# US 2008/0187465 A1 · Instrument container having multiple chambers with flow pathways therebetween > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187465 A1 - Document ID: US20080187465A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/671,078 - Filed: 2007-02-05 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-05 - Assignees: STERIS Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey R. Horacek; Christopher A. Jethrow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187465A1 ## CPC - A61L 2/22: Phase substances, e.g. smokes or aerosols - A61B 1/123: {using washing machines} - 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) - 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 2/26: Accessories - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61L 2202/121: Sealings, e.g. doors, covers, valves, sluices - A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A multi-chamber instrument container for microbially deactivating medical, dental, veterinary and mortuary instruments and articles. A pressure differential between chambers causes fluid flow therebetween, thus flowing fluid through internal passages of instrument extending between the chambers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container for holding an instrument to be microbially deactivated in a reprocessor; the container comprising: a tray having a bottom wall and a continuous side wall extending from the periphery of said bottom wall, said bottom wall and said side wall defining a cavity for receiving an instrument to be microbially deactivated; a first removable seal member including a first opening dimensioned to receive a portion of the instrument extending therethrough; a dividing wall in the tray for dividing said cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein said dividing wall includes at least one recess dimensioned to receive said first removable seal member; and a lid attachable to said tray to enclose said cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said lid encloses said first chamber and said second chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said lid encloses said second chamber, said container further comprising a cover engageable with said dividing wall for enclosing said first chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A container according to claim 3, wherein a fluid pathway is defined between said cover and said dividing wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said first chamber is located within said second chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said first chamber is adjacent to said second chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said first removable seal member is comprised of: a first section; and a second section attachable to said first section, ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said first removable seal member includes a collar portion extending around said opening dimensioned to receive said portion of the instrument. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said opening dimensioned to receive said portion of the instrument extending therethrough has a diameter greater than the outer diameter of said portion of the instrument. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said container further comprises a second removable seal member dimensioned to be received in said recess of said dividing wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A container according to claim 10, wherein said container includes a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber, said fluid pathway includes a gap surrounding an outer surface of said second removable seal member, when said second removable seal member is located within said recess of said dividing wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said first chamber includes a fluid inlet for receiving fluid into said first chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said second chamber includes a fluid outlet for removing fluid from said second chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber is defined by an internal passage of said instrument located between said first and second chambers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said container includes a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber, said fluid pathway includes a gap defined by said first removable seal member and the instrument extending therethrough. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said container includes a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber, said fluid pathway includes a gap surrounding an outer surface of said first removable seal member, when said first removable seal member is located within said recess of said dividing wall. ### Claim 17 An instrument container for microbial deactivation of an instrument in a microbial deactivation process, the container comprising: a first chamber; a second chamber; a wall separating the first chamber from the second chamber; an opening formed in the wall; a seal member for substantially sealing said opening, wherein an instrument extends through said seal member; and at least one fluid pathway between said first and second chamber passing through said wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An instrument container according to claim 17, wherein said seal member comprises: a collet having an opening therein dimensioned to receive a portion of an instrument extending therethrough. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An instrument container according to claim 18, wherein said collet comprises: a first collet section; and a second collet section engageable with said first collet section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) An instrument container according to claim 17, wherein said container further comprises: cover means for enclosing the first and second chambers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A device according to claim 20, wherein said cover means for enclosing the first and second chambers includes a first cover for enclosing said first chamber and a second cover for enclosing said second chamber. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) An instrument container according to claim 17, wherein said first chamber is located within said second chamber. ### Claim 23 A system for microbially deactivating instruments, the system comprising: a circulation system for circulating a microbial deactivation fluid through a decontamination chamber that forms part of the circulation system; a container located within said decontamination chamber for holding at least one instrument to be microbially deactivated, said container comprising: a tray having a bottom wall and a continuous side wall extending from the periphery of said bottom wall, said bottom wall and said side wall defining a cavity for receiving an instrument to be microbially deactivated; a first removable seal member including a first opening dimensioned to receive a portion of the instrument extending therethrough; a dividing wall in the tray for dividing said cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein said dividing wall includes at least one recess dimensioned to receive said first removable seal member; and a lid attachable to said tray to enclose said cavity. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said lid encloses said first chamber and said second chamber. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said lid encloses said second chamber, said container further comprising a cover engageable with said dividing wall for enclosing said first chamber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A system according to claim 25, wherein a fluid pathway is defined between said cover and said dividing wall. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said first chamber is located within said second chamber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said first chamber is adjacent to said second chamber. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said first removable seal member is comprised of: a first section; and a second section attachable to said first section. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said first removable seal member includes a collar portion extending around said opening dimensioned to receive said portion of the instrument. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said opening dimensioned to receive said portion of the instrument extending therethrough has a diameter greater than the outer diameter of said portion of the instrument. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said container further comprises a second removable seal member dimensioned to be received in said recess of said dividing wall. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A system according to claim 32, wherein said container includes a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber, said fluid pathway includes a gap surrounding an outer surface of said second removable seal member, when said second removable seal member is located within said recess of said dividing wall. ### Claim 34 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said first chamber includes a fluid inlet for receiving fluid into said first chamber from the circulation system. ### Claim 35 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said second chamber includes a fluid outlet for removing fluid from said second chamber. ### Claim 36 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber is defined by an internal passage of said instrument located between said first and second chambers. ### Claim 37 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said container includes a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber, said fluid pathway includes a gap defined by said first removable seal member and the instrument extending therethrough. ### Claim 38 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said container includes a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber, said fluid pathway includes a gap surrounding an outer surface of said first removable seal member, when said first removable seal member is located within said recess of said dividing wall.