Sterilization apparatus and sterilization method

Abstract

To improve a sterilization performance of a sterilizer.SOLUTION: A sterilizer includes a sterilization container, a sterilization operation part, a sterilization container heating part, a heating part 43 for an object to be sterilized, and a control unit. The control unit controls an outer heater to heat the sterilization container regardless of a presence / absence of a start operation to an operation part. The control unit controls the sterilization operation part to conduct a supply operation after a pressure inside the sterilization chamber is reduced to a target pressure when the operation part has received the start operation. Further, the control unit controls the heating part 43 for an object to be sterilized, to heat an object to be sterilized housed in the sterilization chamber before a pressure inside the sterilization chamber reaches a target pressure, when the operation part has received the start operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in this specification and the like relate to a sterilization apparatus and a sterilization method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a sterilization apparatus that reduces the pressure in a sterilization chamber within a sterilization cabinet, sucks a sterilizing agent such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution into the sterilization chamber while vaporizing it, and sterilizes an object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization chamber with the vaporized sterilizing agent.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this type of sterilization apparatus, it would be beneficial if the sterilization performance could be further improved. One of the problems to be solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the like is to improve the sterilization performance of the sterilization apparatus. However, the problems solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the like are not limited to the above problems. The problems corresponding to the respective effects of each configuration shown in the embodiments described later can also be regarded as other problems solved by the embodiments disclosed in this specification and the like.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The sterilization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sterilization cabinet having a sterilization chamber provided therein for accommodating an object to be sterilized, Before the inside of the sterilization chamber By reducing the pressure, the liquid a sterilization operation unit that performs a supply operation of vaporizing a sterilizing agent and The vaporized bactericide is supplying it to the sterilization chamber, a heating unit for the sterilization cabinet that heats the sterilization cabinet, and the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization chamber It is arranged below the shelf on which is placed a liquid heating the sterilizing agent Including a heating / vaporizing unit that promotes vaporization of the bactericide byA heating unit for the object to be sterilized, an operation unit that receives an operation for starting sterilization of the object to be sterilized, and a control device that controls the sterilization operation unit, the heating unit for the sterilization chamber, and the heating unit for the object to be sterilized. The control device controls the heating unit for the sterilization chamber to heat the sterilization chamber regardless of whether the start operation is received by the operation unit. When the operation unit receives the start operation, the control device controls the sterilization operation unit to perform the supply operation after reducing the pressure in the sterilization chamber to a target pressure, and controls the heating unit for the object to be sterilized to heat the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization chamber before the pressure in the sterilization chamber reaches the target pressure. Do , After the heating unit for the object to be sterilized has performed heating for a certain period of time in a state where the sterilization operation unit has reduced the pressure in the sterilization chamber to a target pressure lower than the first pressure, a preliminary operation in which the sterilization operation unit returns the pressure in the sterilization chamber to the first pressure, and after the preliminary operation, the sterilization operation unit sets the pressure in the sterilization chamber to the target pressure and then supplies the bactericide to the sterilization chamber, and a sterilization operation in which the heating unit for the object to be sterilized performs heating, a first sterilization mode, and a second sterilization mode in which the sterilization operation is performed without performing the preliminary operation can be selectively executed .

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

[0008] Also, the drawings are schematic, and the dimensional relationships between elements, the ratios of the elements, etc. may be different from reality. Also, there may be parts where the dimensional relationships and ratios between the drawings are different from each other. Also, in this specification, ordinal numbers are used only for distinguishing parts, members, parts, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram exemplarily showing the configuration of the sterilization device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the sterilization device 1 includes a sterilization processing unit 2 and a control device 3. The sterilization processing unit 2 vaporizes a liquid sterilizing agent and sterilizes the object to be sterilized 100 with the vaporized sterilizing agent. That is, the sterilization processing unit 2 can kill bacteria. In other words, the sterilization processing unit 2 sterilizes. That is, the sterilization processing unit 2 can reduce the number of bacteria. The liquid sterilizing agent is, for example, an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. Further, the object to be sterilized 100 is, for example, a medical device. The medical device may be, for example, one provided with a lumen such as an endoscope, or one not provided with a lumen. Note that the object to be sterilized 100 may be other than a medical device. The control device 3 controls the sterilization processing unit 2. The sterilization device 1 is also referred to as a sterilizer.

[0010] The sterilization processing unit (sterilization processing unit) 2 includes a sterilization chamber (sterilization chamber) 11, a sterilizing agent supply unit (sterilizing agent supply unit) 12, and an operation unit 13. Inside the sterilization chamber 11, a sterilization chamber (sterilization chamber) 11a for accommodating the object to be sterilized (object to be sterilized) 100 is provided, and the sterilizing agent supply unit 12 supplies a sterilizing agent (sterilizing agent) to the sterilization chamber 11a. The sterilization chamber 11a is also referred to as a chamber. The sterilizing agent supply unit 12 is an example of a sterilization operation unit (sterilization operation unit).

[0011] Also, in the present embodiment, for convenience, three directions orthogonal to each other are defined. The X direction coincides with the rear in the front-rear direction (depth direction) of the sterilization chamber 11, the Y direction is along the width direction of the sterilization chamber 11, and the Z direction coincides with the upper side in the vertical direction (height direction) of the sterilization chamber 11. Hereinafter, the width direction of the sterilization chamber 11 will also be referred to as the left-right direction.

[0012] The disinfectant supply unit 12 performs the adjustment of the pressure in the disinfection chamber 11a and the supply operation of vaporizing the disinfectant by the pressure in the disinfection chamber 11a and supplying it to the disinfection chamber 11a. The disinfectant supply unit 12 includes a cartridge 31, a liquid-phase pump 32, a concentrator 33, a solenoid valve 34, a distributor 35, a heating / vaporizing unit 36, a vacuum pump 37, a solenoid valve 38, and a vacuum gauge 39. The cartridge 31, the liquid-phase pump 32, the concentrator 33, the solenoid valve 34, the distributor 35, and the heating / vaporizing unit 36 constitute a fluid circuit. The heating / vaporizing unit 36 is an example of a unit.

[0013] The vacuum pump 37 sucks the gas in the sterilization cabinet 11, that is, in the disinfection chamber 11a, in the heating / vaporizing unit 36, and in the distributor 35, and decompresses the space in each to make it a vacuum state (a state in a space filled with negative-pressure gas, which is a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure). The vacuum state is also referred to as a negative-pressure state.

[0014] The cartridge 31 stores a liquid disinfectant (stock solution). The liquid-phase pump 32 sucks the liquid disinfectant from the cartridge 31 and discharges, that is, supplies, the sucked liquid disinfectant to the concentrator 33. The liquid-phase pump 32 is a tube pump capable of measuring the suction amount and discharge amount of the disinfectant.

[0015] The concentrator 33 heats the liquid disinfectant to concentrate the liquid disinfectant. Specifically, the concentrator 33 vaporizes the water in the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution by heat to increase the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution.

[0016] The solenoid valve 34 is provided between the concentrator 33 and the disinfection chamber 11a. When the solenoid valve 34 opens, when the disinfection chamber 11a is in a negative pressure state, the disinfectant from the concentrator 33 is supplied to the disinfection chamber 11a.

[0017] The distributor 35 is provided between the concentrator 33 and the disinfection chamber 11a. The distributor 35 divides the liquid disinfectant flowing in from the solenoid valve 34 by the Pascal's law into four equal parts and distributes them equally to the following four vaporizers 42.

[0018] The four vaporizers 42 vaporize the liquid disinfectant and supply the gaseous disinfectant into the sterilization chamber 11a.

[0019] The electromagnetic valve 38 can be changed between an open valve state in which the inside and outside of the sterilization chamber 11a communicate with each other and a closed valve state in which the inside and outside of the sterilization chamber 11a are blocked. When the electromagnetic valve 38 is in the open valve state, the sterilization chamber 11a returns from the reduced pressure state to the atmospheric pressure state. The vacuum gauge 39 measures the degree of vacuum in the sterilization chamber 11a.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a front view exemplarily showing a part of the sterilization cabinet 11 in the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, and shows a part other than the door 22 of the sterilization cabinet 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sterilization chamber 11a is provided inside the sterilization cabinet 11. The object to be sterilized 100 (FIG. 1) is accommodated in the sterilization chamber 11a.

[0021] The sterilization cabinet 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape with the longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction and the short side direction in the width direction. The sterilization cabinet 11 has a main body 21 and a door 22. Note that the sterilization cabinet 11 is also referred to as a housing.

[0022] The main body 21 has an upper wall 21a, a lower wall 21b, a right wall 21c, a left wall 21d, and a rear wall 21e. Both the upper wall 21a and the lower wall 21b extend in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and are provided parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the vertical direction. Both the right wall 21c and the left wall 21d extend in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, and are provided parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the width direction. The rear wall 21e extends in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and connects the respective rear end portions of the upper wall 21a, the lower wall 21b, the right wall 21c, and the left wall 21d.

[0023] The sterilization chamber 11a is provided inside the main body 21. The sterilization chamber 11a is surrounded by the upper wall 21a, the lower wall 21b, the right wall 21c, the left wall 21d, and the rear wall 21e.

[0024] The door 22 is rotatably supported at the front end of the upper wall 21a, the lower wall 21b, the right wall 21c, or the left wall 21d, and is openable and closable with respect to the main body 21. The door 22 is the front wall of the sterilization chamber 11. When the door 22 is in the closed state, it extends in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, overlaps with the front end portions of the upper wall 21a, the lower wall 21b, the right wall 21c, and the left wall 21d, and closes the sterilization chamber 11a. When the door 22 is opened, the sterilization chamber 11a is opened forward. Note that the rear wall 21e may be configured as a door that is openable and closable in the same manner as the door 22. That is, both the door 22 and the rear wall 21e may be openable and closable. The door 22 is an example of a wall.

[0025] The upper wall 21a, the lower wall 21b, the right wall 21c, the left wall 21d, the rear wall 21e, and the door 22 surround the sterilization chamber 11a. In other words, the upper wall 21a, the lower wall 21b, the right wall 21c, the left wall 21d, the rear wall 21e, and the door 22 form the sterilization chamber 11a. The upper wall 21a, the lower wall 21b, the right wall 21c, the left wall 21d, the rear wall 21e, and the door 22 are constituted by, for example, stainless steel plates having a thickness of several millimeters. The sterilization cabinet 11 is a rigid body and has a relatively high specific heat.

[0026] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, an outer heater 25 is overlaid on the outer surfaces of the door 22, the upper wall 21a, the lower wall 21b, the right wall 21c, the left wall 21d, and the rear wall 21e. The outer heater 25 heats the inside of the sterilization cabinet 11, that is, the sterilization chamber 11a, from the outside of the sterilization cabinet 11. Note that in FIG. 1, only a part of the above-described outer heater 25 is shown. The outer heater 25 has a heat source such as a sheet heater. Hereinafter, the temperature of the sterilization chamber 11a during sterilization (sterilization) may be referred to as the sterilization temperature (sterilization temperature). The outer heater 25 is an example of a heating unit for the sterilization cabinet (heating unit for the sterilization cabinet).

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, two main shelves 23, two sub-shelves 24, and two heating / vaporizing units 36 are accommodated in the sterilization chamber 11a. The main shelf 23 is also referred to as the first shelf, and the sub-shelf 24 is also referred to as the second shelf. The main shelf 23 is an example of a shelf.

[0028] The two main shelves 23 and the two auxiliary shelves 24 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The lower main shelf 23 of the two main shelves 23 is arranged above the lower wall 21b, the lower auxiliary shelf 24 of the two auxiliary shelves 24 is arranged above the lower main shelf 23, the upper main shelf 23 of the two main shelves 23 is arranged above the lower auxiliary shelf 24, and the upper auxiliary shelf 24 of the two auxiliary shelves 24 is arranged above the upper main shelf 23. Each of the main shelves 23 and the auxiliary shelves 24 is detachably supported by support portions 21f and 21g provided on the right wall 21c and the left wall 21d. The two main shelves 23 and the two auxiliary shelves 24 are slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to the sterilization chamber 11. The two main shelves 23 and the two auxiliary shelves 24 can each support the object to be sterilized 100.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a plan view exemplarily showing the main shelf 23 of the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the main shelf 23 is net-shaped with a plurality of openings 23c provided therein. Specifically, the main shelf 23 has a plurality of rod-shaped first members 23a and a plurality of rod-shaped second members 23b. The plurality of first members 23a extend in the front-rear direction and are arranged at intervals from each other in the width direction. The plurality of second members 23b extend in the width direction and are arranged at intervals from each other in the front-rear direction. The plurality of first members 23a and the plurality of second members 23b are connected to each other. A net 26 is laid on the lower side of the main shelf 23. For example, the net 26 is welded to the main shelf 23 and integrated with the main shelf 23. The specific heat of the net 26 is lower than the specific heat of the main shelf 23. The net 26 is provided with a plurality of openings. Note that the net 26 may not be provided.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 2, the two heating and vaporizing units 36 are respectively arranged below the two main shelves 23. Specifically, the two heating and vaporizing units 36 are respectively arranged directly below the two main shelves 23. "Directly below" means that the vertical distance between the upper end of the shelf heater 43 included in the heating and vaporizing unit 36 and the upper end of the main shelf 23 is less than or equal to half of the vertical height of the space (hereinafter also referred to as the upper-shelf accommodation space) capable of accommodating the object to be sterilized 100 on the main shelf 23. In the present embodiment, the lower end of the upper-shelf accommodation space on the main shelf 23 coincides with the upper end of the main shelf 23, and the upper end of the upper-shelf accommodation space coincides with the lower end of the upper-side auxiliary shelf 24 adjacent to the main shelf 23 in the vertical direction. Note that the vertical distance between the upper end of the shelf heater 43 and the upper end of the main shelf 23 may also be less than or equal to 1 / 4 or 1 / 10 of the vertical height of the upper-shelf accommodation space on the main shelf 23.

[0031] Among the two heating and vaporizing units 36, the upper heating and vaporizing unit 36 is detachably supported by a support portion 21h provided on the right wall 21c and the left wall 21d. Also, among the two heating and vaporizing units 36, the lower heating and vaporizing unit 36 is detachably supported by the lower wall 21bc.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a plan view exemplarily showing a part of the heating and vaporizing unit 36 of the sterilizing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, showing a part other than the upper wall 41a. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view exemplarily showing a part of the cross-section along the V-V line in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view exemplarily showing a part of the cross-section along the VI-VI line in Fig. 4.

[0033] As shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, the heating and vaporizing unit 36 includes a case 41, two vaporizers 42, a shelf heater 43, and a temperature sensor 44. The shelf heater 43 is an example of a heating portion for the object to be sterilized.

[0034] The case 41 has an upper wall 41a (Figs. 4, 5), a lower wall 41b, a right wall 41c (Fig. 4), a left wall 41d (Fig. 4), a rear wall 41e (Fig. 4), and a front wall 41f (Fig. 4). The case 41 is made of, for example, aluminum. The case 41 is thinner than the sterilization chamber 11.

[0035] Both the upper wall 41a and the lower wall 41b extend in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and are provided parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the vertical direction. An opening 41aa (Figs. 5, 6) is provided in the upper wall 41a. The opening 41aa is a through-hole that penetrates the upper wall 41a in the vertical direction. Both the right wall 41c and the left wall 41d extend in a direction orthogonal to the width direction and are provided parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the width direction. Both the rear wall 41e and the front wall 41f extend in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and are provided parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the front-rear direction.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 4, the two vaporizers 42 are arranged in the case 41 with a space therebetween in the front-rear direction, which is a direction intersecting the vertical direction. Each vaporizer 42 has a pair, that is, two plates 45, 46. Accordingly, two sets 47 of the two plates 45, 46 are provided, and these sets 47 are arranged in the case 41 with a space therebetween in the front-rear direction. Note that the number of the sets 47 is not limited to the above. For example, the number of the sets 47 may be one, or may be three or more.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the two plates 45 and 46 are arranged below the main shelf 23 in the sterilization chamber 11a. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the plates 45 and 46 are flat. The two plates 45 and 46 both extend in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and are provided parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the vertical direction. The two plates 45 and 46 are also referred to as parallel plates. The thickness of the two plates 45 and 46 is, for example, about 3 mm, but is not limited thereto. The plate 46 is arranged below the plate 45. The plate 45 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper wall 41a by a coupling tool 51 such as a screw in a state of covering a part of the opening 41aa of the upper wall 41a. That is, the plate 45 is supported by the upper wall 41a. The plate 46 is arranged between the upper wall 41a and the lower wall 41b and is fixed to the inner surfaces of the upper wall 41a and the lower wall 41b by the coupling tool 51. That is, the plate 46 is supported by the upper wall 41a and the lower wall 41b. The plate 46 has an opposing portion 46a (FIGS. 5 and 6) and an overhanging portion 46b. The opposing portion 46a faces the plate 45 in the vertical direction. The overhanging portion 46b is connected to the opposing portion 46a and protrudes in the width direction intersecting the vertical direction with respect to the plate 45. A plate 50 is provided between the plate 46 and the lower wall 41b. The plate 50 is made of, for example, aluminum.

[0038] Also, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the vaporizer 42 is provided with a supply port 42b and an outlet 42c (FIG. 6). The supply port 42b is provided at a substantially central portion of the plate 46. That is, the supply port 42b is provided inside the outer edge portion 46c of one of the two plates 45 and 46, i.e., the plate 46. A liquid sterilizing agent is supplied to the supply port 42b from the distributor 35 via the tube 48. The supply port 42b supplies the liquid sterilizing agent to the gap 42a between the two plates 45 and 46. The gap 42a is a passage for the sterilizing agent. The gap 42a is included in the opening 41aa of the upper wall 41a. The tube 48 is made of, for example, stainless steel. Also, the tube 48 has a configuration in which, for example, a stainless steel tube and a heat-resistant silicon tube are connected. The silicon tube is provided at a portion close to the shelf heater 43. The tube 48 is also referred to as a pipe.

[0039] Outlet 42c is spaced apart from supply port 42b in the width direction intersecting the vertical direction. Outlet 42c is constituted by an outer edge portion 42d opened to the outside of the two plates 45, 46 in the gap 42a between the two plates 45, 46. Further, outlet 42c is connected to the overhanging portion 46b. From outlet 42c, the disinfectant between the two plates 45, 46 flows out to the outside of the gap 42a between the two plates 45, 46.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the shelf heater 43 is disposed below the main shelf 23 in the sterilization chamber 11a. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the shelf heater 43 is provided around each of the two plates 45, 46 of the two sets 47. The shelf heater 43 is a single sheathed heater that has been bent. The sheathed heater includes, for example, a stainless steel pipe that constitutes the outer peripheral portion. The outer diameter of the sheathed heater is, for example, 6 mm, and the rated power is about 1500 W, but is not limited thereto. The shelf heater 43 has a relatively low specific heat. The shelf heater 43 has a plurality of first extension portions 43a, a plurality of second extension portions 43b, a plurality of third extension portions 43c, and one fourth extension portion 43d. The plurality of first extension portions 43a all extend in the width direction and are provided parallel to each other at intervals in the front-rear direction. The vaporizer 42 is disposed between the two first extension portions 43a. The plurality of second extension portions 43b all extend in the front-rear direction and are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction. The second extension portion 43b connects the right end portions of two adjacent first extension portions 43a in the front-rear direction. The plurality of third extension portions 43c all extend in the front-rear direction and are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction. The third extension portion 43c connects the left end portions of two adjacent first extension portions 43a in the front-rear direction. Note that the second extension portion 43b and the third extension portion 43c are alternately arranged. The fourth extension portion 43d extends rearward from the left end portion of the first extension portion 43a located at the foremost side among the plurality of first extension portions 43a.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the temperature sensor 44 is provided in the case 41 and is located between the two vaporizers 42. The temperature sensor 44 is, for example, a thermocouple. The temperature sensor 44 is thermally connected to the second extension 43b of the shelf heater 43 via the heat transfer member 52. The temperature sensor 44 measures the temperature of the shelf heater 43. It can also be said that the temperature sensor 44 measures the temperature of the heating and vaporizing unit 36.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view exemplarily showing a part of the cross-section along line VII-VII of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 7, the heat transfer member 52 has contact portions 52a, 52b. The contact portion 52a is a concave surface. The shelf heater 43 is placed in the contact portion 52a, and the contact portion 52a is in contact with the shelf heater 43. The contact portion 52b is a concave surface. The temperature sensor 44 is placed in the contact portion 52b, and the contact portion 52b is in contact with the temperature sensor 44. The heat transfer member 52 is composed of, for example, aluminum.

[0043] Here, the specific heat of each of the shelf heater 43 of the heating and vaporizing unit 36, the two plates 45, 46, and the case 41 is lower than the specific heat of each wall (upper wall 21a, lower wall 21b, right wall 21c, left wall 21d, rear wall 21e, door 22) of the sterilization chamber 11. That is, the heating and vaporizing unit 36 has a lower specific heat as a whole than the sterilization chamber 11.

[0044] The operation unit 13 shown in FIG. 1 has an input function for receiving an operation from the user and a display function for displaying an image. For example, the operation unit 13 is a touch panel display that integrally has the input function and the display function. The operation unit 13 receives, for example, an operation to start sterilization of the object to be sterilized 100. The operation unit 13 displays buttons corresponding to various modes described later. The start operation is, as an example, a touch operation on the above buttons. Note that the operation unit 13 is not limited to a touch panel display.

[0045] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sterilizer 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, an operation unit 13, an outer heater 25, a liquid-phase pump 32, a concentrator 33, a solenoid valve 34, a shelf heater 43, a vacuum pump 37, a solenoid valve 38, a vacuum gauge 39, temperature sensors 44 and 49, etc. are connected to the control device 3. The control device 3 controls the operation unit 13, the concentrator 33, the solenoid valve 34, the shelf heater 43, the vacuum pump 37, and the solenoid valve 38, etc. The control device 3 independently controls each heater (the outer heater 25 and the shelf heater 43). The control device 3 controls the outer heater 25 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 49, for example, and controls the shelf heater 43 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 44.

[0046] The control device 3 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). That is, the control device 3 is a computer. The CPU reads and executes the programs stored in the ROM and the like. The RAM temporarily stores various data used when the CPU executes programs to perform various arithmetic processes.

[0047] The control device 3 controls the outer heater 25 to heat the sterilization chamber 11 regardless of whether there is a start operation on the operation unit 13. Specifically, the control device 3 causes the outer heater 25 to heat while the sterilizer 1 is powered on. The control device 3 controls the outer heater 25 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 49 so that the center inside the sterilization chamber 11, that is, the center of the sterilization chamber 11a, reaches a specified target temperature (hereinafter also referred to as the in-chamber set temperature). The in-chamber set temperature may be, for example, 40°C to 65°C, or 45°C to 60°C, or 65°C or higher, or other values. Note that the location measured by the temperature sensor 49 is a location that is not easily affected by the heat emitted by the shelf heater 43.

[0048] In addition, the control device 3 performs the following sterilization process. When the operation unit 13 receives a start operation, the control device 3 controls the sterilant supply unit 12 to perform a supply operation after reducing the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to the target pressure. Further, when the operation unit 13 receives a start operation, the control device 3 controls the shelf heater 43 to heat the object to be sterilized 100 accommodated in the sterilization chamber 11a before the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a reaches the target pressure.

[0049] More specifically, the sterilization process includes a first sterilization mode and a second sterilization mode. As will be described in detail later, the second sterilization mode includes a standard mode, a soft mode, and a short mode. The control device 3 can selectively execute the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode (standard mode, soft mode, short mode). The control device 3 causes the operation unit 13 to display buttons representing the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode (standard mode, soft mode, short mode), respectively. The control device 3 executes the mode corresponding to the button that has been touched among these buttons. The control device 3 executes the first sterilization mode or the second sterilization mode on the condition that the operation unit 13 has received a start operation.

[0050] The first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode are the same in that they perform a sterilization operation using a sterilant. However, the first sterilization mode performs a preliminary operation of heating the object to be sterilized 100 in a vacuum state before the sterilization operation, while the second sterilization mode does not perform a preliminary operation.

[0051] More specifically, the preliminary operation is an operation in which after the shelf heater 43 performs heating for a certain period of time with the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a being made equal to or lower than a target pressure lower than the first pressure by the sterilant supply unit 12, the sterilant supply unit 12 returns the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to the first pressure. The first pressure is, for example, atmospheric pressure or a pressure near atmospheric pressure. That is, the first pressure may be a pressure within a specified range including atmospheric pressure. The preliminary operation starts the heating by the shelf heater 43 before the sterilant supply unit 12 makes the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a equal to or lower than a target pressure lower than the first pressure.

[0052] The sterilization operation is an operation in which the sterilant supply unit 12 supplies the sterilant to the sterilization chamber 11a after setting the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to the target pressure, and the shelf heater 43 performs heating. In the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode, the sterilization operation is repeated a plurality of times respectively. The first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode differ in the number of times of the sterilization operation. As an example, the number of times of the sterilization operation in the first sterilization mode is less than that in the second sterilization mode. Note that the number of times of the sterilization operation in each of the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode may be the same, or the number of times of the sterilization operation in the second sterilization mode may be more than that in the first sterilization mode.

[0053] Next, specific examples of the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode will be described. Hereinafter, first, the standard mode of the second sterilization mode will be described, and then the soft mode, the short mode, and the first sterilization mode will be described. For the soft mode, the short mode, and the first sterilization mode, the differences from the standard mode will be mainly described.

[0054] FIG. 9 is a partial timing chart of the standard mode which is the second sterilization mode of the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing a part of the standard mode which is the second sterilization mode of the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, and is a timing chart following FIG. 9.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 9, the standard mode includes, as “steps”, “A”, “sterilization (1 / 4 time)”, “sterilization (2 / 4 time)”, “sterilization (3 / 4 time)”, and “sterilization (3 / 4 time)”. “A” is conditioning. “Sterilization (1 / 4 time)”, “sterilization (2 / 4 time)”, “sterilization (3 / 4 time)”, and “sterilization (3 / 4 time)” each correspond to a sterilization operation. That is, in the standard mode, the sterilization operation is performed 4 times.

[0056] In addition, “details” in FIG. 9 represents the details of the operation of the sterilization apparatus 1. “Vacuum reduction” is an operation of reducing the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a. “Supply · diffusion · sterilization” is an operation of supplying a sterilant to the sterilization chamber 11a, diffusing the sterilant in the sterilization chamber 11a, and performing sterilization with the sterilant.

[0057] Also, the "pressure" in FIG. 9 is the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a. P1 is the target pressure in the "sterilization (1 / 4 cycle)", that is, the first sterilization operation. P2 is the target pressure in the "sterilization (2 / 4 cycle)" to "sterilization (4 / 4 cycle)", that is, the second to fourth sterilization operations. P3 is the first pressure.

[0058] Also, the "ON" and "OFF" of the vacuum pump 37 in FIG. 9 represent the operation and stop of the vacuum pump 37, respectively. Also, the "open" and "closed" of the solenoid valves 34, 38 in FIG. 9 indicate the valve opening and closing of the solenoid valves 34, 38, respectively. Also, the "ON" and "OFF" of the shelf heater 43 in FIG. 9 are operating and stopping the shelf heater 43. Note that these notations are the same for FIGS. 10 and later.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 9, when the operation unit 13 receives a start operation in the standard mode, the control device 3 reduces the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a to the target pressure P1 by the vacuum pump 37 with the solenoid valves 34, 38 closed. Along with this, the pressure in the space of the fluid circuit between the sterilization chamber 11a and the solenoid valve 34 is also reduced to the target pressure P1. At this time, before the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a reaches the target pressure P1, the control device 3 causes the liquid phase pump 32 to execute "B". The operation "B" is the supply of the agent to the concentrator 33. Note that before this "B", processes such as backflow check are executed. The backflow check is to check whether the sterilant is flowing back to the cartridge 31. Also, the control device 3 operates the shelf heater 43 at the same time as closing the solenoid valves 34, 38. Thereby, the heating by the shelf heater 43 is started.

[0060] When the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a drops to the target pressure P1, the control device 3 opens the solenoid valve 34 for a specified period of time. As a result, the sterilizing agent that has exited the concentrator 33 advances toward the sterilization chamber 11a and flows into each heating / vaporizing unit 36 by the distributor 35. The sterilizing agent advances between the two plates 45 and 46 from the supply port 42b in each heating / vaporizing unit 36 and is heated by the shelf heater 43 between the two plates 45 and 46. As a result, the sterilizing agent expands thermally while passing between the two plates 45 and 46, is drawn into the vacuum, spreads concentrically, and the contact area with the two plates 45 and 46 instantaneously increases. At this time, the shelf heater 43 promotes the vaporization of the sterilizing agent by heating the sterilizing agent for heating. As a result, the sterilizing agent instantaneously evaporates to the saturated water vapor pressure between the two plates 45 and 46. That is, the sterilizing agent vaporizes between the two plates 45 and 46. Therefore, the time difference between the vaporization of water molecules and the vaporization of hydrogen peroxide molecules in the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution is suppressed. Here, the ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water in the vaporized sterilizing agent (gas) is such that hydrogen peroxide is 60% and water is 40% or a value close thereto.

[0061] The gaseous sterilizing agent flows out from the outlet 42c to the sterilization chamber 11a outside the two plates 45 and 46. The gaseous sterilizing agent that has entered the sterilization chamber 11a flows upward and contacts the object to be sterilized 100 placed on the main shelf 23. As a result, the object to be sterilized 100 is sterilized. In this way, the sterilizing agent vaporizes in the vaporizer 42 directly below the main shelf 23, and the vaporized sterilizing agent reaches the object to be sterilized 100 on the main shelf 23. Therefore, the sterilizing agent vaporized in the vaporizer 42 can reach the object to be sterilized 100 in a relatively short time and short distance. Therefore, the ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water in the gas that has reached the object to be sterilized 100 is likely to be maintained at a value such that hydrogen peroxide is 60% and water is 40% or close thereto.

[0062] At this time, the shelf heater 43 heats (warms) the object to be sterilized 100. That is, the shelf heater 43 heats the object to be sterilized 100 when the sterilizing agent is supplied to the sterilization chamber 11a by the sterilizing agent supply unit 12. Specifically, the shelf heater 43 heats (warms) the object to be sterilized 100 with radiant heat. As described above, each shelf heater 43 is independently controlled by the control device 3 so that the temperature of the shelf heater 43 detected by the temperature sensor 44 is maintained at the heating set temperature. As an example, the shelf heater 43 is controlled so that the temperature of the shelf heater 43 becomes the first temperature during sterilization, and the temperature of the shelf heater 43 becomes the second temperature lower than the first temperature during standby (non-sterilization). The first temperature is, for example, a temperature within a specified range including 80°C, and the second temperature is a temperature within a specified range including 55°C. The temperature during standby is the same as the temperature at a location relatively far from the case 41 inside the sterilization chamber 11a.

[0063] As described above, the reason why the ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water in the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution becomes a value close to 60% hydrogen peroxide and 40% water is as follows. That is, the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is provided as an aqueous solution having a concentration of about 60% (actually 59%). This is composed of 60% hydrogen peroxide molecules and 40% water. Since hydrogen peroxide has a high affinity for water, it exists as an aqueous solution without reacting or bonding.

[0064] When such an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution vaporizes, the proportion of water vaporizing first and hydrogen peroxide vaporizing later is high. This is simply due to the difference in the masses of the molecules (H2O = 18, H2O2 = 34), and this tendency does not change whether it is vacuum evaporation or thermal evaporation. Due to such a tendency, at the initial stage of the vaporization of the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, water vaporizes first and hydrogen peroxide vaporizes later. Therefore, in the case of sterilizing the object to be sterilized 100, the water that vaporizes first tends to reach the object to be sterilized 100 first and form a water film, and hydrogen peroxide tends to reach the object to be sterilized 100 later. In this case, since the hydrogen peroxide that has reached the object to be sterilized 100 is diluted by the water film that has reached the object to be sterilized 100 first, there is a risk that the sterilization effect will not easily increase. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, since the sterilizing agent is instantaneously vaporized between the two plates 45 and 46, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a time difference between the vaporization of water and the vaporization of hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. Therefore, the difference in the arrival time of hydrogen peroxide and water at the object to be sterilized 100 is likely to be small. Thus, the sterilization effect of hydrogen peroxide is likely to increase.

[0065] Next, the vaporization phenomenon of the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution will be described. As the vaporization phenomenon, first, the case will be described where an evaporating dish heated to about 80°C is placed under a vacuum of about 100 Pa, and several milliliters of a 60% hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution is poured onto this evaporating dish. In this case, when the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution is poured onto the evaporating dish, it is considered that the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution evaporates instantaneously. However, in reality, like water droplets dropped on an object such as a frying pan, several milliliters of the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution undergoes a phenomenon where a part splashes and a part dances, gradually separates slightly while continuously reducing its volume, and finally completely evaporates. If this evaporation phenomenon is once stopped during evaporation and the concentration of the remaining hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution is measured, it is measured to be slightly higher than about 60%. Also, a phenomenon is confirmed where the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is higher from the initial stage to the middle stage and from the middle stage to the later stage of the evaporation phenomenon. This means that the heated hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution preferentially evaporates from water molecules over time, and the cause lies in the molecular weight. Since molecules with a smaller molecular weight vibrate more easily and vaporize more easily, it is considered that water molecules vaporize before hydrogen peroxide molecules. Although this tendency of the vaporization order is considered inevitable because it is thought to be caused by the molecular weight, if the vaporization is carried out so that the vaporization phenomenon itself is completed in a very short time, it is considered that the vaporization order can be practically ignored. In the present embodiment, based on the above idea, as described above, two plates 45 and 46 are provided, and it is realized to instantaneously vaporize the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution between these plates 45 and 46.

[0066] Next, after the control device 3 causes the liquid-phase pump 32 to execute the second "B", the solenoid valve 38 is opened for a specified time to return the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to the first pressure P1. Further, after the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a has returned to the first pressure P1 and a specified time has elapsed, the shelf heater 43 is stopped. Thus, the processing from conditioning to sterilization (1 / 4 cycle) is completed.

[0067] Next, the control device 3 executes "Sterilization (2 / 4)" to "Sterilization (4 / 4)". "Sterilization (2 / 4)" to "Sterilization (4 / 4)" are the same as "Sterilization (1 / 4)". However, in "Sterilization (2 / 4)" to "Sterilization (4 / 4)", "B" of the liquid-phase pump 32 is only once after the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a has reached the target pressure P2.

[0068] Next, the control device 3 performs "ALV" shown in FIG. 10. "ALV" is an aeration process. In "ALV", the specified operations "1 / 5" to [5 / 5] are repeated. The specified operations "1 / 5" to [5 / 5] are processes in which the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a is reduced from atmospheric pressure to a specified pressure by the vacuum pump 37 and the electromagnetic valves 34 and 38 and then returned to atmospheric pressure again. Note that the above-specified pressure in the specified operations "1 / 5" to [5 / 5] is the largest in the specified operation "1 / 5". This is because it takes time to minimize the specified pressure from the first specified operation [1 / 5].

[0069] FIG. 11 is a partial timing chart of the soft mode which is the second sterilization mode of the sterilization device 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing a part of the soft mode which is the second sterilization mode of the sterilization device 1 according to the embodiment and is a timing chart following FIG. 11.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 11, in the soft mode, the number of times and the timing of "B" of the liquid phase pump 32 are different from those in the standard mode. In the soft mode, "B" in "Sterilization (1 / 4)" is only once. Also, in the soft mode, the operation "B" in "Sterilization (2 / 4)" to "Sterilization 4 / 4" is only once before the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a reaches the target pressure P2. This is because there is no second time of "B" in "Sterilization (1 / 4)", and it is necessary to store a sufficient amount of the sterilizing agent in the concentrator 33 before the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a reaches the target pressure in "Sterilization (2 / 4)" to "Sterilization 4 / 4". Also, as shown in FIG. 12, "ALV" in the soft mode is the same as "ALV" in the standard mode.

[0071] FIG. 13 is a partial timing chart of the short mode which is the second sterilization mode of the sterilization device 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing a part of the short mode which is the second sterilization mode of the sterilization device 1 according to the embodiment and is a timing chart following FIG. 13.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 13, in the short mode, compared with the standard mode, the time of the first pressure P3 is shorter in each of "Sterilization (1 / 4)" to "Sterilization 4 / 4". Also, the operation "B" of the vacuum pump 37 is the same as in the soft mode. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the number of specified operations "1 / 3" to "[3 / 3]" in "ALV" of the short mode is less than the number of specified operations "1 / 5" to "[5 / 5]" in "ALV" of the standard mode.

[0073] FIG. 15 is a timing chart of a part of the first sterilization mode of the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 16 is a timing chart showing a part of the first sterilization mode of the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, and is a timing chart following FIG. 15.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 15, the first sterilization mode is different from the standard mode as follows. The first sterilization mode includes, as steps, "A", "Sterilization (1 / 2)", and "Sterilization (2 / 2)". That is, the first sterilization mode has fewer "sterilization" times than the standard mode. Also, in the first sterilization mode, the step "A" includes "decompression", "preheating", "C", and "decompression". "C" is an air release.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 15, in the step "A" of the first sterilization mode, the control device 3 causes the sterilization apparatus 1 to reduce the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to the target pressure P1 or less by the vacuum pump 37 with the solenoid valves 34 and 38 closed. Along with this, the pressure in the space in the fluid circuit from the sterilization chamber 11a to the concentrator 33 is also reduced to the target pressure P1 or less. Also, the control device 3 operates the shelf heater 43 at the same time as closing the solenoid valves 34 and 38. Thereby, heating by the shelf heater 43 is started. Then, the control device 3 operates the shelf heater 43 for a certain time while the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a is in a state of being the target pressure P1 or less. Next, when a certain time has elapsed, the control device 3 stops the vacuum pump 37 and opens the solenoid valve 38 for a specified time. Thereby, the sterilization chamber 11a returns to the first pressure P3. After that, the control device 3 operates the vacuum pump 37 to start decompression in the sterilization chamber 11a again. The step "A" of the first sterilization mode corresponds to a preliminary operation.

[0076] Next, the control device 3 performs "Sterilization (1 / 2)" and "Sterilization (2 / 2)". The steps "Sterilization (1 / 2)" and "Sterilization (2 / 2)" in the first sterilization mode are the same as "Sterilization 2 / 4" in the short mode, but the time from closing the solenoid valve 34 to opening the solenoid valve 38 is longer than that of "Sterilization 2 / 4" in the short mode.

[0077] Also, as shown in FIG. 16, the number of times of the specified operation "1 / 1" in "ALV" of the first sterilization mode is less than the number of times of the specified operation "1 / 5" to "[5 / 5]" in "ALV" of the standard mode.

[0078] In addition, the control device 3 can execute processes other than the above. For example, the control device 3 performs error processing. The error processing can be executed, for example, when the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a reaches a specified error pressure, an error occurs in the conveyance of the sterilant, or the sterilization process is canceled by a button.

[0079] As described above, in the present embodiment, the sterilization device 1 includes a sterilization chamber 11, a sterilizing agent supply unit 12 (sterilization operation unit), an outer heater 25 (heating unit for the sterilization chamber), a shelf heater 43 (heating unit for the object to be sterilized), and a control device 3. The sterilization chamber 11 is provided with a sterilization chamber 11a for accommodating the object to be sterilized 100 inside. The sterilizing agent supply unit 12 performs an operation of adjusting the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a and a supply operation of vaporizing the sterilizing agent by the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a and supplying it to the sterilization chamber 11a. The outer heater 25 heats the sterilization chamber 11. The shelf heater 43 heats the object to be sterilized 100 accommodated in the sterilization chamber 11a. The operation unit 13 receives a start operation for sterilizing the object to be sterilized 100. The control device 3 controls the sterilizing agent supply unit 12, the outer heater 25, and the shelf heater 43. The control device 3 controls the outer heater 25 to heat the sterilization chamber 11 regardless of whether there is a start operation on the operation unit 13. When the operation unit 13 receives a start operation, the control device 3 controls the sterilizing agent supply unit 12 to perform a supply operation after reducing the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a to a target pressure. Further, when the operation unit 13 receives a start operation, the control device 3 controls the shelf heater 43 to heat the object to be sterilized 100 accommodated in the sterilization chamber 11a before the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a reaches the target pressure.

[0080] According to such a configuration, for the object to be sterilized 100, the vaporized sterilizing agent acts on the object to be sterilized 100 sufficiently heated by the shelf heater 43. Therefore, compared with a structure that sterilizes the object to be sterilized 100 only with the sterilizing agent vaporized without heating, the sterilization performance of the sterilization device 1 can be improved. Also, since the shelf heater 43 heats the object to be sterilized 100 accommodated in the sterilization chamber 11a before the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a reaches the target pressure, compared with a configuration where the shelf heater 43 does not heat the object to be sterilized 100 before the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 11a reaches the target pressure, the sterilization performance of the sterilization device 1 can be improved.

[0081] The sterilization device 1 further includes a sterilization chamber 11, a disinfectant supply unit 12, a shelf heater 43, and a control device 3. The sterilization chamber 11 is provided therein with a sterilization chamber 11a for accommodating an object to be sterilized 100. The disinfectant supply unit 12 performs adjustment of the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a and a supply operation of vaporizing a disinfectant by the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a and supplying it to the sterilization chamber 11a. The shelf heater 43 heats the object to be sterilized 100 accommodated in the sterilization chamber 11a. The control device 3 controls the disinfectant supply unit 12 and the shelf heater 43. The control device 3 can selectively execute a first sterilization mode and a second sterilization mode. In the first sterilization mode, after the shelf heater 43 performs heating for a certain period of time with the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a being set to a target pressure lower than the first pressure by the disinfectant supply unit 12, the disinfectant supply unit 12 returns the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to the first pressure in a preliminary operation. After the preliminary operation, the disinfectant supply unit 12 sets the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to the target pressure and then supplies the disinfectant to the sterilization chamber 11a, and the shelf heater 43 performs a sterilization operation of heating. The second sterilization mode performs the sterilization operation without performing the preliminary operation.

[0082] According to such a configuration, the object to be sterilized 100 can be efficiently sterilized by the vaporized disinfectant and the heating by the shelf heater 43. Therefore, compared with a configuration in which only the vaporized disinfectant is used to sterilize the object to be sterilized 100, the sterilization performance of the sterilization device 1 can be improved. Further, since the first sterilization mode performs a preliminary operation before the sterilization operation, the heating (warming) of the object to be sterilized 100 by the heating of the shelf heater 43 can be further enhanced. On the other hand, since the second sterilization mode does not perform the preliminary operation, for example, when the total operation time of the first sterilization mode and the total operation time of the second sterilization mode are the same, the sterilization time by the vaporized disinfectant can be made longer than that in the first sterilization mode. Also, when the operation time of the sterilization operation in the first sterilization mode and the operation time of the sterilization operation in the second sterilization mode are the same, the total operation time of the first sterilization mode can be shortened. Therefore, the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode can be selected according to the object to be sterilized 100, or the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode can be selected according to the time taken for sterilization.

[0083] Here, in the first sterilization mode, after the shelf heater 43 has performed heating for a certain period of time with the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a made equal to or lower than a target pressure that is lower than the first pressure by the sterilizing agent supply unit 12, the sterilizing agent supply unit 12 performs a preliminary operation of returning the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to the first pressure. According to such a configuration, when the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a is returned to the first pressure, air undergoes adiabatic compression (molecules collide), and the temperature of the air introduced into the sterilization chamber rises very slightly. Therefore, for example, there is an effect of heating the inner cavity of the object to be sterilized 100. Thus, it is possible to improve the sterilization effect on the object to be sterilized 100.

[0084] Also, the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode differ in the number of sterilization operations.

[0085] According to such a configuration, it is possible to obtain a sterilization effect corresponding to the number of sterilization operations in each of the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode.

[0086] Further, the sterilization device 1 includes an operation unit 13 and an outer heater 25. The operation unit 13 receives a start operation for the sterilization operation. The outer heater 25 heats the sterilization cabinet 11 regardless of whether there is a start operation for the operation unit 13. The control device 3 executes the first sterilization mode or the second sterilization mode on the condition that the operation unit 13 has received a start operation. The preliminary operation starts the heating by the shelf heater 43 before the sterilizing agent supply unit 12 makes the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a equal to or lower than a target pressure that is lower than the first pressure.

[0087] According to such a configuration, in the preliminary operation, the shelf heater 43 starts heating before the sterilizing agent supply unit 12 makes the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a equal to or lower than a target pressure that is lower than the first pressure. Therefore, compared with a configuration in which the shelf heater 43 does not start heating before the sterilization operation unit makes the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a equal to or lower than a target pressure that is lower than the first pressure, it is possible to improve the sterilization performance of the sterilization device 1.

[0088] Also, in the sterilization operation, the shelf heater 43 starts heating before the sterilizing agent supply unit 12 makes the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a equal to or lower than a target pressure that is lower than the first pressure.

[0089] According to such a configuration, since the shelf heater 43 starts heating before the disinfectant supply unit 12 reduces the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to a target pressure lower than the first pressure, compared with a configuration in which the shelf heater 43 does not start heating before the disinfectant supply unit 12 reduces the pressure in the sterilization chamber 11a to a target pressure lower than the first pressure, the sterilization performance of the sterilization apparatus 1 can be improved.

[0090] Also, during the entire period when the disinfectant supply unit 12 supplies the disinfectant into the sterilization chamber 11a, the shelf heater 43 performs heating for the sterilization operation.

[0091] According to such a configuration, since the shelf heater 43 performs heating during the entire period when the disinfectant supply unit 12 supplies the disinfectant into the sterilization chamber 11a, compared with a configuration in which the shelf heater 43 does not perform heating during the entire period when the disinfectant supply unit 12 supplies the disinfectant into the sterilization chamber 11a, the sterilization performance of the sterilization apparatus 1 can be improved.

[0092] Further, the sterilization apparatus 1 includes a plurality of main shelves 23 (shelves) that are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction of the sterilization cabinet 11 disposed in the sterilization chamber 11a and on which the objects to be sterilized 100 are placed. The disinfectant supply unit 12 has a heating / vaporizing unit 36 (unit) disposed below the main shelf 23 in the vertical direction of the main shelf 23. The heating / vaporizing unit 36 includes a shelf heater 43, a pair of plates 45 and 46 that face each other in the vertical direction with a space therebetween, and a case 41 that houses the shelf heater 43 and supports the pair of plates 45 and 46. The shelf heater 43 is provided around the pair of plates 45 and 46. The disinfectant supply unit 12 is provided with a supply port 42b for supplying the liquid disinfectant between the pair of plates 45 and 46, and an outlet 42c that is spaced apart from the supply port 42b in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and through which the disinfectant between the pair of plates 45 and 46 flows out of the space between the pair of plates 45 and 46. The disinfectant is vaporized between the pair of plates 45 and 46.

[0093] According to such a configuration, since the shelf heater 43 is disposed below the main shelf 23, it is easy to dispose the shelf heater 43 close to the main shelf 23. Therefore, it is easy to increase the heating amount of the object to be sterilized 100 by the shelf heater 43.

[0094] Further, the outer heater 25 is disposed outside the sterilization chamber 11.

[0095] According to such a configuration, since the outer heater 25 is disposed outside the sterilization chamber 11, it is not necessary to provide the outer heater 25 with a strength capable of withstanding a vacuum or a pressure change between a vacuum and atmospheric pressure, so that the cost of the outer heater 25 can be reduced.

[0096] Next, a plasma sterilization apparatus as a reference example will be described. The plasma sterilization apparatus is of a type that causes plasma discharge by an electrode which is a punching metal plate in, for example, a 1-inch space and heats by the discharge heat.

[0097] The low-temperature sterilization method using hydrogen peroxide gas started to be manufactured from the United States in the 1990s, and the sale of the apparatus also started in Japan around 1997. This sterilization method was called the plasma sterilization method. This was because the process of creating a vacuum up to around 30 Pa during the sterilization process and generating plasma was included. At that time, the vacuum-vaporized hydrogen peroxide molecules collided with the electrons emitted by the plasma discharge and separated to generate OH radicals, and since this OH radical had a bactericidal effect, it was called a sterilization apparatus using plasma, and the manufacturer also explained and sold it as such. However, the OH radicals generated by the collision of electrons are extremely short-lived and disappear before reaching the object to be sterilized. Also, the plasma discharge mainly occurs in a space that has nothing to do with the antenna and the object to be sterilized on the inner periphery of the sterilization chamber, and only a small number of electrons reach the space where the object to be sterilized is located. Also, as a result of the generation of hydrogen peroxide gas, the pressure inside the sterilization chamber has risen to 1600 Pa, and it is impossible to generate plasma or the like. Also, at around 30 Pa where plasma is generated, there are almost no hydrogen peroxide molecules at a concentration that can bring about a bactericidal effect, and even if sterilization is performed, it is considered to have only a very slight effect.

[0098] Currently, experts believe that the main role of plasma is rather the decomposition treatment of residual hydrogen peroxide after the sterilization process. However, as for whether there is still such a device as this plasma sterilization method on the market, it is because plasma has effects other than the above explanation. That is, the effective factor for the sterilization effect is not the emitted electrons but the discharge heat generated from the antenna by plasma discharge. In order to efficiently perform gas sterilization not only for hydrogen peroxide but also for other gases, it is necessary to heat the object to be sterilized to a relatively low temperature. In the case of plasma sterilization, it is considered that the object to be sterilized is heated by this discharge heat, thereby enhancing the sterilization effect.

[0099] Therefore, the current plasma sterilization device provides a plasma process at the beginning of the sterilization process prior to the hydrogen peroxide release process. For example, at the beginning of the sterilization process, it provides a pressure reduction and a plasma discharge period of about 10 to 15 minutes. As described above, plasma does not occur unless the pressure is reduced to about 30 Pa. During this period, even if hydrogen peroxide is introduced, it will be immediately sucked out by the vacuum pump. When the vacuum pump is stopped, the pressure will rise and the plasma phenomenon will not occur. That is to say, only air plasma is performed in this section. Air plasma appears to have a pink discharge color because nitrogen is emitting color, so air plasma can be said to be nitrogen plasma. Since nitrogen is a very stable molecule, if air plasma does not contribute to sterilization, the only thing that can be considered to contribute to sterilization is heating (warming). If heating is considered to contribute to sterilization, after heating for 10 to 15 minutes, it is considered that this heat contributes to the sterilization effect of the hydrogen peroxide gas introduced later, regardless of the subsequent plasma.

[0100] However, the above plasma device is too expensive and complex to be used as a heating device.

[0101] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the heating / vaporizing unit 36 is disposed below the main shelf 23 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may be stacked on the upper side of the heating / vaporizing unit 36 on the right wall 21c, the left wall 21d, or the upper wall 21a. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the sub-shelf 24 is provided is shown, but the sub-shelf 24 may not be provided. Further, the heating unit for the object to be sterilized may be other than the shelf heater 43.

[0102] Although several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

[0103] According to at least one of the embodiments described above, it is possible to improve the sterilization performance.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0104] 1... sterilization apparatus, 3... control apparatus, 11... sterilization chamber, 11a... sterilization room, 12... sterilizing agent supply unit (sterilization operation unit), 23... main shelf (shelf), 25... outer heater (sterilization chamber heating unit), 36... heating / vaporizing unit (unit), 41... case, 42b... supply port, 42c... outlet, 43... shelf heater (heating unit for the object to be sterilized), 45, 46... plates, 100... object to be sterilized.

Claims

1. A sterilizer having a sterilization chamber for accommodating an object to be sterilized provided therein, a sterilization operation unit that performs a supply operation of vaporizing a liquid sterilizing agent by reducing the pressure inside the sterilization chamber and supplying the vaporized sterilizing agent to the sterilization chamber, a heating unit for the sterilizer that heats the sterilizer, a heating unit for the object to be sterilized including a heating / vaporization unit that is disposed below a shelf on which the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization chamber is placed and promotes vaporization of the liquid sterilizing agent by heating the liquid sterilizing agent, an operation unit that receives a start operation for sterilizing the object to be sterilized, a control device that controls the sterilization operation unit, the heating unit for the sterilizer, and the heating unit for the object to be sterilized, and comprising: The control device: controls the heating unit for the sterilizer to heat the sterilizer regardless of whether or not the start operation is received by the operation unit, when the operation unit receives the start operation, controls the sterilization operation unit to perform the supply operation after reducing the pressure inside the sterilization chamber to a target pressure, and controls the heating unit for the object to be sterilized to heat the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization chamber before the pressure inside the sterilization chamber reaches the target pressure, a first sterilization mode in which, after the heating unit for the object to be sterilized performs heating for a certain period of time in a state where the sterilization operation unit has reduced the pressure inside the sterilization chamber to a target pressure lower than a first pressure, the sterilization operation unit returns the pressure inside the sterilization chamber to the first pressure as a preliminary operation, and after the preliminary operation, the sterilization operation unit supplies the sterilizing agent to the sterilization chamber after setting the pressure inside the sterilization chamber to the target pressure and the heating unit for the object to be sterilized performs heating; and a second sterilization mode in which the sterilization operation is performed without performing the preliminary operation are selectively executable, a sterilization device.

2. The sterilization device according to claim 1, wherein the first sterilization mode and the second sterilization mode differ in the number of times of the sterilization operation.

3. An operation unit that receives a start operation for the sterilization operation, a heating unit for the sterilizer that heats the sterilizer regardless of whether or not the start operation is received by the operation unit, and comprising: The control device executes the first sterilization mode or the second sterilization mode on the condition that the operation unit has received the start operation, and in the preliminary operation, the heating unit for the object to be sterilized starts heating before the sterilization operation unit reduces the pressure inside the sterilization chamber to a target pressure lower than a first pressure. The sterilization device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The sterilization operation is such that the heating unit for the object to be sterilized starts heating before the sterilization operation unit reduces the pressure in the sterilization chamber to a target pressure lower than the first pressure. The sterilization device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The sterilization operation is such that the heating unit for the object to be sterilized performs heating while the sterilization operation unit supplies the sterilizing agent into the sterilization chamber. The sterilization device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A plurality of shelves are provided at intervals in the vertical direction of the sterilization cabinet arranged in the sterilization chamber, and the object to be sterilized is placed on the shelves. The heating / vaporizing unit includes a heating unit for the object to be sterilized, a pair of plates facing each other in the vertical direction with a space therebetween, and a case that houses the heating unit for the object to be sterilized and supports the pair of plates. The heating unit for the object to be sterilized is provided around the pair of plates. The sterilization operation unit is provided with a supply port for supplying the liquid sterilizing agent between the pair of plates, and an outlet that is spaced apart from the supply port in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and through which the sterilizing agent between the pair of plates flows out of the space between the pair of plates. The sterilizing agent is vaporized between the pair of plates. The sterilization device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The heating unit for the sterilization cabinet is arranged outside the sterilization cabinet, and is the sterilization device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A sterilization cabinet provided with a sterilization chamber for accommodating an object to be sterilized inside; A sterilization operation unit that performs a supply operation of vaporizing a liquid sterilizing agent by reducing the pressure in the sterilization chamber and supplying the vaporized sterilizing agent to the sterilization chamber; A heating unit for the sterilization cabinet that heats the sterilization cabinet; A heating / vaporizing unit that is arranged below a shelf on which the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization chamber is placed and that promotes vaporization of the sterilizing agent by heating the liquid sterilizing agent, and includes a heating unit for the object to be sterilized; An operation unit that receives a start operation for sterilization of the object to be sterilized; A control device that controls the sterilization operation unit, the heating unit for the sterilization cabinet, and the heating unit for the object to be sterilized; A sterilization method executed by a sterilization device including the above, The heating unit for the sterilization cabinet heats the sterilization cabinet regardless of whether the start operation is performed on the operation unit. When the operation unit receives the start operation, the sterilization operation unit reduces the pressure in the sterilization chamber to a target pressure and then performs the supply operation, and the heating unit for the object to be sterilized heats the object to be sterilized accommodated in the sterilization chamber before the pressure in the sterilization chamber reaches the target pressure. A first sterilization mode in which, after the heating unit for the object to be sterilized performs heating for a certain period of time in a state where the sterilization operation unit has reduced the pressure in the sterilization chamber to a target pressure lower than the first pressure, the sterilization operation unit returns the pressure in the sterilization chamber to the first pressure as a preliminary operation, and after the preliminary operation, the sterilization operation unit supplies the sterilizing agent to the sterilization chamber after setting the pressure in the sterilization chamber to the target pressure and the heating unit for the object to be sterilized performs heating; and a second sterilization mode in which the sterilization operation is performed without performing the preliminary operation are selectively executed. Sterilization method.

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