Mobile apparatus and method for sterilizing one or more surgical trays with integrable transfer and storage system

A method of sterilizing at least one surgical tray containing at least one surgical instrument using a cabinet, where the cabinet is sized to receive the at least one surgical tray within an interior sterilization chamber, where the cabinet can be opened for insertion and removal of at least one surgical tray into the interior sterilization chamber and the cabinet includes a sealed configuration with the at least one surgical tray located therein, the method comprising:

• opening the cabinet;
• loading the at least one surgical tray containing the at least one surgical instrument into the interior sterilization chamber;
• securing the cabinet into the sealed configuration and engaging a security integrity mechanism when securing the cabinet into the sealed configuration wherein the security integrity mechanism includes an indicator to ascertain a sterilization status of the cabinet;
• positioning of the cabinet at a sterilization location adjacent to an autoclave using a transfer cart;
• securing the transfer cart to prevent movement of the transfer cart;
• transferring the cabinet from the transfer cart into the autoclave using mechanical guides;
• sterilizing the at least one surgical instrument within the interior sterilization chamber;
• positioning the cabinet onto the transfer cart while the cabinet is in the sealed configuration;
• and
• relocating the cabinet from the sterilization location using the transfer cart, while in the sealed configuration such that the at least one surgical instrument remains sterile.