Sterilization system and device
View Patent ↗A system, device and method for sterilizing or decontaminating an object that by exposing the object to a sterilant gas comprised of one or more oxides of nitrogen, such as NO, NO 2 , NO 3 , N 2 O 3 , N 2 O 4 , N 2 O 5 , N 2 O and mixtures thereof. The source of the sterilant gas can be generated from a sterilant gas-generating composition or provided by a source of the sterilant gas.
1. A method for sterilizing an object in a gas-tight sterilizing chamber comprising:
generating a sterilant gas comprising a selected amount of NO 2 in a gas generating chamber;
opening a fluid communication path between the gas generating chamber and a sterilizing chamber to allow a selected amount of the sterilant gas to flow into the sterilizing chamber;
exposing the object to the selected amount of the sterilant gas for a time period sufficient for the selected amount of NO 2 to sterilize the object in the presence of humidity in the range of 40-80%; and
recirculating the selected amount of the sterilant gas through the sterilizing chamber during the exposing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed at ambient temperature.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time period is from about 30 seconds to about 20 minutes.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is conducted at ambient pressure.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is conducted at a temperature from about 18° C. to about 30° C.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is a medical device.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the medical device further comprises a bioactive coating.