Abstract: A sterilization apparatus includes a sterilization chamber, a vaporization chamber, a wall partitioning the vaporization chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber, a first passage connecting the first chamber and the second chamber, a table arranged in the first chamber, a nozzle arranged toward the table to spray a sterilizing agent toward the table, a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid component of the sterilizing agent sprayed toward the table, a second passage connecting the second chamber and the sterilization chamber, and a means for decompressing the sterilization chamber and also decompressing the first chamber and the second chamber of the vaporization chamber through the first passage and the second passage, wherein the first passage is formed by a belt-shaped gap having a small thickness and a large width.

Abstract: A sterilization apparatus includes a sterilization chamber, a vaporization chamber, a wall partitioning the vaporization chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber, a first passage connecting the first chamber and the second chamber, a table arranged in the first chamber, a nozzle arranged toward the table to spray a sterilizing agent toward the table, a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid component of the sterilizing agent sprayed toward the table, a second passage connecting the second chamber and the sterilization chamber, and a means for decompressing the sterilization chamber and also decompressing the first chamber and the second chamber of the vaporization chamber through the first passage and the second passage, wherein the first passage is formed by a belt-shaped gap having a small thickness and a large width.

Abstract: A sterilization method that generates a sterilization gas by vaporizing a sterilizing agent supplied to a chamber having reduced pressure, and sterilizes an object to be sterilized using the sterilization gas, said method comprising (a) a first step for reducing the pressure of the chamber to a prescribed pressure, and (b) a second step for generating the sterilization gas by injecting the sterilizing agent into the chamber after the first step. The second step comprises (b1) a first sub-step for generating the sterilization gas by injecting a prescribed amount of the sterilizing agent into the chamber, (b2) a second sub-step for standing by after the first sub-step until a predetermined criterion is satisfied, and (b3) a third sub-step for repeating the first sub-step and the second sub-step a prescribed number of times.

Abstract: Provided is a system for supplying a liquid (such as an irritative chemical solution) safely. This liquid supplying system comprises: (a) a means that creates a negative pressure in a treatment chamber by driving a first depressurizing means and depressurizing the treatment chamber; (b) a means that introduces the negative pressure of the treatment chamber to a measurement chamber; (c) a means that maintains the negative pressure introduced to the measurement chamber; (d) a means that sucks a liquid from a container into the measurement chamber by employing the negative pressure of the measurement chamber; and (e) a means that sucks the liquid of the measurement chamber into the treatment chamber by employing a vacuum in the treatment chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a system for supplying a liquid (such as an irritant chemical solution) safely. This liquid supplying system comprises: a base on which a container containing liquid is placed; a hollow needle having a spired part; a first movement mechanism that moves the needle between a first needle position at which the spired part is separated from the container and a second needle position at which the spired part is passed through a wall of the container; a hollow tube having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the lumen of the needle; and a second movement mechanism that moves the tube between a first tube position separated from the container and a second tube position at which the tube is passed through the lumen of the needle located at the second needle position and is inserted inside the container.

Abstract: Provided is a system for supplying a liquid (such as an irritative chemical solution) safely. This liquid supplying system comprises: (a) a means that creates a negative pressure in a treatment chamber by driving a first depressurizing means and depressurizing the treatment chamber; (b) a means that introduces the negative pressure of the treatment chamber to a measurement chamber; (c) a means that maintains the negative pressure introduced to the measurement chamber; (d) a means that sucks a liquid from a container into the measurement chamber by employing the negative pressure of the measurement chamber; and (e) a means that sucks the liquid of the measurement chamber into the treatment chamber by employing a vacuum in the treatment chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a system for supplying a liquid (such as an irritant chemical solution) safely. This liquid supplying system comprises: a base on which a container containing liquid is placed; a hollow needle having a spired part; a first movement mechanism that moves the needle between a first needle position at which the spired part is separated from the container and a second needle position at which the spired part is passed through a wall of the container; a hollow tube having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the lumen of the needle; and a second movement mechanism that moves the tube between a first tube position separated from the container and a second tube position at which the tube is passed through the lumen of the needle located at the second needle position and is inserted inside the container.

Abstract: A sterilization system comprises a reaction container configured to receive a sterilization object and sterilize the object; means for supplying peracetic acid as an sterilization agent into the reaction container, the peracid agent including at least peracetic acid; means for reducing a pressure in the reaction container; means for ventilating the reaction container; and means for generating plasma at a first predetermined portion for receiving the sterilization object in the reaction container and a second predetermined portion of a fluid passage from a neighborhood of the first predetermined portion to an exterior of the container. The pressure reducing means and the plasma generating means are controlled so that the plasma is maintained at the predetermined portions in a process during which the pressure in the reaction container is reduced.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a sterilant can be injected into a container without residual water on an object to be sterilized. The method includes decreasing a pressure in the container to a pressure higher than the triple point pressure at which water freezes. The method further includes comparing an actual time required for decreasing the pressure and a reference time, or comparing an actual rate of pressure increase and a reference rate to detect residual water on the object. If the residual water is detected, the pressure in the container is increased to the atmospheric pressure or the quasi-atmospheric pressure and the object is heated, and then the pressure is decreased to drain the residual water through the decompression boiling. The step of draining the residual water is repeatedly performed until no residual water is detected on the object and subsequently the sterilant is injected into the container.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a sterilant can be injected into a container without residual water on an object to be sterilized. The method includes decreasing a pressure in the container to a pressure higher than the triple point pressure at which water freezes. The method further includes comparing an actual time required for decreasing the pressure and a reference time, or comparing an actual rate of pressure increase and a reference rate to detect residual water on the object. If the residual water is detected, the pressure in the container is increased to the atmospheric pressure or the quasi-atmospheric pressure and the object is heated, and then the pressure is decreased to drain the residual water through the decompression boiling. The step of draining the residual water is repeatedly performed until no residual water is detected on the object and subsequently the sterilant is injected into the container.

Abstract: A sterilization system comprises a reaction container configured to receive a sterilization object and sterilize the object; means for supplying peracetic acid as an sterilization agent into the reaction container, the peracid agent including at least peracetic acid; means for reducing a pressure in the reaction container; means for ventilating the reaction container; and means for generating plasma at a first predetermined portion for receiving the sterilization object in the reaction container and a second predetermined portion of a fluid passage from a neighborhood of the first predetermined portion to an exterior of the container. The pressure reducing means and the plasma generating means are controlled so that the plasma is maintained at the predetermined portions in a process during which the pressure in the reaction container is reduced.