Granted Patent B2

US 9,180,217 · App. 14/461,968 · Granted Nov 10, 2015

Abstract

Claims (6)

1. A method for sterilizing an object in a gas-tight sterilizing chamber using a sterilant gas consisting essentially of NO 2 comprising:

placing the object in the gas-tight sterilizing chamber;

providing a selected amount of the sterilant gas to the sterilizing chamber;

after supplying the sterilizing chamber with the selected amount of the sterilant gas, providing a humidified gas into the sterilizing chamber to form a diluted, humidified sterilant gas in the sterilizing chamber; and

performing a dwelling operation at about room temperature for a selected period of time during which the diluted, humidified sterilant gas sterilizes the object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the humidity of the diluted, humidified sterilant gas in the gas-tight sterilizing chamber is from about 40% to about 80%.

Assignments (35)