METHOD FOR STERILIZING CLOSED CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING SAID METHOD INTO EFFECT (ALTERNATIVES) Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: medicine, microbiology. SUBSTANCE: method resides in treating lower part of sealed container, such as ampoule containing medicinal preparations, with high-frequency electromagnetic field as container is caused to pass through slot of microwave furnace. Apparatus comprises microwave furnace having waveguide, slot formed in furnace wall and connected to waveguide, grab conveyor, rail intended to support container bottom and mounted with upward slope along slot of microwave furnace following direction of conveyor movement. In another alternative embodiment, apparatus comprises infrared heater arranged downstream of microwave furnace. According to third alternative embodiment, apparatus comprises microwave furnace, waveguide, slot formed in upper wall of furnace and connected to waveguide, grab conveyor, conveyor belt, screw conveyor and hopper enclosing sprocket gear for feeding sealed containers into microwave furnace, sensor located in screw turns to indicate charging rate of containers, and guideways for additionally feeding containers into furnace in response to command issued by sensor. EFFECT: reliable sterilization of medicinal preparation in ampoules. 10 cl, 16 dwg