes the sterilized object from inside treatment chamber  20 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows the changes in temperature inside the object to be sterilized when sterilization has been performed with temperature T 1  when treatment gas is fed set at 35° C. and heat treatment temperature T 2  set at 75° C. The outside air temperature is approximately 20° C. in this example and the temperature inside treatment chamber  20  is therefore adjusted by electric heater  25  before the treatment gas is fed, but when the outside air temperature is 30° C., the temperature can be adjusted by feeding the warm air generated by treatment gas generator  40  to inside treatment chamber  20  and the supply of treatment gas can be started without adjusting the temperature inside treatment chamber  20 . 
         [0044]    By means of this method of sterilization, the treatment gas containing HCHO is fed to inside treatment chamber  20  while the inside of treatment chamber  20  is kept at a pre-determined temperature T 1  and the object to be sterilized housed inside treatment chamber  20  is exposed to the treatment gas for a predetermined time in order to reduce the heat resistance of the spores present at the surface and inside the object being sterilized; therefore, it is possible to kill all bacteria, including the spores present at the surface and inside the object to be sterilized, below temperature T 2 , which is much lower than the intrinsic extinction temperature, by heating to heat treatment temperature T 2 , which is higher than temperature T 1  when treatment gas is fed to inside treatment chamber  20 , but lower than the heat-resistance temperature T 0  of the object to be sterilized. When heat treatment temperature T 2  is lower than the heat-resistance temperature of the object to be sterilized, sterilization can be performed with a strong sterilization power capable of killing the spores without thermally damaging even those objects to be sterilized having a low heat resistance, such as a plastic product. Moreover, the treatment gas will remain in treatment chamber  20 , even after the supply of treatment gas is stopped; therefore, a strong sterilizing effect is obtained through the synergism of the sterilizing effect of the HCHO contained in the treatment gas and the sterilizing effect of heating. All spores should be eventually killed by heat treatment. Therefore, when HCHO is used as the active sterilization ingredient, for instance, a treatment gas having a low HCHO concentration of 200 ppm or less can be used. Even though the concentration is low, the HCHO itself has a strong permeating force relative to the object to be sterilized and this ingredient is therefore certain to kill spores up to the inside of the object to be sterilized. Moreover, it is possible to sterilize a variety of diverse objects because the mechanism by which a treatment gas is forced to invade the inside of the bacterial cell is not used, nor is an aqueous bactericide solution employed. 
         [0045]    Moreover, recognizing the necessity of obtaining a sufficient sterilizing effect by exposure to treatment gas alone, conventional sterilization using a treatment gas containing HCHO involves using a treatment gas with a high HCHO concentration of 2,000 ppm or higher, and there are therefore problems with residual HCHO after sterilization; however, by means of the sterilization method of the present disclosure, it is possible to use a treatment gas with a very low HCHO concentration of 150 to 200 ppm or less and it is therefore possible to safely sterilize without the problem of residual HCHO. 
         [0046]    It should be noted that sterilization apparatus  10  of the above-mentioned embodiment comprises treatment gas generator  40  for generating treatment gas containing HCHO by exposing methanol to a catalyst, but it is also possible to use in its place a sterilization apparatus comprising a treatment gas generator for generating treatment gas by exposing methanol to ultrasonic waves, ultraviolet light, or a plasma. Moreover, it is also possible to use a treatment gas generator that generates treatment gas by heating an aqueous formaldehyde solution or paraformaldehyde (solid) to the gasification temperature or higher, or by exposing these to ultrasonic waves, ultraviolet radiation, a plasma, or high-frequency electromagnetic waves. 
         [0047]    The above-mentioned embodiment described an example wherein gas conveyance system  50  of treatment gas feed unit  30  comprised two pumps  51  and  55 , but it can also comprise only one pump and be designed such that the supply and emission of gas to and from the inside of the treatment vessel is carried out by this pump. 
         [0048]    The above-mentioned embodiment describes a method of sterilization wherein a treatment gas containing HCHO is used as the active sterilization ingredient, but a sufficient sterilizing activity is obtained when a treatment gas is used that contains hydrogen peroxide, ozone, or another active sterilization ingredient in place of HCHO. 
         [0049]    The above-mentioned embodiment describes a method of sterilization and a sterilization apparatus wherein heat treatment is performed after the object to be sterilized has been exposed to a treatment gas containing an active sterilization ingredient such as HCHO, but it is also possible to effectively sterilize the object to be sterilized by exposing the object to gamma rays or ultraviolet rays in place of heat treatment. 
         [0050]    A sterilization apparatus for feeding this treatment gas to inside this treatment chamber and exposing the object to be sterilized to this treatment gas while keeping the inside of the treatment chamber at a pre-determined temperature; then stopping the supply of this treatment gas to inside this treatment chamber; and irradiating this object to be sterilized with gamma or ultraviolet radiation can be realized by, for instance, adding a radiation source for subjecting the object to be sterilized inside treatment chamber  20  to irradiation with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays to sterilization apparatus  10  of the above-mentioned embodiment and providing control unit  60  or a similar unit with a function for controlling the radiation source. In this case, electric heater  25  is not necessary, but if electric heater  25  is provided, it can be used in combination with treatment by exposure of the object to be sterilized to treatment gas; treatment by heating of the object to be sterilized; or treatment by irradiation of the object to be sterilized with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays. 
         [0051]    When treatment by exposure of the object to be sterilized to treatment gas and treatment by irradiation of an object to be sterilized with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays are used in combination with one another, it is possible to more effectively reduce the heat resistance of spores present at the surface and inside an object to be sterilized; therefore, it is possible to use a treatment gas having a lower concentration of active ingredient. The timing by which the object to be sterilized is irradiated with gamma rays or ultraviolet rays can be before heat treatment is started or after the object to be sterilized has been exposed to treatment gas. It is also possible to perform irradiation with gamma or ultraviolet radiation simultaneous to treatment by exposing the object to be sterilized to treatment gas. 
       Working Examples 
       [0052]      Bacillus subtilis  (spores) ATCC9372 produced by Cell Tech Laboratory were cultured in agar medium to create a biological indicator (BI) with a live bacteria count of 2.19×10 6 /disc, this indicator was buried in a bed mattress, and the mattress was subjected to sterilization by generating MR gas (treatment gas containing radicals attributed to methanol or formaldehyde) and HCHO gas using a small MR gas sterilization apparatus made by Bio Media Co., Ltd. The treatment gas exposure time was 30 minutes and the heat treatment time was 60 minutes in this case. The temperature, humidity, and HCHO gas concentration inside the apparatus when the MR gas was generated and when the HCHO gas was generated are shown below. 
         [0000]    When MR gas was generated: 
         [0053]    Temperature: 36.0 to 40.09° C., humidity: 80.0 to 88.0% 
         [0054]    HCHO gas concentration: 150 ppm 
         [0000]    When HCHO gas was generated: 
         [0055]    Temperature: 37.5 to 40.09° C., humidity: 82.2 to 86.2% 
         [0056]    HCHO gas concentration: 200 ppm 
         [0057]    The number of live bacteria in the BI was counted after exposure to the treatment gas, and the number of live bacteria in the BI was re-counted after heat treatment. The results are shown in the following Table 1. Moreover, the BI culturing effect for the 7 days after culturing is shown in Table 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Gas exposure alone 
                 60° C. heat treatment 
                 80° heat treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Object BI (non-gas 
                 2.19 × 10 6  bacteria/Disc 
                  1.0 × 10 6  bacteria/Disc 
                 0.7 × 10 6  bacteria/Disc 
               
               
                 exposure) 
               
               
                 MR gas 
                 1.32 × 10 5  bacteria/Disc 
                 0.80 × 10 3  bacteria/Disc 
                 0 bacteria 
               
               
                 HCHO gas 
                 2.20 × 10 6  bacteria/Disc 
                 1.02 × 10 4  bacteria/Disc 
                 0 bacteria 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Culture time 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Sampling No. 
                 12 hours 
                 6 days 
                 7 days 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 MR gas 
                 (+) 
                 (+) 
                 (+) 
               
               
                   
                 MR gas exposure + 
                 (−) 
                 (−) 
                 (−) 
               
               
                   
                 60° C. 
               
               
                   
                 MR gas exposure + 
                 (−) 
                 (−) 
                 (−) 
               
               
                   
                 80° C. 
               
               
                   
                 HCHO gas 
                 (+) 
                 (+) 
                 (+) 
               
               
                   
                 HCHO gas exposure + 
                 (−) 
                 (+) 
                 (+) 
               
               
                   
                 60° C. 
               
               
                   
                 HCHO gas exposure + 
                 (−) 
                 (−) 
                 (−) 
               
               
                   
                 80° C. 
               
               
                   
                 Blank medium culture 
                 (−) 
                 (−) 
                 (−) 
               
               
                   
                 Control (unsterilized 
                 (+) 
                 (+) 
                 (+) 
               
               
                   
                 culture) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 (+): Bacteria were growing. 
               
               
                   
                 (−): Bacteria were not growing. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0058]    It was confirmed by the test results that strong sterilizing activity on a bacteria-reducing level is obtained by exposing an object to be sterilized to MR gas or HCHO gas and then performing heat treatment. It could be confirmed by these test results that sterilization on a bacteria-reducing level is possible by exposure to MR gas or HCHO gas with a low concentration and for a short time (30 minutes with an HCHO concentration of 200 ppm or less), conditions under which sterilizing activity is not usually obtained. In essence, sterilization is possible at a much lower concentration of ingredient than the concentration that is normally used for sterilization; therefore, it is possible to alleviate the problem of residual treatment gas in the object to be sterilized and the toxicity of the treatment gas itself. Moreover, it is possible to reduce the corrosiveness of the treatment gas relative to an object to be sterilized having metal parts 
         [0059]    The reason why a strong sterilizing activity on a bacteria-reducing level is obtained by exposing an object to be treated to MR gas or HCHO gas and then heat treating the object appears to be that: (1) exposure to these treatment gases causes considerable damage to the bacterial spores, there is a reduction in the heat resistance thereof, and the spores are easily killed, and (2) the HCHO remaining in the object to be sterilized after exposure to the treatment gas is activated by heating and thereby has sterilization activity, etc. 
       Comparative Example 
       [0060]      Bacillus subtilis  (spores) ATCC9372 produced by Cell Tech Laboratory were cultured in agar medium to create multiple BIs with a live bacteria count of 1.02×10 6 /Disc, and these were subjected only to heat treatment in an incubator. The heat treatment temperatures were 80° C. and 60° C., and the number of live bacteria in the BI after treatment was counted. The results are shown in Table 3. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Number of BI live bacteria before treatment 1.02 × 10 6 /Disc 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Number of live bacteria 
                   
               
               
                   
                 after 80° C. heat treatment 
                 Number of live bacteria 
               
               
                   
                 (for 1 hour) 
                 after 60° C. heat treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 BI 
                 0.7 × 10 6 /Disc 
                 1.0 × 10 6 /Disc 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0061]    It is clear from these results that continuous heat treatment for a specific time with a heat treatment temperature of 80° C., which is higher than that in the Working Example, kills substantially none of the spores of the BI. 
         [0062]    As is clear from the above-mentioned results, exposure to treatment gas and heat treatment both have a weak sterilization power against spores when used alone, and a strong sterilizing effect capable of reducing the number of live bacteria to 10 −5  to 10 −6  is not obtained. In contrast to this, a strong sterilizing effect is obtained by exposure to treatment gas and then heat treatment, even if the heat treatment temperature is below 80° C. The reason for this is that although they are not killed, the spores are damaged by exposure to the treatment gas and when heat treated in this weakened state, the proteins of the bacterial cell are easily subjected to thermal denaturation. 
         [0063]    By means of the present disclosure, it is possible to sterilize various types of objects to be sterilized, including clean rooms and surgeries, surgical tools, medical materials, and nursing care goods, with a strong sterilization power capable of killing spores without thermally damaging the object to be sterilized. Therefore, the method of sterilization and the sterilization apparatus of the present disclosure can be effectively used for treatment involving virus genome deactivation.