MONITORING OF STERILANT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING STERILANT

摘要

A monitor of the concentration of an oxidative gas or vapor comprises a chemical coupled to a temperature probe, such as by a carrier. By utilizing an output signal from the temperature probe to measure the heat produced in an exothermic reaction between the monitored oxidative gas or vapor and the chemical of the monitor, the concentration of the monitored oxidative gas or vapor can be determined. The present invention represents an improvement over the monitors described in the prior art since it is more simplified, and can provide information on the local concentration of an oxidative gas or vapor at various positions within a chamber, and can be operated in size-restricted volumes. Additionally, a method of using the monitor is described, as well as a sterilization system which utilizes the monitor.