Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Process disinfecting – preserving – deodorizing – or sterilizing – Using direct contact with electrical or electromagnetic...
Patent
1998-04-23
1999-12-28
Thornton, Krisanne
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Process disinfecting, preserving, deodorizing, or sterilizing
Using direct contact with electrical or electromagnetic...
422 23, 422 25, 422 29, A61L 200
Patent
active
060077700
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a method and a device for sterilization of objects. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for ozone sterilization of objects such as plant tissue and tools for laboratories, dentistry, veterinary etc. The present invention further relates to a device for ozone sterilization for use in the said method. The new method, according to the present invention, is based on producing the ozone in a closed and portable vessel or some other package where the sterilized object can be kept till its usage without exposing it to the external atmosphere.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Creation and maintenance of aseptic conditions is a very important requirement in many scientific, medical and commercial activities. Sterilization of material, vessels and tools is an important task when these are to be used in biological or medical applications. Today, when the awareness to clean environment and clean work is higher, the importance of clean and sterile tools is a trivial prerequisite when surgical equipments are concerned. Laboratories for medical work or for biological research and development need to work in sterile conditions. Any medical equipment has to be sterilized prior to its use. Dental and hairdressers tools may transfer sources of infection and should therefore be sterilized every time before use. Vessels and tools for tissue culture work have to be sterilized to provide appropriate aseptic environment required for tissue culture applications. The plant tissue itself must also be sterilized before the propagation process can be started. Sterilization of medical tools such as endoscopes and other optical tools for medical examination imposes problems related to effective cleaning of the tools in a short period. The sterilization methods known today include heating, chemical disinfection, UV rays and nuclear radiation. Heating in an autoclave has been the most commonly used procedure because of its availability and application simplicity. However, high temperatures and pressures associated with steam autoclaving place very stringent property specifications on materials for vessels and tools. The sterilization of some materials by heat, particularly plastics, is very limited. Sterilization of devices which include optical and electronic components, which are not "autoclavable" is also problematic. Chemical sterilization techniques are commonly available, but these are usually limited by toxic residues, and require safety precautions for human laborers. Other difficulties that may be encountered with chemicals are special regulations for application and storage of potentially hazardous chemicals. In R&D laboratory work the chemical sterilization can also affect scientific experiments in an adverse way by its residual influence mainly on biological matter. UV and other radiation techniques generally require special instruments that are not commonly available. Nuclear radiation is very effective but it can only be done in special installations. People are often reluctant to use it and it can not be used to sterilize living plant material. Therefore "cold" sterilization techniques with minimal toxicity are highly desirable.
One potential sterilization technology is ozone sterilization. The ozone is a gas produced on site by high voltage gas discharge or by ultraviolet radiation.
Ozone sterilization has become a widely used technique for purification of municipal water systems, particularly from bacteria. The use of ozone generator in swimming pool water treatment is very common. It is also used for sterilization of medical equipment and in the food industry. These commercial applications suggest that ozone sterilization might be viewed as a potential alternative for asepsis purposes. Advantages are simplicity of application, flexibility in operation, minimal toxic residue and relatively low costs. There is no need for raw material which is readily available anywhere and almost no temperature differences are present. It will ena
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Alper Yekutiel
Grinshpon Yosef
Litinsky Gregory
Peiper Uri
State of Israel - Ministry of Agriculture
Thornton Krisanne
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