JPH11178902A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an accurate process control of sterilization and to identify the completion of sterilization by allowing to observe a sterilized state in a sterilizer at any time. SOLUTION: In a sterilizer 1, a detection part 3 is provided which changes its characteristics according to the process of sterilization. At outside the sterilizer 1, a display 5 is provided. The detection part 3 and the sterilizer 1 are connected by a cable 4 which passes through a part of the sterilizer 1 under an air tight condition. During sterilization, a change in characteristics of the detection part 3 is displayed on the display 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizer used for sterilizing clothes for patients, used surgical tools and experimental instruments in hospitals and various laboratories. Regarding improvement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Patient clothing, surgical tools, laboratory instruments, and the like used in hospitals and various laboratories are used prior to re-use after use in order to prevent infection by bacteria and viruses attached during use. Must be sterilized. Conventionally, various sterilizers such as a steam sterilizer and a gas sterilizer have been used to perform such a sterilization process. In order to determine whether or not the object to be sterilized, such as the patient's clothes, has been sterilized by the various sterilizers (ie, whether or not the sterilization has been completed), a sterilization state confirmation device is used. I have.

[0003] Such a sterilization state confirming device is considered to be the most difficult to sterilize before the start of the sterilization process at a plurality of places in the sterilization container constituting the sterilizer (particularly, the object to be sterilized stored in the sterilization container is considered to be most difficult). Where it is located). And
The sterilization process is started by operating the sterilizer, and after the operation of the sterilizer is completed, the sterilization state checking devices are taken out of the sterilization container. Then, it is determined whether or not the sterilization process has been completed by checking the detection unit of each of these sterilization state confirmation devices.

[0004] As a detection unit of the sterilization state confirmation device used as described above, for example, a chemical indicator and a biological indicator are conventionally known. Of these, the chemical indicator is made of a chemical substance such as a dye which changes color tone by sterilization.
When determining whether or not the sterilization processing by the sterilizer is completed by the sterilization state confirmation device having such a chemical indicator as a detection unit, remove the sterilization state confirmation device from the sterilization container after the operation is completed, The chemical indicator serving as the detection unit is visually observed. Then, it is determined whether or not the sterilization has been completed by checking whether or not the chemical indicator has changed to a predetermined color.

[0005] On the other hand, the above-mentioned biological indicator is constituted by using microorganisms which exhibit resistance to sterilization. When determining whether or not the sterilization process by the sterilizer is completed by the sterilization state confirmation device having such a biological indicator as a detection unit, remove the sterilization state confirmation device from the sterilization container after the operation is completed. From
The microorganism used as the detection unit is cultured for a certain time. Then, by confirming the viability of the microorganism by this culture, it is determined whether or not the sterilization treatment has been completed.

[0006]

However, in the case where it is determined whether or not the sterilization by the sterilizer has been completed by using each of the above-described sterilization state confirmation devices, the following problems are encountered. was there. That is, in any of the sterilization state checking devices described above, the operator of the sterilizer cannot observe the detection units of the sterilization state checking devices during operation of the sterilizer. For this reason, as described above, the determination as to whether or not the sterilization processing by each of these sterilization state confirmation devices has been completed is made only after the operation of the sterilizer is completed and after the sterilization state confirmation devices are removed from the sterilization container. I can't do it. Therefore, the operator of the sterilizer can determine whether or not the sterilization has been completed, but cannot know when the sterilization has been completed.

For this reason, conventionally, in order to surely carry out the sterilization treatment by the sterilizer, the sterilization capacity (temperature, gas concentration, etc.) and more than necessary (or more than originally considered sufficient) for this sterilizer are required. It was necessary to set the sterilization time. However, setting the sterilization processing capacity and sterilization processing time more than necessary in this way increases the operation cost of the sterilizer,
Alternatively, there is an inconvenience that the sterilization processing time is unnecessarily long. Of these, especially the sterilization processing time is unnecessarily long,
This is not preferable because it becomes impossible to cope with a case where sterilization needs to be performed promptly in an emergency at a hospital or the like. On the other hand, in order to manage the process of sterilization by the sterilizer, it is also desired to check how much the sterilization in the sterilization container is progressing during the operation of the sterilizer. In view of the above-described circumstances, the sterilizer of the present invention has been developed in order to confirm the sterilization state in a sterilization container during operation of the sterilizer and to accurately determine the completion of sterilization processing. It was done.

[0008]

The sterilizer of the present invention is configured so that the sterilization state in a sterilization container constituting the sterilizer can be easily checked during operation of the sterilizer. That is, the sterilizer of the present invention is a sterile container that can be hermetically sealed while accommodating the object to be sterilized and that can sterilize the object to be sterilized, and is installed in the sterile container, A detection unit that performs at least one of a chemical change and a physical change in accordance with the progress of the process, and a cable having one end attached to the detection unit and the other end drawn out of the sterilization container. Determination means provided outside the sterilization container and connected to the other end of the cable. During the sterilization process in the sterilization container, a change in the detection unit can be freely observed by the determination unit.

[0009]

In the case of the sterilizer of the present invention constructed as described above, it is possible to observe the change of the detection unit installed in the sterilization container by the judging means provided outside the sterilization container. Therefore, a person who operates the sterilizer can check how much the sterilization process is progressing in the sterilization container during the operation of the sterilizer, and can know exactly when the sterilization process is completed. As a result, it is possible to accurately control the process of sterilization by the sterilizer, and to prevent inconveniences such as an increase in the operation cost of the sterilizer or an excessively long sterilization time.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. The sterilization container 1 constituting the sterilizer includes a closed door 2. In such a sterilization container 1, the inside of the sterilization container 1 can be freely sealed by closing the sealing door 2 in a state in which an object to be sterilized is stored. During the operation of the sterilizer, the object to be sterilized stored in the sterilization container 1 can be sterilized. Further, in the sterilization container 1, a detection unit 3 that performs at least one of a chemical change and a physical change in accordance with the progress of the sterilization process is provided. Such a detecting unit 3 may be, for example, a chemical substance such as a dye which changes a color tone (chemical change) by sterilization, or an electric characteristic such as electric resistance by sterilization, as in the above-described chemical indicator. (Physical change) Select and use according to the type of sterilizer used, such as the substance to be changed.

The detection section 3 is provided with one end of a cable 4 through which a part of the sterilization container 1 is airtightly penetrated. Such a cable 4 is also selectively used according to the type of the detection unit 3. For example, when a substance that causes a visual change such as a substance that changes color by sterilization, a substance that changes color, or a substance that changes transmittance is used as the detection unit 3, a fiberscope is used as the cable 4. . In this case, the distal end portion (one end portion) of the fiberscope is brought close to and opposed to the detection section 3. Further, as the detection unit 3, electric characteristics such as electric resistance by sterilization processing,
When a substance that changes chemical properties such as pH and thermal properties such as thermal conductivity is used, a pair of conductive wires is used as the cable 4. In this case, one ends of the pair of conductive wires are electrically connected to the detection unit 3.

On the other hand, outside the sterilization container 1, a display device 5 as a judgment means is provided. The other end of the cable 4 is connected to the display 5. During operation of the sterilizer, the indicator 5 detects a change in the detection unit 3 provided with one end of the cable 4 by a microprocessor incorporated therein. At the same time, the detected result is converted into a form that can be recognized by the operator of the sterilizer and displayed on the display unit of the display unit 5. The display on the display unit is returned to the initial state by a signal indicating the end of operation of the sterilizer or by opening the sealing door 2 after the operation of the sterilizer is completed.

In the case of the sterilizer of the present embodiment configured and operated as described above, the change of the detection unit 3 installed in the sterilization container 1 is changed from the display unit of the display 5 provided outside the sterilization container 1. Observable. Therefore, the operator of the sterilizer can check how much the sterilization process in the sterilization container 1 is progressing during the operation of the sterilizer, and can know exactly when the sterilization process is completed. it can. As a result, it is possible to accurately control the process of sterilization by the sterilizer, and to prevent inconveniences such as an increase in the operation cost of the sterilizer or an excessively long sterilization time. It should be noted that an indicator notifying the completion of the sterilization process is connected to the display 5 by voice or the like, so that the operator of the sterilizer can save the trouble of watching the display section of the display 5. Further, if a recording device such as a VTR for recording the detection result of the change of the detection unit 3 is incorporated in the display unit 5, the process of the sterilization process by the sterilizer can be performed afterwards.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
An example is shown. In the case of this example, a microprocessor 6 for detecting a change in the detection unit 3 is provided separately from the display 5. That is, in the case of this example, the microprocessor 6 is connected to the other end of the cable 4 and the display 5
Is connected to the microprocessor 6 by another cable. Thus, the result detected by the microprocessor 6 can be sent to the display 5.
In the case of the present example, the microprocessor 6 and the display unit 5 constitute a determining means. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above-described first example.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
An example is shown. In this case, the input device 7 is connected to the microprocessor 6 by another cable. Then, the input device 7 inputs a margin time for the sterilization process (a sterilization process time which is further added to a necessary minimum time required for completing the sterilization process in order to increase a safety factor of the sterilization process). I can do it.
That is, in the case of the present example, the microprocessor 6 is caused to determine the completion of the sterilization process based on the detection result of the detection unit 3. At the same time, the operation of the sterilizer is terminated after a lapse of the margin time input from the input device 7 from the time when the sterilization process is completed. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above-described second example.

Next, FIGS. 4 to 6 show fourth to sixth examples of the embodiment of the present invention. Of the fourth to sixth examples, the fourth example shown in FIG. 4 is the first example shown in FIG. 1, the fifth example shown in FIG. 5 is the second example shown in FIG. The sixth example shown corresponds to the third example shown in FIG. In the case of these fourth to sixth examples, the detection unit 3
Is installed in a pressure-resistant and heat-resistant container 8 which realizes the same environment as the inside of the container. That is, the pressure-resistant and heat-resistant container 8 is provided at an intermediate portion of an annular communication pipe 9 having both ends opened into the sterilization container 1. In this state, the pressure- and heat-resistant container 8
Is communicated with the inside of the sterilization container 1 through the communication pipe 9. Also, in the pressure-resistant and heat-resistant container 8,
The gas in the sterilization container 1 is circulated by a blower (not shown) or the like.

In the case of the fourth to sixth examples configured as described above, since the detection unit 3 is installed in the pressure-resistant and heat-resistant container 8 as described above, the sterilization container which is a part for storing the object to be sterilized is provided. Within one
It is not necessary to secure a space for installing the detection unit 3. Therefore, the space for storing the object to be sterilized in the sterilization container 1 can be increased by that much. The pressure- and heat-resistant container 8 as described above is connected to the sterilization container 1 via the communication pipe 9.
Can be easily attached. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to various sterilizers conventionally used. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the above-described first to third examples.

[0018]

Since the sterilizer of the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, it is possible to perform an accurate process control of the sterilization process and to perform an accurate determination when the sterilization process is completed. As a result, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as an increase in operation cost and an unnecessarily long sterilization time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the second example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a third example.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a fourth example.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the fifth example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a sixth example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sterilization container 2 Sealing door 3 Detecting part 4 Cable 5 Display 6 Microprocessor 7 Input device 8 Pressure-resistant and heat-resistant container 9 Communication pipe

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sterilizer capable of confirming a sterilization state in a sterilization container constituting the sterilizer during operation of the sterilizer. A sterilization container capable of performing a sterilization process, and a detection unit installed in the sterilization container and performing at least one of a chemical change and a physical change in accordance with the progress of the sterilization process in the sterilization container. A cable having one end attached to the detection unit and the other end drawn out of the sterilization container, and a determination means provided outside the sterilization container and connected to the other end of the cable, A sterilizer characterized in that a change in the detection unit can be freely observed by the determination means during a sterilization process in the container.