Patent ID: 7485258

Claim:
A method for sterilizing containers ( 2 ), the method comprising executing a plasma treatment in at least one process step in a chamber ( 5 ) through excitation of an electromagnetic oscillation by an oscillating device (a) so that the plasma ( 8 ) is excited in a vacuum in the vicinity of the container ( 2 ) regions to be sterilized, and moving the container ( 2 ) regions to be sterilized closer to the oscillation-generating device ( 9 ) in the chamber ( 5 ) between the arrival ( 4 ) and discharge ( 6 ), and continuously moving the container ( 2 ) and/or the oscillation-generating device ( 9 ) while the plasma is excited for one or more predetermined time intervals in such a way that a plasma ( 8 ) is excited in regions inside and/or outside the container.