Patent ID: 7378067

Claim:
An apparatus for reducing a microbial population present on the surfaces of an article, said apparatus comprising: a heating system for receiving a fluid, said heating system having a first mode for generating moist heat by converting the received fluid into the moist heat, and a second mode for generating dry heat automatically after generating the moist heat; a fluid-supply system for supplying the fluid to said heating system; a base, a body removably secured to and in contact with an uppermost surface of said base, a cover removably mounted on said body, wherein said heating system is disposed above said base, said cover including at least one vent, and a chamber defined by said body and said cover, for securing and enclosing the article therein and receiving the moist heat and the dry heat generated by said heating system, wherein said heating system operates at a first energy level in the first mode while generating the moist heat and at a second energy level in the second mode while generating the dry heat and wherein, during generation of the moist heat in the first mode, said at least one vent allows the moist heat to escape to the ambient environment, whereby the microbial population present on the surfaces of the article is reduced.