# US 12,178,934 B2 · Medical instrument sterilization backer card > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,934 B2 - Document ID: US12178934B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/099,675 - Filed: 2023-01-20 - Published: 2023-05-18 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-01-28 - Assignees: SterileBits, Inc. - Applicants: SterileBits, Inc. - Inventors: Craig Ford; Guy Brent Phipps; William Lawrence Patton, III; Robert James Jones - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178934B2 ## CPC - A61B 50/20: Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02) - A61L 2/28: Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation or disinfection, e.g. indicators which change colour - A61B 50/30: Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40) - A61L 2/07: Steam - A61L 2/206: Ethylene oxide - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract A medical instrument sterilization backer card includes a flap extending from an end of a base and foldable over the base to form an open-ended pocket that receives an end of a shaft of the medical instrument therein. A second flap extends from the base and is foldable over the base to form a shell defining a compartment configured to receive a head of the medical instrument therein. The assembled backer card holds and protects the medical instrument during and after sterilization. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical instrument sterilization backer card, comprising: a generally planar base; a first flap extending from a first end of the base, the first flap movable from a non-deployed position extending away from the base to a deployed position folded over the base and forming an open-ended pocket configured to receive an end of a shaft of a medical instrument therein; a second flap extending from a second end of the base, the second flap movable between a non-deployed position extending away from the base to a deployed position over the base and forming a shell defining a compartment configured to receive a head of the medical instrument therein; and locking mechanism for retaining the second flap into a folded, deployed position over the base, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first locking member detachable from the base and a second locking member formed in the second flap that lockingly engages the first locking member, and wherein the first locking member comprises a belt partially detachable from the base and the second locking member comprises a slit formed in the second flap, wherein the bell extends over the deployed second flap and into the slit. ### Claim 2 A medical instrument sterilization backer card, comprising: a generally planar base; a first flap extending from a first end of the base, the first flap movable from a non-deployed position extending away from the base to a deployed position folded over the base and forming an open-ended pocket configured to receive an end of a shaft of a medical instrument therein; tabs extending from the first flap and insertable into tab slots of the base to hold the first flap in position over the base in the deployed position; a second flap extending from a second end of the base and having multiple sections, the second flap movable between a non-deployed position extending away from the base to a deployed position with the second flap sections being folded relative to one another to position the second flap over the base and form a shell defining a compartment configured to receive a head of the medical instrument therein; and a locking mechanism for retaining the second flap into a folded, deployed position over the base, the locking mechanism comprising a first locking member detachable from the base and a second locking member formed in the second flap that lockingly engages the first locking member, wherein the first locking member comprises a belt partially detachable from the base and the second locking member comprises a slit formed in the second flap, wherein the belt extends over the deployed second flap and into the slit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The backer card of claim 2, wherein the tabs partially inserted into the tab slots maintain the first flap in a spaced relation to the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The backer card of claim 2, including a window formed in the first flap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The backer card of claim 2, wherein a top section of the second flap has a window formed therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The backer card of claim 2, including a finger hold extending from the base and having an aperture sized for insertion of a finger therethrough. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The backer card of claim 2, including a finger hold aperture formed through the base sized for insertion of a finger therethrough. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The backer card of claim 2, including a sterilization indicator retainer formed in the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The backer card of claim 2, including a notch formed in the second flap that receives the shaft of the medical instrument therein.