US4169123A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization method
Assignee: Allegiance Corp
•
Filing: 1977-09-26
•
Granted: 1979-09-25
•
Expires: 1997-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A method of sterilizing the surfaces of articles such as medical intruments and other products by exposing such surfaces to hydrogen peroxide gas at temperatures below 80 DEG C. in a temperature range that is generally considered nonsporicidal.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis C. Moore
- 👤 Leon R. Perkinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/16; A61L2/20; A01; A01N; A01N59/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of "cold" gas sterilization which comprises: surrounding an article to be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas; and maintaining said gas in contact with such article at temperatures below 80° C. until such article is sterile, whereupon sterility of said article is established, and including the step of maintaining said article in a sterile condition protected from recontamination until use.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of "cold" gas sterilization which comprises: surrounding an article to be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas; and maintaining said gas in contact with such article at temperatures below 80° C. until such article is sterile, whereupon sterility of said article is established, and including the step of maintaining said article in a sterile condition protected from recontamination until use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas is maintained at temperatures above approximately 20° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas is maintained in contact with such article for a period greater than 60 seconds.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of "cold" sterilizing an article not suited for total liquid submersion, comprising the steps of: encasing said article in a chamber; surrounding the article in the chamber with hydrogen peroxide gas; and maintaining such gas in contact with the article at temperatures below 80° C. until such article is sterile, whereupon sterility of said article is established and including the step of maintaining said article in a sterile condition protected from recontamination until use.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of "cold" sterilizing an article not suited for total liquid submersion, comprising the steps of: encasing said article in a chamber; surrounding the article in the chamber with hydrogen peroxide gas; and maintaining such gas in contact with the article at temperatures below 80° C. until such article is sterile, whereupon sterility of said article is established and including the step of maintaining said article in a sterile condition protected from recontamination until use.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the article is encased in a sealed sterilizer tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the article is encased in a package with at least one portion of the package being pervious to passage of hydrogen peroxide, but impervious to microbial passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the gas surrounding the article is generated by placing liquid hydrogen peroxide of a concentration in the range of 0.0001% to 35% within the chamber in an amount substantially less than required for total liquid submersion of the article; and vaporizing the hydrogen peroxide liquid within the chamber for gaseous contact for all exposed areas of the article.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the liquid placed within the chamber has a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 0.01% to 30%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2193622A
Cited
US2120020A
Cited
US2394887A
Cited
US2368806A
Cited
US3328312A
Cited
US3904361A
Cited
US3854874A
Cited
US3912451A
Cited
US4013410A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-09-24 | 1983-03-26 | 1983-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-09-24 | 1987-03-26 | 1987-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-09-24 | 1991-03-26 | 1991-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |