Sterilizing method and apparatus
AssigneeTurbett Surgical, Inc.
InventorsRobert E. Turbett, Richard D. Richmond
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for sterilization are presented. An exemplary embodiment includes a sterilizing cabinet assembly. The sterilizing cabinet includes a cabinet having an access port, a door connected to the cabinet, the door moveable between an open position permitting passage through the access port to an interior of the cabinet and a closed position precluding passage through the access port. The sterilizing cabinet assembly also includes at least one of the cabinet and the door having a vent port. The sterilizing cabinet has a primary filter overlying the vent port and forming a sealed interface with an adjacent portion of the one of the cabinet and the door and a secondary filter overlying at least a portion of the primary filter.
Claims20
A sterilizing cabinet assembly, comprising:
- (a) a cabinet having an access port;
- (b) a door connected to the cabinet, the door moveable between an open position permitting passage through the access port to an interior of the cabinet and a closed position precluding passage through the access port;
- (c) at least one of the cabinet and the door having a vent port;
- and
- (d) a filter overlying the vent port and forming a sealed interface with an adjacent portion of the one of the cabinet and the door.
A method for placing filters, the method comprising:
- (a) disposing a primary door to occlude a vent port of a sterilizing cabinet, the primary door comprising an edge portion and an internal portion, the internal portion comprising a plurality of openings;
- (b) disposing a filter over the primary door to occlude the vent port of the sterilizing cabinet;
- (c) disposing a secondary door over the filter to occlude the vent port of the sterilizing cabinet forming a sealed interface with the filter, the primary door and the sterilizing cabinet.
A method for verifying sterilization, the method comprising:
- (a) performing a sterilization cycle in a sterilizing device;
- (b) removing a secondary door that is overlying a filter with a sealed interface with the filter from the sterilizing device;
- (c) examining the filter to verify the integrity of the sterilization cycle in the sterilizing device.
A filter cartridge, the filter cartridge comprising:
- (a) a frame, the frame comprising a rigid or flexible edge portion and defining a hollow center portion;
- and
- (b) a filter, the filter comprising a porous material and being affixed to the frame, the porous material being able to pass only gaseous materials through its surface, wherein the filter cartridge provides sufficient integrity to form a sealed interface with a confronting surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.