APPARATUS FOR COUNTING THE NUMBER OF TIMES A MEDICAL INSTRUMENT HAS BEEN STERILIZED

摘要

An apparatus for counting the number of times a medical instrument has been sterilized includes an indicator (10) having sequential indicia (26) and a heat responsive member (18) for indicating a next one of the indicia. Mechanical, fluid mechanical and electronic versions, the indicator (10) can be ratchet member (16) having teeth (30), and a display surface (21) containing indicia (26). A heat responsive element such as a bimetallic member (18) engages the teeth (30) of the ratchet (16) and advances the ratchet each time the apparatus is subjected to the heat of sterilization. A housing (12) with a window (14) masks the display to indicate one of the indicia as advanced by the heat responsive element. A locking and/or disabling pin (38) can be provided to prevent movement of the ratchet member during shipping and/or to disable the instrument after a predetermined number of sterilizations.