US5393490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for dry sterilization of medical devices and materials
Assignee: MDT Corp
•
Filing: 1994-01-18
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Granted: 1995-02-28
•
Expires: 2014-01-18
Abstract
Abstract Articles which it is intended to sterilize are placed into a confined volume and are subjected to neutral species of an electrical discharge while maintaining the volume glowless and substantially field free by interposing a barrier between the articles and the discharge, the barrier being transparent to neutral species and opaque to charged species emanating from the discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 Adir Jacob
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/08; A61L2/12; A61L2/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for sterilizing a surface of an object, comprising: locating said object within a confined space and providing a plasma within a portion of said confined space, said plasma including both charged and electrically neutral active species; maintaining a barrier between said object and said plasma within said confined space, said barrier constituting means for substantially isolating said object from said charged species while permitting contact of said surface by a portion of said neutral species; and maintaining said plasma within said portion of said confined space for a sufficient duration to effect sterilization of said surface at a temperature below that which would be detrimental to said surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for sterilizing a surface of an object, comprising: locating said object within a confined space and providing a plasma within a portion of said confined space, said plasma including both charged and electrically neutral active species; maintaining a barrier between said object and said plasma within said confined space, said barrier constituting means for substantially isolating said object from said charged species while permitting contact of said surface by a portion of said neutral species; and maintaining said plasma within said portion of said confined space for a sufficient duration to effect sterilization of said surface at a temperature below that which would be detrimental to said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said plasma is created in the presence of water vapor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said object is further confined within a container constructed of material which permits contact through said material of said surface by electrically neutral active species from said portion of said neutral species.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said container comprises a sterilization pouch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said barrier is constructed of electrically conductive material configured to be substantially opaque to charged species and transparent to electrically neutral species.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said barrier is structured as a hollow tube, said object is placed within the interior of said hollow tube, and said plasma is provided within that portion of said confined space external to said hollow tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said plasma is created by exciting gas between first and second electrodes, the first said electrode comprising structure which defines said confined space and the second said electrode comprising said barrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said barrier is structured as a hollow tube, said object is placed within the interior of said hollow tube, and said plasma is provided within that portion of said confined space external to said hollow tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said confined space and said barrier are each similar in cross sectional configuration thereby to define an approximately annular reaction zone within which said plasma is provided.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for sterilizing a surface of an object, comprising: locating an object within a confined space and providing an electrical discharge within a portion of said confined space, said electrical discharge including both charged and electrically neutral active species; maintaining a barrier between said object and said electrical discharge within said confined space, said barrier constituting means for substantially isolating said object from said charged species while permitting contact of said surface by a portion of said neutral species; and maintaining said electrical discharge within said portion of said confined space for a sufficient duration to effect sterilization of said surface at a temperature below that which would be detrimental to said surface.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for sterilizing a surface of an object, comprising: locating an object within a confined space and providing an electrical discharge within a portion of said confined space, said electrical discharge including both charged and electrically neutral active species; maintaining a barrier between said object and said electrical discharge within said confined space, said barrier constituting means for substantially isolating said object from said charged species while permitting contact of said surface by a portion of said neutral species; and maintaining said electrical discharge within said portion of said confined space for a sufficient duration to effect sterilization of said surface at a temperature below that which would be detrimental to said surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said barrier is constructed of electrically conductive material configured to be opaque to charged species and substantially transparent to electrically neutral species.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said barrier is structured as a hollow tube, said object is placed within the interior of said hollow tube, and said plasma is provided within that portion of said confined space external to said hollow tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said electrical discharge is created by exciting gas between first and second electrodes, the first said electrode comprising structure which defines said confined space and the second said electrode comprising said barrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said barrier is structured as a hollow tube, said object is placed within the interior of said hollow tube, and said plasma is provided within that portion of said confined space external to said hollow tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said confined space and said barrier are each similar in cross sectional configuration, thereby to define an approximately annular reaction zone within which said electrical discharge is provided.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for sterilizing a surface of an object, comprising: locating said object within a confined space and providing a plasma within a portion of said confined space, said plasma including both charged and electrically neutral active species; maintaining a barrier between said object and said plasma within said confined space, said barrier constituting means for substantially isolating said object from said charged species while permitting contact of said surface by a portion of said neutral species; and maintaining said plasma within said portion of said confined space for a sufficient duration to effect sterilization of said surface at a low sterilization temperature.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for sterilizing a surface of an object, comprising: locating said object within a confined space and providing a plasma within a portion of said confined space, said plasma including both charged and electrically neutral active species; maintaining a barrier between said object and said plasma within said confined space, said barrier constituting means for substantially isolating said object from said charged species while permitting contact of said surface by a portion of said neutral species; and maintaining said plasma within said portion of said confined space for a sufficient duration to effect sterilization of said surface at a low sterilization temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said barrier is constructed of electrically conductive material configured to be substantially opaque to charged species and substantially transparent to electrically neutral species.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said object is further confined within a container constructed of material which permits contact through said material of said surface by electrically neutral active species from said portion of said neutral species.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein said container comprises a sterilization pouch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said sterilization temperature is held below about 90° C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein said sterilization temperature is held below about 70° C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said plasma is created in the presence of water vapor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said barrier is structured as a hollow tube, said object is placed within the interior of said hollow tube, and said plasma is provided within that portion of said continued space external to said hollow tube.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said plasma is created by exciting gas between first and second electrodes, the first said electrode comprising structure which defines said confined space and the second said electrode comprising said barrier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein said barrier is structured as a hollow tube, said object is placed within the interior of said hollow tube, and said plasma is provided within that portion of said confined space external to said hollow tube.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 25 wherein said confined space and said barrier are each similar in cross sectional configuration thereby to define an approximately annular reaction zone within which said plasma is provided.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for sterilizing a surface of an object, comprising: locating said object within a confined space and providing an electrical discharge within a portion of said confined space, said electrical discharge including both charged and electrically neutral active species; maintaining a barrier between said object and said electrical discharge within said confined space, said barrier constituting means for substantially isolating said object from said charged species while permitting contact of said surface by a portion of said neutral species; and maintaining said electrical discharge within said portion of said confined space for a sufficient duration to effect sterilization of said surface at a low sterilization temperature.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for sterilizing a surface of an object, comprising: locating said object within a confined space and providing an electrical discharge within a portion of said confined space, said electrical discharge including both charged and electrically neutral active species; maintaining a barrier between said object and said electrical discharge within said confined space, said barrier constituting means for substantially isolating said object from said charged species while permitting contact of said surface by a portion of said neutral species; and maintaining said electrical discharge within said portion of said confined space for a sufficient duration to effect sterilization of said surface at a low sterilization temperature.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said sterilization temperature is held below about 90° C.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 28, wherein said sterilization temperature is held below about 70° C.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said object is further confined within a container constructed of material which permits contact through said material of said surface by electrically neutral active species from said portion of said neutral species.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 30, wherein said barrier is structured as a hollow tube, said object is placed within the interior of said hollow tube, and said electrical discharge is provided within that portion of said confined space external to said hollow tube.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 30, wherein said electrical discharge is created by exciting gas between first and second electrodes, the first said electrode comprising structure which defines said confined space and the second said electrode comprising said barrier.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 32, wherein said barrier is structured as a hollow tube, said object is placed within the interior of said hollow tube, and said electrical discharge is provided within said confined space external to said hollow tube.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 33, wherein said confined space and said barrier are each similar in cross sectional configuration, thereby to define an approximately annular reaction zone within which said electrical discharge is provided.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4898715A
Cited
US4976920A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-27 | 1998-08-29 | 1999-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-27 | 2002-08-29 | 2003-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-27 | 2006-08-29 | 2007-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |