Atomic Nitrogen Plasma Sterilization for Polymer Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization methods using atomic nitrogen from nitrogen plasma face challenges such as damage to polymer objects due to high temperatures and residual microorganisms despite prolonged treatment, necessitating improved effectiveness and reduced treatment time.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple stages of injecting atomic and molecular nitrogen, with varying concentrations and pressures, followed by a sterilization step with increased atomic nitrogen concentration, to enhance sterilization effectiveness while maintaining low temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high temperature sterilization is used, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but objects made of polymer material are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the sterilization parameter from thermal energy to atomic nitrogen concentration. Instead of increasing temperature to improve sterilization, the method uses plasma-generated atomic nitrogen at controlled concentrations to achieve sterilization at low temperatures, thus eliminating damage to polymer materials while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the thermal sterilization mechanism with a chemical/plasma-based mechanism. Atomic nitrogen generated through plasma discharge substitutes for high-temperature thermal energy, providing a non-thermal sterilization pathway that preserves sensitive materials.
2Reliability
If prolonged atomic nitrogen treatment is used, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but saturation phenomenon occurs where microorganisms are not completely destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements periodic action through multiple alternating stages: atomic nitrogen injection followed by evacuation, repeated cyclically. This periodic treatment with varying atomic nitrogen concentrations prevents saturation by continuously renewing the sterilization action, achieving complete sterilization in finite time rather than requiring prolonged continuous treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies preliminary action by conducting conditioning stages with lower atomic nitrogen concentrations before the final sterilization step. This preliminary treatment weakens microorganisms in advance, making them more susceptible to complete destruction in the subsequent high-concentration sterilization stage, thereby achieving total sterilization more efficiently.
3Productivity
If atomic nitrogen concentration is increased to improve sterilization, then treatment time is reduced, but object damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the sterilization process into multiple stages with progressively increasing atomic nitrogen concentrations. Instead of applying high concentration from the start, the method divides treatment into conditioning phases (lower concentration) followed by a final sterilization phase (higher concentration), achieving both speed and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses preliminary conditioning stages with moderate atomic nitrogen concentrations to prepare and weaken microorganisms before the high-concentration sterilization step. This preliminary action reduces the required intensity and duration of the final sterilization, preventing object damage while maintaining high productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves improved sterilization effectiveness, reducing microorganism counts by 6-12 logs without damaging sensitive objects, and eliminates the saturation phenomenon seen in prolonged treatments.
Implementation Method 1
sterilizing an object with atomic nitrogen from a nitrogen plasma
Implementation Method 2
The term 'atomic nitrogen' should be understood as nitrogen obtained after dissociating of dinitrogen N2 (i.e. the element N)
Data Source
AI summary
A method of sterilizing an object with atomic nitrogen from a nitrogen plasma comprises the steps of positioning the object in a sterilization chamber, and conditioning the object present in the chamber. The step of conditioning includes a first stage of injecting atomic nitrogen into the chamber, during which a first concentration of atomic nitrogen in the chamber is imposed, a suction stage performed after the first injection stage, during which the chamber is evacuated, and a second stage of injecting atomic nitrogen into the chamber that is performed after the suction stage, during which a second concentration of atomic nitrogen is imposed in the chamber. The method further comprises a sterilization step of sterilizing the object, performed after the conditioning, and includes injecting atomic nitrogen into the chamber, during which step a concentration of atomic nitrogen in the chamber is imposed that is greater than the first and second concentrations.