Single Use Sterilization Container
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsJoseph A. Cesa, Laureen C. Clark, John K. Clay, Steven Scott Friderich, Sean P. Gorman, David Hernandez, Denise E. O'Connor, Corinna Schwarz, Tara Denise Smith, James Troy Starkey, Daniel P. Sterling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-reusable, locking container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and presenting surgical materials in a sterilized condition. The non-reusable, locking sterilization container includes a tray, a lid, a permeable filter, a non-reusable lock and a frangible release that limit the container to only a single sterilization cycle or single use.
Claims21
A non-reusable, locking container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and presenting surgical materials in a sterilized condition, the container comprising:
- a tray comprising a base, a plurality of sides each having a proximal portion in communication with the base and a distal portion away from the base, and a rim defined by the distal portions of the sides, the rim comprising a lower portion of a barrier;
- a lid comprising a central portion, and a lip, the lip comprising an upper portion of a barrier, wherein the lid and the tray together define a chamber for containing surgical materials and wherein the lip and the rim together form a barrier to inhibit the passage of microorganisms into the chamber between a tray and lid secured together;
- a permeable filter providing a path for a sterilant to enter the chamber from outside the container and for maintaining aseptic conditions inside the chamber after sterilization;
- a non-reusable lock for securing the tray and the lid together, the non-reusable lock comprising an upper lock element forming a portion of the lid, and a lower lock element forming a portion of the tray, the lower and upper lock elements fixedly engaging into a non-reusable lock when the lid is mated to the tray to seal the container;
- and
- a frangible release in communication with the non-reusable lock for irreversibly detaching the non-reusable lock from only one of the tray or the lid such that the non-reusable lock remains joined to the other upon separation of the tray and lid to access the chamber after sterilization.
A system for sterilizing surgical materials and presenting surgical materials in a sterilized condition, the system comprising:
- providing a non-reusable, locking sterilization container comprising:
- a tray comprising a base, a plurality of sides each having a proximal portion in communication with the base and a distal portion away from the base, and a rim defined by the distal portions of the sides, the rim comprising a lower portion of a barrier;
- a lid comprising a central portion, and a lip, the lip comprising an upper portion of a barrier, wherein the lid and the tray together define a chamber for containing surgical materials and wherein the lip and the rim together form a barrier to inhibit the passage of microorganisms into the chamber between a tray and lid secured together;
- a permeable filter providing a path for a sterilant to enter the chamber from outside the container and for maintaining aseptic conditions inside the chamber after sterilization;
- a non-reusable lock for securing the tray and the lid together, the non-reusable lock comprising an upper lock element forming a portion of the lid, and a lower lock element forming a portion of the tray, the lower and upper lock elements fixedly engaging into a non-reusable lock when the lid is mated to the tray to seal the container;
- and
- a frangible release in communication with the non-reusable lock for irreversibly detaching the non-reusable lock from only one of the tray or the lid such that the non-reusable lock remains joined to the other upon separation of the tray and lid to access the chamber after sterilization;
- placing surgical materials inside the non-reusable, locking sterilization container and mating the lid and the tray so the upper and lower lock elements fixedly engage into a non-reusable lock thereby securing the lid and the tray together to seal the sterilization container;
- inserting the sterilization container into a sterilization chamber for a length of time sufficient to sterilize the surgical materials and then removing the sterilization container from the sterilization chamber;
- and
- activating the frangible release in communication with the non-reusable lock to irreversibly detach the non-reusable lock from only one of the tray or the lid such that the non-reusable lock remains joined to the other upon separation of the tray and lid to access the chamber after sterilization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.