Patent ID: 8535615

Claim:
A radical sterilization apparatus comprising: a storage means including an airtight container that stores a subject to be treated, which is to be subjected to a sterilization process; a low air pressure maintaining means for maintaining a pressure in said storage means in a low pressure state; a water vapor gas production means including a diffusion unit provided in the airtight container of said storage means for evaporating a liquid water, directly introduced into said airtight container in which the pressure is maintained in the low pressure state, by said diffusion unit, to thereby produce water vapor gas; and a radical generation means including a linear electrode which is provided in said airtight container in the vicinity of said diffusion unit and between said diffusion unit and said subject to be treated, and which is bent so as to include linear sections which are in parallel with a longitudinal direction of said diffusion unit, so that the water vapor flows into clearances between the linear sections of said linear electrode, wherein an electric current is applied to said electrode in a water vapor ambiance created by said water vapor gas, to thereby cause electric discharge in the vicinity of the linear sections of the linear electrode so that hydrogen oxide of said water vapor gas, directed to said subject to be treated, is ionized to generate hydroxy (OH) radicals and oxygen (O) radicals.