# US 2019/0167824 A1 · Sterilization tray

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- Number: US 2019/0167824 A1
- Document ID: US20190167824A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/828,654
- Filed: 2017-12-01
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01
- Assignees: Ethicon, Inc.
- Applicants: Ethicon, Inc.
- Inventors: Samuel J. Rhodes; Masood Siddiqui; Darius D. Eghbal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167824A1

## CPC

- A61L 2/06: Hot gas
- A61B 1/00144: {Hygienic packaging}
- A61B 50/00: Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers (drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10)
- 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 50/33: Trays
- A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
- A61L 2/18: Liquid substances
- A61L 2/26: Accessories
- A61B 2050/005: {with a lid or cover}
- A61B 2050/007: {Locking clamps}
- A61B 2090/701: {for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes}
- A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps
- A61L 2202/10: Apparatus features
- 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 sterilization tray is disclosed herein. A medical instrument, such as an endoscope, may be placed into the sterilization tray, and the sterilization tray with the medical instrument disposed therein may be placed into a vacuum chamber of a sterilization system. The sterilization tray may also be used to transport the medical instrument to and from a point of care. Sterilization is performed with the instrument in the base component and the lid component disposed atop the base component. Transportation is performed with the instrument in the lid component and the base component disposed atop the lid component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sterilization tray, comprising,
a base component having a first top wall, a first side wall, and a first bottom wall;
at least two brackets disposed upon the first wall;
a lid component having a second top wall, a second side wall, and a second bottom wall, the lid component disposed atop the base component and covering the base component;
wherein a first distance measured from the first top wall to the first bottom wall is less than a second distance measured from the second top wall to the second bottom wall.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sterilization tray of claim 1 wherein the second distance is between approximately 1.5 times and ten times longer than the first distance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The sterilization tray of claim 2 wherein the second distance is approximately three times longer than the first distance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The sterilization tray of claim 2, further comprising a first hole disposed through the lid component.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The sterilization tray of claim 4, further comprising a second hole disposed through the base component.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The sterilization tray of claim 5, wherein the first hole is disposed through the first side wall.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sterilization tray of claim 6, wherein the second hole is disposed through the second side wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The sterilization tray of claim 2, further comprising an insert configured to maintain a body of an endoscope.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The sterilization tray of claim 8, wherein the insert includes a securing mechanism.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The sterilization tray of claim 9, wherein the securing mechanism is an elastomeric band.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The sterilization tray of claim 2, wherein the brackets are configured to maintain the endoscope in a coiled configuration.

### Claim 12

A method of using a sterilization tray, comprising:
providing the sterilization tray, the sterilization tray including,
a base component having a first top wall, a first side wall, and a first bottom wall,
a lid component having a second top wall, a second side wall, and a second bottom wall, the lid component disposed atop the base component and covering the base component,
wherein a first distance measured from the first top wall to the first bottom wall is less than a second distance measured from the second top wall to the second bottom wall;
disposing an endoscope within the lid component;
covering the lid component with the base component;
removing the base component from the lid component; and
covering the base component with the lid component.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
flipping the base component;
disposing the endoscope within the base component; and
sterilizing the endoscope.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
transporting the tray from a reprocessing area to a procedure room with the endoscope disposed within the base component and with the lid component covering the base component; and
transporting the tray from the procedure room to the reprocessing area with the endoscope disposed within the lid component and with the base component covering the lid component.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
positioning the endoscope in the base component in a coiled configuration