Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – With indicating – signalling – recording – sampling – or...
Patent
1995-03-30
1996-04-16
Warden, Robert J.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
With indicating, signalling, recording, sampling, or...
422297, 422300, 2064595, 206807, A61L 226
Patent
active
055080065
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sterilization container for surgical instruments or the like, with a lower section, a cover sealingly placeable thereon, a locking member securing the cover in position on the lower section and being pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and a card-like securing element which can be secured in position on the container and moves into the path of travel of the locking member near to the closed position of the locking member.
Such a sterilization container is known from German patent No 35 41 309. The card-like securing element is normally used at the same time as a data carrier, on which essential data concerning the contents of the container and the type of treatment are indicated. The known design has the advantage that any unauthorized opening of the locking member following a sterilization procedure damages the securing element and so it is possible to subsequently recognize every unauthorized opening of the container due to this damage. In known securing elements, this damage is in the form of a punch mark which can easily be seen on the securing element once removed but is difficult to recognize when the securing element is inserted and held on the container since it is concealed by the punching element held on the locking member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to develop a sterilization container of the type described at the outset further such that it can be detected immediately from the inserted securing element whether or not any unauthorized opening of the container has taken place.
This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in a sterilization container of the type described at the outset, in that the part of the securing element moving into the path of travel of the locking member can be bent elastically out of the plane of the securing element and moves into the path of travel of the locking member only to such a depth that it slides back behind the locking member when the locking member is pivoted into the open position and during closing of the locking member is taken along with it and is covered by the locking member in the closed position thereof. Therefore, a part of the securing element which is located in front of the locking member after closure of the container is bent forwards by the locking member when this is opened and then slides behind the locking member so that it is covered by this locking member when the locking member is closed again. This means that it can be seen at a first glance whether any opening of the locking member has taken place. This is ruled out only when the part moving into the path of travel of the locking member is located in front of the locking member and not covered or concealed by it.
It is favorable for the part moving into the path of travel of the locking member to be a tongue protruding laterally from the card-like securing element.
In a preferred embodiment, it is possible for a holder for the card-like securing element to be arranged next to the locking member, the securing element being insertable or slidable into the holder following the closure of the locking member such that the part moving into the path of travel of the locking member is positioned directly in front of the locking member. The holder is therefore secured in position, for example, directly next to the locking member on the side wall of the lower section so that it is located essentially in the same plane as the closed locking member.
It is particularly advantageous for the part moving into the path of travel of the locking member to be bent forwardly out of the plane of the card-like securing element after its insertion into the holder due to it abutting on the locking member. This means that this bent part of the securing element is particularly conspicuous and visible so that it is recognizable at a first glance that the locking member has not so far been opened.
In this respect, it is possible for the locking member to have a deflecting surface, along whic
REFERENCES:
patent: 4562047 (1985-12-01), Sestak et al.
patent: 4820499 (1989-04-01), Taschner
patent: 4915913 (1990-04-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5328661 (1994-07-01), Taschner
patent: 5382528 (1995-01-01), Scoville
Gabele Lorenz
Kulow Uwe
Schwanke Wolfgang
Taschner Wolfgang
Aesculap AG
Hoppin Ralph F.
Lipsitz Barry R.
Snider Theresa T.
Warden Robert J.
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