METHOD OF REMOVING CHEMICAL STERILANT RESIDUES

摘要

A method of removing residual ethylene oxide from an article exposed to ethylene oxide is provided. The method includes, after exposing the article to ethylene oxide in a sterilization chamber, reducing the concentration of ethylene oxide in the chamber to less than 30,000 ppm; while applying a first negative pressure in the chamber and maintaining a temperature in the chamber between 30-75º C, injecting a quantity of heated water or steam into the chamber; and, after injecting the heated water or steam into the chamber, applying a second negative pressure of less than or equal to 30 kPa in the chamber while maintaining the temperature in the chamber. The first negative pressure is between 10-90 kPa. The quantity of heated water or steam injected into the chamber maintains a relative humidity of at least 40% in the chamber for a period of time.