Cover system for heating unit

• US 20040045954A1
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Macropore, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Macropore, Inc.
• Inventors: Lehman, Timothy M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,884,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/521
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment

Abstract

A cover system for a heater unit includes a tray and a cap formed around the mouth of the tray. The tray holds a liquid medium that may be heated to various temperatures. The cap and the tray are coupled to prevent the passage of air and water. As a result, the cover system shields a non-sterilized heater unit from a sterile field in an operating room, thereby preserving the integrity of the sterile field.

Claims

1. A cover system comprising:

a tray to hold a liquid to be heated by a heater unit, the tray including a mouth; and

a cap coupled to the tray, the cap extending around the mouth and sized to cover at least a portion of the heater unit.

2. The cover system of claim 1, further comprising a hermetic seal where the cap is coupled to the tray.

3. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the tray and the cap are formed as a single unit.

4. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the tray is made of stainless steel.

5. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cap is made of plastic.

6. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material.

7. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the heater unit comprises a heating element, the cover system configured to place the tray in contact with the heating element when the cap covers at least a portion of the heater unit.

8. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the cap includes an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter comprising a lip.

9. The cover system of claim 8, further comprising a drape coupled to the lip.

10. The cover system of claim 1, further comprising a drape extending outwards from the cap.

11. The cover system of claim 10, wherein the drape is made of silicone.

12. The cover system of claim 10, wherein the drape comprises at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material.

13. The cover system of claim 1, further comprising a coupling element to temporarily couple the cover system to the heater unit.

14. A cover system comprising:

a tray comprising a mouth; and

a cap coupled to the tray, the cap extending around the mouth and sized to cover at least a portion of a heater unit,

wherein the tray and the cap are coupled to prevent the passage of air and water.

15. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the tray and the cap are formed as a single unit.

16. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the cap includes an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter comprising a lip.

17. The cover system of claim 16, further comprising a drape coupled to the lip.

18. The cover system of claim 14, further comprising a drape extending outwards from the cap.

19. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the tray and the cap are coupled by at least one of molding, adhesive, riveting, clamping, snapping, bolting and latching.

20. The cover system of claim 19, further comprising a sealant interposed between the tray and the cap.

21. The cover system of claim 14, further comprising a coupling element to temporarily couple the cover system to the heater unit.

22. A system comprising:

a heater unit; and

a cover system sized to cover at least a portion of the heater unit, the cover system comprising;

a tray; and

a cap coupled to the tray,

wherein the tray and the cap are coupled to prevent the passage of air and water.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the heater unit comprises a first coupling element and the cover system comprises a second coupling element, the first and second coupling elements configured to mate to temporarily couple the cover system to the heater unit.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the cap and the heater unit are sized to define an air gap between the cap and the heater unit when the cover system covers at least a portion of the heater unit.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a drape extending outwards from the cap.