A method of sterilizing an article such as a flexible endoscope is performed in a sterilization chamber. A vacuum is applied in the sterilization chamber while the article is contained in the sterilization chamber. A sterilant is then introduced into the sterilization chamber. The pressure within the sterilization chamber is incrementally increased to provide a step-wise transition from a high vacuum state to atmospheric pressure. The article is thereby sterilized.一種滅菌一物品諸如可撓性內視鏡的方法係在一滅菌腔室之中執行。在該物品被收容在該滅菌腔室中之時，施加一真空於該滅菌腔室之中。一滅菌劑接著被引入該滅菌腔室中。該滅菌腔室之內的壓力遞增地增加以提供自一高度真空狀態至大氣壓力之一逐步轉變。該物品從而被滅菌。
