FORM2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STERILIZATION OF OBJECTS
2. Applicant(s)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
PHARMALAB INDIA PVT.
LTD.
Indian Kasturi, Sanghvi Estate, Govandi
Station Road, Govandi (E), Mumbai
Maharashtra 400 088, India
3. Preamble to the description
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STERILIZATION OF OBJECTS
BACKGROUND
[0001] In general, re-usable medical devices such as certain surgical
instruments, endoscopes, etc., may be sterilized with a principal sterilizing
5 agent to destroy or eliminate all forms of microbial life before re-use in
order to minimize the likelihood that a contaminated device might be used
on a patient, which could cause an infection in the patient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
10 [0002] The following detailed description references the drawings,
wherein:
[0003] FIG.1 shows a block diagram of a system for producing
Hydrogen Peroxide in situ for sterilization of objects, according to an
example;
15 [0004] FIG.2 shows a schematic diagram of a drying unit, according to
an example; and
[0005] FIG.3 shows a flow diagram of a method for producing Hydrogen
Peroxide in situ for sterilization of objects, according to an example.
20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] Re-usable medical devices such as certain surgical instruments,
may be sterilized using a vaporised hydrogen peroxide sterilization. The
vaporised hydrogen peroxide sterilization is a low temperature sterilization
generally used to sterilize heat-sensitive devices, such as medical
25 devices. The sterilization is done before re-use to ensure that a
contaminated device is not used on a patient. In the hydrogen peroxide
sterilization, vapor of hydrogen peroxide is filled in a sterilizing chamber,
where the medical devices to be sterilized are placed. Further, exposed

surfaces of the medical devices contact the vapors of the hydrogen
peroxide for the sterilization. After completing the hydrogen peroxide
sterilization, the vapors are evacuated from the sterilizing chamber and
converted to water and oxygen molecules.
5 [0007] Liquid hydrogen peroxide is flammable and can explode in case
of any accident during the transportation from one location to another.
Handling of highly concentrated liquid hydrogen peroxide is hazardous
and cause injuries if the highly concentrated liquid hydrogen peroxide
comes in contact with humans or animals. Therefore, highly concentrated
10 hydrogen peroxide is not possible to be transported and handled directly
for use in the sterilization processes.
[0008] Commonly, for the hydrogen peroxide sterilization, the hydrogen
peroxide used is an aqueous solution having a concentration of 30-35% of
the hydrogen peroxide. However, use of such a low concentration of 30-
15 35% of the hydrogen peroxide results in high consumption of the hydrogen
peroxide solution. Also, the duration of the hydrogen peroxide sterilization
with such a concentration of the hydrogen peroxide solution may take
several hours.
[0009] The present subject matter describes example systems and
20 methods for producing Hydrogen Peroxide in situ for sterilization of
objects. In the example systems and methods described herein, ultra-pure
vapor of hydrogen peroxide of high concentration can be obtained.
[0010] To perform a hydrogen peroxide sterilization of an object,
particularly, a medical device, the object is placed inside a vacuum
25 chamber. In an example, the medical device may be a scalpel, a flow
probe, an endoscope, etc. In an example, multiple medical devices may
be placed inside the vacuum chamber. After placing the object inside the
vacuum chamber, a pumping unit supplies a Hydrogen Peroxide solution
of 30-35% concentration at a prespecified pressure and a prespecified
30 rate to a vaporizing unit, which is connected to the pumping unit. Further,

aqueous content of the pressurized Hydrogen Peroxide solution is
vaporized to fine water vapors by the vaporizing unit. The fine water
vapors of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution flow to a drying unit connected
to the vaporizing unit. The fine water vapors enable convenient flow to the
5 Hydrogen Peroxide solution without blocking the path. Further, a purging
procedure is performed on the vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide solution. The
purging procedure is performed by the drying unit to extract water vapors
from the vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide solution. The drying unit is
connected to the vaporizing unit. The water vapors are extracted until the
10 resulting concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide have reached a target
concentration value in a range of 90-95%. The concentrated Hydrogen
Peroxide having the target concentration value in the range of 90-95% is
received by the vacuum chamber, in which the objects to be sterilized are
placed, for the sterilizing the objects.
15 [0011] Further, the pumping unit, the vaporizing unit, and the drying unit
are connected to a control unit, which regulates each of the pumping unit,
the vaporizing unit, and the drying unit. In an example, the control unit
regulates the pumping unit to supply the Hydrogen Peroxide solution at
the prespecified pressure and the prespecified flow rate. In an example,
20 the control unit regulates the vaporizing unit to vaporize the aqueous
content of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution into fine water vapors. In an
example, the control unit regulates the drying unit to perform the purging
procedure on the input volume of the vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide
solution to obtain the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide having the target
25 concentration value in the range of 90-95%.
[0012] The vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide solution avoids inconsistency
of flow and contamination of the hydrogen peroxide. Before entering the
vacuum chamber, the hydrogen peroxide solution is free of humidity. Also,
gases, particles and water vapors are separated from the Hydrogen
30 Peroxide solution entering to the vacuum chamber. The concentrated

Hydrogen Peroxide having the target concentration value in the range of
90-95% is ultra-pure and ensures efficient sterilization of the objects
placed inside the vacuum chamber in a quick time. The high concentration
of the Hydrogen Peroxide is produced in situ using the Hydrogen Peroxide
5 solution of 30-35% concentration, thus such a high concentration does not
cause any injury to a user carrying out the hydrogen peroxide sterilization.
[0013] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would
be described in a greater detail in conjunction with the FIGS. 1-2 in the
following description. The manner in which the machine tool is
10 implemented and used shall be explained in detail with respect to the
FIGS. 1-2.
[0014] It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the
principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that
those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that,
15 although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the
present subject matter and are included within its scope. Furthermore, all
examples recited herein are intended only to aid the reader in
understanding the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all
statements herein reciting principles, aspects and implementations of the
20 present subject matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended
to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0015] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying
drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in
the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar
25 parts. While several examples are described in the description,
modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible.
Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosed
examples. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosed examples may be
defined by the appended claims.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system 100 for producing
Hydrogen Peroxide in situ for sterilization of objects, according to an
example. The system 100 is used for sterilization of objects, particularly
re-usable medical devices using Hydrogen Peroxide and ultraviolet
5 radiations. Example of medical devices include, but is not limited to,
endoscopes, scalpels, catheters, medical implants, etc. The system 100
can be used in healthcare, semiconductor, pharma, hygienic sterilization,
decontamination and plasma etching and other similar process. The
system 100 includes a storage tank 102. The storage tank 102 may be a
10 tank that can store a fluid, for example, Hydrogen Peroxide solution. The
storage tank 102 can store a Hydrogen Peroxide solution of concentration
in a range of 30-35%. The storage tank 102 may have any shape and can
be made of a material that can withstand chemical properties of the
Hydrogen Peroxide solution.
15 [0017] The system 100 further includes a pumping unit 104 having a
first inlet (not shown) and a first outlet (not shown). The pumping unit 104
is a pump that can dispense an accurate volume of the Hydrogen
Peroxide solution with a prespecified flow rate and a prespecified
pressure. The first inlet of the pumping unit 104 is connected to the
20 storage tank 102 to intake the stored Hydrogen Peroxide solution from the
storage tank 102. In an example, the pumping unit 104 is a solenoid
driven diaphragm pump which can dispense an accurate volume of 15
microliters of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution per stroke. In an example,
the volume of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution to be dispensed by the
25 pumping unit 104 can be adjusted between approximately 5 and 17
microliters thus allowing the pumping unit 104 to be calibrated to fit the
parameters for the sterilization of any quantity of the objects. The pumping
unit 104 can be operated between 0-20 Hz. The pumping unit 104 is selfpriming and is capable of pumping both liquids and gases. The pumping
30 unit 104 has high repeatability and has stable pumping characteristics
6
over the entire lifetime. In an example, the pumping unit 104 has a
maximum operating pressure 1 bar.
[0018] The system 100 further includes a diffuser 106 having a second
inlet (not shown) and a second outlet (not shown). The diffuser 106 is to
5 uniformly maintain the flow of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution in the
system 100. The second inlet of the diffuser 106 is connected to the first
outlet of the pumping unit 104 to receive the pressurized Hydrogen
Peroxide solution from the pumping unit 104. The diffuser 106 further
diffuses the pressurized Hydrogen Peroxide solution via the second outlet
10 in such a manner that the liquid particle formation of the pressurized
Hydrogen Peroxide solution must take place slowly and gradually. In an
example, the diffuser 106 may be a porous metal diffuser. The porous
metal diffuser maintains a laminar flow of the pressurized Hydrogen
Peroxide solution. Such a laminar flow results in a minimal displacement
15 of the particles in the pressurized Hydrogen Peroxide solution during the
sterilization. The diffuser 106 includes a diffuser element (not shown)
made of sintered stainless steel or nickel membrane filter. In an example,
a housing (not shown) of the diffuser 106 may be made of 316L stainless
steel. The diffuser 106 may operate at a maximum operating temperature
20 of 100 degree Celsius. In an example, the diffuser 106 may diffuse the
pressurized Hydrogen Peroxide solution with a maximum differential
pressure of 4 bar.
[0019] The system 100 further includes a nozzle 108 having a third inlet
(not shown) and a third outlet (not shown). The third inlet of the nozzle 108
25 is connected with the second outlet of the diffuser 106. The third inlet of
the nozzle 108 receives the diffused Hydrogen Peroxide solution from the
diffuser 106 and then converts the the diffused Hydrogen Peroxide
solution to atomized spray. In an example, the nozzle 108 is a misting
nozzle for atomized spray of the diffused Hydrogen Peroxide solution with
30 uniform droplet size, consistent spray angles, and at lower pressures. The
7
misting nozzle may include an integrated filter (not shown) to minimize
clogging of the misting nozzle. Thereby, maximizing the life of the misting
nozzle. In an example, the misting nozzle may be made of stainless steel
316. In an example, the misting nozzle may generate a maximum flow of
5 1000 millilitres per hour and a maximum pressure of 3 bar. The misting
nozzle is characterized by their very small droplet size and relatively small
flow rate. The pressure of the incoming Hydrogen Peroxide solution is
used to drive the atomization process. Higher pressure of the incoming
Hydrogen Peroxide solution produces increasingly finer droplets.
10 [0020] In an example, the nozzle 108 may be an ultrasonic nozzle. The
ultrasonic nozzle is operated by converting high frequency sound waves
into mechanical energy that is transferred into a liquid, creating standing
waves. As the liquid exits the atomizing surface of the ultrasonic nozzle, it
is broken into a fine mist of uniform micron sized droplets. Unlike the
15 misting nozzle, the ultrasonic nozzle does not force the Hydrogen
Peroxide solution through a small orifice using the high pressure in order
to produce a spray. In the ultrasonic nozzle, the Hydrogen Peroxide
solution is fed, without pressure, through a center of the ultrasonic nozzle
with a relatively large orifice and is atomized due to ultrasonic vibrations in
20 the ultrasonic nozzle. The power required to operate the ultrasonic nozzle
is between 1 and 8 Watts.
[0021] The system 100 further includes a vaporizing unit 110 having a
fourth inlet (not shown) and a fourth outlet (not shown). The fourth inlet of
the vaporizing unit 110 is connected to the third outlet of the nozzle 108.
25 The vaporizing unit 110 is to vaporize the atomized spray of the Hydrogen
Peroxide solution received from the nozzle 108. The vaporizing unit 110
may include a flow control valve (not shown) and a vaporization chamber
(not shown). The flow control valve controls the flow of the atomized spray
of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution received at the fourth inlet of the
30 vaporizing unit 110 so that a desired amount of the Hydrogen Peroxide
8
solution is dispended to the vaporization chamber. In the vaporization
chamber, the atomized spray of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution
dispended from the flow control valve is converted into vapors. The vapors
of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution do not form scales inside inner surfaces
5 of the system, which would have otherwise formed, and the system may
be chocked due to such scales. The vaporizing unit 110 is configured to
operate at a maximum operating temperature of 150 degree Celsius. The
vaporizing unit 110 has a wetted surface made of 316L stainless steel.
The vaporizing unit 110 may include a piezo control valve to control the
10 vapor dispense from the vaporizing unit 110. The vaporizing unit 110 may
generate a maximum flow rate of 0.5 cubic centimetres per minute. The
vaporizing unit 110 of the system 100 is formed to measure either the
Hydrogen Peroxide solution before or the vapor after the vapor conversion
by a mass flow rate, so that the rate is not affected by pressure or
15 temperature changes.
[0022] The system 100 further includes a drying unit 112 having a fifth
inlet (not shown in FIG.1) and a fifth outlet (not shown in FIG.1). The
drying unit 112 is explained in detail in FIG.2. FIG.2 shows a schematic
diagram of the drying unit 110, according to an example. The fifth inlet 202
20 and the fifth outlet 204 of the drying unit 112 are shown in FIG.2. The fifth
inlet 202 of the drying unit 112 is connected to the fourth outlet of the
vaporizing unit 110 to receive the Hydrogen Peroxide solution in vaporized
form. Further, the drying unit 112 includes a purge gas inlet 206 and a
purge gas outlet 208. The purge gas inlet 206 is disposed distal to the fifth
25 inlet 202 to receive a dry purge gas. The dry purge gas gets passthrough
annular section of the outer wall of an inner membrane nano tube with the
vaporized form of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution so that the aqueous
content of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution is absorbed by the dry purge
gas through the membrane wall. After absorbing the aqueous content, the
30 purge gas becomes wet, and the Hydrogen Peroxide reaches up to a
target concentration value of 90-95%. The purge gas outlet 208 is
9
disposed proximal to the fifth inlet 202 to output the wet purge gas after
the purging procedure. Further, the fifth outlet 204 is to output the dried
and concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide after the purging procedure. In an
example, the drying unit 112 is a Nafion vapor dryer.
5 [0023] Returning to FIG.1, the system 100 includes an isolation valve
114 and a vacuum chamber 116 having a sixth inlet (not shown) and a
sixth outlet (not shown). The isolation valve 114 is disposed between the
drying unit 112 and the vacuum chamber 116 for isolating the drying unit
112 from the vacuum chamber 116 so that the dried and concentrated
10 Hydrogen Peroxide can flow into the vacuum chamber 116 as per the
requirement.
[0024] The sixth inlet of the vacuum chamber 116 is connected to the
drying unit via the isolation valve 114 to receive the dried and
concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide. In an example, the vacuum chamber
15 116 is made of 316L Stainless Steel or Aluminum. The vacuum chamber
116 includes an inner surface (not shown) having a surface finish of 0.4
micrometres. The surface finish of 0.4 micrometres is equivalent to mirror
finish. In one example, the vacuum chamber 116 may include a single
door, which is openable to place the objects for the sterilization and to
20 remove the sterilized objects. In one example, the vacuum chamber 116
may include double doors, which are openable to place the objects for the
sterilization and to remove the sterilized objects. In one example, the
vacuum chamber 116 has a volume in a range of 40 to 1000 litres. The
door of the vacuum chamber 116 is one of a slidably operated door, a
25 hinge operated door, and a magnetic cylinder operated door.
[0025] In an example, the vacuum chamber 116 includes an ultraviolet
lamp 118 disposed inside the vacuum chamber 116. The ultraviolet lamp
118 is to emit high energy cold ultraviolet radiations. Such high energy
cold ultraviolet radiations are for drying water films deposited on inner
30 surfaces of the vacuum chamber 116 and for breaking the residual
10
molecules of the Hydrogen Peroxide, which are not broken by vacuum
inside the vacuum chamber. In addition, the high energy cold ultraviolet
radiations are for sterilizing cavities of the objects where the Hydrogen
Peroxide is not reachable. Therefore, the objects are completely sterilized
5 due to the combination of the highly concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide and
the high energy cold ultraviolet radiations. The high energy cold ultraviolet
radiations in the vacuum at 185nm (approximately 6.7 eV), which
corresponds to the resonant frequency of H2O, is used to quickly dissolve
the molecular bonds on the substrate, after which the free gaseous
10 molecules can be extracted. Such a process is highly efficient due to the
extremely high photon yield of the sources composed of a special
synthetic quartz glass.
[0026] The system 100 further includes a control unit 120 connected to
the pumping unit 104, the vaporizing unit 110, and the drying unit 112. The
15 control unit 120 regulates respective operations of the pumping unit 104,
the vaporizing unit 110, and the drying unit 112 simultaneously for
producing the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide with the target
concentration value in the range of 90-95%. For example, the control unit
120 regulates the pumping unit 104 to supply the Hydrogen Peroxide
20 solution at the prespecified pressure and the prespecified rate. Further,
the control unit 120 regulates the vaporizing unit 110 to vaporize the
aqueous content of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution into fine water vapors.
The control unit 120 further regulates the drying unit 112 to perform the
purging procedure on the input volume of the vaporized Hydrogen
25 Peroxide solution to obtain the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide having
the target concentration value in the range of 90-95%.
[0027] The control unit 120 may include a processing resource. The
processing resource may include microprocessors, microcomputers,
microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state
30 machines, logic circuitries, and/or any other devices that manipulate
11
signals and data based on computer-readable instructions. Further,
functions of the various elements shown in the figures, including any
functional blocks labelled as “processor(s)”, may be provided through the
use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing
5 computer-readable instructions.
[0028] The system 100 further includes a vacuum pump 122 connected
to the vacuum chamber 116 and the drying unit 112. The vacuum pump
122 is connected to the sixth outlet of the vacuum chamber 116 so that
when the sterilization is complete, the vacuum pump 122 operates to
10 evacuate hydrogen peroxide vapors from the vacuum chamber 116 and
venting out from an outlet of the vacuum pump 122 connected to a
catalytic converter 124 to avoid any residual hydrogen peroxide particles.
In addition, the vacuum pump 122 is connected to the purge gas outlet
(not shown in FIG.1) of the drying unit 112.
15 [0029] Further, the system 100 includes a spectrometer 126. The
spectrometer 126 is used to separate and measure spectral components
of a physical phenomenon, for example, sterilization of the objects in the
system 100. The spectrometer 126 is connected to the control unit 120
and the ultraviolet lamp 118, to monitor the sterilization of the objects in
20 the vacuum chamber 116 using the ultraviolet radiations inside the
vacuum chamber 116. In an example, the spectrometer 126 is one of a
HR4000 Composite-grating Spectrometer and a 200-1100 nm High
Resolution Spectrometer. The spectrometer 126 may be connected to a
spectroscopy software with a graphical user interface to view and control
25 the complete sterilization process by analyzing the water vapors and
Hydrogen Peroxide concentration inside the vacuum chamber 116. The
spectrometer 126 can efficiently monitor all kinds of gases and vapors
before and after the cleaning or cold sterilization process.
[0030] In an example, data, such as that related to the analysis of the
30 water vapors and the Hydrogen Peroxide concentration may be stored in a

storage device (not shown) coupled to the control unit 120. The storage
device may include any non-transitory computer-readable medium
including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random-access
memory (SRAM) and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and/or
5 non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM), erasable
programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and
magnetic tapes. The storage device may store an activity data. In an
example, the activity data includes the Hydrogen Peroxide concentration
inside the vacuum chamber 116.
10 [0031] In an example, the system 100 includes interface(s) (not shown).
The interface(s) may include a variety of interfaces, for example,
interface(s) for users. The interface(s) may include data output devices.
The interface(s) may facilitate the communication of the system 100 with
various communication and electronic devices. In an example, the
15 interface(s) may enable wireless communications between the system 100
and one or more other computing devices (not shown).
[0032] In case the objects placed inside the vacuum chamber 116 are
identified as non-sterilized by the control unit 120 based on the monitoring
by the spectrometer 126, the control unit is to further regulate the pumping
20 unit 104, the vaporizing unit 110, and the drying unit 112 for adequately
sterilizing the non-sterilized objects.
[0033] In an example, the system 100 may include a vacuum degasser
(not shown) disposed between the pumping unit 104 and the diffuser 106.
The vacuum degasser removes the dissolved gases from the Hydrogen
25 Peroxide solution by applying vacuum to a semi- permeable membrane.
For this, the Hydrogen Peroxide solution flows through a short length of a
Teflon capillary inside a sealed chamber of the vacuum degasser. The
sealed chamber is completely sealed to the environment and vacuum is
applied with a pump (not shown). In an example, the pump may be a
30 vacuum pump. Due to this vacuum any dissolved gases in the Hydrogen

Peroxide solution running through the Teflon capillary are removed
through its semi-permeable membrane wall. The high efficiency of the
Teflon material allows the usage of a very short length of capillary inside
the sealed chamber.
5 [0034] In an example, the system 100 may include a filter (not shown)
the pumping unit 104 and the drying unit 112 for separating solid
impurities from the Hydrogen Peroxide solution. In an example, the filter is
disposed between the pumping unit 104 and the diffuser 106. The filter
may filter impurities of 0.1 to 5 microns.
10 [0035] During operation of the system 100, when the control unit 120
determines that the objects, such as medical devices, to be sterilized are
placed inside the vacuum chamber 116, the control unit 120 regulates the
supply of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution of 30-35% concentration at the
prespecified pressure and the prespecified flow rate from the pumping unit
15 104 to the vaporizing unit 110. During the supply of the Hydrogen
Peroxide solution of 30-35% concentration from the pumping unit 104 to
the vaporizing unit 110, the Hydrogen Peroxide solution is diffused by the
diffuser 106 and further an atomized spray of the Hydrogen Peroxide
solution having a uniform droplet size is generated by the nozzle 108. The
20 control unit 120 further regulates the vaporization of the received atomized
spray of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution by the vaporizing unit for
vaporizing aqueous content of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution into fine
water vapors. Further, the control unit 120 regulates the purging
procedure by the drying unit 112 on an input volume of the vaporized
25 Hydrogen Peroxide solution to extract the water vapors therefrom until the
resulting concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide have reached the target
concentration value in the range of 90-95%. Further, the vacuum chamber
116 receives the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide from the drying unit
112 via the isolation valve 114 for sterilizing the objects placed inside the
30 vacuum chamber 116. In addition, the ultraviolet lamp 118 emitting high

energy cold ultraviolet radiations dries the water films deposited on inner
surfaces of the vacuum chamber, sterilizes cavities of the objects where
the Hydrogen Peroxide is not reachable, and breaks the residual
molecules of the Hydrogen Peroxide, which are not broken by vacuum
5 inside the vacuum chamber. While sterilizing the objects placed inside the
vacuum chamber 116, the vacuum chamber 116 is monitored by the
spectrometer 126 and monitoring data is communicated to the control unit
120. In case the objects are identified as non-sterilized by the control unit
120 based on the monitoring, the control unit 120 is to further regulate the
10 pumping unit 104, the vaporizing unit 110, and the drying unit 112 for
efficiently sterilizing the objects placed inside the vacuum chamber 116.
[0036] FIG.3 shows a flow diagram of a method 300 for producing
Hydrogen Peroxide in situ for sterilization of objects, according to an
example. The order in which the method 300 is described is not intended
15 to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described steps
may be combined in any order to implement the method 300, or an
alternative method. Further, certain steps have been omitted in the flow
diagram for the sake of brevity and clarity. It may be noted that the method
300 is described with respect to the system 100.
20 [0037] Referring to FIG.3, at step 302, the objects are placed inside the
vacuum chamber 116 by opening the door of the vacuum chamber 116. In
an example, the objects are medical devices, such as endoscopes. In an
example, the objects may be manually placed inside the vacuum chamber
116. In an example, the objects may be placed inside the vacuum
25 chamber 116 using a robotic arm. After placing the objects inside the
vacuum chamber 116, the door of the vacuum chamber 116 is closed
either manually or electronically.
[0038] At step 304, a supply of a Hydrogen Peroxide solution of 30-35%
concentration from the pumping unit 104 is regulated by the control unit
30 120. The control unit 120 regulates the pumping unit 104 such that the

Hydrogen Peroxide solution is further supplied at a prespecified pressure
and a prespecified rate from the pumping unit 104 to the vaporizing unit
110.
[0039] At step 306, the control unit 120 regulates the purging procedure
5 by the drying unit 112 on an input volume of the vaporized Hydrogen
Peroxide solution to extract the water vapors therefrom until the resulting
concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide have reached the target concentration
value in the range of 90-95%. Such a high concentration of the Hydrogen
Peroxide is difficult to use if transported from other location to the
10 sterilization location.
[0040] At step 308, the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide is received in
the vacuum chamber. After receiving the concentrated Hydrogen
Peroxide, the objects placed inside the vacuum chamber are sterilized
using the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide.
15 [0041] Although implementations for the system 100 and the method
are described, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not
necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific
features are disclosed as implementations.

I/We Claim:
1. A system (100) for producing Hydrogen Peroxide in situ for sterilization
of objects, the system (100) comprising:
a pumping unit (104) to supply a Hydrogen Peroxide solution of 30-
5 35% concentration at a prespecified pressure and a prespecified rate;
a vaporizing unit (110), connected to the pumping unit (104), to
vaporize the pressurized Hydrogen Peroxide solution;
a drying unit (112), connected to the vaporizing unit (110), to receive
the vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide to perform a purging procedure on an
10 input volume of the vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide solution to extract the
water vapors therefrom until the resulting concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide
have reached a target concentration value in a range of 90-95%; and
a vacuum chamber (116), connected to the drying unit (112), to
receive the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide for the sterilization of the
15 objects.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100)
comprises a control unit (120) connected to the pumping unit (104), the
vaporizing unit (100), and the drying unit (112), wherein the control unit
(120) is to:
20 regulate the pumping unit (104) to supply the Hydrogen
Peroxide solution at the prespecified pressure and the prespecified
rate;
regulate the vaporizing unit (110) to vaporize the aqueous
content of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution into fine water vapours;
25 and
regulate the drying unit (112) to perform the purging procedure
on the input volume of the vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide solution to

obtain the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide having the target
concentration value in the range of 90-95%.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drying unit (112)
comprises:
5 a fifth inlet (202) connected to the vaporizing unit (110) to receive the
vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide solution;
a purge gas inlet (206) disposed distal to the fifth inlet (202) to
receive a dry purge gas;
a purge gas outlet (208) disposed proximal to the fifth inlet (202) to
10 output a wet purge gas during the purging procedure; and
a fifth outlet (204), connecting the drying unit (110) to the vacuum
chamber, to output the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide to the vacuum
chamber after the purging procedure.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the system (100)
15 comprises an ultraviolet lamp (118) disposed inside the vacuum chamber
(116), wherein the ultraviolet lamp (118) is to emit high energy cold
ultraviolet radiations for drying water films deposited on inner surfaces of
the vacuum chamber (116), for sterilizing cavities of the objects where the
Hydrogen Peroxide is not reachable, and for breaking the residual
20 molecules of the Hydrogen Peroxide, which are not broken by vacuum
inside the vacuum chamber (116).
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the system (100)
comprises a spectrometer (126), connected to the control unit (120) and
the ultraviolet lamp (118), to monitor the sterilization of the objects in the
25 vacuum chamber (116) using the ultraviolet radiations inside the vacuum
chamber (116), wherein, in case the objects are identified as non-sterilized
by the control unit (120) based on the monitoring, the control unit (120) is
to further regulate the pumping unit (104), the vaporizing unit (110), and
the drying unit (112).

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pumping unit (104)
is a solenoid driven diaphragm pump.
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100)
comprises a filter disposed between the pumping unit (104) and the drying
5 unit (112) for separating impurities from the Hydrogen Peroxide solution.
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100)
comprises a diffuser (106) between the pumping unit (104) and the
vaporizing unit (110) to diffuse the pressurized Hydrogen Peroxide
solution received from the pumping unit (104).
9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system (100)
comprises a nozzle (108) disposed between the diffuser (106) and the
vaporizing unit (110) to generate an atomized spray of the Hydrogen
Peroxide solution having a uniform droplet size.
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the nozzle (108) is
15 one of a misting nozzle and an ultrasonic nozzle.
11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner surfaces of
the vacuum chamber (116) have a surface finish of 0.4 micrometers.
12. A method (300) for producing Hydrogen Peroxide in situ for
sterilization of objects, the method comprising:
20 placing (302) the objects inside a vacuum chamber;
regulating (304), by a control unit, a supply of a Hydrogen Peroxide
solution of 30-35% concentration at a prespecified pressure and a
prespecified rate from a pumping unit to a vaporizing unit;
regulating (306), by the control unit, a vaporization of the received
25 Hydrogen Peroxide solution by the vaporizing unit for vaporizing aqueous
content of the Hydrogen Peroxide solution into fine water vapors;
regulating (308), by the control unit, a purging procedure by a drying
unit on an input volume of the vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide solution to

extract the water vapors therefrom until the resulting concentrated
Hydrogen Peroxide have reached a target concentration value in a range
of 90-95%; and
receiving (310) the concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide in the vacuum
5 chamber for sterilizing the objects placed inside the vacuum chamber.