| Abstract: | A device is described based on the principle of a simple analog computer which gives an exact determination of the moment at which the heat energy supply should be interrupted to attain a chosen sterilization effect. The temperature of the medium to be sterilized is measured and at temperatures above 100°C. the dependence of the thermal destruction coefficient of microbial spores on temperature is simulated. This variable is integrated with respect to time and the value of this integral at any given moment corresponds to the sterilization effect, at that moment. The device is also fitted with an extrapolator which evaluates, depending on the instantaneous temperature of the medium, the value of sterilization effect which will be produced during the cooling of the medium after the interruption of the heat, energy supply. The total sterilization effect, in the course of the cycle, is continuously and automatically evaluated as a sum of the integrated sterilization effect and of data supplied by the extrapolator. At the moment when this total sterilization effect attains the prescribed value, the device gives a signal for the interruption of the heat energy supply. The value of the sterilization effect is adjustable within broad limits and its evaluation is performed without substantial simplifying assumptions. By the use of this device an exact scale-up method for sterilizing media is achieved, yielding at the same time accurate reproducibility of media sterilization. An automatic control of the sterilization cycle is also possible by means of the device. |
