Recirculating high velocity hot air sterilization process

A recirculating high velocity hot air sterilization device includes a housing having a chamber therein. A corrugated, perforated jet curtain plate is disposed within the chamber and partially defines an air supply plenum positioned outwardly of the chamber, the plenum having an electric heating element operatively positioned therein. Spaced apart from the jet curtain plate within the chamber is a nonperforated deflector plate which extends parallel to the jet curtain plate and may be of a flat or corrugated configuration. A blower is connected to the housing and creates therein a recirculating flow of heated air which sequentially flows into the air supply plenum across the heating element, outwardly in a forward direction through the perforations in the jet curtain plate and into the housing chamber, back into the blower, and then into the air supply plenum. Metal surgical or dental instruments to be sterilized are positioned in one or more wire mesh trays which are removably supported within the housing chamber between the spaced apart from the deflector plate and the jet curtain plate. The flow of heated air through the perforations in the jet curtain plate creates within the chamber a spaced apart series of forwardly travelling, high velocity, heated air impingement jets which operates to rapidly and thoroughly sterilize the instruments.