US4917586A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for dry sterilization of medical devices and materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-22
•
Granted: 1990-04-17
•
Expires: 2008-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A process for dry sterilization of medical devices and materials in which these materials are subjected to an electrical discharge in a gaseous atmosphere to produce an active plasma for surface sterilization of the devices and materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Adir Jacob
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for sterilization of medical devices and materials comprising the steps of: placing said devices and materials within a gas-tight confining chamber, at least a portion of said chamber being formed from non-metallic material, evacuating said chamber to a substantially low pressure and introducing a gas into said chamber, initiating a microwave discharge in said gas to create a gas plasma within said chamber by application of microwave energy to a microwave cavity located at one end of said chamber remote from and not encompassing said devices and materials, thereby creating a substantially field-free zone away from said cavity, said field-free zone containing said devices and materials whereby said devices and materials are contacted by a substantially electrically neutral active species at a temperature below that which would be detrimental to said devices and materials, maintaining said gas plasma for a controlled period of time, maintaining a flow of said gas through said chamber and withdrawing the said devices and materials from said chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for sterilization of medical devices and materials comprising the steps of: placing said devices and materials within a gas-tight confining chamber, at least a portion of said chamber being formed from non-metallic material, evacuating said chamber to a substantially low pressure and introducing a gas into said chamber, initiating a microwave discharge in said gas to create a gas plasma within said chamber by application of microwave energy to a microwave cavity located at one end of said chamber remote from and not encompassing said devices and materials, thereby creating a substantially field-free zone away from said cavity, said field-free zone containing said devices and materials whereby said devices and materials are contacted by a substantially electrically neutral active species at a temperature below that which would be detrimental to said devices and materials, maintaining said gas plasma for a controlled period of time, maintaining a flow of said gas through said chamber and withdrawing the said devices and materials from said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of, argon, helium, an oxidizing gas, a reducing gas and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chamber is generally cylindrical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen; oxygen; nitrogen; hydrogen-oxygen mixtures; hydrogen-oxygen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-inert gas mixtures; nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures; nitrogen-hydrogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-helium mixtures; nitrogen-helium mixtures; hydrogen-helium mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound-nitrogen mixtures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas is oxygen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 where in said chamber there is positioned a perforated metallic shield, said shield being substantially equal to the internal cross section of said chamber and located in close proximity to said microwave energy source, thereby providing a substantially field-free zone immediately beyond it and away from said microwave energy source, said field-free zone containing said devices and materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said chamber is generally cylindrical and said shield is formed of a metal disk of diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said gas atmosphere comprises one or more of the group of gases consisting of: hydrogen; oxygen; nitrogen; hydrogen-oxygen mixtures; hydrogen-oxygen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-inert gas mixtures; nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures; nitrogen-hydrogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-helium mixtures; nitrogen-helium mixtures; hydrogen-helium mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound-nitrogen mixtures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said gas is oxygen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chamber is made of metal except for a generally cylindrical non-metallic portion of said chamber where the microwave energy source is coupled into said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said metal chamber is generally cylindrical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said gas atmosphere comprises one or more of the group of gases consisting of: hydrogen; oxygen; nitrogen; hydrogen-oxygen mixtures; hydrogen-oxygen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-inert gas mixtures; nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures; nitrogen-hydrogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-helium mixtures; nitrogen-helium mixtures; hydrogen-helium mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound-nitrogen mixtures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of, argon, helium, an oxydizing gas or a reducing gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein within said chamber is positioned a metallic shield, said shield being a perforated metal disk of a cross section substantially equal to the internal cross section of said chamber or equal to the diameter of the non-metallic portion of said chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said gas atmosphere comprises one or more of the group of gases consisting of: hydrogen; oxygen; nitrogen; hydrogen-oxygen mixtures; hydrogen-oxygen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-inert gas mixtures; nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures; nitrogen-hydrogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures; oxygen-nitrogen-hydrogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-helium mixtures; nitrogen-helium mixtures; hydrogen-helium mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-organohalogen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-inorganic halogen-nitrogen mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound-inert gas mixtures; oxygen-inorganic oxyhalogenated compound-nitrogen mixtures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said gas is oxygen.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
60 words
A method in accordance with any one of the claims 1, 6, 10, 14, 2, 3, 7, 11, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15 or 16, wherein said medical devices and materials are enclosed within sealed pouches of gas permeable material when said devices and materials are placed within said chamber and remain so until withdrawn from said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US30505A
Cited
US3383163A
Cited
US3876373A
Cited
US3701628A
Cited
US3757733A
Cited
US3851436A
Cited
USRE30505E
Cited
US4026742A
Cited
US3948601A
Cited
US3971684A
Cited
US3923568A
Cited
US3951709A
Cited
US4028155A
Cited
US4362632A
Cited
US3879597A
Cited
US3994793A
Cited
US4341592A
Cited
US4073669A
Cited
US4030967A
Cited
US4207286A
Cited
US4267013A
Cited
US4182646A
Cited
US4208241A
Cited
US4211601A
Cited
US4226665A
Cited
US4256534A
Cited
US4229247A
Cited
US4214946A
Cited
US4298443A
Cited
US4314874A
Cited
US4358686A
Cited
US4341616A
Cited
US4255230A
Cited
US4264409A
Cited
US4321232A
Cited
US4321232B1
Cited
US4314875A
Cited
US4348357A
Cited
US4353777A
Cited
US4505782A
Cited
EP0207417A1
Cited
US4801427A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |