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US-12622988-B2 - Apparatus for plasma sterilization of medical devices

US12622988B2US 12622988 B2US12622988 B2US 12622988B2US-12622988-B2

Abstract

A system for sterilization of a medical device comprising at least one medical device and at least one sterilization device. The sterilization device comprises at least one plasma generator and at least one water source and/or water vapor source for providing water and/or water vapor. The sterilization device is configured to generate plasma-activated water vapor and the system is configured to at least partially conduct the plasma-activated water vapor through the medical device.

Inventors

  • Steffen Pattai
  • Torsten Kurz
  • Lukas Wellmann

Assignees

  • LOEWENSTEIN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY S.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20220830
Priority Date
20210901

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A system for sterilization of a medical device, wherein the system comprises at least one medical device and at least one sterilization device, the at least one sterilization device comprising at least one plasma generator and at least one water source and/or water vapor source for providing water and/or water vapor and being configured to generate plasma-activated water vapor, and the system being configured to at least partially conduct the plasma-activated water vapor through the medical device, the medical device being a ventilator which comprises at least one patient gas pass and the system being configured to at least partially conduct the plasma-activated water vapor through the patient gas pass.
  2. 2 . A system for sterilization of a medical device, wherein the system comprises at least one medical device and at least one sterilization device, the at least one sterilization device comprising at least one plasma generator and at least one water source and/or water vapor source for providing water and/or water vapor and being configured to generate plasma-activated water vapor, and the system being configured to at least partially conduct the plasma-activated water vapor through the medical device, the system further comprising a waste gas treatment device which is configured and designed to treat the plasma-activated water vapor.
  3. 3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the waste gas treatment device comprises at least a filter and/or a plasma generator.
  4. 4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the waste gas treatment device is configured and designed to filter out active species from the plasma-activated water vapor.
  5. 5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the waste gas treatment device is configured and designed to convert long-lived active species into short-lived species.
  6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sterilization device is integrated into the ventilator.
  7. 7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ventilator comprises a respiratory gas source which is connected to the at least one sterilization device and is configured to supply the at least one sterilization device with working gas.
  8. 8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sterilization device is connectable to an expiration port and/or an inspiration port of the patient gas pass for sterilization and the system is configured and designed in such a way that, during the sterilization, plasma-activated water vapor is conducted from the at least one sterilization device into the patient gas pass through the expiration port and/or the inspiration port.
  9. 9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sterilization device is connected to the patient gas pass during the sterilization in such a way that the plasma-activated water vapor is conducted into the patient gas pass through the expiration port and is conducted out of the patient gas pass through the inspiration port, the patient gas pass being designed and configured in such a way that the plasma-activated water vapor flows through the entire patient gas pass during flow from expiration port to inspiration port.
  10. 10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ventilator comprises a suction unit which is configured and designed to suck the plasma-activated water vapor through the patient gas pass.
  11. 11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein there is integrated into the ventilator a waste gas treatment device which is configured and designed to treat the plasma- activated water vapor which is conducted out of the patient gas pass through an inspiration port and/or an expiration port.
  12. 12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sterilization device and the waste gas treatment device are connected to the patient gas pass within the ventilator in such a way that plasma-activated water vapor flows through the entire patient gas pass during the sterilization.
  13. 13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sterilization device is configured to convey the plasma-activated water vapor through the patient gas pass.
  14. 14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a user interface is arranged in the system and a duration and/or a mode of sterilization is settable via the user interface.
  15. 15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ventilator is configured to check the requirements at the start of sterilization and to enable the sterilization only when all the requirements have been met.
  16. 16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sterilization device is configured to provide a permanent stream of plasma-activated water vapor and/or to convey it through a patient gas pass in a first sterilization mode or is configured to provide a pulsed stream of plasma-activated water vapor and/or to convey it through the patient gas pass in a second sterilization mode.
  17. 17 . A system for sterilization of a medical device, wherein the system comprises at least one medical device and at least one sterilization device, the at least one sterilization device comprising at least one plasma generator and at least one water source and/or water vapor source for providing water and/or water vapor and being configured to generate plasma-activated water vapor, and the system being configured to at least partially conduct the plasma-activated water vapor through the medical device, the at least one medical device being an incubator which comprises at least one incubation space comprising at least one supply line and one discharge line and plasma-activated water vapor is being conducted into the incubation space via the supply line and being discharged via the discharge line.
  18. 18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein there is arranged in the incubator at least one circulation unit which is configured to circulate the plasma-activated water vapor in the incubation space.
  19. 19 . A method for sterilizing a ventilator, wherein the ventilator is sterilized by operating the system of claim 1 .
  20. 20 . A method for sterilizing an incubator, wherein the incubator is sterilized by operating the system of claim 17 .

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Patent Application Nos. 102021004434.7, filed Sep. 1, 2021, and 102021004655.2, filed Sep. 14, 2021, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an apparatus and method for sterilizing medical devices. 2. Discussion of Background Information Besides the therapy of sleeping conditions, ventilators are commonly also used in the clinical setting, especially for respiratory diseases. It is unavoidable that parts of the gas-conducting components, for example the patient gas lines, become contaminated. Even if there is no contamination by pathogens, hygiene treatment of the ventilators is necessary after use. Known methods for hygiene treatment are frequently complex and time-intensive and often also require at least partial dismantling of the devices. Moreover, the cleaning methods are frequently complicated and require aggressive chemicals for sufficient treatment to be achieved. Accordingly, the devices are not available for a relatively long time after use. In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to have available a ventilation device that can be treated in a cost-effective manner and with little effort. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a system for sterilization of a medical device, comprising at least one medical device and at least one sterilization device, wherein the sterilization device comprises at least one plasma generator and at least one water source and/or water vapor source for provision of water and/or water vapor. The sterilization device is designed to generate plasma-activated water vapor and the system is configured to at least partially conduct the plasma-activated water vapor through the medical device. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the medical device is a ventilator, wherein the ventilator comprises at least one patient gas pass and the system is configured to at least partially conduct the plasma-activated water vapor through the patient gas pass. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the system comprises a waste gas treatment which is configured and designed to treat the plasma-activated water vapor. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the waste gas treatment comprises at least one filter and/or one plasma generator. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the waste gas treatment is configured and designed to filter out active species from the plasma-activated water vapor. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the waste gas treatment is configured and designed to convert long-lived active species into short-lived species. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the sterilization device is integrated into the ventilator. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the ventilator comprises a respiratory gas source, wherein the respiratory gas source is connected to the sterilization device and is configured to supply the sterilization device with working gas. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the sterilization device is connectable to an expiration port and/or an inspiration port of the patient gas pass for sterilization and the system is configured and designed in such a way that, during the sterilization, plasma-activated water vapor is conducted from the sterilization device into the patient gas pass through the expiration port and/or the inspiration port. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the sterilization device is connected to the patient gas pass during the sterilization in such a way that the plasma-activated water vapor is conducted into the patient gas pass through the expiration port and is conducted out of the patient gas pass through the inspiration port, wherein the patient gas pass is designed and configured in such a way that the plasma-activated water vapor flows through the entire patient gas pass during the flow from expiration port to inspiration port. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the ventilator comprises a suction unit which is configured and designed to suck the plasma-activated water vapor through the patient gas pass. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that there is integrated into the ventilator a waste gas treatment which is configured and designed to treat the plasma-activated water vapor which is conducted out of the patient gas pass through the inspiration port and/or the expiration port. In some embodiments, the system is characterized in that the sterilization device and the waste gas treatment are connected to the patient gas pass within the ventilator in such a way that plasma-activated water vapor flows through the entire patient gas pass during the sterilization. In some embodiments, th