Sterilization device for sterilizing medical or surgical instrument for dental usage, has sterilization indicator provided with photon detection unit for detecting photons emitted in sterilization chamber through plasma

• Main Authors: DIERAS FRANCIS, MOSSER FRANCK, RICARD ANDRE, REGERE PASCAL, VILLEGER SANDRINE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 27.06.2008
• Subjects: CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL

The device has a gas injecting unit (1) i.e. conduit, for nitrogen flow transversing an enclosure (2) under vacuum subjected to an electric field produced by a micro-wave generator (3) to produce the plasma of the nitrogen. A sterilization chamber (4) i.e. post-discharge chamber, receives the plasma in a post-discharge area, and a sterilization indicator (17) is provided with a photon detection unit for detecting photons emitted in the sterilization chamber through the plasma. The sterilization indicator is used for detecting photons having a wavelength of 580 nanometer (Nm). An independent claim is also included for a method for indicating the presence of a given quantity of nitrogen atoms in a post-discharge plasma during sterilization process. L'invention a pour objet un dispositif de stérilisation comprenant des moyens d'injection (1) d'un gaz, des moyens de formation (3) d'un plasma dudit gaz, et une chambre de stérilisation (4) destinée à recevoir le plasma, en zone de post-décharge, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre un indicateur de stérilisation (17) muni de moyens de détection (20) de photons émis dans la chambre de stérilisation (4) par ledit plasma.