Sterilizing process and apparatus utilizing gas plasma
US3948601A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 1973 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 1993 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61L2/14
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A continuous flow of gas plasma is supplied to a space at a very low pressure in which the object to be sterilized is located. Cool plasma of a suitable gas such as argon is produced continually by being subjected to a radio-frequency field. Complex shapes such as capillary passages through a blood oxygenator can be sterilized by passing the gas plasma through them. The exterior of objects to be sterilized can be subjected to gas plasma in a space at a very low pressure either confined or unconfined. The space may, for example, be a packaging envelope, and subsequent to sterilization such envelope can be evacuated and collapsed onto the object to preserve its sterile character.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.