Portable electronic device assembly having sterilizable housing

摘要

A sterilizable housing for a personal electronic device includes a base, a cover and a user interface. The base is configured for receiving the personal electronic device. The cover is selectively engageable to the base. Both the base and the cover are sterilizable. The user interface provides selective access to the personal electronic device, and is at least partially contiguous with a corresponding user interface of the personal electronic device.

主权项

1. A method for utilizing a non-sterile personal electronic device from within a sterile environment, comprising the steps of:
a) sterilizing a sterilizable housing in an autoclaving process; b) housing the non-sterile personal electronic device in the sterilizable housing to provide a portable electronic device assembly; c) positioning the portable electronic device assembly within the sterile environment; and d) controlling the portable electronic device assembly to communicate a signal from within the sterile environment to a location outside of the sterile environment, wherein said step d) includes downloading a surgical technique onto the portable electronic device assembly.