# US 12,213,653 B2 · Medical device having a valve for autoclavability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,653 B2 - Document ID: US12213653B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/404,585 - Filed: 2024-01-04 - Published: 2024-08-15 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-09 - Assignees: Dental SmartMirror, Inc. - Applicants: Dental Smartmirror, Inc. - Inventors: Gidon Oded Elazar; Dan Zidkiahu Harkabi; Omri Mordechai Farbstein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213653B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/247: with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors - A61B 1/00068: {Valve switch arrangements} - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61B 1/06: with illuminating arrangements - A61B 1/0607: {for annular illumination} - A61B 1/0676: {at distal tip of an endoscope} - A61B 1/24: for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth - A61C 3/00: Dental tools or instruments (implanting tools A61C8/00; tools for fastening artificial teeth A61C13/12; visual inspection devices, e.g. dental mirrors, A61B1/24) - A61L 2/07: Steam - A61B 1/123: {using washing machines} - A61B 2562/166: the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - 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 device with a valve for autoclavability is disclosed. The medical device may include a cavity. A channel connects the cavity to an autoclave environment. The channel has a distal end and proximal end. The distal end of the channel may open to the autoclave environment and the proximal end may open to the cavity. A valve may be positioned in or near the channel. The valve may permit gas to flow from the cavity when a pressure inside the cavity is greater than a pressure in the autoclave environment outside the cavity. The valve may also prevent gas from flowing into the cavity when the pressure in the autoclave environment outside the cavity is greater than the pressure inside the cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical device comprising: an autoclavable portion comprising: an intraoral mirror; a cavity comprising electronic components; a channel formed between the cavity and an opening to an environment; a non-autoclavable portion configured to communicatively connect to the autoclavable portion via a connector inserted into the opening; and a plug configured to be inserted into the opening when the autoclavable portion is in an autoclavable environment and the non-autoclavable portion is detached from the autoclavable portion, wherein the plug prevents gas from flowing into the cavity when the pressure in the autoclavable environment outside the cavity is greater than the pressure inside the cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the non-autoclavable portion comprises a power system, a processor, and a memory. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the non-autoclavable portion connects to a base station configured to receive data collected by the medical device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electronic components comprise a printed circuit board. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The medical device of claim 4, wherein the electronic components further comprise an image sensor, the image sensor operatively coupled to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The medical device of claim 4, wherein the electronic components further comprise a light source, the light source operatively coupled to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6, wherein the electronic components further comprise a connector, the connector operatively coupled to the image sensor and configured to couple to the connector of the non-autoclavable portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the gas prevented from flowing into the cavity is air and steam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the plug comprises a housing comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The medical device of claim 9, wherein the first section has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the second section that is less than a third diameter of the third section. ### Claim 11 A system for sterilizing a medical device, the system comprising: the medical device comprising: an autoclavable portion comprising: a cavity comprising electronic components, and a channel formed between the cavity and an opening to an environment; and a non-autoclavable portion configured to communicatively connect to the autoclavable portion via a connector inserted into the opening; and a plug configured to be inserted into the opening when the autoclavable portion is in an autoclavable environment and the non-autoclavable portion is detached from the autoclavable portion, wherein the plug prevents gas from flowing into the cavity when the pressure in the autoclavable environment outside the cavity is greater than the pressure inside the cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the non-autoclavable portion comprises a power system, a processor, and a memory. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the non-autoclavable portion connects to a base station configured to receive data collected by the medical device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic components comprise a printed circuit board. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic components further comprise an image sensor, the image sensor operatively coupled to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic components further comprise a light source, the light source operatively coupled to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the electronic components further comprise a connector, the connector operatively coupled to the image sensor and configured to couple to the connector of the non-autoclavable portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the gas prevented from flowing into the cavity is air and steam. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the plug comprises a housing comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the first section has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the second section that is less than a third diameter of the third section.