Monitoring and control of sterilization processes with semiconductor sensor modules
US5882590A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/0036
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention is a system and method for real-time monitoring and control of chemical sterilant concentration during all phases of a sterilization cycle by employing semiconductor-based sensor modules to selectively detect and measure the actual sterilant concentration in real time. In response to the transmitted concentration values, the sterilizer control system controls critical environmental parameters to maintain concentration levels within acceptable ranges for given time periods to assure sterilization efficacy and that the sterilant has been properly exhausted at completion of the cycle. The selectivity, sensitivity and accuracy of the semiconductor sensor are optimized by calibrating the sensor to baseline environmental parameters and by adjusting the sensor concentration reading when environmental parameters change during the sterilization cycle, by programming a new baseline value for the sterilant concentration at the new condition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.