Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Concentration for Medical Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization methods using high-pressure vapor and ethylene oxide gas are inadequate for expensive medical instruments due to thermal damage, while hydrogen peroxide vaporization is limited by water interference, leading to ineffective diffusion and concentration challenges.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization apparatus and method involving a vacuum pump, vaporizer, and collector with controlled valves and temperature management to concentrate hydrogen peroxide solutions from 60 wt% to 95 wt%, ensuring effective vaporization and diffusion by separating water vapor and hydrogen peroxide vapor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a high-pressure vapor sterilization method is used, then sterilization temperature can be raised to 120°C or higher for effective sterilization, but medical instruments and devices are damaged by thermal effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of hydrogen peroxide from liquid to vapor phase, enabling sterilization at lower temperatures (below 120°C) while maintaining effective sterilization capability. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide achieves sterilization through oxidation rather than thermal effects, thus avoiding damage to heat-sensitive medical instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of hydrogen peroxide from liquid to vapor state. By vaporizing hydrogen peroxide, the system achieves a gaseous sterilant that can penetrate medical instruments effectively without requiring high temperatures, thereby resolving the contradiction between sterilization effectiveness and thermal damage prevention.
2Temperature
If hydrogen peroxide solution is vaporized for sterilization, then low-temperature sterilization is achieved, but water evaporates and diffuses faster than hydrogen peroxide, interfering with sufficient diffusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-concentrating the hydrogen peroxide solution before vaporization. The concentration step removes a portion of water in advance, so that when the solution is vaporized, the hydrogen peroxide vapor has higher initial concentration and can overcome the faster diffusion of remaining water vapor, ensuring effective penetration into medical instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of hydrogen peroxide solution from standard levels to highly concentrated (95 wt% or higher). This parameter change ensures that even though water vapor diffuses faster, the overwhelming concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor maintains effective sterilization capability.
3Reliability
If a highly-concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution (60 wt% or higher) is used for vaporization, then sterilization effect is improved, but it becomes difficult to transport, store, and handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sterilization process into distinct stages: concentration stage (where high-concentration hydrogen peroxide is prepared in a controlled environment), vaporization stage (where the concentrated solution is converted to vapor), and sterilization stage (where vapor penetrates instruments). This segmentation allows high-concentration solution to be handled only in the controlled concentration chamber, minimizing operational difficulties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the vaporization process as an intermediary that transforms the difficult-to-handle high-concentration liquid into easily distributed vapor. The concentration step creates the potent sterilant, but the vaporization step mediates the delivery, converting the handling-problematic liquid into a safe and effective gaseous form for sterilization.
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
The method significantly enhances the sterilization effect by achieving high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapor, improving diffusion and reducing water interference, thereby ensuring effective sterilization of medical instruments.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump connected to one side of the sterilization chamber
Implementation Method 2
a vaporizer connected to another side of the sterilization chamber
Implementation Method 3
a collector having one side connected to the vaporizer and the other side connected to the sterilization chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a sterilization apparatus including a sterilization chamber, a vacuum pump connected to one side of the sterilization chamber, a vaporizer connected to another side of the sterilization chamber, and a collector having one side connected to the vaporizer and the other side connected to the sterilization chamber and a sterilization method using the sterilization apparatus. In the sterilization apparatus and the sterilization method, a hydrogen peroxide solution having a concentration of 95 wt % or higher may be obtained through multiple concentration steps and used as a sterilant, thereby considerably improving a sterilization effect.