KR20090118491A - Sterilization Device and Method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus and a method for sterilizing are provided to improve sterilizing effect by putting ozon and uniformly maintain the ozon concentration and pressure. CONSTITUTION: An apparatus for sterilization comprises: a sterilization chamber(110) which contains material to be treated; a humidifying device(131) which humidifies the sterilization chamber; an ozon generator(141) which supplies ozon to the sterilization chamber; and exhaust device(121) which discharges the air.

Description

Sterilizer and Method {STEAMSTERILIZATION APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREBY}

The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus and method, and more particularly to a sterilization apparatus and method that can improve the sterilization effect by adding ozone in a humidified state of the sterilization chamber.

Various types of disposable medical or reusable medical tools used in medical institutions such as hospitals must be completely sterilized before use. Therefore, various methods for sterilizing such medical tools have been developed. Such sterilization methods include a conventional method using high temperature and high pressure, a method using ethylene oxide gas, a method using hydrogen peroxide plasma, and the like.

The traditional method using high temperature and high pressure has a problem in that the microorganisms present in the sterilized products cannot be completely sterilized, and the method of using ethylene oxide gas uses CFC gas, which is the main cause of global environmental pollution, as a carrier gas. It may be caused, and there is an inconvenience that additionally requires a long aeration time to remove the remaining ethylene oxide after the sterilization treatment.

On the other hand, the method using hydrogen peroxide plasma is a method of generating and sterilizing the plasma while maintaining the inside of the reaction vessel at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, so the structure of the apparatus is complicated, and the size of the apparatus is increased. Since the temperature rises to a high temperature of 50 ℃ or more, there is a problem unsuitable for sterilization of the tool of the plastic material.

Thus, a sterilization apparatus using ozone has been disclosed. 1 and 2, the conventional sterilization apparatus is a sterilization box 10 for receiving the object to be treated, an ozone generating unit 20 for generating ozone and an oxygen supply unit for supplying oxygen to the ozone generating unit ( 30).

In addition, a circulation connection path 40 for connecting the internal space of the sterilization box 10 and the ozone generator 20, a circulation pump 50 for forced circulation of the gas passing through the circulation connection path 40 and the The cooling unit 60 for cooling the gas passing through the circulation connection path 40 is further provided.

In addition, the discharge pipe 70 and the exhaust pump 80 for discharging the gas inside the sterilization box 10 is further provided, and the ozone decomposition means 90 for decomposing the exhausted ozone is provided.

However, the conventional sterilizer is completely dependent on the ozone, there is a problem that can not maintain a constant sterilization effect can not maintain a constant concentration and pressure of the ozone.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention to provide a sterilization apparatus and method that can improve the sterilization effect by adding ozone in a humidified sterilization chamber.

Sterilization apparatus according to the present invention to solve the above technical problem is a sterilization chamber for receiving the object to be treated; Humidification means such as an ultrasonic vibrator for humidifying the sterilization chamber; Ozone generating means for supplying ozone to the sterilization chamber; And exhaust means for exhausting the sterilization chamber.

In addition, the ozone pressure generated by the ozone generating means is further provided with a pressure valve for opening in a set pressure state, the pressure valve is preferably the ozone pressure is opened at 6psi or more.

In addition, it is preferable that an ozone reservoir (Ozone Reserver) for receiving ozone generated by the ozone generating means is further provided, a pressure sensor for detecting the ozone pressure in the ozone reservoir is further provided. The on / off valve turns on / off the ozone supply line according to the measurement result of the pressure sensor. The on-off valve is preferably opened in the ozone pressure range of 1.5 ~ 2kg / ㎠.

In addition, a steam reservoir for accommodating the water vapor supplied from the humidification means may be further provided, and heating means for heating the steam reservoir is further provided.

In addition, the ozone decomposing means for decomposing ozone exhausted from the sterilization chamber is preferably further provided.

In addition, it is preferable that a bypass pipe further connecting the ozone supply line and the exhaust line.

Sterilization method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: 1) receiving and exhausting the object in the sterilization chamber; 2) humidifying by supplying the steam generated by the humidifying means to the sterilization chamber; 3) sterilizing the ozone generated by the ozone generating means into the sterilization chamber; And 4) exhausting the sterilization chamber and decomposing the exhausted ozone.

In addition, in step 2), the ozone generated by the ozone generating means is temporarily accommodated in an ozone reservoir, and then added to the sterilization chamber.

According to the present invention, by adding ozone in a humidified state of the sterilization chamber, there is an effect that can improve the sterilization effect.

In addition, by temporarily receiving the ozone generated by the ozone generating means in the ozone reservoir, it is possible to maintain a constant ozone concentration and pressure by supplying to the sterilization chamber.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration and operation of the embodiment according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, this embodiment 100 includes a sterilization chamber 110, a humidification means 131, an ozone generating means 141, and an exhausting means 121.

The sterilization chamber 110 is a space for receiving a processed object (not shown) such as a medical device. Therefore, a door (not shown) for accommodating the object is provided.

The ozone generating means 141 is a means for generating ozone to be injected into the sterilization chamber 110. The ozone generating means is a known element.

In addition, ozone generated by the ozone generating means 141 is supplied to the sterilization chamber 110 along the ozone supply line (L3), the pressure valve 142 is further provided on the ozone supply line (L3). The pressure valve 142 detects the pressure of ozone generated and supplied by the ozone generating means 141, and opens when the detected value is greater than or equal to the set pressure and supplies ozone, and when closed, shuts off the ozone supply. do. In general, the pressure valve 142 is preferably opened at an ozone pressure of 6 psi or more, but may be changed according to the capacity or process conditions of the sterilization chamber 110 and the ozone generating means 141.

In addition, on the ozone supply line (L3) is further provided with an ozone reservoir (Ozone Reserver) (143) to temporarily receive the ozone supplied through the pressure valve 142 to the sterilization chamber (110). The ozone reservoir (tank) 143 when the ozone generated in the ozone generating means 141 is directly injected into the sterilization chamber 110, the concentration of the ozone is low or nonuniform, to compensate for this problem will be. Therefore, the ozone reservoir 143 is preferably provided with a gauge (not shown) for detecting and displaying the ozone concentration.

In addition, the ozone supply line (L3) is further provided with an on-off valve 145 is opened when the ozone pressure is above a certain pressure in the ozone reservoir 143, and closed below. Therefore, the pressure sensor 144 for detecting the internal pressure of the ozone reservoir 143 is further provided.

In particular, the present embodiment is further provided with a humidification means 131 for humidifying the sterilization chamber 110. By humidifying the sterilization chamber 110 in this way, the sterilization effect by ozone is increased.

The humidifying means 131 is a known means, for example, there is an ultrasonic vibrator method. In addition, the steam generated by the humidifying means 131 is supplied to the sterilization chamber 1100 through the humidifying line (L5), the steam reservoir (tank) 132 may be further provided on the humidifying line (L5). The vibration of the vibrator is to prevent the transfer to the sterilization chamber 110. A heating means (not shown) is further provided to prevent condensation of the water vapor in the steam reservoir 132.

In addition, exhaust lines L1 and L2 and exhaust means 121 for exhausting the sterilization chamber 110 before and after sterilization are provided. Specifically, the sterilization chamber 110 is exhausted through the first exhaust line L1 before supplying the water vapor and the ozone. At this time, the sterilization chamber 110 is preferably exhausted to less than 10 Torr.

In addition, after the sterilization process, the exhaust through the second exhaust line (L2). At this time, since the ozone is contained in the exhaust gas after the sterilization, the ozone decomposition means 122 for decomposing the ozone is further provided on the second exhaust line L2.

In addition, a bypass pipe (L4) for connecting the ozone supply line (L3) and the second exhaust line (L2) is further provided. The ozone generated during the initial operation of the ozone generating means 141 is low in concentration and is not injected into the sterilization chamber 110 but is exhausted through the bypass pipe L4.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment and the sterilization method according to the present invention will be described.

First, the processing object such as a medical device is stored in the sterilization chamber 110.

The sterilization chamber 110 is exhausted to 10 Torr or less by using the exhaust means 121 and the first exhaust line L1.

Next, water vapor is generated using the humidifying means 131, and the generated water vapor is introduced into the sterilization chamber through the water vapor reservoir 132. Of course, the steam reservoir 132 may be excluded.

Next, ozone is generated using the ozone generating means 141, and the generated ozone flows into the ozone reservoir 143 through the pressure valve 142 when the generated ozone is equal to or higher than the set pressure. In addition, when the ozone pressure of the ozone reservoir 143 is more than the set pressure, the on-off valve 145 is opened and injected into the sterilization chamber 110. At this time, as described above, the initially generated ozone is exhausted through the bypass pipe (L4), without being introduced into the sterilization chamber (110).

After sterilizing the object in this state, the exhaust means 121 is operated to exhaust the sterilization chamber 110 through the second exhaust line L2. At this time, ozone decomposition means 122 on the second exhaust line L2 is used to decompose and exhaust ozone from the exhaust gas.

When the exhaust is completed, the sterilization chamber 110 is opened and the sterilized object is taken out.

1 and 2 show a conventional sterilization apparatus.

Figure 3 shows a sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

** Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings **

100: sterilization apparatus 110: sterilization chamber

121: exhaust means 122: ozone decomposition means

131: humidification means 132: steam reservoir

141: ozone generating means 142: pressure valve

143: ozone reservoir 144: pressure sensor

145: on-off valve

Claims (14)

Sterilization chamber for receiving the object; Humidification means for humidifying the sterilization chamber; Ozone generating means for supplying ozone to the sterilization chamber; And Sterilization apparatus comprising a; exhaust means for exhausting the sterilization chamber. The method of claim 1, The humidification means is a sterilization apparatus characterized in that it comprises an ultrasonic vibrator. The method of claim 1, Sterilizing apparatus characterized in that the pressure valve is further provided to open in the pressure state of the ozone pressure generated by the ozone generating means. The method of claim 3, The pressure valve is a sterilization device, characterized in that the ozone pressure is opened at 6psi or more. The method of claim 1, Sterilizing apparatus further comprises an ozone reservoir (Ozone Reserver) for receiving the ozone generated by the ozone generating means. The method of claim 5, Sterilization apparatus, characterized in that the pressure sensor for detecting the ozone pressure in the ozone reservoir is further provided. The method of claim 6, Sterilization apparatus characterized in that the on-off valve for further turning on / off the ozone supply line according to the measurement result of the pressure sensor. The method of claim 7, wherein The on-off valve is a sterilization device characterized in that the ozone pressure is opened in the range of 1.5 ~ 2kg / ㎠. The method of claim 1, Sterilization apparatus, characterized in that further provided with a steam reservoir for receiving the steam supplied from the humidification means. The method of claim 9, Sterilization apparatus characterized in that the heating means for heating the steam reservoir is further provided. The method of claim 1, Sterilization apparatus characterized in that it further comprises ozone decomposition means for decomposing ozone exhausted from the sterilization chamber. The method of claim 1, Sterilization apparatus characterized in that the bypass pipe is further provided for connecting the ozone supply line and the exhaust line. 1) storing and exhausting the object in the sterilization chamber; 2) humidifying by supplying the steam generated by the humidifying means to the sterilization chamber; 3) sterilizing the ozone generated by the ozone generating means into the sterilization chamber; And 4) exhausting the sterilization chamber and decomposing the exhausted ozone; sterilization method comprising a. The method of claim 13, Step 2), Sterilization method characterized in that the ozone generated by the ozone generating means temporarily accommodated in the ozone reservoir, and then put into the sterilization chamber.

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