Medical instrument shielded container for microwave sterilization

In a shielded microwave container used in conjunction with a pouch containing a sterilant aqueous liquid to sterilize dental instruments, the container comprising:

• a non-metallic holder comprising two portions hinged together along a respective first side edge of said portion, and a locking member at side edges of said portions opposite to said first side edges, said locking member being disposed so that, when locked, said portions define a volume between them, and
• a metal shield inside said holder and around said pouch, said shield comprising two shield portions that are adjacent when said holder is locked, each shield portion being mounted within one of said portions of said holder so that said shield portions occupy only a first part of said volume between said holder portions when locked, each of said shield portions including a dome curved outwardly away from the dome of said opposite shield portion, and a terminating side edge around the periphery of said dome,
• the improvement wherein said side edge of one of said shield portions includes along at least 85% of said side edge, means for maintaining metal-to-metal contact that is electrically conductive between said one shield portion side edge and said side edge of the other of said shield portions when said shield portions are moved apart to form a gap due to internal steam pressure within said pouch while maintaining the electrical conductivity.
• each said shield portion further including means defining at least one pre-formed fluid passageway into said shielded volume.