Armoured sterilization case tray with internal wrap/filter

• US 20070095699A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Case Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Case Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Frieze, Marcia, Frieze, Allan
• Application Number:
  US11/259,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095699A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/438
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/14 Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

A sterilization container system for sterilizing objects therein comprising (a) an outer case having a bottom and four outer case side walls, said outer case bottom and said outer case four side walls defining an outer case interior; (b) an outer case lid; (c) a liner; (d) an inner tray having an inner tray bottom and four inner tray side walls, said inner tray bottom and four inner tray side walls defining an inner tray interior; and (e) optionally, an inner tray lid; wherein in use, said inner tray carries one or more objects for sterilization in said inner tray interior, said inner tray optionally having said inner tray lid thereon and wrapped within said liner to form a wrapped inner tray, and said wrapped inner tray located in said outer case interior, with said outer case lid closing said interior of said outer case.

Claims

1. A sterilization container system for sterilizing objects therein comprising

(a) an outer case having a bottom and four outer case side walls, said outer case bottom and said outer case four sidewalls defining an outer case interior;

(b) an outer case lid;

(c) a liner;

(d) an inner tray having an inner tray bottom and four inner tray side walls, said inner tray bottom and four inner tray side walls defining an inner tray interior; and

(e) optionally, an inner tray lid;

wherein in use, said inner tray carries one or more objects for sterilization in said inner tray interior, said inner tray optionally having said inner tray lid thereon, said inner tray along with said objects and optionally said inner tray lid being wrapped within said liner to form a wrapped inner tray, and said wrapped inner tray located in said outer case interior, with said outer case lid closing said interior of said outer case.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said outer case bottom, said outer case side walls and said outer case lid contains perforations;

and at least one of said inner tray bottom, said inner tray side walls, and if present, said optional inner tray lid contains perforations.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said outer case bottom, said outer case side walls and said outer case lid, said inner tray bottom, said inner tray side walls, and if present, said optional inner tray lid contains perforations.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said perforations in the inner tray are offset from said perforations in said outer case.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said perforations in the inner tray are offset from said perforations in said outer case.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said outer case is of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal alloy, anodized metal, anodized metal alloy, conductive plastic, polysulfone, polypropylene, liquid crystal polymer, and mixtures, blends, composites, and hybrids thereof.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said outer case is constructed of a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, magnesium, mixtures thereof, blends thereof, and composites thereof;

each of said metals optionally having an anodized layer thereon.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said anodized metal and anodized metal alloy have an anodization layer not greater than 0.5 mils thick.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said outer case lid is of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal alloy, anodized metal, anodized metal alloy, conductive plastic, liquid crystal polymer, and mixtures, blends, composites, and hybrids thereof.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said outer case lid is constructed of a member selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, magnesium, mixtures thereof, blends thereof, and composites thereof;

each of said metals optionally having an anodized layer thereon.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said anodized metal and anodized metal alloy have an anodization layer not greater than 0.5 mils thick.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said inner tray is of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal alloy, anodized metal, anodized metal alloy, conductive plastic, liquid crystal polymer, and mixtures, blends, composites, and hybrids thereof.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said inner tray is constructed of a member selected from the group consisting of, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, magnesium, mixtures thereof, blends thereof, and composites thereof;

each of said metals optionally having an anodized layer thereon.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said anodized metal and anodized metal alloy have an anodization layer not greater than 0.5 mils thick.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said inner tray lid is of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal alloy, anodized metal, anodized metal alloy, conductive plastic, liquid crystal polymer, and mixtures, blends, composites, and hybrids thereof.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said outer case lid is constructed of a member selected from the group consisting of, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, magnesium, mixtures thereof, blends thereof, and composites thereof;

each of said metals optionally having an anodized layer thereon.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said anodized metal and anodized metal alloy have an anodization layer not greater than 0.5 mils thick.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said liner is of a material selected from the group consisting of medical grade cellulosics, polypropylene, non-woven polyolefin, muslin, linen, synthetic wraps, and mixtures, blends, composites, and hybrids thereof.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said synthetic wrap is selected from the group consisting of Gortex, Teflon, polyfoil compounds, tyvek, and mixtures, blends, composites, and hybrids thereof.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said outer case bottom is hingeably connected to said outer case sidewalls.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said outer case bottom has four edges and is hingeably connected to said four outer case sidewalls, being designated a first, second, third, and fourth outer case sidewalls, respectively, said first outer case sidewall being further hingeably connected to said outer case lid along an edge of said first outer case sidewall that is parallel to the edge of said first outer case sidewall that is hingeably connected to said outer case bottom.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said liner further comprises a closure means.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said closure means is Velcro.

24. A method of sterilizing objects in need thereof with the system of claim 1 comprising (a) placing said objects into said inner tray and optionally placing said inner tray lid on said inner tray;

(b) wrapping said inner tray loaded with said objects and optionally closed with said optional inner tray lid to result in a wrapped inner tray;

placing said wrapped inner tray into said outer case;

placing said outer case lid on said outer case to form a sterilization unit, and subjecting said sterilization unit to a sterilization procedure.

25. A method of sterilizing objects in need thereof with the system of claim 1 comprising

(a) (i) placing said objects into said inner tray, optionally placing said inner tray lid on said inner tray;

(ii) placing said liner into said outer case interior; and

(iii) placing said inner tray with said objects to be disinfected onto said liner;

or

(b) (i) placing said liner into said outer case interior;

(ii) placing said inner tray onto said liner; and

(iii) placing said objects into said inner tray, optionally placing said inner tray lid on said inner tray;

(c) wrapping said inner tray loaded with said objects and optionally closed with said optional inner tray lid to result in a wrapped inner tray;

(d) placing said outer case lid on said outer case to form a sterilization unit, and

(e) subjecting said sterilization unit to a sterilization procedure.

26. A method of sterilizing objects in need thereof with the system of claim 20 comprising

(a) placing said hingeably connected outer case bottom and side walls in an open position on a surface;

(b) placing said liner on said bottom and side walls;

(c) placing said inner tray on said liner,

(i) without said objects in said inner tray and then adding said objects into said inner tray or

(ii) with said objects having been previously placed into said inner tray

(d) optionally placing said inner tray lid on said inner tray; and

(e) in either sequence, (i) wrapping said inner tray in said liner and raising said outer case side walls and latching them into an upright position or (ii) first raising said outer case side walls to an upright position and latching them into place and then wrapping said inner tray with said liner;

(f) placing said outer case lid on said outer case to form a sterilization unit; and

(g) subjecting said sterilization unit to a sterilization procedure.