Method and apparatus for surface sterilization

Claim 2

The invention of claim 1 wherein the processing time is greater than 2 seconds.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 3 wherein the electromagnetic field is a continuous wave emission.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 3 wherein the electromagnetic field is a pulsed wave emission having a repetition rate of the order of between one per nanosecond and one per minute.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1, including the step of introducing a chemical having bactericidal or sporicidal effects into said sealed container.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 6, including the step of introducing a gas sterilant into said sealed container.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 6, including the step of introducing a sterilant vapor or aerosol into said sealed container.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6, wherein said chemical is a liquid and including the step of utilizing said microwave energy to evaporate said cehmical and thus produce said at least 50% relative humidity inside said sealed container.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6, wherein the chemical sterilant is an organic compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, methylbromide, chloropicrin, epichlorohydrin, ethylene immine, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, glycidaldehyde, and peracetic acid.

Claim 10

Apparatus for surface decontamination of contaminated articles comprising: a microwave oven having top, bottom and opposite side walls defining a processing cavity therein; means connected with said microwave oven for generating a microwave electromagnetic energy field inside said processing cavity; a reusable gas-tight container for said articles and made of a material impermeable to moisture and at least partially transparent to microwave energy, said container having a readily removable top and a bottom and means for sealing said top to said bottom with said articles sealed inside said container, a receptacle for said separate source of moisture located within said container; access means in said microwave oven for introducing into and removing said container from said processing cavity, and means in said container other than said articles for producing at least 50 percent relative humidity inside said container during irradiation of said articles with said microwave energy; said at least 50% relative humidity and said microwave energy decontaminating said articles in a shorter time and at a lower temperature than heretofore obtained and without contaminating said oven walls.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 11, wherein the means for generating microwave energy includes a source of microwave energy, a wave guide connected between said source and said cavity, a means in said cavity in the path of the microwave energy entering said cavity from said wave guide to spread said microwave energy throughout said cavity, said oven walls made of metallic material to reflect microwave energy, and said access means comprising a door in one oven wall constructed to seal the processing cavity and keep radiation through said door to less than one milliwatt per square centimeter at a distance of two inches from said door.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 12, wherein said generating means comprises a source of continuous waves.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 12, wherein said generating means comprises a source of pulse waves.

Claim 14

Apparatus for surface decontamination of instruments or other materials comprising a housing, a cavity within said housing, a container in said cavity for said articles or other materials and made of a material at least partially transparent to microwave energy, means for sealing said container with said articles or other material therein, means connected with said cavity for generating a microwave electromagnetic energy field inside said cavity and said container, means in said container for producing at least 50 percent relative humidity inside said container during irradiation, said container having means associated therewith for selectively establishing communication between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container for introducing a chemical having bactericidal, or sporicidal characteristics into said container, means in said cavity for spreading the microwave energy field in all directions throughout the entire cavity and container, access door means in said housing for introducing and removing said container into and from said cavity, means to automatically expose the contaminated instruments or other materials to microwave energy for a period at least longer than two seconds and means to maintain the level of radiation through said housing to outside thereof during the radiation of said articles and other materials below 1 milliwatt per square centimeter at a distance of 2 inches from said housing.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 15, wherein the chemical sterilant is an organic compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, methylbromide, chloropicrin, epichlorohydrin, ethylene immine, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, glycidaldehyde, and peracetic acid.