Apparatus and method for sterilization of an article
An apparatus and method for sterilization of an article which has a first open end, a second open end and a lumen extending therebetween. The apparatus comprises a first chamber for receiving the article. The first chamber has an outlet fluidly connectable to a pump for adjusting an internal pressure in the first chamber; and an inlet fluidly connectable to a sterilant source for supplying sterilant to the first chamber. The apparatus includes a second chamber fluidly connectable to the first chamber by a chamber connector fluidly sealable to isolate the first and the second chamber; and an article connector for fluidly connecting the second open end of the article to the second chamber to form a fluid path from the first to the second chamber through the lumen. Also included is an article connector for connecting an open end of an article to be sterilized to a sterilization apparatus.
1 . A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing an article having a lumen with sterilant, the sterilization apparatus comprising:
a first chamber sized and shaped to receive the article, the first chamber having a sterilant inlet configured to be fluidly connected to a sterilant source for supplying sterilant to the first chamber;
a second chamber having a flow opening;
an article connector configured to attach to an open end of the article and fluidly connect to the lumen of the article, the article connector being fluidly connectable to the second chamber through the flow opening to form a flow path along which sterilant flows from the first chamber to the second chamber through the lumen of the article and through the flow opening when the article is disposed in the first chamber and sterilant is introduced into the first chamber via the sterilant inlet;
a fluid inlet configured to be fluidly connected to a fluid source for supplying fluid separate and distinct from the sterilant, the fluid inlet being fluidly connectable to the article connector to permit the fluid to flow through the lumen of the article to heat the lumen of the article; and
an article container sized and shaped to removably receive the article and the article connector, the first chamber being sized and shaped to receive the entire article container, the article container having a container inlet arranged to allow the egress of sterilant from the first chamber when the article container is received in the first chamber, the article container having a container outlet being fluidly connectable to the article connector along the flow path such that sterilant flows from the first chamber to the second chamber through the container outlet when the article is disposed in the article container and the article container is disposed in the first chamber.
2 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second chamber includes the fluid inlet, the fluid inlet arranged to supply fluid to the second chamber.
3 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber includes the fluid inlet, the fluid inlet arranged to supply fluid to the first chamber.
4 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the fluid source, the fluid source fluidly connected to the fluid inlet, the fluid source being configured to supply the fluid separate and distinct from the sterilant to the fluid inlet.
5 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the fluid source comprises an air source configured to supply air to the fluid inlet.
6 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the air source is configured to supply air having a temperature between about 30° C. to about 200° C.
7 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the air source is configured to supply air having a temperature between about 60° C. to about 100° C.
8 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the air source is configured to supply air having a temperature between about 80° C. to about 95° C.
9 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pump arranged to create a pressure difference between the first and second chambers.
10 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first chamber includes a pump opening, the pump fluidly connected to the pump opening for adjusting an internal pressure of the first chamber.
11 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the sterilant source, the sterilant source fluidly connected to the sterilant inlet.
12 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a valve along the flow path between the first and second chambers, the valve being configurable between an open position and a closed position for providing fluid communication and isolation, respectively, between the first and second chambers.
13 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a conduit extending between to the article connector and the container outlet to fluidly connect the article connector to the container outlet.
14 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a conduit fluidly connecting the article connector to the second chamber such that the flow path extends through the conduit.
15 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the article connector includes an inlet and an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet, the inlet of the article connector configured to fluidly connect to the lumen of the article, the outlet of the article connector configured to fluidly connect to the second chamber.
16 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the article connector is moveable between different locations within the article container.
17 . A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing an article with sterilant, the sterilization apparatus comprising:
a first chamber sized and shaped to receive the article, the first chamber having a sterilant inlet configured to be fluidly connected to a sterilant source for supplying sterilant to the first chamber, the first chamber having a pump opening;
a second chamber;
passaging fluidly connecting the first and second chambers to one another, the passaging forming a flow path extending from the first chamber to the second chamber, the passaging including a valve configured to selectively permit and block fluid flow between the first and second chambers, the flow path extending through the valve;
a fluid inlet;
a fluid source fluidly connected to the fluid inlet, the fluid source being configured to supply fluid separate and distinct from the sterilant to the fluid inlet to heat the article; and
a pump fluidly connected to the pump opening of the first chamber and configured to create a pressure difference between the first and second chambers via the pump opening;
the flow path of the passaging being spaced apart from the fluid inlet and the pump opening.
18 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second chamber includes the fluid inlet, the fluid inlet arranged to supply fluid to the second chamber.
19 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first chamber includes the fluid inlet, the fluid inlet arranged to supply fluid to the first chamber.
20 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the pump is configured to reduce an internal pressure of the first chamber.
21 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising the sterilant source, the sterilant source fluidly connected to the sterilant inlet to supply sterilant to the sterilant inlet.
22 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising an article container sized and shaped to removably receive the article, the first chamber being sized and shaped to receive the entire article container, the article container having a container inlet arranged to allow the egress of sterilant from the first chamber when the article container is received in the first chamber, the article container having a container outlet being fluidly connectable to the passaging such that sterilant flows from the first chamber to the second chamber through the container outlet when the article is disposed in the article container and the article container is disposed in the first chamber.
23 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the flow path is spaced apart from the fluid source and the pump.
24 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising an article connector configured to attach to an open end of the article and fluidly connect to a lumen of the article, the article connector being fluidly connectable to the second chamber through the passaging in an arrangement resulting in sterilant flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber by flowing through the lumen of the article and then through the passaging when the article is disposed in the first chamber and sterilant is introduced into the first chamber via the sterilant inlet.
25 . The sterilization apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising a conduit fluidly disposed between the article connector and the passaging such that sterilant flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber flows through the conduit before flowing through the passaging.