EXHIBIT 24.1

                               STERIS CORPORATION
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
Forms S-8

     Each of the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes, and appoints Bill R.
Sanford, Les C. Vinney, Laurie Brlas, David C. Dvorak, Roy L. Turnell, and each
of them, his or her true and lawful attorney, with full power of substitution,
for and in his or her name, place, and stead to affix, as attorney-in-fact, his
or her signature in any and all capacities, to any and all registration
statements on Form S-8 and amendments thereto to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission with respect to Common Shares of STERIS Corporation, an
Ohio corporation (the "Company") issuable or issued in connection with
Nonqualified Stock Option Agreements entered into by the Company with Laurie
Brlas, David L. Crandall, and Les C. Vinney, hereby granting unto each said
attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform
any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or any
of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     This Power of Attorney shall not apply to any registration statement or
amendment filed after May 25, 2002.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed as of this
26th day of May, 2000.

                                      
/s/ Raymond A. Lancaster                 /s/ J.B. Richey
------------------------------           ----------------------
Raymond A. Lancaster, Director           J. B. Richey, Director


/s/ Jerry E. Robertson                   /s/Frank E. Samuel, Jr.
----------------------------             ------------------------------
Jerry E. Robertson, Director             Frank E. Samuel, Jr., Director


/s/ Loyal W. Wilson                      /s/ Bill R. Sanford
-------------------------                --------------------------------------
Loyal W. Wilson, Director                Bill R. Sanford, Chairman of the Board
                                         and CEO


/s/ Les C. Vinney                        /s/ Laurie Brlas
-----------------------------            ---------------------------------------------
Les C. Vinney                            Laurie Brlas, Senior Vice President and Chief
President and Chief Operating            Financial Officer (Principal Financial and
Officer, Director                        Accounting Officer)



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