Sterilization indicator for a sterile container

Abstract

The present invention discloses a sterilization indicator for a sterile container, having a shape-memory element in the form of an axially acting compression spring, preferably of the helical-spring type, which, when a predetermined sterilization temperature is reached or exceeded, subjects an indicating unit to a defined axial compressive force, said indicating unit, in turn, being prestressed by means of a restoring spring, preferably of the helical-spring type, in the direction counter to the shape-memory element by way of a restoring force which is smaller than the defined axial compressive force, and having a latching mechanism, which can be actuated by a manually actuable closing or locking mechanism of the sterile container and is designed such that, following or during the operation of the sterile container being closed or locked, it retains the indicating unit in a sterile position once said unit has been moved into the sterile position by the shape-memory element and, upon opening or unlocking of the sterile container below the sterilization temperature, it frees the indicating unit, whereupon the restoring spring moves the indicating unit back into an unsterile position.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a sterilization indicator for sterile containers according to the preamble of claim 1 . Background technique [0002] As is known, sterile containers are generally suitable for assembling / storing surgical instruments intended to be sterilized in medicine and in particular in surgery. During the sterilization process, the instruments are stored in sterile containers and heated intensively at a specific temperature until all microorganisms and spores that may be present on the surgical instruments have been killed. To assure and indicate to users (such as surgical personnel who intend to use sterile instruments in the operating room) that these instruments have actually been sterilized and that use of these instruments will not constitute any infection to the patient concerning the prior art To address the issue of risk, various implementations of sterilization indicators for sterile containers have been presented. [0003] cur...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] However, a disadvantage is that this sterilization indicator uses a rather costly memory alloy helical spring (shape memory element), so that the spring must be used several times

However, it turned out that this known spring cannot be returned to the tension-loaded memory position when required, but rather has considerable limitations in terms of its service life and thus in terms of possible sterilizing operations of sterile containers

A problem has also been found with this known sterilization indicator which is based on the principle of a relatively inaccurate / inert acting rotary spring system performing a circular actuation movement

This will result in an error indicating

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