Cassette for vacuum and steam sterilization apparatus

摘要

A cassette for steam sterilizing of instruments comprises a lid and a tray, the tray having an inlet and an outlet for the cassette for communication with a sterilization apparatus, and the lid having a seal configured to interface with the tray to maintain either pressure or vacuum conditions for an interior of the cassette. The seal is configured to allow the lid to move between a vacuum position and a pressurized position without exposing the cassette interior to an outside environment. The inlet and outlets have two sets of valves and seals that ensure that the cassette interior remains sterile after the sterilization process is complete and during cassette storage. One set of valves also allows access to the cassette interior for the steam sterilization cycle.

主权项

1. A sterilization cassette comprising:
a) a tray having at least an inlet and an outlet for connection to probes of a steam sterilization apparatus adapted to sterilize instruments contained in the cassette; and b) a lid attached to the tray, and c) a seal arranged between said lid and said tray, said lid, said tray and said seal forming a cassette interior capable of receiving said instruments and being sealed from the outside against passage of air or steam when the lid is in a closed position with respect to said tray and when the lid is in an intermediate position with respect to said tray, the lid being configured to provide an open position with respect to said tray to allow said instruments to be placed in or removed from said cassette interior, and said lid being configured to be held in said closed position with respect to said tray by pressure on the exterior of said cassette when the interior cassette pressure is less than the exterior cassette pressure, and said lid being configured to be held in said intermediate position with respect to said tray by pressure in the interior of said cassette when the interior cassette pressure is greater than the exterior cassette pressure, said lid being spaced from said tray when in said intermediate position further than when in said closed position, wherein the seal further comprises: i) a continuous seal body running along a periphery of the lid; ii) first and second lips extending from the seal body and pivotally linked thereto; and iii) a third lip extending from the seal body and spaced from the second lip to form a channel therebetween; iv) wherein the first and second lips provide sealing in the intermediate position and the first, second, and third lips provide sealing in the closed position; d) each of the inlet and the outlet openings having a coupling located therein to permit communication between the steam sterilization apparatus and the sterilization chamber.