JPH0451798Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The sterilizer using hydrogen peroxide according to this invention can sterilize medical equipment, dental equipment, research/experimental equipment, etc. before use or is used for sterilization after use.

(Prior art) Articles such as medical equipment are sterilized before or after use to prevent infection due to bacteria that has adhered to them before use, during storage, or due to use. There is a need.

For this reason, articles such as medical equipment and instruments have been conventionally sterilized before or after use using the above-mentioned sterilizer or a gas sterilizer using formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, or the like as a sterilizing gas.

(Problem that the invention aims to solve) However, in the case of sterilization using a steam sterilizer,
Since the objects to be sterilized are exposed to high temperatures (approximately 120 to 130°C), objects with poor heat resistance cannot be sterilized.

In addition, in the case of a gas sterilizer, if the item to be sterilized has minute voids inside, such as textile products, or if it has gas adsorption properties, such as synthetic resin products, after sterilization. , it is unavoidable that sterilizing gas remains on the objects to be sterilized.

Such residual gas is undesirable because it can cause various problems such as irritation when it comes into contact with the user's skin when the sterilized article is reused.

On the other hand, when sterilization is performed using hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ), even if hydrogen peroxide remains, it decomposes into water and oxygen over time. (H ₂ O ₂ →H ₂ O+1/2
2.O ₂ ), so problems caused by residual gas as mentioned above are less likely to occur.

However, many conventional sterilizers that use hydrogen peroxide use liquid hydrogen peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide mist, which wets the objects to be sterilized during the sterilization process and then requires a drying process afterwards. There were problems such as the need for

The sterilization device using hydrogen peroxide of the present invention eliminates all of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

(Means for solving the problem) Among the sterilization devices using hydrogen peroxide of the present invention,
The device according to claim 1 includes a sterilization container that can be sealed while storing an object to be sterilized, a heater that heats the inside of the sterilization container, both ends of which are connected to the sterilization container, and an air supply fan in the middle. An air pipe in which a first on-off valve and a vaporizer are provided in order from the upstream side, a supply means for feeding a desired amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide into the vaporizer, and in the middle of the air pipe, An intake pipe is connected at one end between the first on-off valve and the carburetor and has a second on-off valve in the middle, and the air supply fan and the first on-off valve are connected in the middle of the air supply pipe. The exhaust pipe is connected at one end to the exhaust pipe and has a third on-off valve in the middle. Then, liquid hydrogen peroxide is intermittently supplied to the vaporizer by the supply means.

In addition, a second aspect of the present invention provides a sterilization container that can be sealed while storing an object to be sterilized, a heater that heats the inside of the sterilization container, and a heater that is provided in the sterilization container and that is installed to control the gas inside the sterilization container. a second air supply pipe connected to the sterilized container at one end and provided with a vaporizer at the other end; and a supply means for feeding a desired amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide into the vaporizer. , an intake pipe connected at one end to the sterilization container, and an exhaust pipe connected at one end to the sterilization container and provided with an exhaust fan in the middle. Then, liquid hydrogen peroxide is intermittently supplied to the vaporizer by the supply means.

Furthermore, the apparatus according to claim 3 includes a sterilization container that can be sealed while storing an object to be sterilized, a heater that heats the inside of this sterilization container, and one end connected to the sterilization container, and a a third air pipe provided with a vaporizer and a fourth on-off valve in order from the container side;
It consists of a supply means for feeding a desired amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide into the vaporizer, and an exhaust pipe connected at one end to the sterilization container and equipped with a fifth on-off valve and a vacuum pump in the middle. ing. Then, liquid hydrogen peroxide is supplied to the vaporizer by the supply means.
Supply intermittently.

(Function) The sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide of the present invention configured as described above operates in the following manner to sterilize objects to be sterilized stored in a sterilization container.

First, in the case of the sterilization device using hydrogen peroxide as described in claim 1, the object to be sterilized is stored in a sterilization container, the sterilization container is sealed, and then the inside of the sterilization container is heated by a heater. .

Then, with the second and third on-off valves closed and the first on-off valve open, the air supply fan is driven to circulate the air inside the sterilization container through the air pipe. Eliminate temperature unevenness.

Then, with the air supply fan running, an appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide is supplied into the vaporizer through the supply means, and the gaseous hydrogen peroxide vaporized in the vaporizer is sent into the sterilized container through the air supply pipe. , the object to be sterilized stored in this sterilization container is sterilized.

After completing the sterilization process for the specified time, close the first on-off valve that was open until then, and open the second and third on-off valves that were closed until then, while continuing to operate the air supply fan. .

As a result, outside air is drawn into the sterilization container through the intake pipe, and gas within the sterilization container is exhausted through the exhaust pipe. Hydrogen peroxide contained in the gas exhausted through the exhaust pipe is treated by a treatment means provided at the end of the exhaust pipe.

Further, in the case of the sterilization device using hydrogen peroxide as described in claim 2, the sterilization container is heated by heating the inside of the sterilization container with a heater and stirring the gas in the sterilization container with a stirring fan. Eliminates internal temperature unevenness.

Then, with the stirring fan running, an appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide is supplied into the vaporizer through the supply means, and the gaseous hydrogen peroxide vaporized in the vaporizer is transferred into the sterilized container through the second air supply pipe. The object to be sterilized stored in this sterilization container is sterilized.

When the sterilization process for a predetermined period of time is completed, the exhaust fan, which had been stopped until then, is operated, and outside air is sucked into the sterilization container through the intake pipe, and the gas inside the sterilization container is discharged through the exhaust pipe.

Furthermore, in the case of the sterilization device using hydrogen peroxide as described in claim 3, after the inside of the sterilization container is heated by a heater, the vacuum pump that has been stopped until then is operated to sterilize the inside of the sterilization container. Exhaust the air.

After that, an appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide is supplied into the vaporizer through the supply means, and the gaseous hydrogen peroxide vaporized by the vaporizer is sent into the sterilized container through the third air supply pipe, and into the sterilized container. The stored items to be sterilized are sterilized.

Once the sterilization process has been completed for a predetermined period of time, the fourth on-off valve, which had been closed until then, is opened and the vacuum pump is operated to suck outside air into the sterilized container through the third air supply pipe, and at the same time, the inside of the sterilized container is of gas is discharged through the exhaust pipe.

In either case, by intermittently supplying liquid hydrogen peroxide to the vaporizer by the supply means, the liquid hydrogen peroxide is vaporized intermittently during the sterilization time. , maintain the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the sterilized container above a certain value.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail while explaining the illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 corresponds to the invention according to claim 1.
A first embodiment of the present invention is shown.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a sterilization container, which is constructed so as to be able to be sealed tightly while storing objects to be sterilized. This sterile container 1 contains
A heater 2 is provided to heat the inside of the sterilization container 1, so that the inside of the sterilization container 1 can be heated up to a temperature suitable for sterilization using hydrogen peroxide (for example, 60° C.).

Reference numeral 3 denotes an air pipe, and both ends of the air pipe 3 are connected to the sterilization container 1, respectively. An air supply fan 4, a first on-off valve 5, and a carburetor 6 are provided in this order from the upstream side in the middle of the air supply pipe 3. A heater 7 is attached to the vaporizer 6,
Liquid hydrogen peroxide fed by the supply means described below is heated and vaporized.

The supply means for sending liquid hydrogen peroxide to the vaporizer 6 includes a tank that stores liquid hydrogen peroxide and a fixed-capacity liquid sending pump that sends liquid hydrogen peroxide from this tank toward the vaporizer 6. It consists of 8. When supplying hydrogen peroxide, the constant volume liquid pump 8 is operated intermittently for a fixed period of time to feed liquid hydrogen peroxide into the vaporizer 6 little by little.

Further, one end of an intake pipe 9 is connected to a portion of the air supply pipe 3 between the first on-off valve 5 and the carburetor 6. A second on-off valve 10 is provided in the middle of this intake pipe 9.

Furthermore, an exhaust pipe 13 is provided in the middle of the air pipe 3 between the air fan 4 and the first on-off valve 5.
One end of the is connected. And this exhaust pipe 13
A third on-off valve 11 is provided in the middle.

When an object to be sterilized is sterilized by the sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide of the present invention configured as described above, the object to be sterilized is stored in the sterilization container 1, and after the sterilization container 1 is sealed. , the inside of this sterilization container 1 is heated by the heater 2.

While energizing the heater 2 in this manner, the second and third on-off valves 10 and 11 are closed, and with the first on-off valve 5 open, the air supply fan 4 is driven, and the sterilized container 1 is By circulating the air inside through the air pipe 3, temperature unevenness inside the sterilization container 1 is eliminated. The temperature at which the inside of the sterilization container 1 is heated is desirably as high as possible, as long as it is permissible in terms of the heat resistance of the object to be sterilized, and is set, for example, in the range of room temperature to 60°C.

Thereafter, while the air supply fan 4 is kept operating, liquid hydrogen peroxide is intermittently supplied little by little into the vaporizer 6 through the liquid supply pump 8 constituting the supply means.

Liquid hydrogen peroxide is supplied little by little into the vaporizer 6, where it is dripped onto a portion that has been preheated to 150 to 200°C by the heater 7, where it is vaporized almost instantaneously and directly into the sterilization container 1. The objects to be sterilized stored in the sterilization container 1 are fed into the sterilization container 1 and subjected to sterilization treatment.

In order to ensure the sterilization of objects to be sterilized, it is necessary to maintain the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization container 1 at a certain value or higher throughout the predetermined sterilization time. Therefore, even if a large amount of hydrogen peroxide is fed into the sterilization container 1 at once, it is not possible to maintain the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the sterilization container 1 above a certain value throughout the sterilization time.

Therefore, by operating the liquid pump 8 intermittently, the liquid hydrogen peroxide is vaporized intermittently during the sterilization time, as shown in FIG. Maintain the hydrogen peroxide concentration above a certain value.

Once the sterilization process has been completed for a predetermined period of time, while the air supply fan 4 continues to operate, the first on-off valve 5, which had been open until then, is closed, and the second and third on-off valves, which had been closed until then, are closed. Open 10 and 11.

As a result, clean outside air is sucked into the sterilization container 1 through the intake pipe 9 provided with the filter 12 at the end, and the gas containing hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization container 1 is exhausted through the exhaust pipe 13. Most of the hydrogen peroxide contained in the gas exhausted through the exhaust pipe 13 is treated by a treatment means 14, such as an activated carbon filter, provided at the end of the exhaust pipe 13, and is also converted into water and oxygen over time. Disassemble.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which corresponds to the invention set forth in claim 2.

In the case of this embodiment, the air supply pipe 3 and the air supply fan 4 in the first embodiment described above are omitted, and instead, a stirring fan 15 for stirring the gas in the sterilization container 1 is provided.

The vaporizer 6 for vaporizing liquid hydrogen peroxide is
A second air pipe 1 whose one end is connected to the sterile container 1
6, and a filter 12 is provided at one end.
The other end of the intake pipe 9 is provided with a
7 are directly connected to the sterilization container 1, respectively.

When the sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide of this embodiment sterilizes the object stored in the sterilization container 1, the inside of the sterilization container 1 is heated by the heater 2, and the stirring fan 15 is used to sterilize the object. By stirring the gas in the container 1, temperature unevenness in the sterilized container 1 is eliminated.

Thereafter, while the stirring fan 15 is kept operating, an appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide is intermittently supplied into the vaporizer 6 through the liquid feeding pump 8 constituting the supply means, and the gaseous peroxide vaporized in the vaporizer 6 is Sending hydrogen into the sterilization container 1 through the second air supply pipe 16,
The objects to be sterilized stored in the sterilization container 1 are sterilized.

When the sterilization process for a predetermined period of time is completed, the exhaust fan 17, which had been stopped until then, is operated, and the outside air purified by the filter 12 is sucked into the sterilization container 1 through the intake pipe 9. Sterile container 1
The gas inside is exhausted through the exhaust pipe 13.

Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the first embodiment described above, so the same parts are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, which corresponds to the invention recited in claim 3.

In the case of this embodiment, a vaporizer 6 and a fourth on-off valve 19 are provided in the middle of a third air pipe 18 whose one end is connected to the sterilization container 1 in this order from the sterilization container 1 side.

Also, an exhaust pipe 1 whose one end is connected to the sterilization container 1
In the middle of 3, a fifth on-off valve 20 and a vacuum pump 21 are installed.
and.

When the sterilization apparatus using hydrogen peroxide in this embodiment sterilizes the objects to be sterilized stored in the sterilization container 1, the inside of the sterilization container 1 is first heated by the heater 2, and then the temperature is stopped until then. The vacuum pump 21 that was previously used is operated to exhaust the air inside the sterilization container 1.

Thereafter, an appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide is intermittently supplied into the vaporizer 6 through the liquid supply pump 8 constituting the supply means, and the gaseous hydrogen peroxide vaporized in the vaporizer 6 is transferred to the third air supply pipe 18. The object to be sterilized stored in the sterilization container 1 is sterilized through the sterilization container 1.

During the sterilization processing time, feeding hydrogen peroxide into the sterilization container 1 and discharging gas from the sterilization container 1 by operating the vacuum pump 21 are performed alternately, including when both are stopped. During the sterilization treatment time, the pressure inside the sterilization container 1 is changed as shown in FIG. In this Fig. 5, the part where the pressure is decreasing shows the state where the fifth on-off valve 20 is opened and the vacuum pump 21 is operating, and the part where the pressure is increasing shows the state where the fifth on-off valve 20 is open and the vacuum pump 21 is operating. The fifth on-off valve 20 is closed, the vacuum pump 21 is stopped, and hydrogen peroxide is being fed into the state where the pressure is not changing. The figures show a state in which neither the engine nor the hydrogen peroxide is being fed.

After completing the sterilization process for a predetermined period of time, the fourth on-off valve 19, which had been closed until then, is opened, and the vacuum pump 21 is operated with the fifth on-off valve 20 open.
While sucking clean outside air that has passed through the filter 12 through the third air supply pipe 18 into the sterilization container 1,
The gas in the sterilization container 1 is exhausted through the exhaust pipe 13.

Other configurations and operations are the same as in the first to second embodiments described above, so the same parts are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

(Effects of the invention) The sterilization device using hydrogen peroxide of the present invention is configured and operates as described above, so that the concentration of hydrogen peroxide present in the sterilization container is maintained sufficiently throughout the sterilization operation. As a result, objects to be sterilized that are not heat resistant can be sterilized without fear of failure and without the need for a troublesome drying process.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the timing of vaporizing hydrogen peroxide, and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram similarly showing the third embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing pressure changes during sterilization time. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Sterile container, 2... Heater, 3... Air supply pipe, 4... Air supply fan, 5... First on-off valve, 6
... vaporizer, 7 ... heater, 8 ... liquid pump,
9... Intake pipe, 10... Second on-off valve, 11...
Third on-off valve, 12... Filter, 13... Exhaust pipe, 14... Processing means, 15... Stirring fan, 1
6...Second air pipe, 17...Exhaust fan, 18
...Third air pipe, 19...Fourth on-off valve, 20
...Fifth on-off valve, 21...Vacuum pump.

Claims (1)

[Utility Model Claims] (1) A sterilization container which can be freely sealed while containing an object to be sterilized, a heater for heating the inside of the sterilization container, an air supply pipe connected to the sterilization container at both ends and having an air supply fan, a first on-off valve, and a vaporizer disposed in that order from the upstream side along the air supply pipe, and supply means for supplying a desired amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide to the vaporizer.
A sterilization device using hydrogen peroxide comprising an intake pipe having one end connected between the first on-off valve and the vaporizer in the middle of the air supply pipe and having a second on-off valve in the middle of the air supply pipe, and an exhaust pipe having one end connected between the air supply fan and the first on-off valve in the middle of the air supply pipe and having a third on-off valve in the middle of the air supply pipe, and liquid hydrogen peroxide is intermittently supplied to the vaporizer by the supply means. (2) A sterilization apparatus that uses hydrogen peroxide, comprising a sterilization container that can be sealed while containing the object to be sterilized, a heater for heating the inside of the sterilization container, a stirring fan provided within the sterilization container for stirring the gas within the sterilization container, a second air supply pipe having one end connected to the sterilization container and the other end provided with a vaporizer, a supply means for sending a desired amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide to the vaporizer, an intake pipe having one end connected to the sterilization container, and an exhaust pipe having one end connected to the sterilization container and provided with an exhaust fan midway, wherein liquid hydrogen peroxide is intermittently supplied to the vaporizer by the supply means. (3) A sterilization apparatus that uses hydrogen peroxide, comprising: a sterilization container that can be sealed while containing an object to be sterilized; a heater for heating the inside of the sterilization container; a third air supply pipe connected to the sterilization container at one end and having, in order from the sterilization container, a vaporizer and a fourth on-off valve midway; a supply means for sending a desired amount of liquid hydrogen peroxide to the vaporizer; and an exhaust pipe connected to the sterilization container at one end and having a fifth on-off valve and a vacuum pump midway, wherein liquid hydrogen peroxide is intermittently supplied to the vaporizer by the supply means.