Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Calorimeter
Patent
1992-03-05
1994-07-12
Warden, Robert J.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Calorimeter
422300, 422310, 422119, 2064591, 206807, 116200, A61L 200
Patent
active
053286618
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a seal for a sterilizing container for receiving surgical instruments or the like, comprising a lower part, a cover sealingly placeable thereon, a closure means securing the cover on the lower part as well as a seal for securing the closure means in the closed position, wherein the seal comprises a bar-like or finger-like insert element insertable into a loop of the closure means and a connector connected to the rear end of the insert element not inserted into the loop and unreleasably connectable with the end of the insert element protruding through the loop.
In the case of sterilizing containers care must be taken that the container is not opened unintentionally following sterilizing so that the sterility of the contents is ensured. In order to achieve this, it is known to seal the closure means of such sterilizing containers, using, for example, wire seals or plastic seals in the manner of cable binders. The known seals are attached by the insert element being locked in position on a connector by deformation, form-locking or a detent connection after its insertion into a loop of the closure means. This connection can no longer be released, i.e. this is possible only by breaking the seal.
The closure means of the sterilizing container cannot be opened as long as the seal is attached so that any opening of the closure means presupposes that the seal has been broken. This is easily recognizable from the closure means of a sterilizing container and so an undamaged seal is a sign that the container has not been opened unintentionally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to design a seal of the generic type such that it can be applied without any tools and without complicated provision of a form-locking or detent connection.
This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, for a seal of the type described at the outset, in that the connector has a region coated with contact adhesive, this region being arranged adjacent to the free end of the insert element and foldable along a fold line onto the free end of the insert element. In order to close the seal it is sufficient to fold this coated region over and press it onto the free end of the insert element. This provides a firm adhesive connection which can be released again only when the seal is broken. In particular, adhesives can be used for this which reach this strength only at the higher temperatures occurring during sterilizing. This means that prior to sterilization this closure means can, if necessary, be opened once more and closed again without breaking the seal. Only after sterilization is the connection so permanent that any opening can take place only once the seal is broken.
It is favourable for the region coated with contact adhesive to be covered with a removable cover film so that the region which can be folded over is made ready for closing the seal only when required by removing the cover film. A particularly favourable arrangement results when the fold line extends in front of the free end of the insert element at right angles to its longitudinal expansion. The shaft region which is folded over is therefore folded onto the forward part of the insert element and so the seal is altogether shorter due to this folding procedure.
In a preferred embodiment, the coated region is connected with the rear end of the insert element via two webs extending parallel to the insert element. This results in a symmetrical arrangement having high stability.
Preferably, the seal is plate-like or sheet-like in design, i.e. a larger number of seals can be stacked in piles in a magazine and removed therefrom as required.
Such a seal can be designed such that parallel slits are arranged in the seal on both sides of the insert element. The slits extend as far as the fold line and are connected with one another in the region of the fold line. These slits therefore form the insert element between them from the flat seal.
When the seal is notched at the end points of the fold line
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3924800 (1975-12-01), Desmond et al.
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patent: 4509196 (1985-04-01), Sak et al.
patent: 4625885 (1986-12-01), Nichols
patent: 4682688 (1987-07-01), Budert
patent: 4783321 (1988-11-01), Spence
patent: 5225162 (1993-07-01), Scoville
Aesculap AG
Lipsitz Barry R.
Tran Hien
Warden Robert J.
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