JPH0822309B2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention stores a device such as a medical instrument during sterilization,
The present invention relates to a device for storing after sterilization.

(Prior Art and Problems Thereof) It is known to sterilize a medical device by subjecting it to one or more vacuum / steam cycles in a pressure cooker. After the desired number of vacuum-steam cycles, a vacuum is drawn to promote evaporation of moisture and water droplets left on the device.

It is also known to keep the device in the container during this sterilization process. Typically, these vessels are made of metal and are provided with holes within the vessel which allow a vacuum to be drawn to allow vapor to enter the vessel. The holes are covered with a filter that prevents contaminants from entering the container, which filter is typically made of cotton, cellulose or other absorbent material. These filters must be replaced after each sterilization cycle.

Little drainage of water is required for the metal container as it transfers heat quickly and thus helps the evaporation of water droplets. Some metal containers have a flat bottom wall with holes and a filter as described above. Although these filters allow water to pass through, they generally absorb water that comes in contact with them. Some metal containers have a temperature-sensing valve on their bottom wall that allows water to drain until the temperature of the container drops below a certain point.
These valves are prone to failure and complicated in construction, and it is not possible to determine if they are closed without opening the container and exposing the contents.

Recently, plastic containers have become popular. The reason is that they are made transparent and the contents are visible, they are not as stiff as metal containers and do not damage sharp instruments, and they transfer heat slowly and are easy to handle. However, slow heat conduction is disadvantageous in that water droplets do not evaporate as quickly as metal containers. In a plastic container, water droplets may accumulate and cool the plastic in contact with it. Since plastic transfers heat slowly, lost heat may not be exchanged quickly and water droplets may not evaporate.

In other technical fields, to filter liquids or to allow air to diffuse into liquids, such as in aquariums,
It is known to use filters made of ceramic materials, more specifically filters made of ceramic particles sintered with a glass binder.

Notable US patents disclosing sterilization containers include:

Inventor Patent No.Issue Date Hohman 4,400,357 1983.8.23 Sanderson 4,372,921 1983. 2.8 Sanderson 4,349,118 1982. 9.14 Sanderson 4,196,166 1980. 4.1 Huber 3,482,930 1969.12.9 muir 1,576,535 1926. 3.16 Notable foreign patent There are 353.832 and 20.992, German Patent 1,492,374 and French Patent 39,836.

(Summary of the Invention) According to the present invention, there is provided a device for storing an item during sterilization and storing the item after the sterilization is completed, and the device is inclined downward toward a drain hole. A container with a bottom wall and a perforation that allows water to drain from the container through its drainage hole and prevents bacteria from entering the container through the drainage hole when water is not draining. Have a means of quality. The invention is particularly suitable for plastic containers,
Means are provided for draining water from such a container.

In a preferred embodiment, the drainage means comprises a permanent or reusable element that is permeable to water, non-absorbent, and almost impermeable to bacteria when dry. . Thus, the element allows water to drain out of the container, preventing bacteria from entering the container when dry.

The element preferably has a permeability in air of no more than 1 micron and a thickness of no more than 3.76 mm (3/16 inch). As a result, the element forms a tortuous path for airborne bacteria, almost preventing the passage of bacteria. In the preferred embodiment, the element is made of non-absorbent particles sintered with a glass binder. More specifically, the element is made of a permeable ceramic material, and more specifically, of ceramic particles sintered with a glass binder. The element is tough and resistant to chemicals comparable to glass. Therefore, it has corrosion resistance and can withstand the conditions of steam sterilization.

In the preferred embodiment, the bottom wall of the container has a recess with a plurality of drainage holes, the bottom wall slopes downwardly toward the recess and the element is placed in the recess. More specifically, the recess and the element are circular, the device further comprises an annular gasket arranged between the element and the bottom wall, and the element is fixed in the recess to secure the gasket to the element and the bottom wall. And a means of keeping it between. This provides an air-tight and liquid-tight seal between the element and the bottom wall so that water in the container and air entering the container must pass through the element.

(Embodiment) An apparatus 10 for storing various items therein during sterilization and storing the same after sterilization and embodying various features of the present invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 includes a container 12 having an interior and having a base 14 with an open top end and a bottom end. Container 12
Is preferably made of a transparent plastic such as polysulfone synthetic resin. The container 12 may be made of other suitable materials. At the lower end of the base 14 is a bottom wall 16 with a recess 18 extending downwards, in which recess 18 a plurality of drainage holes 20 are provided. The bottom wall 16 is then inclined downwards towards the recess 18. In this example, the bottom wall 16 is inclined downward at an angle not less than 4.5 degrees. In the illustrated arrangement, the recess 18 is substantially circular and the base 14 also has a plurality of inwardly extending ribs 21, the reason for which will be explained later.

In another embodiment, the bottom walls 16 each have a drain hole therein.
It may have a plurality of recesses with 20.

The container 12 also has a lid 22 that can be attached to the open upper end of the base 14. The lid 22 may be attached to the base 14 in any suitable manner. In the configuration shown, the lid 22
On its entire outer circumference, a groove 24 that opens downward and receives the upper edge of the base 14 is provided. Gasket or sealant
26 is arranged between the lid 22 and the upper edge of the base 14 to seal the lid 22 to the base 14. The lid 22 also includes a plurality of holes 28 to allow vapor to enter the container 12 and create a vacuum within the container 12. In this embodiment,
The lid 22 further surrounds the hole 28 and extends downwardly in an annular boss 30.
And a circular support frame with holes attached to the boss 30
It also has 32. The support frame 32 has on its upper surface a sheet 34 of filter material for allowing vapor to enter the container 12 and to draw a vacuum inside the container 12 and to prevent contaminants from entering the container 12. keeping. The filter material can be any suitable material,
In this embodiment, it is a polyolefin fiber cloth. This filter material must be replaced each time it is used.

The device 10 includes a perforated dish 36 that is removably disposed within the container 12 to support items that are sterilized and stored.
Also includes. The plate 36 has ribs inside the base 14 which are described above.
It should be listed above 21. In the configuration shown, the dish
36 has a plurality of holes 38 in its lower wall. The holes 38 allow water droplets to drain from the item being sterilized.

The device 10 further includes a porous means disposed adjacent the drain hole 20, which means allows water to drain from the container through the drain hole 20 and not drain the water. Occasionally, bacteria are prevented from entering the container 12 through the drain hole 20. A variety of suitable porosity means can be employed, but in this example, the means employs an element 40 that is permeable to water, non-absorbable, and nearly impermeable to bacteria when dry. I have it. Element 40 is preferably made of a permanent or reusable permeable ceramic material, and more specifically,
Desirably, it is made of size-controlled ceramic particles sintered with a glass binder. In the present embodiment, the particles whose size is controlled are particles of silicon carbide. Further, in this embodiment, the element has a permeability of less than 1 micron in air and a thickness not less than 3/16 inches (3/16 inches) to provide a tortuous path for airborne bacteria. Is designed to produce. Such tortuous passages are known to prevent the passage of most bacteria. Suitable elements known as "permeable ceramic materials" are available.

Element 40 is durable, scratch resistant, and has excellent chemical resistance comparable to glass, making it resistant to corrosive, oxidative, and other conditions of steam sterilization.

In other embodiments, the element 40 can be made of other suitable non-absorbent particles such as stainless steel particles sintered with a glass binder. However,
It has been found that ceramic particles are more desirable than stainless steel particles because stainless steel particles tend to oxidize with prolonged use.

In this example, the element 40 is substantially circular and
It is arranged inside the container 12 according to the inside of 18. In other embodiments, the bottom wall 16 need not have a recess, the drain hole 20 may be located in the bottom wall 16 and the element 40 may be located on the bottom wall 16 in contact with the drain hole.

The device 10 further includes an annular gasket 42 located between the element 40 and the bottom wall 16 and a recess 18 for the element 40.
Means are preferably provided for securing the gasket 42 between the element 40 and the bottom wall 16 for fixation therein. In the configuration shown, the gasket 42 has a generally L-shaped cross section and is actually confined between the element 40 and both the bottom wall and the sidewalls of the recess 18. Various suitable means for securing the recess in the element 40 may be employed, but in the present embodiment, the means includes a conventional fastener 44 extending through the bottom wall 16 and the element 40. There is. The fastener is preferably made of stainless steel. In the configuration shown, an O-ring 46 is disposed around the fastener 44 and between the bottom wall 16 and the element 40 to provide the fastener.
It prevents water leakage and air passage between 44 and the element 40.

During the sterilization process, the holes 28 in the lid 22 draw a vacuum inside the container 12 and allow vapor to enter the container 12. Items to be sterilized are placed on the dish 36, and water drops from the item are dished.
Pass through the holes 38 in the bottom wall 16 of 36 and onto the bottom wall 16 of the base 14. The bottom wall 16 is inclined downwards towards the recess 18, so that the water collected on the bottom wall 16 descends into the recess 18 and passes through the element 40 and out of the drain hole 20.
Once processed and the device 10 is completely dry, the element 40 prevents bacteria from entering the container 12 through the drain 20 and the filter sheet 34 prevents bacteria from entering the container 12 through the lid 22. To prevent. The items in the container remain sterile until the lid 22 is removed. Both the container 12 and the element 40 can be used repeatedly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus including a container having a lid and an instrument tray embodying various features of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container with the lid and the instrument tray removed. Is. 12 …… Container, 14 …… Base, 16 …… Bottom wall 18 …… Recess, 20 …… Drainage hole, 22 …… Lid 26 …… Gasket, 34 …… Filler sheet 36 …… Plate, 40 …… Porous element 42 …… Gasket, 44 …… Fastener

Claims (8)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A sterilizing device for storing an instrument inside during sterilization and holding the instrument after sterilization, comprising a container having a bottom wall inclined downward toward the drain hole, and the drain hole Provided in the vicinity, while draining water from the container via the drain hole, while not draining water, comprising a porous means for preventing bacteria from entering the container from the drain hole, An apparatus for sterilization, characterized in that the porous means has an element that is impermeable to water and non-absorbent and does not allow bacteria to pass through when it is dried, and the element is made of a permeable ceramic. 2. The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the element is an element obtained by sintering ceramic particles using a glass binder. 3. The element is permeable to air greater than 1 micron and has a wall thickness greater than 4.76 mm to form a curved passage for bacteria carried by the air. Sterilization equipment. 4. The sterilizing device according to claim 1, wherein the element is an element obtained by sintering non-absorbent particles using a glass binder. 5. The bottom wall has a downwardly extending recess having a plurality of drainage holes, the bottom wall sloping downwardly toward the recess, and the element having the recess. The apparatus for sterilization according to claim 1, arranged in 6. The recess and the element are circular, and the device further comprises an annular gasket disposed between the element and the bottom wall, the element securing the element in the recess. A sterilizing device according to claim 5 including means for enclosing the gasket between the element and the bottom wall. 7. The container comprises a base having an open upper end and a lower end provided with the bottom wall, and a lid fixable to the upper end of the base, and the apparatus further comprises: The apparatus for sterilization of claim 1 comprising a dish with a hole that is removably attached to the container and that supports instruments that are held in the container after being sterilized. 8. The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the porous means is disposed inside the container.