Atomic oxygen sterilizes by converting endotoxins to oxide gas.(OBSERVATIONS)

Exposure to atomic oxygen converts endotoxins on surgical implant surfaces into oxide gases that are readily removed, resulting in a clean implant surface, reports NASA Glenn Research Center and the Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center, both of Cleveland, Ohio. This technology was initially developed to remove bioactive contaminants from planetary spacecraft surfaces and at the same time sterilize the spacecraft. A NASA patent has been awarded for the "Removal of Biologically Active Organic Contaminants ...