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Sterilization Method for Medical Container Using Microwave‐Excited Volume‐Wave Plasma
Author(s) -
Nagatsu Masaaki,
Zhao Ying,
Motrescu Iuliana,
Mizutani Ryota,
Fujioka Yuya,
Ogino Akihisa
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201100111
Subject(s) - microwave , sterilization (economics) , plasma , materials science , excited state , volume (thermodynamics) , microwave irradiation , container (type theory) , analytical chemistry (journal) , atomic physics , chemistry , chromatography , composite material , thermodynamics , physics , quantum mechanics , monetary economics , economics , foreign exchange market , foreign exchange
We demonstrate a novel sterilization technique that sterilizes medical instruments stored in medical containers by generating a microwave‐excited volume‐wave plasma inside medical containers using a planar microwave launcher. We confirmed that a plasma was generated inside the medical container by the microwaves transmitted through the heat‐resistant plastic lid of the container. A Langmuir probe was used to study the characteristics of the microwave‐excited volume‐wave plasma generated inside the container. The inactivation characteristics of Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores set inside the medical container were also investigated. 2.3 × 10 6 spores were inactivated after irradiation for 40 min or longer by a plasma generated in a simulated air mixture. This inactivation time could be reduced to 30 min by adding water vapor to the air‐simulated plasma.