STERILIZED STORAGE CONTAINER

摘要

A sterilized storage container comprising a container lid (12) is held open by a support plate (18) carrying a chamber (20) which expands at a predetermined point in a sterilizing cycle to react against the lid, moving the plate outwardly to permit the lid to drop onto the container base. A resilient gasket (16) prevents fluid flow into the container after the lid is fallen, but permits fluid flow outwardly past the gasket when interior pressure exceeds exterior pressure. When the container is to be opened, a relief valve (60) relieves the vacuum within the container and filters air entering the container at that time. In this way, the container is sealed during sterilization so that the articles therein can be stored in an aseptic condition. This prevents the possibility of recontaminating articles as they are removed from a sterilizer and stored in the prior art practice which does not include a sealable storage container for the articles.