Abstract: A particularly useful method is disclosed for sterilizing micro-isolators in which a sipper bottle is contained. In the present invention, sterilization is effected by using a microprocessor control to regulate the pressure within a sterilization chamber in response to temperature conditions. Pressure within the chamber is regulated so that as temperature is raised and lowered, the boiling point of water in the sipper bottle is never exceeded. Prior to sterilization, the chamber is evacuated of air to permit effective distribution of steam. Subsequent to sterilization, the chamber is again evacuated in order to evaporate condensed steam that covers the micro-isolator and its contents. During each of these evacuations, the microprocessor control regulates the rate of vacuum draw down so that the boiling point of water in the sipper bottle is again not exceeded. This method permits micro-isolators to be sterilized with sipper bottles full of water, without losing a significant volume of water.

Abstract: A steam sterilization cycle having a conditioning stage, a sterilizing stage, a drying stage and an air admission stage which provides maximum removal of entrapped air from full or partial porous loads. The conditioning stage includes a plurality of pressure/vacuum pulses. The final vacuum pulses are deeper than the initial pulses. The sterilizing stage includes a diffusion dwell come-up which gradually increases the temperature and pressure of the chamber to the predetermined sterilization temperature by a sequence of pressure rises followed by pressure plateaus which permit substantially complete steam penetration of the load and substantial equalization of the actual load temperature and the temperature sensed by the sterilizer controls and substantially eliminates superheating the chamber. The cycle may also include a step for detecting and reacting to unacceptable levels of noncondensable gas present in the chamber during the sterilization stage.

Abstract: A rapid sterilization evaluator and test apparatus having a media chamber and a work chamber. The media chamber is connected to the work chamber by a valve apparatus that can be opened from outside the media chamber when the work chamber is sealed so that the media conditions can be almost instantly established in the work chamber. Then, after a proper exposure period, the valve can be closed and the media chamber sealed off from the work chamber so that the work may be removed from the work chamber.