Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Physical type apparatus – Apparatus for treating solid article or material with fluid...
Reexamination Certificate
1996-06-28
2001-07-24
Scheiner, Laurie (Department: 1648)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Physical type apparatus
Apparatus for treating solid article or material with fluid...
C422S292000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264902
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a sterilization container for use in sterilizing, storing and transporting and presenting instruments, in particular medical instruments.
2. Background of the Invention
Most, reusable medical instruments require sterilization before each use. Many methods are employed for sterilization, but the most prevalent methods include: steam autoclaving, vapor phase chemical sterilization and vapor phase chemical sterilization in combination with a plasma field. The chemical sterilants include hydrogen peroxide and ethylene oxide. One of the most versatile, quickest and most effective methods employs an initial period of vapor phase hydrogen peroxide followed by application of an electromagnetic field which drives the hydrogen peroxide vapor into the plasma state of matter. The plasma phase enhances the sterilization and when the electromagnetic field is released the plasma free radicals recombine to form water and oxygen.
Typically, instruments are placed into a container and then the container is placed into the sterilization device. Portals for the passage of sterilizing media must be provided. Also, the container is usually provided with a filter material which allows passage of the sterilizing media through the portals and container yet prevents the ingress of microorganisms. The portal and filter material may be combined as in the Nichols U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,254, issued Nov. 3, 1987 and incorporated herein by reference, or the container may be provided with a plurality of apertures and then be wrapped prior to each sterilization in a filter wrapping material such as SPUNGUARD brand CSR wrap available from Kimberly Clark Corporation which is a spunbonded/meltblown/spunbonded (SMS) laminate consisting of nonwoven outer layers of spun-bonded polyolefins and an interior barrier layer of melt-blown polyolefins.
Usually, holding devices of one form or another hold one or more individual instruments within the container. The holding device may comprise clips or other such arrangements, which may or may not be specially adapted to hold a particular medical instrument. One popular holding device simply comprises a plurality of upwardly extending flexible projections, sometimes called fingers, which prevent the instruments from moving about within the container and provide minimal contact with the instruments. Typically, these are provided on a mat which lies in the bottom of the container.
To keep costs low and to prevent interference with an electromagnetic field in some sterilization processes, it is desirable to form a sterilization container from a polymeric material. Certain preferred polymers are disclosed herein. A latching mechanism for holding a cover, lid or other closure device to the rest of the container is frequently formed along with the container in an injection molding operation or affixed afterward in a simple gluing or polymeric welding operation. Typically, such latches have some exposed sharp edges which can catch on a user's glove and puncture it. Especially if the user is left unaware of the glove damage, the user could be exposed to harmful pathogens.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes these and other limitations in the prior art and provides compatibility with hydrogen peroxide vapor, liquid or gas plasma, steam autoclaves, ethylene ox ide and other chemical or heat based sterilizing methods. It is durable, inexpensive to produce, enhances drainage and limits condensate entrapment.
A sterilization container according to the present invention for sterilizing instruments comprises a tray having at least one port for passing sterilizing media into and out of the tray, means for holding a medical instrument within the tray, and an outer tray wall portion. A lid, having an outer lid wall portion, is moveable with respect to the tray for providing access to the tray and a latching mechanism releasably connects the lid to the tray. The improvement of the present invention comprises a recessed portion in either the tray outer wall portion or the lid outer wall portion which forms a latch recess. The latching mechanism is entirely received within said recess whereby no portion of the latching mechanism extends laterally of the recess, thereby reducing the chance that the latching mechanism might catch and puncture a thin protective glove of a user.
The latch recess may further comprise opposing side walls with a latch member rotatably mounted within the latch recess for rotation about an axis. An engagement surface is formed on the other of the tray outer wall portion and lid outer wall portion. The latch member has an engagement lip engageable with the engagement surface. An actuation surface on the latch member is removed from its axis of rotation whereby a force applied to the actuation surface urges the latch member away from the engagement surface and the engagement lip away from the engagement surface. Preferably, such force is applied in a direction inwardly of the latch recess. Preferably, the latch member is rotatably mounted upon a torsion member extending inwardly of the latch recess from the opposing sidewalls, the torsion member biasing the latch member into a standing position about said axis. To minimize glove punctures while using the latch mechanism, preferably the engagement lip is disposed on an inwardly facing portion of the latch member with an outwardly facing portion being free of sharp edges.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4798292 (1989-01-01), Hauze
patent: 4915913 (1990-04-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5098676 (1992-03-01), Brookes, Jr.
patent: 5356017 (1994-10-01), Rohr et al.
patent: 5451379 (1995-09-01), Bowlin, Jr.
patent: 5518115 (1996-05-01), Latulippe
patent: 5525314 (1996-06-01), Hurson
patent: 3442835 (1986-06-01), None
patent: 3544341 (1987-06-01), None
patent: 0 331 492 A2 (1989-06-01), None
patent: WO 94/08623 (1994-04-01), None
Farmer Andrew C.
Johnson & Johnson Medical Inc.
Parkin Jeffrey S.
Scheiner Laurie
LandOfFree
Instrument sterilization container having an improved... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Instrument sterilization container having an improved..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Instrument sterilization container having an improved... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2470017