Hydrogen Peroxide Plasma Sterilizer Concentrator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sterilizing medical instruments with hydrogen peroxide vapor are inadequate for articles with diffusion-restricted areas, such as long narrow lumens, due to the faster diffusion of water vapor compared to hydrogen peroxide, leading to incomplete sterilization and safety concerns with highly concentrated solutions.
Innovation Solution
A novel injector-concentrator arrangement that accurately controls the concentration of hydrogen peroxide prior to vaporization, allowing for efficient and safe sterilization by preferentially vaporizing water from a dilute solution, increasing the hydrogen peroxide concentration to above 80% weight, and maintaining it in a vapor phase to penetrate deep into lumens without interrupting the sterilization cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization is used on articles with diffusion-restricted areas, then sterilization can be achieved, but water vapor condenses on the material surface before sufficient hydrogen peroxide reaches inner locations, creating a barrier to penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the chamber and articles to elevated temperatures (e.g., 50-70°C) before introducing hydrogen peroxide vapor. This pre-heating prevents water vapor condensation by ensuring the material surface temperature remains above the dew point, allowing hydrogen peroxide vapor to penetrate diffusion-restricted areas effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter during the sterilization cycle, maintaining elevated temperatures throughout the chamber to control the phase state of moisture and prevent condensation. This parameter change ensures hydrogen peroxide vapor maintains its effectiveness by avoiding liquid water barrier formation
2Reliability
If highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide solutions are used to sterilize diffusion-restricted areas, then sterilization efficacy improves, but safety hazards increase due to the oxidizing nature and instability of concentrated solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions hydrogen peroxide from liquid phase to vapor phase through controlled heating and vacuum processes. By using hydrogen peroxide vapor instead of liquid, the system achieves high sterilization efficacy in diffusion-restricted areas while avoiding the safety hazards associated with handling and storing highly concentrated liquid solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical handling of concentrated liquid hydrogen peroxide with a vaporization and vacuum distribution system. This substitution eliminates the need for direct contact with hazardous concentrated solutions while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through controlled vapor delivery
3Productivity
If aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is vaporized for sterilization, then sterilization can be performed, but water vaporizes faster than hydrogen peroxide due to higher vapor pressure and lower molecular weight, leading to enhanced H2O:H2O2 ratio and condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor by removing water vapor through vacuum pumping before the main sterilization phase. This preliminary action ensures high hydrogen peroxide concentration is achieved in the chamber without water vapor condensation issues during subsequent sterilization
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and removes water vapor from the chamber through vacuum pumping during the concentration phase. This extraction separates water from hydrogen peroxide vapor, allowing the hydrogen peroxide to be delivered at high concentration without the condensation problems that would occur with aqueous solutions
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 ensures effective sterilization of a wide range of medical instruments, including those with long thin lumens, by maintaining high hydrogen peroxide concentration within the sterilization chamber, reducing cycle time, and enhancing safety by avoiding the handling of highly concentrated solutions.
Implementation Method 1
heating to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid sterilant
Implementation Method 2
wherein the concentrator concentrates the liquid sterilant by removing water therefrom
Implementation Method 3
The combination of hydrogen peroxide vapor diffusing into close proximity with the article to be sterilized and plasma acts to sterilize the articles
Implementation Method 4
The combination of hydrogen peroxide vapor diffusing into close proximity with the article to be sterilized and plasma acts to sterilize the articles
Implementation Method 5
Multi mode low temperature plasma sterilizer
Data Source
AI summary
In a low temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilizer, the accurate control of concentration of the hydrogen peroxide sterilant is an important factor in determining reliability and sterilization efficacy of the sterilization process. The present application describes sterilizers, and sterilization methods, which use a novel injector-concentrator arrangement which allows accurate concentration of the sterilant performed concurrently with the sterilization process. This process enables the device to sterilize wide range of sensitive equipment within a shorter sterilization cycle.