Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Chemical reactor – With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-24
2001-05-15
Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Chemical reactor
With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
C422S186150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231819
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for supporting instruments, in particular medical instruments, in an enclosure that is designed to decontaminate them and to keep them decontaminated until they are used.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to house medical or surgical instruments in a closed space within which a decontamination atmosphere is organized either by means of an agent inserted into the enclosure, or by means of germicidal radiation emitted into the enclosure, or else by a combination of both.
In the particular case of instruments that are elongate, e.g. echographic probes, the instruments are integrally formed with leads for connecting them to external appliances for feeding them with electricity and for making use of signals emitted by the active portion of the appliance. The combined length of the active portion and the lead of the instrument can be non-negligible.
It has been necessary to find a way of housing them easily in a decontamination enclosure using means that can accommodate their various lengths and their various diameters.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve this problem, the present invention proposes a support device that is particularly simple and advantageous, whereby the active portion of an appliance is placed in optimum manner within the enclosure so as to be exposed most effectively to the germicidal agents by contact or by radiation, while the lead portion is disposed in such a manner as to avoid hindering treatment of the active portion.
To this end, the invention therefore provides a support device for supporting instruments in an enclosure, in particular a decontamination enclosure, the enclosure being defined by a bottom, at least one vertical side wall, and a top cover, each instrument having an active portion and a connection portion in the form of a cable, the device comprising a bracket extending substantially perpendicularly to the side vertical wall inside the top portion of the enclosure, said bracket having a plurality of suspension members each being designed to co-operate with a portion of cable adjacent to the active portion of the instrument.
In a particular embodiment, each suspension member comprises a finger installed on a top surface of the bracket and a suspension clamp having two branches that are united at one end which is provided with an orifice for being engaged on the above-mentioned finger, with the free ends of the branches of the clamp being shaped so as to be tightened onto the portion of the connection cable that is adjacent to the active portion of the instrument. The clamp is then put into place on the instrument, and more precisely on its cable, while they are outside the enclosure and is then engaged via its pierced end on one of the fingers included on the bracket. The other end of the clamp which is clamped onto the cable of the instrument is cantilevered out sideways from the bracket so that instruments are spaced apart from one another. The active portion of each instrument then hangs down inside the enclosure where it is properly exposed to the germicidal agents, while the connection cable is situated above the clamp so as to be capable of being held by a secondary support member close to the side wall of the enclosure.
The branches of the clamp may be subjected to a resilient force urging them towards each other so as to tighten automatically onto the cable placed between them. It is also possible to provide a drive member between the branches for the purpose of moving them apart or towards each other so as to be able to clamp the cable between them positively with a controlled amount of force, and to be able to release said force. A screw linking together the branches can perform this function.
The secondary support member for the cable of each instrument can be constituted simply, merely by the top edge of the side wall of the enclosure, and preferably by the bottom of a notch formed in the top portion thereof. The cables of the instruments are then kept substantially horizontal in the vicinity of the cover of the enclosure so as to avoid needlessly occupying the space inside the enclosure in which the active portion of each instrument is received.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4698206 (1987-10-01), Nevin
patent: 5288467 (1994-02-01), Biermaier
patent: 5534221 (1996-07-01), Hillebrenner et al.
patent: 2090141 (1982-07-01), None
patent: 6 0209-248 (1984-02-01), None
patent: 9406478 (1994-03-01), None
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Gorgos Kathryn
Maisano J.
T.S.R. SA
LandOfFree
Device for supporting instruments in an enclosure, in... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for supporting instruments in an enclosure, in..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for supporting instruments in an enclosure, in... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2517317