The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 02, 2021
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2017
3m Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Caleb T. Nelson, Woodbury, MN (US);
Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Woodbury, MN (US);
Matthew T. Scholz, Woodbury, MN (US);
Petra L. Kohler Riedi, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Steven P. Swanson, Blaine, MN (US);
Nardine S. Abadeer, Columbus, OH (US);
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A system and methods for sterilizing or disinfecting articles, particularly the hollow internal areas of medical instruments are disclosed. The system includes a plasma generator having an electrode, a shield, and a dielectric gap between the electrode and the shield. A source of electrical power is connected to the plasma generator for applying an electron energy density between the electrode and the shield. A source of gas comprising water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen provides a flow of gas between the electrode and the shield, to form a plasma containing acidic and/or oxidizing species. In the exemplary system, the temperature at the shield's surface is <150° C. when the electron energy density is >0.05 eV/molecule of the gas. Also disclosed is a method for disinfecting an article contaminated with a bio-film or spores, by exposing the contaminated article to the plasma for an exposure time sufficient to achieve at least 2-logreduction in colony forming units.