Sterilizing container

0001The invention relates to a sterile container, in particular for receiving and sterile storage of surgical instruments or material, comprising a formed by a container base and container walls Receiving space, a lid for closing the accommodating space and a gas exchange opening, which by a in a filter holder held sterile filter can be closed.

0002Such sterile container together with, for example, in stored surgical instruments or material in a sterilizer sterilized. They can then in a sterile operating area are brought and opened there. The sterile filter is required to after the sterilization process the penetration of germs into the receiving space of the container to prevent. However, this filter needs of Time to be replaced at the time. This is known in sterile containers only cumbersome possible. Moreover, the manufacture of a lid with integrally arranged thereon filter holder very costly.

0003It is therefore an object of the present invention, a sterile container to improve the initially described kind so that the sterile filter can be easily replaced and the lid especially easy manufacture.

0004This object is of the type described in a sterile container Art inventively achieved in that the sterile filter and the Filter holder, a filter unit form and that the filter holder on the cover is mounted.

0005This configuration makes it possible, where appropriate, the filter unit completely replaced. These must in particular when inserting the Sterile filters are no longer even resorted, on the one hand a Damage avoided thereof, on the other hand soiling is prevented. The manufacture of the cover is simplified, because the filter holder can be mounted on the lid subsequently.

0006It is advantageous if the sterile filter and the filter holder detachably connectable are when the sterile filter in a removal position from the filter holder detachably and held in a connecting position on the filter holder is. In this way, should the filter change only the sterile filter be yourself renewed and not the entire filter unit. indeed the filter unit could be replaced altogether, however, would be replaced with an intact filter holder of these, although this would not be required. This overall economy the sterile container improves.

0007To avoid damage to the sterile filter, it is advantageous, if the sterile filter is held on a carrier element.

0008To increase the stability and maintain the shape of the sterile filter it is favorable when the support element has a first and a second Support member includes and if the sterile filter between the two Support elements is maintained. The sterile filter can be safely characterized take on the support element, without the filter is soiled or damaged becomes.

0009To further increase the stability of the filter unit may be provided be that at least one of the two supporting elements, the gas exchange opening at least partially cross-bearing sections including for supporting the sterile filter. Although this is the gas exchange opening reduced free surfaces of the sterile filter but also, so that its shape can be stabilized, which in particular upon application is advantageous with pressurized superheated steam.

0010According to a preferred embodiment of the invention provided be that the sterile filter, the first and the second support member are inextricably linked, in particular glued, clamped or welded. Thus, a total of dimensionally stable Unit comprising the support element and the sterile filter formed, whereby the exchange is facilitated thereof.

0011The support element and the filter holder can in different ways be joined together, for example, screwed or jammed. It is particularly advantageous if a bayonet connection for connecting the carrier element and the filter holder, and for transferring the carrier element from the removal position into the Connection position is provided. The support member may with the Sterile filters are simply connected, namely by the support element first inserted into the filter holder and then transferred a certain angular range is twisted, which essentially on the number of mutually engageable bayonet projections and borrowings and their angular extent depends. The connection position is usually defined by relative stops between the carrier element and the filter holder having a Rotational movement limit.

0012In order to ensure a defined connected position and a loosening to prevent the sterile filter from the filter holder, it is favorable when a Locking mechanism is provided for locking the connection position the sterile filter and the filter holder.

0013Particularly simply a locking mechanism can be achieved by a Latching connection realized.

0014, in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention be provided that the filter unit comprises a cover for one-sided Covering the sterile filter. Thus, the sterile filter on one side protected against damage, for example by the Sterile container stored items.

0015To ensure an optimal gas exchange, while safely protect the sterile filter from damage, it may be be advantageous if the cover is provided with perforations for enabling gas exchange through the apertures therethrough and when the perforations in a direction transverse to a forward direction are covered by opening covers.

0016Preferably, the cover is spaced apart from the sterile filter. Thereby it is prevented that the sterile filter when subjected to superheated steam does not come into contact with the cover, if the sterile filter deformed, for example, bulges.

0017The cover and the filter holder may Although formed in one piece be, in a preferred embodiment of the invention but may be provided that the cover is detachably connected to the filter holder connectable, that the cover in a position detaching from the filter holder is removable and held in a closure position on the filter holder is. The cover can thus be removed easily, to talk more about the sterile filter.

0018The cover could, for example, with screws or clamps on Filter holders can be mounted, but it is particularly advantageous when a second bayonet connection for connecting the cover and the filter holder and for transferring the cover from the position Decreasing is provided in the closed position. A connection could be produced for example by the cover with introduced corresponding projections in recordings of the filter holder and is then rotated as a whole relative to the filter holder. Conversely, can the cover removed easily.

0019To avoid unintentional release of the cover from Filter holder is a second locking mechanism is provided for Locking the cover and the filter holder in the closure position.

0020The second locking mechanism could, for example, by a separately actuated locking element can be realized. It is particularly simple, however, when the second locking mechanism a second locking compound. In this case, all kinds of Latch connections possible, for example, spring-loaded locking projections, which engage in corresponding recesses.

0021Further, it is advantageous if the carrier element a with the cover engageable centering element comprises centering the Cover on the filter holder. This is in particular the placement of the facilitates cover and simplified. In addition, the centering aid also serve as a stop to prevent damage to the sterile filter avoid through the cover to help.

0022To a gas exchange between the receiving space and the environment the sterile container in addition to control and / or regulate it may be advantageous if the filter unit is mounted for movement, when the filter unit in a closed position a flow path closes and in an open position to open the flow path, so that gas exchange in the closed position only through the sterile filter and in the open position through the sterile filter and / or by the Flow path is made possible. Thus, in particular when is a larger gas exchange required, the filter unit in the transferred through position and opens an additional flow path will.

0023Is particularly simple assembly of the sterile container when Storage elements on the filter holder and the lid for supporting the Filter unit are provided on the lid.

0024A particularly simple design of the sterile container with a movable mounted filter unit results in an advantageous manner if the storage elements at least one bearing pin and an associated Bushing include when the bearing pin at each end a Stop for limiting a movement of the bearing bush relative to the bearing pin and when the bearing bolt on the cover and the Bushing to the filter housing or are arranged inversely.

0025No additional parts are required when one of the two stops through the cover and the other stop by a head the bearing bolt is formed.

0026Enhanced protection of the storage elements is obtained if the cover storage elements covered. are in this way storage elements protected against accidental manipulation.

0027To close an additional flow path and thereby a aseptic storage in sterile containers of stored objects to allow the filter unit is in the closed position on the sterile container held under pretension.

0028Such bias can be realized particularly easily when is acting in the longitudinal direction of the bearing pin biasing Element between one of the two stops and the bearing bush supported. As biasing element can be any elastic elements, For example, coil springs or rubber elastic elements, be used.

0029It is advantageous if a sealing element for gas-tight storage of the Filter unit is provided on the lid. This can be a full Sealing of the filter unit on the lid realize, so that a Gas exchange is only possible through the sterile filter through.

0030It is particularly favorable when the sealing element a on the carrier element mounted sealing ring comprises. Sealing rings are particularly easy prepare and arrange in a simple manner on the carrier element.

0031According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is advantageous if a pressure relief valve is provided when the Overpressure valve is arranged so that it has a basic position in a occupies the closed position and when it assumes a passing position, when a pressure in an environment of the sterile container a pressure in the Sterile container exceeds a predetermined pressure difference. On this way can prevent damage to the sterile container, because before the sterile container due to a particularly great pressure Near or a correspondingly high pressure gradient can be deformed to open the pressure relief valve and allows the Injecting gas into the container.

0032No additional components and further openings are necessary if the filter unit forms the overpressure valve. The filter unit thus has two functions, on the one hand, it serves the Retention of germs, the other as a pressure relief valve.

0033Preferably, a filter unit spaced about nationwide Protection element provided. This can be particularly the sterile filter protected against mechanical damage protect.

0034It is particularly favorable if the filter unit on an inner side the lid is mounted and when the protective element on an outer side is arranged the lid. Thus, the filter unit with the Sterile filter from both sides to mechanical stresses securely protected.

0035To minimize impingement of the sterile filter with liquid, it is advantageous, if between the protective element and the lid with at least one of the gas exchange opening in fluid communication Gas passage opening is provided which is arranged such that a gas flow in a substantially transverse to the forward direction the sterile filter extending flow direction is made possible. On Thus, gas, such as superheated steam for sterilization, on from passing easily through the sterile filter, whereas Liquids are first kept away from the sterile filter.

0036To make it harder for liquids in addition to penetrate into the filter unit, it is advantageous if one on the outside of the lid arranged and of the gas exchange opening facing away, to provided externally relative to a lid plane falling inflow is. If a liquid on the lid, it may, due to the flow inclination of the inflow of the gas exchange opening away and thus do not reach the filter unit.

0037To facilitate installation of the filter holder and the stability thereof to increase, in a preferred embodiment of the invention provided that the filter holder against rotating on the lid is mounted.

0038Preferably, the sterile filter is a durable filter, in particular from Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) produced. This allows maintenance intervals extend the sterile container, which exchange the filter unit requires only rarely.

0039Particularly cheap and simple to manufacture, the sterile container if the lid is made of a plastic, in particular polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU).

0040The following description of a preferred embodiment the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings for further Explanation. Show it:<dl tsize="8"><dt>Figure 1:</dt><dd>An exploded view of a disassembled, three-part Filter unit;</dd><dt>Figure 2:</dt><dd>a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1 and</dd><dt>Figure 3:</dt><dd>a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1</dd></dl>

0041In the figures 1 to 3 is a whole with the reference numeral 10 provided represented three-piece filter unit to a lid 12 a sterile container not shown is mounted.

0042The filter unit 10 comprises a connectable to the cover 12 Holding frames 14, one insertable into the holding frame 14, and with this and a connectable filter element 16 with the holding frame 14 connectable cover 18th

0043The support frame 14 includes an octagonal outer contour having Top plate 20 having a circular opening 22, which is surrounded by a circumferential inner edge of the 24th A wrap Outer edge 26 joins the octagonal outer contour of Top plate 20, so that a cross-sectionally substantially U-shaped Hollow profile is formed. offset in the circumferential direction by 90 ° are in the top plate four identical, serving as bearing bushes 28 cylindrical sleeves used, which at their from the cover plate extending 20 remote end a parallel to the cover plate 20, after have inwardly facing annular flange 30th Between the bushes 28 are four identical, from approximately over an angular range 45 ° extending slots 32 which partially integrally from a are covered with the cover plate 20 formed protrusion 34, to be a circumferentially oriented, molded resilient Locking lug 36 connects perpendicular to the top plate 20 a little can be moved and oriented at an away from the cover plate 20 Page a non-illustrated small spherical projection having. The projection 34 and the locking lug 36 cover approximately 40% of the slot 32 in the circumferential direction from one end of Slot 32 starting.

0044Further, the inner edge 24 with four symmetrically around the circumference distributed, extending in the circumferential direction and radially inwardly projecting radial protrusions 38, which extend roughly extend over an angular range of 40 °. One side, the radial projections 38 extended with a parallel offset projecting locking tabs 40, which are movable perpendicular to the cover plate 20 a little.

0045A free, from the cover plate 20 facing away edge line 27 of the Outer edge 26 is partially curved and corresponding to a not illustrated inner surface of the lid 12 is formed, whereby a positive contact of the holding frame 14 per se the lid can be realized 12th

0046The filter element 16 comprises two clamping plates 42 and 43 that a each with eight radially extending webs 46 and 50 connected to an outer ring 44 and inner ring 48 45 and 49 exhibit. The inner ring 45 of the pinching disc 42 will be of four cross-shaped retaining webs 54 passes through the central wear a centering 56th In between the clamping discs 42 and 43 is a sterile filter 52 is inserted, which the of the outer rings 44 and 48 limited annular opening 58 completely covered. The two clamping plates 42 and 43 and the Sterile filter 52 are firmly connected, eg glued or ultrasonically welded to form a single unit.

0047corresponds to the outer diameter of the annular filter element 16 the inner diameter of the opening 22 of the holding frame 14 and can are therefore used in this opening 22nd To connect the filter element 16 with the holding frame 14, the outer ring 48 with four symmetrically distributed over the circumference grooves 60 provided, which are open radially outwards. Each lateral end of the Receiving groove 60 is closed with a Nutendwand 62nd The filter element 16 is inserted into the holding frame 14 such that the four grooves 60 between the projections 38 with the radial imaged areas of the inner edge 24 engage. A radially projecting Außenringflansch 64 of the outer ring 48 is in this position, on the radial projections 38 on. The filter element 16 is now ready twisted until the Nutendwand 62 to the end edge 39 of the Receiving groove 60 engaging radial projection 38 abuts. In this Connecting position of the holding frame 14 and the filter element 16 the dip arranged on the latching tongue 40 into corresponding projections Recesses 66 at the open end each side wall 61 of the groove a, whereby a latching lock the connection position results.

0048Furthermore, the outer ring 48 away from the outer ring 44 with a pointing open annular groove 68 is provided, in which a sealing ring 70 is inserted.

0049The filter unit 10 is closed by the cover 18 one to the outer contour of the cover plate 20 corresponding octagonal Baseplate 72 comprises that for having a central bore 74 insertion the centering projection 56 is provided. A circular area 76 is connected in a quarter circle sectors each parallel 78 slots of different length provided, so that webs 80 between remain the slots 78 relative to the base 72 obliquely projecting extended extend approximately at an angle of 60 °. Slanted web regions 81 cover the slots 78 respectively completely, so that each oblique channels are formed 82nd A direct passage perpendicular to the base plate 72 by the Slots 78 is not possible.

0050four from a bottom 84 of the base plate 72 extend symmetrically distributed, extending over an angular range of approximately 30 °, in Cross-sectional L-shaped retaining projections 86 from whose one free Legs at one end a perpendicular to the base plate 72 extending bore 88 has.

0051The cover 18 is connected to the holding frame 14 as follows: The cover 18 is in with the retaining projections 86 not of projections 34 covered areas of the slots 32 is inserted, until the underside 84 of the base plate 72 to the cover plate 20 bears. engage behind by rotation of the cover 18 in a clockwise direction the free legs of the retaining projections 86, the projections 34, to an end face 87 of the retaining projection 86 at one end edge 33 of the slot 32 abuts. In this closed position immersed one arranged on the latching lug 36 hemisphere 37 into the bore 88 and locks the closed position of the cover 18 and the Holding frame 14th

0052In connection with Figure 2, the attachment of the holding frame 14 illustrates the cover 12th On the cover 12 are not adjacent to a illustrated circular opening on its inside four substantially cylindrical retaining pin 90 vertically from the cover 12 away spreading arranged. The holding frame 14 is the bearing bushes 28 pushed over the retaining pin 90 so that the ring flanges 30, the retaining bolts 90 surrounding on the inside of the lid 12 abut. Each retaining pin 90 is by a helical spring 92 surrounded, which on one side on the annular flange 30, on the other Side by an annular flange 94 of a lid 96 is supported, which is a central bore 97, whose inner diameter with the Outer diameter of the retaining bolt 90 corresponds. The lid 96 is ultrasonically welded or glued to the retaining bolt.

0053Because of this storage, it is possible to use the entire filter unit 10 from the inside of the lid 12 against the bias of Coil springs lift 92nd This happens for example, when a sterile container with a filter unit arranged on it 10 introduced into a sterilizer and charged with superheated steam under pressure becomes. The surrounding the sterile container pressure is in this Case higher than the pressure inside the container, so that the entire Filter unit 10 lifts off the lid 12 and an additional Flow path opens to the inflow of hot steam. This prevents the sterile container due to excessive pressure differences acting is deformed. If the externally applied pressure back, the filter unit 10 by means of the coil springs 92 is biased against the inside of the lid 12th The sealing ring 70 is in this closed position against a corresponding sealing projection 98 on the lid 12, so that only a gas exchange through the Sterile filter 52 through the interior of the sterile container in is possible. Because of this resilient storage takes over the entire filter unit 10 at the same time also the function of a relief valve.