Apparatus and method for drying instruments using superheated steam

Abstract

An apparatus and method for drying instruments using superheated steam. The apparatus comprises a chamber for receiving the instruments, a distribution means for distributing superheated steam within the chamber and an exhaust means for purging vaporized moisture from the chamber. The chamber has at least one inlet port which is connected to the distribution means. The method comprises sterilizing the instruments using saturated steam generated by the steam generation means and drying the instruments using superheated steam generated by the steam generation means to vaporize moisture within the chamber and purging the vaporized moisture from the chamber using the exhaust means.

1 . An apparatus for drying instruments using superheated steam, comprising:
 a chamber for receiving the instruments, the chamber having at least one inlet port;   a steam generation means to generate superheated steam;   a distribution means connected to the at least one inlet port for distributing superheated steam from the steam generation means, through the inlet port, within the chamber; and   an exhaust means for purging vaporized moisture from the chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust means comprises at least one exhaust port and at least one moisture removal means connected to the at least one exhaust port for removing the vaporized moisture from the chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one moisture removal means comprises a vacuum pump operable to lower the pressure in the chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one moisture removal means comprises a heat exchanger operable to lower the pressure in the chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust means comprises at least one exhaust port and a compressor connected to the at least one inlet port for injecting air into the chamber to flush the vaporized moisture from the chamber via the at least one exhaust port. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one exhaust port is connected to a normally-closed exhaust valve which is opened to purge the vaporized moisture from the chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising two exhaust ports connected to respective exhaust valves for purging the vaporized moisture from the chamber at lower and higher exhaust rates by selectively opening one or both of the two exhaust valves. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution means is a manifold assembly comprising a plurality of distributed steam ports connected by a plurality of interconnected conduits, the plurality of interconnected conduits being connected to the at least one inlet port. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the steam ports are distributed evenly within the chamber. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the steam ports are of varying diameter. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the steam ports are distributed along the plurality of interconnected conduits, the plurality of interconnected conduits being arranged in an H-shape having four leg portions and a bridge portion, the at least one inlet port being connected to the bridge portion. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the steam ports are distributed along the plurality of interconnected conduits, the plurality of interconnected conduits being arranged in a fractal branching arrangement. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the steam ports are distributed along the plurality of interconnected conduits, the plurality of interconnected conduits being arranged in a double H-shape having eight leg portions and a bridge portion, the at least one inlet port being connected to the bridge portion. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the manifold assembly is located in a bottom portion of the chamber. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of interconnected conduits is a plurality of interconnected tubes. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of interconnected conduits is a plurality of interconnected channels. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the channels are created by the coupling of a top manifold plate and a bottom manifold plate, at least one of the top manifold plate and the bottom manifold plate comprising a plurality of interconnecting grooves, and a sealing means disposed between the top manifold plate and the bottom manifold plate to maintain the top manifold plate and the bottom manifold plate in sealing contact when coupled together. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution means is configured to deliver superheated steam of uniform thermal power across the chamber. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is a cassette comprising a tray and a lid for covering and sealing the tray. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a perforated drying rack for supporting and arranging the instruments within the chamber. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the distribution means is integrated into the perforated drying rack. 
   
   
       22 . In a steam sterilization system for the sterilization of medical or dental instruments using saturated steam, an apparatus for drying the instruments using superheated steam comprising:
 a chamber for receiving the instruments, the chamber having at least one inlet port;   a steam generation means to generate superheated steam;   a distribution means connected to the at least one inlet port for distributing superheated steam from the steam generation means, through the inlet port, within the chamber to dry the instruments after the instruments have been sterilized; and   an exhaust means for purging vaporized moisture from the chamber.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the exhaust means comprises at least one exhaust port and at least one moisture removal means connected to the at least one exhaust port for removing the vaporized moisture from the chamber. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one moisture removal means comprises a vacuum pump operable to lower the pressure in the chamber. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one moisture removal means comprises a heat exchanger operable to lower the pressure in the chamber. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the exhaust means comprises at least one exhaust port and a compressor connected to the at least one inlet port for injecting air into the chamber to flush the vaporized moisture from the chamber via the at least one exhaust port. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one exhaust port is connected to a normally-closed exhaust valve which is opened to purge the vaporized moisture from the chamber. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , comprising two exhaust ports connected to respective exhaust valves for purging the vaporize moisture from the chamber at lower and higher exhaust rates by selectively opening one or both of the two exhaust valves. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the distribution means is a manifold assembly comprising a plurality of distributed steam ports connected by a plurality of interconnected conduits, the plurality of interconnected conduits being connected to the at least one inlet port. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the steam ports are of varying diameter. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the chamber comprises a first inlet port for delivering steam to the chamber and a second inlet port for delivering steam to the manifold assembly. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the steam generation means comprises a steam generator and a superheated steam heater. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a directional valve to selectively direct steam from the steam generator to the first inlet port for sterilization of the instruments or from the steam generator to the superheated steam heater and then to the second inlet port via for drying of the instruments. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the steam generation means comprises a steam generator that selectively produces saturated steam for sterilization of the instruments and superheated steam for drying of the instruments by selectively metering a received amount of water from a reservoir. 
   
   
       35 . A method of drying medical or dental instruments using superheated steam in a steam sterilization system, the steam sterilization system having a chamber for receiving the instruments, at least one inlet port for connection to a steam generation means and an exhaust means for purging vaporized moisture from the chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
 sterilizing the instruments using saturated steam generated by the steam generation means; and   drying the instruments using superheated steam generated by the steam generation means to vaporize moisture within the chamber and purging the vaporized moisture from the chamber using the exhaust means.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of drying the instruments using superheated steam is performed by injecting superheated steam into a manifold assembly of the chamber via the at least one inlet port, the manifold assembly having a plurality of steam ports evenly distributed within the chamber which are connected by a plurality of interconnected conduits which are connected to the at least one inlet port. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of flushing the chamber by injecting air through the at least one inlet port into the chamber. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of flushing the chamber is performed after the step of drying the instruments. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of flushing the chamber is commenced during the step of drying the instruments. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of heating the air prior to the step of flushing the chamber. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of preheating a superheated steam heater prior to generating the superheated steam for the step of drying the instruments.