Patent · US Expired

Control of sterilization device and method

US7491371B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
5References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 19, 2003
Grant dateFeb 17, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61L2202/18
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A device (1) for sterilization in production of packages (8) is adapted for sterilization with a gaseous sterilizing agent kept in the gaseous phase throughout the sterilization process. The device (1) comprises a heating zone (2), a sterilization zone (3) and a venting zone (4). It further comprises an ambient temperature sensor (27) for sensing the ambient temperature outside the device (1), a concentration meter (29) for measuring the concentration of sterilizing agent in the sterilization zone (3) and a first control unit for controlling the amount of sterilizing agent introduced in the sterilization zone (3) based on the temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor (27) and the concentration measured by the concentration meter (29). A method of sterilizing packages (8) in production of the packages (8) is also disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.