Claims
- 1. A method of determining and sterilizing a load in a sterilization chamber comprising:(a) introducing a known amount of sterilant into said sterilization chamber, wherein said known amount of sterilant is less than or equal to 50% of an amount to sterilize a fully loaded chamber; (b) determining a concentration of sterilant in said sterilization chamber, wherein said determining is during or after said introducing; (c) determining the load in said sterilization chamber from said concentration of sterilant in said sterilization chamber, wherein said determining the load is during or after said determining the concentration; (d) adjusting sterilization conditions based on the load determined in step (c) to achieve sterilization without undue material incompatibility; and (e) sterilizing said load after step (d).
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises introducing sterilant into said chamber.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (d) comprises determining an amount of sterilant necessary to sterilize the load and introducing said amount of sterilant into the chamber.
- 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said introducing said sterilant comprises a single change in the concentration of said sterilant.
- 5. The method of claim 2 wherein said introducing said sterilant comprises a plurality of incremental changes in the concentration of said sterilant.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises determining an amount of excess sterilant in the chamber and removing said amount of excess sterilant from said chamber.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises changing a temperature within said chamber.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said changing said temperature comprises increasing said temperature.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises changing a cycle time.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said changing a cycle time comprises increasing said cycle time.
- 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating a data base, wherein said data base comprises said process parameter.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said sterilant comprises a source of hydrogen peroxide.
- 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said concentration of sterilant is measured by a method selected from the group consisting of spectrophotometric methods, measuring a pressure in the sterilization chamber, and measuring with a semiconductor sensor.
- 14. The method of claim 1 wherein said parameter is measured over a time period, wherein said time period is the time during said determining, and wherein said determining is based on a maximum of said parameter in said time period.
- 15. The method of claim 1 wherein said parameter is measured over a time period, wherein said time period is the time during said determining, and wherein said determining is based on a minimum of said parameter in said time period.
- 16. The method of claim 1 wherein said parameter is measured over a time period, wherein said time period is the time during said determining, and wherein said determining is based on a rate of change of said parameter in said time period.
- 17. An apparatus for determining and sterilizing a load comprising:a sterilization chamber; a source of sterilant adapted to deliver a small amount of sterilant into said sterilization chamber, wherein said small amount is less-than-or equal to 50% of an amount to sterilize a fully loaded chamber; a monitor adapted to determine a concentration of sterilant in said sterilization chamber; a microprocessor controller adapted to use said concentration to determine a load in said sterilization chamber and adjust sterilization conditions so as to achieve sterilization without undue material incompatibility; a database of sterilant concentration changes with time for different loads obtained when less-than-or equal to 50% an amount to sterilize a fully loaded chamber is introduced, said database accessible to said microprocessor controller; and a feedback device adapted to communicate said concentration from said monitor to said microprocessor controller.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a pump adapted to evacuate said sterilization chamber.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said monitor is selected from the group consisting of: an optical sensor adapted to be used for a spectrophotometric method, a pressure transducer, and a semiconductor sensor.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a source of plasma.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/223,125 filed Dec. 30, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 744 615 |
Nov 1997 |
EP |
WO 9857673 |
Dec 1998 |
WO |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/223125 |
Dec 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/982213 |
|
US |