Low-Pressure Microwave Plasma Sterilization of Slender Tube Inner Surfaces

To tackle the current issue of incomplete sterilization of slender medical devices, a microwave plasma sterilization device has been designed for studying the sterilization of the inner surface of slender tubes. The experimental device showed a good sterilization effect when the microwave frequency was 2.45 GHz, the microwave power was set to 200 W, the processing time was 10 minutes, and the oxygen-to-argon ratio was greater than 14.45%. The findings indicate a strong correlation between the sterilization effect of microwave plasma and the gas composition. The inclusion of oxygen emerges as a crucial factor in achieving microwave plasma sterilization. The experimental device successfully sterilizes the inner surface of the slender tube, thereby highlighting the extensive potential of microwave plasma.