Sterilization Container With Battery Powered Sensor Module For Monitoring The Environment In The Container

摘要

A sterilization container with a sensor module for monitoring the environmental characteristics internal to the container. The sensor module includes a normally closed end bore. A sensor is disposed in the closed end void space. Other sensors also part of the module monitor the pressure and temperature of the environment inside the container. Based on the measurements of the environment in the container and the environment within the closed end void space it is possible to determine the extent to which the container is filled with saturated steam.

主权项

1. A sterilization container, said sterilization container including:
a body shaped to hold surgical instruments and adapted to allow steam to enter the body in order to sterilize the surgical instruments; and a sensor module mounted to said body, said sensor module shaped to define a normally closed end void space and at least one opening that forms a fluid communications path from the interior of the container body into the at least one void space including: a pressure sensor mounted to said module and positioned to sense the pressure inside said body; a first temperature mounted to said module and positioned to sense the temperature sensor disposed in the void space of said sensor module for sensing temperature inside said body; and a second temperature sensor is mounted to the module so as to sense the temperature in the void space and so that, relative to gravity, the second temperature sensor is located below the at least one opening into the void space.