# US 7,744,832 B2 · 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 7,744,832 B2 - Document ID: US7744832B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/671,078 - Filed: 2007-02-05 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-05 - Assignees: American Sterilizer Company - Inventors: Jeffrey R. Horacek; Christopher A. Jethrow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744832B2 ## 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 dividing wall in the tray for dividing said cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, said dividing wall including at least one recess formed therein; a first removable seal member including a first opening dimensioned to receive a portion of the instrument extending therethrough, said first removable seal member dimensioned to be received in said at least one recess in said dividing wall such that a first gap surrounds an outer surface of said first removable seal member, thereby providing a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber; 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 said cover is engageable with said dividing wall such that a second gap is defined therebetween, said second gap defining a fluid pathway that fluidly connects said first chamber to said second chamber. ### 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 first opening dimensioned to receive said portion of the instrument. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said first 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 second 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 second gap defined by said first removable seal member and the instrument extending therethrough. ### Claim 16 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; and at least one removable seal member for substantially sealing said opening, wherein an instrument extends through said seal member, said at least one removable seal member dimensioned to be received in said opening in said wall such that a gap surrounds an outer surface of said at least one removable seal member, thereby providing a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An instrument container according to claim 16, wherein said removable seal member comprises: a collet having an opening therein dimensioned to receive a portion of an instrument extending therethrough. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An instrument container according to claim 17, wherein said collet comprises: a first collet section; and a second collet section engageable with said first collet section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) An instrument container according to claim 16, wherein said container further comprises: cover means for enclosing the first and second chambers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A device according to claim 19, 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 21 (depends on 16) An instrument container according to claim 16, wherein said first chamber is located within said second chamber. ### Claim 22 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 dividing wall in the tray for dividing said cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, said dividing wall including at least one recess formed therein; a first removable seal member including a first opening dimensioned to receive a portion of the instrument extending therethrough, said first removable seal member dimensioned to be received in said at least one recess such that a first gap surrounds an outer surface of said first removable seal member, thereby providing a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber; and a lid attachable to said tray to enclose said cavity. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said lid encloses said first chamber and said second chamber. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said lid encloses said second chamber, said container further comprising a cover engageable with said dividing wall for enclosing said first chamber. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A system according to claim 24, wherein said cover is engageable with said dividing wall such that a second gap is defined therebetween, said second gap defining a fluid pathway that fluidly connects said first chamber to said second chamber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said first chamber is located within said second chamber. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said first chamber is adjacent to said second chamber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said first removable seal member is comprised of: a first section; and a second section attachable to said first section. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said first removable seal member includes a collar portion extending around said first opening dimensioned to receive said portion of the instrument. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said first 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 31 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said container further comprises a second removable seal member dimensioned to be received in said recess of said dividing wall. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A system according to claim 31, wherein said container includes a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber, said fluid pathway includes a second 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 33 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said first chamber includes a fluid inlet for receiving fluid into said first chamber from the circulation system. ### Claim 34 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said second chamber includes a fluid outlet for removing fluid from said second chamber. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, 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 36 (depends on 22) A system according to claim 22, wherein said container includes a fluid pathway between said first chamber and said second chamber, said fluid pathway includes a second gap defined by said first removable seal member and the instrument extending therethrough. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one recess includes a slot dimensioned to capture said first removable seal member therein. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) A container according to claim 37, wherein said slot is defined by a pair of spaced apart wall sections and a pair of spaced apart tabs. ### Claim 39 (depends on 16) A container according to claim 16, wherein said opening includes a slot dimensioned to capture said removable seal member therein. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) A container according to claim 39, wherein said slot is defined by a pair of spaced apart wall sections and a pair of spaced apart tabs. ### Claim 41 (depends on 22) A container according to claim 22, wherein said at least one recess includes a slot dimensioned to capture said first removable seal member therein. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) A container according to claim 41, wherein said slot is defined by a pair of spaced apart wall sections and a pair of spaced apart tabs. ### Claim 43 (depends on 3) A container according to claim 3, wherein said cover includes at least one recess formed therein, said at least one recess in said cover and said at least one recess in said dividing wall defining an opening dimensioned to receive said first removable seal member therein. ### Claim 44 (depends on 24) A container according to claim 24, wherein said cover includes at least one recess formed therein, said at least one recess in said cover and said at least one recess in said dividing wall defining an opening dimensioned to receive said first removable seal member therein.