JP3083733B2 - Storage container for items to be sterilized in a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container for storing an object to be sterilized used in a vertical type high-pressure steam sterilizer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer has a chamber whose upper part is open. Then, the object to be sterilized is stored in a basket-shaped (net-shaped) object storage container, the storage container is loaded into the chamber, the opening of the chamber is closed with a lid, and high-pressure steam is generated in the chamber. The object to be sterilized is sterilized with high-pressure steam.

In such a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer,
When a basket-like container for storing an object to be sterilized is used, the object to be sterilized, for example, a culture medium or blood attached to a petri dish, a microplate, a flask, a pipette tip, a blood sampling syringe, or the like is boiled by high-pressure heating steam, and There is a possibility that the gas leaks out through the hole of the storage container and blocks a drain hole provided on the bottom surface of the chamber, an air vent hole provided on the side surface, a hole for a safety valve, and the like.

[0004] Therefore, conventionally, the objects to be sterilized are placed in a bag and sterilized, and the cultivated culture medium, blood, and the like are collected in the bag to prevent them from flowing out into the chamber.

[0005] However, if the object to be sterilized contains a sharp object such as a syringe needle, the bag may be broken and the liquid substance (sewage) inside may flow out into the chamber, and furthermore, the waste may be discarded. In some cases, the area around the material accumulation point and the processing material input port of the waste transport vehicle may be soiled.

Accordingly, the applicant has previously provided a container for storing items to be sterilized in which the lower side wall and bottom wall are made non-perforated and a sewage reservoir is defined therein (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 43797/1993). According to the container for storing items to be sterilized, the sewage containing the adhered substances of the boiled objects to be sterilized is stored at the bottom of the container, so that the adhered substances of the objects to be sterilized do not flow into the chamber.

[0007]

However, in such a container for storing objects to be sterilized, it is possible to prevent the outflow of sewage into the chamber, but the object to be sterilized stored in the lower part of the container is in a state of being immersed in the sewage. Therefore, when the object to be sterilized is taken out of the container, there is a possibility that the surroundings may be stained by sewage attached to the object to be sterilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a container for storing an object to be sterilized which can surely separate wastewater containing the object from the object to be sterilized and discard the object to be sterilized without the adherence of the wastewater. Is to provide.

[0009]

The container for storing an object to be sterilized of the vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer according to the present invention includes a portion for storing the object to be sterilized, a culture medium, blood, etc., which have been boiled and flowed out of the object to be sterilized. The parts that collect sewage are made independent.

That is, the container for the object to be sterilized in the vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer of the present invention is: (1) an outer container in which a lower side wall and a bottom wall define a sewage reservoir; An inner container having a sewage passage hole in a bottom wall, and an interval holding means for holding an appropriate interval between the upper surface of the bottom wall of the outer container and the lower surface of the bottom wall of the inner container; The lower container thus defined, the upper container placed on top of the lower container and having a sewage passage hole in the bottom wall, the upper surface of the bottom wall of the lower container, and the lower surface of the bottom wall of the upper container as appropriate. The lower container and the upper container are detachably engaged with each other.

[0011]

According to the container for storing the object to be sterilized in the vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer of the present invention, the wastewater boiled by the high-pressure steam and containing the adhered matter flowing out of the object to be sterilized is stored in the lower wastewater reservoir. Therefore, the material to be sterilized is completely separated from the wastewater. After the sterilization operation, the container to be sterilized is taken out of the chamber of the sterilizer, and before or after that, the object to be sterilized is taken out of the container to be sterilized completely independently of the wastewater.

[0012]

Reference Example FIG. 1 conceptually shows a state in which a container to be sterilized is loaded in a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer.

The vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer has a chamber 2 in a main body 1, and the chamber 2 has an opening 3 above. A drain hole 4 is formed on the bottom surface of the chamber 2, and an air vent hole 5 is formed on the side surface. In addition, at the bottom of the chamber 2, a cage 6 is arranged, and below the cage 6, a heater 7 is arranged.

The vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer has an opening / closing lid 8 at an upper portion of the main body 1. When the opening / closing lid 8 is closed, the lid 8 covers the opening 3 of the chamber 2 and maintains the pressure of the steam generated in the chamber 2 at a high pressure.

The container 10 for storing items to be sterilized is placed in the chamber 2 with the container 6 placed thereon.

In the container 10 for storing items to be sterilized, the container body 11 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape by a plate material made of a material which is hard to rust, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or synthetic resin. An air passage hole 12 is formed in the lower part of the side wall 11a in the container body 11, and the sewage reservoir 1 is formed in the lower part, that is, by the side wall 11a and the bottom wall 11b below the air passage hole 12.
3 are configured. In addition, this container 10
Has a partition 14 as shown in FIG. The partition 14 has a sewage passage hole 15, and has legs 16 as spacing means on the lower surface. And this partition 14
It is loaded in the container main body 11, and the legs 16 are seated on the bottom wall 11 b of the container main body 11, and are arranged at substantially the same height as the air passage holes 12. The container body 11 has a handle 17 at the upper end.

In this high-pressure steam sterilizer, water is stored in the chamber 2 and the container 10 to be sterilized is stored in the container 10.
The object to be sterilized (a petri dish in the embodiment) A is stored before or after the is stored in the chamber 2. Then, after closing the opening / closing lid 8, the heater is heated. Then, high-pressure steam is generated in the chamber 2, and the steam rises and enters the container 10 from the upper opening, and the air in the container 10 is discharged out of the container 10 through the air passage hole 12. The discharged air is discharged from the sterilizer main body 1 to the outside through the air vent hole 5 together with the air in the chamber 2. The object A to be sterilized is sterilized by the convection of the saturated steam generated in this manner. At this time, the culture medium, blood, etc. attached to the material A to be sterilized flow out, but they fall from the sewage passage hole 15 of the partition wall 14 into the sewage reservoir 13.

When the sterilization operation is completed in this manner, the opening / closing lid 8 is opened, and the handle 17 is held by holding the handle 17.
Is taken out of the chamber 2. Then, the object A to be sterilized is taken out of the container main body 11, and the object A is sterilized,
Dispose of the waste at the treated material input port of the waste transporter. The sewage collected in the sewage reservoir 13 of the container body 11 is discarded by tilting the container body 11 at an appropriate place. At that time, the sewage in the sewage reservoir 13 flows as a gutter on the side wall 11a avoiding the air passage hole 12, and is discarded from the opening of the container body 11.

In the above embodiment, the container body 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom by a non-perforated plate, and the air passage hole 12 is formed only in the lower part of the side wall 11a. In this way, the culture medium, blood, etc., which have boiled and jumped, can be removed from the container body 11.
Jumping out is prevented as much as possible. However, the amount may be extremely small depending on the usage mode of the steam sterilizer and the like, and in this case, a slight amount is provided on the upper portion of the container body 11, that is, on the side wall 11a above the portion defining the sewage reservoir 13. May be present.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the partition 14 is formed of a plate such as a punching plate, but the partition 14 may be formed of a net plate. In the above embodiment, the legs 16 are provided on the lower surface of the partition 14 as spacing means in order to maintain the partition 14 at an intermediate position in the container main body 11, but the legs 16 are independent from the partition 14. Alternatively, the partition 16 may be placed on the leg 16 as a base.

As shown in FIG. 3, the air passage hole 12 is formed by, for example, cutting and raising a sheet metal.
An inward flange 18 is formed at the upper part of the container 2 so that sewage or the like flowing down along the inner surface of the side wall 11a of the container body 11 is guided to the sewage reservoir 13 without flowing out from the hole 12 to the outside. You may.

Further, it is also possible to use the flange 18 of the hole 12 as a spacing means and receive the partition 14 with the flange 18 so that the partition 14 can be maintained at an intermediate position in the container body 11.

[0023]

FIG. 4 conceptually shows a first embodiment of a container for storing items to be sterilized according to the present invention in a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer.

As shown in FIG. 5, the container 20 for storing items to be sterilized includes an outer container 21 and an inner container 22 housed in the outer container 21.

The outer container 21 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape from a plate material made of a non-rusting material such as stainless steel, aluminum, synthetic resin or the like.
3, and no hole is formed in the bottom wall 21b.
Accordingly, the lower part of the outer container 21, that is, the air passage hole 2
A sewage reservoir 24 is constituted by the side wall 21a and the bottom wall 21b below the third wall 3. The outer container 21 has a handle 25 at the upper end.

On the other hand, the inner container 22 is also formed with a cylindrical side wall 22a and a bottom wall 22b by a mesh plate or a punching plate made of a non-rusting material such as stainless steel, aluminum, synthetic resin or the like. Therefore, the inner container 22 has a large number of holes in the side wall 22a and the bottom wall 22b. Further, in the inner container 22, four legs 26 are disposed at the bottom as spacing means, and a handle 27 is disposed at the upper end.

The inner container 22 is dropped from the upper opening of the outer container 21 as shown by an arrow in FIG. Then, the leg 26 of the inner container 22 is seated on the bottom wall 21b of the outer container 21 as shown in FIG. 6, and the gap between the lower surface of the bottom wall 22b of the inner container 22 and the upper surface of the bottom wall 21b of the outer container 21 is formed. Is appropriately secured.

In this high-pressure steam sterilizer, water is stored in the chamber 2 and the internal container 22 of the container 20 for storing items to be sterilized is stored in the same manner as described in the above reference example.
The object A to be sterilized is stored before or after is stored in the external container 21. Then, after closing the lid 8, the heater 7 is heated. Then, high-pressure steam is generated in the chamber 2, and the steam rises and penetrates into the internal container 22 from the upper opening, and the external container 2 passes through the air passage hole 23 of the external container 21.
Spilled out of 1. The object A to be sterilized is sterilized by the convection of the saturated steam generated in this manner. At this time, the culture medium, blood, etc. attached to the material A to be sterilized flow out, flow out of the hole in the side wall 22a or the bottom wall 22b of the inner container 22, and fall into the sewage reservoir 24 of the outer container 21. .

When the sterilization operation is completed in this manner, the opening / closing lid 8 is opened, and the handle 25 is held and the inner container 22 is held.
At the same time, the external container 21 is taken out of the chamber 2. Then, the user holds the handle 27, takes out the internal container 22 from the external container 21, tilts the internal container 22, and discards the material A to be sterilized in a treatment plant or the like. The sewage collected in the sewage reservoir 24 of the outer container 21 is discarded by tilting the outer container 21 at an appropriate place. At that time, the sewage in the sump 24 is
It flows as a gutter on the side wall 21a avoiding the air passage hole 23, and is discarded from the opening of the outer container 21.

The air passage holes 23 of the outer container 21
Is high enough to ensure that steam is sufficiently distributed to the inner container 22 and deep enough to collect sewage at the bottom of the outer container 21, i.e., as shown in FIG. In a state where the inner container 22 is seated on the bottom wall 21b of the outer container 21, it is preferable that the inner container 22 is located near the bottom wall 22b of the inner container 22.

As shown in FIG. 7, the air passage hole 23 is formed by, for example, cutting and raising a sheet metal.
An inward flange 28 is formed on the upper portion of the outer container 3, thereby guiding sewage or the like flowing down along the inner surface of the side wall 21 a of the outer container 21 to the bottom of the outer container 21 without flowing out from the hole 23 to the outside. You may do so.

The flange 28 of the hole 23 receives the bottom wall 22b of the inner container 22 with the flange 28,
It is also possible to have a function as an interval maintaining means, and appropriately secure the interval between the lower surface of the bottom wall 22b of the inner container 22 and the upper surface of the bottom wall 21b of the outer container 21.

In the above embodiment, the inner container 22 is formed by a net-like member. This is because the high-pressure steam is sufficiently distributed to all the objects A to be sterilized. However, the inner container 22 can be formed of a plate-like member like the outer container 21. In that case, the bottom wall 22b
It is necessary to form a sewage passage hole in the area. Further, if necessary, an air passage hole is formed below the side wall 22a. Also,
In the inner container 22, the side wall 22a may be formed by a plate-shaped member, and the bottom wall 22b may be formed by a net-shaped member.

As an interval maintaining means for appropriately securing the interval between the lower surface of the bottom wall 22b of the inner container 22 and the upper surface of the bottom wall 21b of the outer container 21, for example, as shown in FIG.
A locking piece 29 protruding outward is provided on the upper edge of the inner container 22, and the locking piece 29 is attached to the outer container 21 as shown in FIG.
Various methods can be realized, such as securing the gap between the bottom surface of the bottom wall 22b of the inner container 22 and the top surface of the bottom wall 21b of the external container 21 by locking the upper surface of the inner container 22 with the upper surface of the inner container 22.

In the above embodiment, the inner container 22 is formed in a net shape, but may be formed by a non-porous plate.
However, also in this case, the bottom wall 22b of the inner container 22 needs a sewage passage hole.

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the container for storing items to be sterilized according to the present invention.

The container 30 for storing items to be sterilized is
1, an upper container 32 that is placed on top of the lower container 31, an upper surface of a bottom wall 31 b of the lower container 31, and an upper container 3.
The lower container 31 and the upper container 32 are detachably engaged with each other by an interval maintaining means 33 for maintaining an appropriate interval between the lower container 32 and the lower surface of the bottom wall 32b.

The lower container 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom by a plate material made of a non-rusting material such as stainless steel, aluminum, synthetic resin or the like. In the lower container 31, neither the side wall 31a nor the bottom wall 31b has a hole, and a sewage reservoir 35 is formed therein. This lower container 3
1 is enlarged outwardly, and its enlarged portion 36
A step 37 as a spacing means 33 is formed inside the base.

On the other hand, the upper container 32 is also formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape by a plate material made of a non-rusting material such as stainless steel, aluminum, synthetic resin and the like, and an air passage hole 38 is formed below the side wall 32a. A sewage passage hole 39 is formed in the bottom wall 32b. Furthermore, this upper container 3
2, a handle 40 is provided at the upper end.

The upper container 32 is dropped from the upper opening of the lower container 31 into the inside as shown by an arrow in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower part of the upper container 32 is seated on the step 37 of the lower container 31, and the space between the lower surface of the bottom wall 32b of the upper container 32 and the upper surface of the bottom wall 31b of the lower container 31 is appropriately adjusted. While securing a sewage reservoir 35 therein, the locking means 34, that is, the inner wall surface 36 a of the enlarged portion 36 is pressed against the lower outer surface of the side wall 32 a of the upper container 32, and the upper container 32 is attached to the lower container 31. Lock.

In the high-pressure steam sterilizer of this embodiment, water is stored in the chamber 2 as in the above-mentioned reference example. The object A is stored in the upper container 32 of the container 30 before or after the upper container 32 is engaged with the lower container 31. Then, after closing the lid 8, the heater 7 is heated. Then, high-pressure steam is generated in the chamber 2, and the steam rises, enters the upper container 32 from the upper opening, and flows out of the upper container 32 through the air passage hole 38. The object A to be sterilized is sterilized by the convection of the saturated steam generated in this manner. At this time, the culture medium, blood, etc. attached to the material A to be sterilized flow out. .

When the sterilization operation has been completed in this manner, the opening / closing lid 8 is opened, and the handle 40 is held and the lower container 31 is held.
At the same time, the upper container 32 is taken out of the chamber 2. Then, by pulling up the handle 40 while holding down the lower container 31, the upper container 32 is separated from the lower container 31, the upper container 32 is tilted, and the material A to be sterilized is discarded in a treatment plant or the like. Further, the sewage collected in the sewage reservoir 35 of the lower container 31 is discarded by tilting the lower container 31 at an appropriate place.

In the above embodiment, the upper container 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom by a non-perforated plate, and the air passage hole 38 and the sewage passage hole 39 are formed only in the lower part of the side wall 32a and the bottom wall 32b. ing. In this manner, the culture medium, blood, and the like, which have boiled and jumped, are prevented from jumping out of the container 30 to be sterilized as much as possible. However, as described in the first embodiment, the amount may be extremely small depending on the use mode of the steam sterilizer or the like. In this case, a small number of air passage holes are formed in the side wall 32a of the upper container 32. 13 may be present.

In the second embodiment, the locking means 3
The side wall 36a of the enlarged portion 36 is used as 4
The upper container 32 and the lower container 31 are detachably connected to each other by pressurizing the upper container 32 with the entire periphery of the lower portion of the side wall 32a of the upper container 32. As shown in FIG. The tongue piece 41 may be arranged upward at the upper end of the base 31, and the abdomen 41 a of the tongue piece 41 may be pressed against the lower part of the upper container 32. With this configuration, when the upper container 32 is engaged with the lower container 31, the tongue 41 is bent outward, thereby facilitating the engagement. , And secure engagement is obtained.

A notch 42 is formed at the upper end of the lower container 31.
When the upper container 32 is engaged with the lower container 31, a hole communicating with the outside is formed as shown in FIG. In this case, the upper container 3
The high-pressure steam in the lower container 3 passes through the sewage passage hole 39.
1 through the lower container 31 and the hole (notch 4
2) is discharged outside.

[0046]

The container for storing the object to be sterilized in the vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer of the present invention comprises a container for storing the object to be sterilized and a sewage reservoir.
Each is independent. Therefore, the object to be sterilized and the sewage can be easily separated and disposed at a desired place.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a reference example of a container to be sterilized in a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer, and conceptually shows a state in which the container to be sterilized is housed in a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer. It is sectional drawing.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view conceptually showing the container to be sterilized shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the spacing means for supporting the partition wall in the container main body in the container to be sterilized shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing a state in which the container to be sterilized according to the first embodiment of the present invention is accommodated in a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view conceptually showing a first embodiment of the container for storing items to be sterilized according to the present invention.

6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inner container of the container to be sterilized shown in FIG. 5 is loaded in the outer container.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the air passage hole and the spacing means in the container for storing sterilized objects of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing still another modification of the spacing means in the container for storing sterilized objects of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the spacing means shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view conceptually showing a second embodiment of the container to be sterilized according to the present invention.

11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where an upper container of the container to be sterilized shown in FIG. 10 is engaged with a lower container.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification of the engagement means and the air passage hole in the container for storing sterilized objects of the second embodiment.

13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where an upper container of the container to be sterilized shown in FIG. 12 is engaged with a lower container.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer for storing an object to be sterilized, loading it into the chamber through an upper opening of the chamber, filling the chamber with high-pressure steam, and sterilizing the object to be sterilized. An outer container having a sewage reservoir defined by a lower side wall and a bottom wall, an inner container housed in the outer container, having a sewage passage hole in the bottom wall, and a bottom wall of the outer container. A container for sterilization of a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer, comprising a spacing means for maintaining an appropriate spacing between an upper surface and a lower surface of a bottom wall of the inner container. 2. A vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer for storing an object to be sterilized, loading it into the chamber through an upper opening of the chamber, filling the chamber with high-pressure steam, and sterilizing the object to be sterilized. In the container for storing objects to be sterilized, a lower container defining a sewage reservoir, an upper container placed on top of the lower container and having a sewage passage hole in a bottom wall, an upper surface of a bottom wall of the lower container, A vertical type comprising an interval maintaining means for maintaining an appropriate interval between the lower surface of the bottom wall of the upper container and an engaging means for detachably engaging the lower container and the upper container. Storage container for high-pressure steam sterilizer.