STERILIZING APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 3,807,954 A
• Filed: 06/16/1972
• Issued: 04/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harold Paul Mcdonald
• Original Assignee: Harold Paul Mcdonald
• Inventors: McDonald, Harold Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolk, Morris O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Turk, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US05/263,702
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 21/87,105,103,99 206/63.2R,72,46FC,DIG.24 220/23.83,23.86,17
• US Class Current: 206/210
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment

Abstract

A sterilizing apparatus for delicate medical instruments comprising an immersion basin, into which the sterilizing solution is poured, and a plastic carrier tray having a cellular block of material disposed therein for carrying the medical instruments and submerging them in the sterilizing solution in the immersion basic. Both the tray and the block of material have a plurality of apertures provided therein to permit free flow of the sterilizing solution over the medical instruments. The tray and block of material may also be used to sterilize the instruments by means of a sterilizing gas.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sterilizing medical instruments with a sterilizing solution comprising:

a carrier tray for supporting and transporting the medical instruments during the sterilizing process, said tray including a plurality of apertures disposed in the lower surface thereof;

a block of resilient material having at least one elongated groove provided in the top surface thereof and disposed in said carrier tray for receiving and supporting the medical instruments in the tray during transportation and sterilization thereof;

an immersion basin for containing the sterilizing solution and for receiving said carrier tray and resilient block, said basin having a depth sufficient to submerge the medical instruments in the carrier tray in the sterilizing solution;

end flanges integrally formed at each end of the carrier tray; and

means disposed in the immersion basin for engaging the end flanges of the tray and supporting the tray in the immersion basin.

2. The sterIlizing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said immersion basin tray supporting means comprises a pair of outwardly extending shelves, integrally formed therewith at each end, disposed a selected distance vertically upwardly from the bottom of said immersion basin, for supporting said end flanges of said tray when said tray is disposed in said immersion basin during the sterilization of the medical instruments.

3. The sterilizing apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said immersion basin further comprises a plurality of support members, integrally formed with said shelves of said immersion basin and extending upwardly from the surface of said shelves, for engaging said end flanges of said tray and supporting said tray above the surface of said shelves, so as to permit easy removal of said tray and the medical instruments from said immersion basin.

4. The sterilizing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the outer dimensions of said carrier tray are substantially the same as the inner dimensions of said immersion basin so that said carrier tray is guided by the interior walls of said immersion basin into and out of said basin.

5. The sterilizing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said block of material is a cellular porous material.

6. The sterilizing apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said block of material is polyurethane.