Low-Temperature Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma (LTHPGP) has a number of advantages compared to established sterilization technologies. These include a short (one to four hours) sterilization cycle, low temperature and humidity, no aeration requirement, no toxic chemical residues or environmental impact, and broad compatibility with materials. Disadvantages of the technology include its inability to process liquids, powders, or strong absorbers such as cellulosics.

Recently, LTHPGP sterilization has been used for terminal sterilization applications of single-use and implantable medical devices. The technology has been shown to be especially beneficial for sterilizing temperature-sensitive polymeric materials, and offers the following unique advantages to medical manufacturers:

• materials and device compatibility
• rapid turnaround times
• in-house control of the sterilization process
• lower inventory requirements.