Sterilizer with vacuum-assisted air removal
US7641852B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 5, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/9029
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sterilizer for medical instruments is compact and designed to be placed on a table top. The sterilizer provides includes a cavity for receiving a cassette holding the instruments to be sterilized. A stream circuit provides steam to the cassette for sterilization, and the time required for sterilization is reduced by withdrawing air from the cassette by application of a vacuum. The cavity is evacuated at the same time as the cassette to prevent application of high stresses to the cassette during the vacuum-assisted withdrawal of air. The time for sterilization is further reduced by use of dual heat exchangers to reduce the volume removed from the cassette.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.