Tso3 Inc.

Technologies of Sterilization with Ozone Tso3, Inc.

Stephane Fournier

Simon Robitaille

Richard Turcot

Sylvie Dufresue

Mario Simard

The sterilization method disclosed includes the steps of

Method and apparatus for ozone sterilization

A method of sterilizing a hollow endoscope having a conduit is disclosed. An end of the endoscope conduit is connected to a sealed vessel such that the endoscope conduit is in fluid communication with the sealed vessel. The endoscope is placed in a sterilization chamber and the chamber sealed. The sterilization chamber is run through sterilization cycles in which the pressure within the chamber is varied. During the pressure variation within the sterilizing chamber, sterilizing gas is drawn from the sterilizing chamber via the endoscope conduit into the vessel. During the pressure variation the inner surface of the endoscope is subjected to sterilizing conditions in addition to the outer surface of the endoscope. In a preferred embodiment the sterilizing conditions are provided for by ozone gas in the presence of a humid atmosphere of at least 95% water saturation. The sterilization process is operatively simple and reduces the chance of human errors caused by false interpretation and handling. The ozone sterilization method of the invention requires substantially no aeration or cooling down of sterilized instruments so that they can be used immediately following the sterilization cycle. The present invention permits hospitals to reduce the costs associated with maintaining an expensive endoscope inventory.

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Levis, Canada

Stephane Fournier