Medical equipment containment and transportation system and method

Abstract

A system for accommodating and transporting medical equipment can include a container including a bottom surface and surrounding sides, as a closed first end and an open second end, to form an internal portion for receiving and holding the medical equipment. At least a portion of one or more sides can have a groove extending along the length of each side. The pad and cover can be removably enclosed around the container. The pad can extend on the side to fit the internal portion of the container until the outer surface of the bottom surface of the container. The cover can enclose the medical equipment in the container between the pad and the cover. The groove can be formed in the internal portion of the container. The container can be compatibly received in the first transport device in a first orientation.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related literature

[0002] This disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 847,142, filed on May 13, 2019, entitled “MEDICAL DEVICE CONTAINMENT AND TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND METHODS,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 784,995, filed on December 26, 2018, entitled “MEDICAL DEVICE CONTAINMENT AND TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND METHODS,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0003] This disclosure is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application filed on the same date with Attorney Docket No. 8150.0714Z, entitled MEDICAL DEVICE TRANSPORT SYSTEM, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application filed on the same date with Attorney Docket No. 8150.0715Z, entitled MEDICAL DEVICE TRANSPORT SYSTEM, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0004] The present disclosure relates generally to containment and transport systems and, more particularly, to containers and methods for transporting medical devices. Background Art

[0005] Some devices, including endoscopes, can be reused for ongoing patient use. A healthcare facility, such as a clinic or hospital, may manually clean and high-level disinfect each device between uses and may need to transport the device from a reprocessing or storage location to another location for use in a medical procedure. Clean medical devices may be shipped to a healthcare professional for a medical procedure, while used medical devices may be shipped to a reprocessing or storage location.

[0006] One challenge facing healthcare facilities is maintaining a workflow of clean and used medical devices to minimize cross-contamination and potential spread of infection and / or disease. Medical device containment and transport systems currently used in healthcare facilities can be difficult to clean, for example, including configurations that can allow bacteria and other contaminants to remain on surfaces even after the sterilization process. If the containment system is not thoroughly sterilized, clean medical devices may be at risk of becoming contaminated.

[0007] In addition, existing containment and transport systems may only be designed to be used together, so a healthcare facility may be limited to the specific containers used with the transport system. As a result, a healthcare facility may not be able to change out a specific container configuration in a different type of transport system as needed.

[0008] It is with these and other considerations that improvements of the present invention may be useful. Summary of the invention

[0009] This summary is provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to necessarily identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for accommodating and transporting medical equipment may include a container, which includes a bottom surface and surrounding sides, as a closed first end and an open second end, to form an internal portion for receiving and holding the medical device. At least a portion of one or more sides may have a groove extending along the length of each side. The liner can be removably enclosed around the container or can be attached to the container. The liner can extend on the side to fit the internal portion of the container until the outer surface of the bottom surface of the container. The liner can conform to the shape of the container. The groove can be formed in the internal portion of the container so that the container can be compatibly received in the first transport device in a first orientation.

[0011] In various other embodiments described above and in the present disclosure, the bottom surface of the container may include a contoured portion so that the container can be compatibly received in the first transport device in a second orientation different from the first orientation. The lid may be removably attached to the open second end of the container, and the lid may extend on the side to surround the interior portion of the container. The lid may be removably attached to the open second end of the container. The lid may be at least partially inserted into the interior portion of the container so that the overhang of the lid may contact the upper edge of the side of the container. The contour of the lid may be formed to match the bottom surface contour of the container so that multiple containers and lids can be stacked in alignment with each other. The lid may include more than one handle. The first cover may be removably enclosed around the container or attachable to the container, and may extend and span the open second end of the container on at least a portion of the side to surround the interior portion. The second cover may be removably enclosed around the container or attachable to the container, and may extend and span the open second end of the container on at least a portion of the side to surround the interior portion. The first cover may be interchangeable with the second cover to visually verify the condition of the medical device. The first cover may be reversible, instead of the second cover, and each side of the first cover may be used for visual verification of different conditions of the medical device. The container may be compatibly received in the second transport device. The second transport device may be different from the first transport device so that the container can be interchanged between the first transport device and the second transport device. The liner may be removably closed around the container or attached to the container by an elastic opening, a drawstring or a fastener or a combination thereof. More than one handle may be formed in the container as a groove in the corner of the side, bottom surface or between the side and bottom surface, or a combination thereof. The handle may be formed with a width, depth and height to accommodate the fingers of the user when grasping the container. The handle on the lid may be formed to complement the handle on the container so that people can grasp the container handle and the lid handle together with the fingers and thumb of one hand. The side of the container may extend along a straight line perpendicular to the bottom surface from the open second end to the closed first end, or the side may extend along a straight line that tapers inward from the vertical from the open second end to the closed first end, or some sides may be vertical and other sides may taper inward. The groove formed in the interior portion of the container may have a uniform opening height along the length of the groove, or the opening may increase in height toward one or both ends of the groove, thereby allowing the container to be further compatibly received in the transport equipment. The contoured portion of the bottom surface of the container may include a groove that may extend from the bottom surface to the interior portion of the container so as to form a space along the bottom surface that may accommodate a gathered edge of a liner that may extend on the sides and outer surface of the bottom surface of the container.

[0012] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a container for accommodating and transporting medical equipment may include a bottom surface and surrounding sides as a closed first end and an open second end to form an internal portion for receiving and holding the medical equipment. At least a portion of one or more sides may have a first groove extending along the length of each side. The first groove on at least a portion of one or more sides may be formed in the internal portion of the container. The container can be compatibly received in a first transport device.

[0013] In the above and other various embodiments of the present disclosure, the protrusion can extend from at least a portion of one or more sides and can be positioned relative to a first groove on at least a portion of one or more sides of the container. Portions of one or more sides of the container may include a second groove. The liner can be removably enclosed around the container or can be attached to the container. The liner can extend on the side and can engage with the first groove or the second groove to fit the interior portion of the container so that the liner can conform to the shape of the container. The container can be compatibly received in a second transport device. The second transport device can be different from the first transport device so that the container can be interchanged between the first transport device and the second transport device. The lid can be removably attached to the open second end of the container to close the interior portion of the container.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for containing and transporting a medical device may include attaching a liner to a container. The container may include a bottom surface and surrounding sides as a closed first end and an open second end to form an interior portion. At least a portion of one or more sides may have a groove extending along the length of the respective sides. The liner may extend to the outer surface of the bottom surface of the container on the sides and the interior portion of the container so that the liner can adapt to the shape of the container. The interior portion of the container may receive the medical device. The first cover may be enclosed around the container or may be attached to the container. The first cover may extend over at least a portion of the side and span the open second end of the container to surround the interior portion. The first cover may be interchangeable with the second cover for visual verification of the condition of the medical device. The first cover may be reversible, instead of the second cover, and each side of the first cover may be used to visually verify different conditions of the medical device. The groove may be formed in the interior portion of the container so that the container can be compatibly received in the first transport device in a first orientation. The bottom surface of the container may include a contour portion so that the container can be compatibly received in the first transport device in a second orientation different from the first orientation. The cover can be attached to the open second end of the container to surround the interior portion of the container. The container can be compatibly received in the second transport device. The second transport device can be different from the first transport device so that the container can be interchanged between the first transport device and the second transport device. The first cover can be interchanged with the second cover according to changes in the condition of the medical device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, which are schematic and not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component is generally represented by a number. For clarity, not every component is identified in every figure, nor is every component in every embodiment shown, and a person of ordinary skill in the art can understand the present disclosure without the need for explanation. In the drawings:

[0016] Figures 1A-1C Exemplary embodiments of containers according to the present disclosure are described;

[0017] Figure 1D-1G Exemplary embodiments of containers according to the present disclosure are described;

[0018] Figures 1H-1I The present disclosure describes Figure 1D-1G An exemplary embodiment of a container having a handle feature;

[0019] Figures 1J-1L The present disclosure describes Figure 1D-1G An exemplary embodiment of a container having groove and contour features;

[0020] Figure 2A-2E Exemplary embodiments of containers according to the present disclosure are described;

[0021] Figure 3A-3B An exemplary embodiment of a lid for a container according to the present disclosure is described;

[0022] Figure 3C-3D An exemplary embodiment of a lid for a container having a handle feature according to the present disclosure is described;

[0023] Figures 4A-4B An exemplary embodiment of a lid for a container according to the present disclosure is described;

[0024] Figure 5A illustrates a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a containment and transportation system according to the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a stacked configuration of a plurality of containers according to the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 5C-5D An exemplary embodiment of a containment system according to the present disclosure is described;

[0027] Figure 5E An exemplary embodiment of a rail configuration for a containment system according to the present disclosure is illustrated;

[0028] Figure 6A-6B Exemplary embodiments of container liners according to the present disclosure are described;

[0029] Figure 6C-6D Exemplary embodiments of container covers according to the present disclosure are described;

[0030] Figure 6E-6H Exemplary embodiments of container liners and covers according to the present disclosure are described;

[0031] Figure 7 An exemplary embodiment of a containment system according to the present disclosure is described;

[0032] Figures 8A-8C An exemplary embodiment of a containment system according to the present disclosure is described;

[0033] Figures 9A-9B An exemplary embodiment of a containment system according to the present disclosure is described;

[0034] Figures 10A-10C Description for Figures 9A-9B An exemplary embodiment of an adapter for a containment system;

[0035] Figures 11A-11BExemplary embodiments of containment systems according to the present disclosure are described.

[0036] Figures 12A-12B Exemplary embodiments of containment systems according to the present disclosure are described.

[0037] Figures 13A-13B An exemplary embodiment of a containment system having a handle feature according to the present disclosure is described.

[0038] Figures 14A-14B An exemplary embodiment of a containment system having a handle feature according to the present disclosure is described; and

[0039] Fig.15 A flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method for containing and transporting a medical device according to the present disclosure is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. The terms used herein are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to be limited beyond the scope of the appended claims. Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as those generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

[0041] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprising" and / or "it comprises", or "including" and / or "it includes" when used herein, specify the presence of the features, regions, steps, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

[0042] Exemplary embodiments of containment and transport systems and methods according to the present disclosure may be configured to improve cleanability or sterilization to reduce the risk of contamination of medical devices. Exemplary embodiments may also be configured to minimize or prevent the inadvertent reuse of devices that have not been reprocessed, and / or the inadvertent reprocessing of reprocessed devices that were thought to have been used. As described above, existing systems may be configured with features such as undercuts, flanges, notches, or similar features that may trap contaminants. During processing, medical professionals may come into contact with contaminated undercuts or flanges, potentially transferring contaminants to clean medical devices, thereby increasing the risk of transmitting disease to patients.

[0043] A containment system according to the present disclosure may include a container having an improved design to minimize contamination for receiving, processing, and holding medical devices that may be transported throughout a medical facility for reprocessing and use by patients. Figures 1A-1G, describes an exemplary embodiment of a container 100. The container 100 can be formed as a tray, or a basket, or a shallower storage box type for receiving and holding medical devices. The container 100 can have a bottom surface 105 and surrounding sides 110a-110d to form a container with a closed first end 115 and an open second end 120. The open container 100 can have an interior portion 125 formed by the bottom surface 105 and the surrounding sides 110a-110d, for example, so that medical devices can be received by being placed on the bottom surface 105 and can be held within the container by the surrounding sides 110a-110d. In some embodiments, the sides 110a-110d can extend along a straight line perpendicular to the bottom surface 105 (e.g., Figures 1A-1C ), while in other embodiments, one or more of the side surfaces 110a-110d may extend along a straight line that tapers inwardly from the open second end 120 to the closed first end 115. For example, referring to Figure 1D-1L The container 100 may include vertical side surfaces 110b, 110d along the front and back sides of the container, and the side surfaces 110a, 110c along the sides of the container including the groove 130 may extend from the open second end 120 to the closed first end 115 in a vertical direction and taper slightly inward. Figure 1E Describes the vertical direction of θ SW The taper may be 100 degrees, which may range from 0 degrees to about 5 degrees. The taper may help provide clearance between the side surfaces 110a, 110c of the container and the sides of the transport device when the container is loaded into the device. Alternatively, or in addition, the taper may aid in the manufacturing process of the container, for example, if injection molding technology is used, it may help release the container from an injection mold.

[0044] In some embodiments, the container 100 can be formed as a rectangle, or square, for example, with four sides 110a-110d, although it is contemplated that the container can be formed with any number "n" of sides. In addition, the container 100 can have a rounded edge 107 connecting the bottom surface and the surrounding sides, which may be advantageous for more complete sterilization and handling. In embodiments with tapered sides, the sides can be made into a straight line from the open second end to the closed first end and tangent to the vertex of the rounded edge 107 (see Figure 1E ). The container may be formed from a substantially rigid material, such as a plastic or composite material, and may be thermoformed or molded into its configuration as a single piece.

[0045] The container 100 may have more than one groove 130. In an embodiment, the first groove 130a may extend along at least a portion of the first side surface 110a, for example, substantially parallel to the bottom surface 105. Similarly, the second groove 130a may extend along at least a portion of the third side surface 110c, for example, substantially parallel to the bottom surface 105, and aligned with the first groove 130a. The grooves may extend along the full length of each side, although in some embodiments, the grooves may extend along a portion of the side. In some embodiments, the container 100 may have two grooves 130a, 130b along opposite sides so as to be received by a transport device. The grooves may also be included in at least a portion of the other side surfaces 110b, 110d, etc. The grooves 130 may be substantially symmetrical to each other, for example, so that the container 100 can be received by a transport device in an upright position. In an embodiment, the container can be placed in a cart for transportation in a medical facility.

[0046] The groove 130 can be formed to extend inwardly to the inner portion 125. In some embodiments, the groove 130 can be formed as a guide rail, for example, having a rectangular cross-section. The groove can be formed inwardly so that a user, for example, a medical professional, can grasp the container 100 by the groove 130 (e.g., surface 135a). The medical professional can alternatively and / or additionally handle the container 100 by the bottom surface 105 and / or the side surfaces 110a-110d (e.g., rounded edge 107). In an embodiment, the medical professional can slide the container 100 into and out of a transport device (e.g., a cart) and can carry the container 100 to a reprocessing site and / or a patient surgery site. The groove 130 can have surfaces 135a-135c formed substantially perpendicular to each other (90 degrees ± 10 degrees), although in some embodiments, more than one surface can form an obtuse angle (≥ 90 degrees). For example, the surface 135a can be slightly inclined downward when approaching the surface 135b so as to form an angle of approximately 90.5 degrees with the vertical surface 135b. As a further example, the surface 135c may form an angle Ω of about 104 degrees with the surface 135b, such that when the surface 135c extends to the side surface of the container 100, the surface 135c is inclined toward the bottom surface 105 (e.g., see Figure 1L ). The surfaces 135a-135c of the groove 130 can be cleanable, for example, contaminants can not be trapped in the groove, so that when the medical professional grasps and carries the container 100 as needed, cross contamination can be minimized. In an embodiment, the corners of the surfaces 135a-135c can have a radius to improve the cleanability of the container 100, and the size can be between about 0.100 and 0.180 inches for cleaning (see, for example, Figure 4B). Surfaces 135a-135c may be "C" or "U" shaped to form an opening "o". As described below, the size of the opening "o" may be determined as desired, for example, to allow handling by a medical professional and / or to receive a cover, a liner, or both, for example, based on surface 135b formed substantially perpendicular to bottom surface 105.

[0047] In some embodiments, the groove 130 may have a uniform opening height along the side surface (eg, Figure 1C ), while in other embodiments, the groove may have an opening height that increases at one or both ends of the groove. Figure 1F , the container 100 includes a groove 130 extending along the sides 110a, 110c, which has a flared end opening 132. The height of the middle length of the groove 130 is denoted as d CI The height of the flared end opening 132 is denoted as d TI . Height d TI , can gradually decrease through the length of the flared end opening 132 to a height d CI . For example, at maximum height, the flared end opening 132 can be approximately 30%-50% greater than the height of the mid-length of the groove 130. When the container is loaded into the transport device, the flared end opening can assist in aligning the opening of the groove 130 with the guide rail 515 of the transport device 505a, 505c. The flared end opening 132 can also provide some gap between the opening edge of the groove 130 and the edge of the guide rail 515 to facilitate sliding the container along the guide rail into the transport device. In some embodiments, one or both ends of the groove 130, whether flared or not, can include a portion 135d that wraps around from the side having the groove to the adjacent side (see, for example, Figure 1D ). This may help with alignment and, once aligned, start pressing along the rails of the transport equipment.

[0048] In an embodiment, the groove 130 may be formed to allow the container 100 to be compatibly received in multiple transport devices. For example, the container 100 may be received in a first transport device and a second transport device, wherein the first transport device and the second transport device have different configurations. It will be appreciated that the container may be compatibly received in any number "n" of transport devices of different configurations. The groove may extend inwardly to a depth of the interior portion 125 so that the container may be adaptably received in carts having different configurations. In some embodiments, the container 100 and the groove 130 may be sized to be received in a transport device. In this regard, the container 100 may be compatible with a variety of transport systems (see Figure 5A , 5C , 5D, 5E).

[0049] The bottom surface 105 of the container 100 may include a contour 140. The contour 140 may include a recessed portion 145, for example, an outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105 may be disposed inwardly from a portion 150 of the bottom surface 105. The recessed portion 145 may be disposed substantially along the sides 110b, 110d opposite the sides having the grooves 130a, 130b, and / or along a central portion 147 of the bottom surface 105. In some embodiments, the sides 110a, 110c may have at least a portion 150.

[0050] In some embodiments, the central portion 147 of the bottom surface 105 may include a groove 146 extending from the surface of the recessed portion 145 of the bottom surface 105 to the inner portion 125 (e.g., Figure 1D-1H , 1J, 1K, 13A-13B and 14A-14B). Figure 1D-1E , the groove 146 may have a square shape and extend to the inner portion 125 by a distance d RB , which can range from about 0 mm to about 25 mm. As shown, the groove 146 can extend to a distance d of the inner portion 125. RB is 0.4 inches (10.16 mm). The shape of the groove 146 is described as square, but it can also be any other shape, such as circular, oval, rectangular, etc. As shown, the profile of the groove 146 can have a platform-like cross-section, with steps on the edges and relatively flat portions parallel to the bottom surface 105 and the recessed portion 145. Alternatively, the groove 146 can have a dome-shaped cross-section, gradually sloping from the recessed portion 145 of the bottom surface 105 to the apex of the central portion 147, and then gradually sloping back to the recessed portion 145. The groove 146 may include an outer surface 148 and serve as a space in which the closure feature 610 (e.g., an elastic member) of the liner 600 can gather as it wraps around the sides 110a-110d and the bottom surface 105 (e.g., see Figure 6B ). With the closure features 610 gathered in the grooves 146, the bottom surface 105 can remain relatively flat, for example, to facilitate stacking and / or storage. Additionally, or alternatively, the raised surface of the grooves 146 can be used to strengthen the bottom surface 105 of the container (e.g., to resist twisting or warping), or to facilitate manufacturing (e.g., to facilitate removal of the container from an injection molding or thermoforming mold).

[0051] The bottom surface 105 and the recessed portion 145 allow the container 100 to be received in a transport device in a variety of orientations. Figure 5CAs shown, the first container 500a can be received in the transport device 505c in a first orientation through the groove 130. The transport device 505c can be configured so that, in the first orientation, the container may not be received in the lower portion 505. In some embodiments, the transport device 505c may not have a member for receiving the container through the groove 130, and / or include additional elements that may otherwise prevent the container 500a from being received, for example, a support element at the bottom portion of the transport device 505c. In this case, the second container 500b can be received in the transport device 505c in a second orientation, for example, the container is rotated 90° around the central axis 155. The recessed portion 145 can allow the second container 500b to have sufficient vertical clearance with the first container 500a in the transport device 505c. In some embodiments, the container 100 can be formed as a rectangle so that in the second orientation, the second container 500b can be received in a configuration narrower than in the first orientation. It will be appreciated that the first and second containers 500a, 500b may include features described with respect to the container 100, and / or the containers 200a-200e, as described below.

[0052] In some embodiments, the bottom surface 105 and / or the surrounding sides 110a-110d may be combined with handles 160, 170, 180 to facilitate holding and moving the container 100 (see Figures 1H-1L , and 13A-13B and 14A-14B, as further described below). Figures 1H-1L , depicts a container 100 with corner handles 160. Respective corner handles 160a, 160b may be integrated into opposing side faces 110b, 110d, and the recessed portion 145 of their adjacent bottom face 105. Each handle 160a, 160b may have a width W h , height H h and depth D h The size of the handle 160a, 160b can be adapted to accommodate the fingers of the user's palm facing upward to grasp the container. For example, each handle 160a, 160b can have a width W extending 3-7 inches (76.2-177.8 mm). h , Extends 1.0-3.0 inches (25.4-76.2 mm) in height H h and extends to a depth D of 0.5-2.0 inches (12.7-50.8 mm) h. The handles 160a, 160b may extend inwardly from the respective sides 110b, 110d to the interior portion 125 of the container 100 and may include an inclined vertical surface 165b that transitions to a recessed recess 165a. The recess 165a may be sized to accommodate the fingertips of a user when grasping the container 100. Other shapes and sizes of the handles 160, 170, 180 are also possible, depending on the user's requirements. The handles 160, 170, 180 may provide a more secure gripping feature, particularly when the container is wrapped in the liner 600, as compared to grasping the container from the bottom surface 105 and / or the sides 110a-110d. For example, the handles 160a, 160b may not extend along the entire length of the sides 110a-110d. Therefore, the closure feature 610 may not be attached to the recess 165a and / or the inclined vertical surface 165b. The liner, cover, or both may instead extend to the bottom surface of the container (see Figure 6B ), thereby covering the handles 160, 170, 180. Covering the recess 165a and the inclined vertical surface 165b can reduce or eliminate contamination of the container by the user's hands and / or transportation equipment during transportation.

[0053] In some embodiments, additional features may be incorporated into the container 100, for example, to assist a user in locating other features on the container, grasping the container, loading and unloading the container into a transport device 505a, such as a cart 505c, or assisting in manufacturing. Figure 1J , Figures 1H-1I The container 100 may include a slot 144 on each side 110b, 110d in which the handles 160a, 160b may be located. The size of the slot 144 may reflect the width of the handle 160. In this regard, the slot 144 may provide several functions to the user. For example, the slot 144 may provide tactile feedback to a user grasping the container from the top, indicating which side of the container includes the handle and the direction of the groove 130. The slot 144 may also provide a more secure gripping surface for the user, allowing them to grasp the handle 160 at the bottom of the container 100 with their fingers and grasp the top of the container with their thumb.

[0054] Other features may also include contours on the groove 130, and chamfers of the rounded edges 107 on the corners of the container below the groove 130. Figures 1J-1L, the container 100 can have inclined edges 136a, 136b on the bottom surface 135c, at both ends of the groove 130, and on the side surfaces 110a, 110c. The inclined edges start from the edge of the surface 135c that coincides with the vertical plane of the side surfaces 110a, 110c, and gradually taper back to the back of the surface 135c along a straight line, where they connect with the surface 135b at each end of the groove 130. Between the inclined edges 136a, 136b can be a straight edge 136c. The points where the inclined edges start at the proximal and distal ends of the straight edge 136c can vary depending on the desired bevel angle. In an embodiment, the angle of the vertical plane where the inclined edges 136a, 136b coincide with the straight edge 136c can be 0-35 degrees, or 10-25 degrees, or 15-20 degrees, or any degree angle within these ranges, including the endpoints of these ranges. Likewise, although the sloped edges are illustrated as being straight, they may be configured to bend or corner as the sloped edges taper, for example, the points where the sloped edges begin and end may define a concave curve, or may define two or more straight lines having different slopes, or two or more curves having different radii of curvature, or some combination thereof.

[0055] Additionally, or alternatively, such as Figures 1J-1L As shown in , the side surfaces 110a, 110c may include bevels 142a, 142b on the rounded edge 107 below the groove 130. Bevel 142a defines an inclined plane whose flat surface extends from the ends of the inclined edges 136a, 136b, the adjacent edge 136c, to the ends of the inclined edges 136a, 136b behind the surface 135c, wherein the surface 135c is connected to the surface 135b at the respective ends of the groove 130. The semi-elliptical bottom edge coincides with and transitions to the portion 150 of the bottom surface 105 of the container. The point at which the bottom edge of the bevel 142a, 142b coincides with and transitions to the portion 150 of the bottom surface 105 can vary depending on the desired angle of the inclined plane. In an embodiment, the angle of the horizontal plane at which the inclined plane of the bevel 142a, 142b coincides with the outer edge of the surface 135c (and the bottom of the inclined edges 136a, 136b, if included) can be 30-90 degrees, or 40-75 degrees, or 45-60 degrees, or any angle within and including the endpoints of these ranges. Although described as a flat surface, the inclined plane can have a curved (e.g., concave) surface.

[0056] Although the container 100 is Figure 1J and 1K1, each groove 130 at the corner of the container 100 has an inclined edge 136a, 136b and a sloped surface 142a, 142b at the end, but may include only an inclined edge or only an inclined surface, and / or may include a bevel edge and / or a sloped surface only at one end of the groove 130. The inclined edge and the sloped surface may extend to the inner portion 125 ( Figure 1J ). The start and end of the inclined edge and the inclined surface can coincide (as shown) or can be different. Including an inclined and / or inclined surface can facilitate loading of the container in a transport device or cart. In addition, softening the corners can facilitate the manufacture of the container. For example, a container configured with an inclined edge and / or an inclined surface may be easier to produce and / or may strengthen portions of the container. For example, injection molding can be facilitated because such an edge and / or surface can make it easier for the container to be released from the mold. For another example, such an edge and / or surface can give the container a stronger corner when it is entered into a master mold by thermoforming (vacuum forming). Inclining the edges and / or beveling the surfaces can reduce the extent to which the molding material (such as plastic) must be stretched into the mold. In turn, this can mean that the material of the corner is thicker, resulting in a higher strength of the corner compared to a corner with thinner material. The strength of the corner may be important to prevent breakage when dropped during use. It will be understood that each corner of the container 100 can include features of a contour portion, although some embodiments may include only one corner, two corners, or three corners having a changed feature, while the remaining corners are unchanged.

[0057] In some embodiments, the sides of the container may include protrusions. Figure 2A-2E , illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a groove on a container 200a-200e. It is understood that Figure 2A-2E The grooves and protrusions described may be included in Figures 1A-1L 100, and the grooves and / or protrusions can extend completely and / or partially around any and / or all of the sides 110a-110d. In addition, in some embodiments, the containers 200a-200e can have contours on the bottom surface 105 (as shown in the container 100) and include grooves 146. In some embodiments, the containers 200a-200e can form corner, bottom and / or side handles similar to the handles 160, 170, 180 described above for the container 100.

[0058] exist Figure 2A125, and may have at least a first surface 255a. The first surface 255a may be positioned substantially parallel to the bottom surface 105 so that the profiles of the sides 110a-110d may form a substantially vertical angle. The second surface 255b may extend from the first surface 255a, for example, substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 105. In some embodiments, the first and second surfaces 255a, 255b may be similar to the above-described surfaces 135a, 135b, and may form an opening "o a ". The groove 230a may be adjacent to the protrusion 240, for example, extending outward from the respective side surfaces 110a-110d. In some embodiments, the first surface and / or the second surface 255a, 255b may transition to the inclined surface 245. The protrusion may further include a straight surface 250, so that the protrusion 240 has a triangular shape. The straight surface 250 may be positioned substantially parallel to the bottom surface 105 and may form a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the side surfaces 110a-110d.

[0059] In some embodiments, the grooves and protrusions may be formed to be spaced a certain distance "d" from each other. Figure 2B As shown, the groove 230b can be separated from the protrusion 240. The formation of the groove 230b can be substantially similar to the groove 130, for example, having surfaces 135a-135c formed inwardly and substantially perpendicular to the inner portion 125, and a rectangular cross-section to form an opening "o b ”, the tapered end opening 132 or the surrounding surface 135d. The protrusion 240 may have an inclined surface and a straight surface 250 extending outward from the respective side surfaces 110a-110d to form a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the side surfaces 110a-110d. The groove 230b and the protrusion 240 may be separated by a distance “d b ”, for example, a vertical, or lateral (perpendicular to the bottom surface 105) distance on the side 110a-110d. In some embodiments, a protrusion 240 disposed closer to the bottom surface 105 of the container 200b can increase support toward the bottom surface 105 to balance the medical device.

[0060] although Figure 2A-2B While the embodiment in which the grooves are positioned above the protrusions (e.g., toward the second open end 120) along the sides 110a-110d is described, in some embodiments, the grooves may be positioned below the protrusions (e.g., toward the closed first end 115), such as Figure 2C The protrusion 240 may be similar to the above Figure 2A-2BThe protrusion described in the embodiment of the present invention has an inclined surface 245 and a straight surface 250 so as to form a triangular shape on the side surfaces 110a-110d. The groove 230c can be similar to the groove 230b described above, for example, having substantially vertical surfaces 135a-135c, a rectangular cross-section to form an opening "o c ”, the tapered end opening 132 or the surrounding surface 135d. The protrusion 240 and the groove 230c can be spaced any distance “d” from each other along the side surfaces 110a-110d. c ”, for example, a vertical or lateral distance (perpendicular to the bottom surface 105).

[0061] The protrusions 240 allow the containers 200a-200c to be handled or carried by a medical professional. For example, the straight surface 250 can be gripped and manipulated, and can be easily and thoroughly sterilized due to the verticality of the contours in the sides 110a-110d. As described below, the size of the protrusions 230a-230c can be adjusted so that each opening o a , o b , o c May receive a liner, a cover, or both.

[0062] In some embodiments, a second groove 235d may be included in the container 200d instead of a protrusion. Figure 2D As shown, the side surfaces 110a-110d may include a first groove 230d and a second groove 235d, each groove being formed similarly to the grooves 130a, 130b, 230a-230c described above, for example, having substantially vertical surfaces 135a-135c and rectangular cross-sections to form respective openings "o d1 ", "o d2 ”, the tapered end opening 132 or the surrounding surface 135d. The first and second grooves 230d, 235d can be spaced any distance “d” from each other along the side surfaces 110a-110d. d "Positioning, for example, vertically, or laterally (perpendicular to the bottom surface 105) distance. The grooves 230d, 235d can be the same or different sizes. For example, the size of one of the grooves 230d, 235d can be set (for example, with an opening o d1 , o d2 ) so that a medical professional can grasp the grooves 230d, 235d for operation, while the remaining grooves 230d, 235d can be sized to receive a pad, a cover, or both.

[0063] It will be appreciated that the grooves 230a-230e may be sized as desired, for example, with a larger or smaller opening "o". Figure 2E As shown, a single groove 230e may be formed in the side surfaces 110a-110d, with a larger opening than the opening "oa ", "o b ", "o c ” and / or “o d1 ", "o d2 "Wider opening" e The respective openings may be defined by respective surfaces 135b, for example, surfaces of grooves formed substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 105. The openings o e The grooves may allow a medical professional to grip to manipulate the container 200e, and may allow for receipt of a cover, liner, or both, as described below.

[0064] In some embodiments, the container 100, 200a-200e may include a lid for covering the second open end 120 and enclosing the interior portion 125. Figures 3A-3D 4A-4B, the cover 300 can be shaped to match the container 100, 200a-200e, for example, extending over the sides 110a-110d. The cover 300 can have four sides 310a-310d, for example, matching the sides 110a-110d and the face 305. Although the cover 300 is shown as a rectangle, it is understood that the cover can be any shape to match the shape of the container.

[0065] In some embodiments, the cover 300 may include more than one handle. Figure 3C-3D , the lid 300 shown has handles 340a, 340b. The handle 340a can be set on the side 310b of the lid 300 and can be integrated into the edge 315b. The handle 340b can be set on the side 310d of the lid 300 and can be integrated into the edge 315d. The lid handle 340 is combined with the container handles 160, 170, 180 to facilitate the gripping and movement of the container 100 when the lid is attached. Each lid handle 340a, 340b can have a width W h and depth D h The size of the container handle is W h and depth D h For example, each lid handle 340a, 340b may have a width W extending 3-7 inches (76.2-177.8 mm). h , and extends to a depth D of 0.5-2.0 inches (12.7-50.8 mm) h The slope of the lid handle surface 345a may also match the slope of the recessed dimple 165a so that the two parallel slopes provide complementary surfaces for operation. The size and relative slopes may be sized to accommodate a user's fingers grasping the container with the palm facing up in the container handle while the thumb of the same hand is able to grasp the surface 345a of the lid handle 340.

[0066] As a further example, Figure 4A As shown, a handle 410 can be provided on the lid 300, 400. One or more handles 410 can extend as protrusions from any and / or all sides 310a-310d, edges 315a-315d and / or overhangs 420 of the lid 300, 400 so that a medical professional can handle the lid 300, the container 100, 200a-200e, or both. Additionally and / or alternatively, the handle 410 can dock with the rail 515 of the transport device 505a, 505c so that the container 100, 200a-200e, 500 is received and held in the transport device.

[0067] The lid 300 may have a face 305 framed by side surfaces 310a-310d, and may have respective edges 315a-315d extending substantially perpendicular to the face 305. The lid 300 may be removably attached to the container 100, 200a-200e so that the edges 315a-315d extend to at least a portion of the respective side surfaces 110a-110d. When the lid 300 is attached to the container 100, 200a-200e, the face 305 may extend across the second open end 120 to cover the interior portion 125 and be positioned substantially parallel to the bottom surface 105. In some embodiments, the container 100, 200a-200e may be an interference fit with the lid 300 so that the lid may remain in an attached configuration during containment and / or transportation to minimize contamination of the medical device. In some embodiments, the lid may have a tolerance so that the container may be loosely received into the lid.

[0068] In some embodiments, the lid 400 can be configured to be at least partially received within the interior portion 125 of the container 100, 200a-200e. Figures 4A-4B As shown, the face 305 may have edges 415a-415d extending substantially perpendicular to the face 305 to extend at least partially into the interior portion 125 of the container 100, 200a-200e. The overhang 420 of the face 305 may extend and / or contact over the edges 415a-415d so that in the attached configuration, the overhang 420 may contact at least a portion of the respective side surface 110a-110d, thereby causing the lid 400 to close the interior portion 125 of the container 100, 200a-200e. In some embodiments, the handle 410 may extend from the overhang 420. The edges 415a-415d may be an interference fit with the container 100, 200a-200e so that the lid can remain attached to the container until required by a medical professional.

[0069] In some embodiments, the face 305 may include a contour 320, although in other embodiments, the face 305 may not include a contour. The contour 320 may be formed as a protrusion, for example, extending outwardly relative to the inner portion 125. In an embodiment, the contour 320 on the lid 300 may be formed to mate with the contour 140 on the bottom surface 105 of the container 100, 200a-200e. The contour 320 may include a raised surface 325 that mates with the recessed portion 145 of the bottom surface 105, and a corresponding portion 330 that mates with the portion 150 of the bottom surface. In embodiments where the recessed portion 145 is located in the central portion 147 of the bottom surface 105, the raised surface 325 may be positioned in the central portion 335 of the lid 300 so that the raised surface 325 of the face 305 of the lid 300 can be nested into the recessed portion 145 of the bottom surface of the container 100, 200a-200e.

[0070] In this manner, the lid 300 can be stacked with the containers 100, 200a-200e. Figure 5B As shown, the first container 500a can be configured to be stacked with the second container 500b by nesting the lid 300 with the bottom surface 105. The first container and the second container 500a, 500b may include the above-mentioned features of the relevant container 100, 200a-200e, and can be detachably attached to the lid 300. The nested configuration can stack the containers relative to each other, for example, vertically stacked, which may be advantageous for storing additional containers in a medical institution and / or during transport of multiple containers. For example, the nested configuration can provide stability for the stacking of containers to reduce the possibility of tipping over, which can reduce the potential contamination of medical equipment. The lid 300, 400 can be formed by a substantially rigid material, such as plastic or composite material, and can be a single piece thermoformed or molded configuration.

[0071] The containment and transport system may further include a liner for lining the interior portion 125 of the container 100, 200a-200e. In an embodiment, the liner may be included so that when a medical device is placed in the interior portion 125 of the container 100, 200a-200e, the liner can serve as a protective barrier to the interior portion 125. This can help minimize potential contamination, for example, when receiving and / or holding a used medical device. When the medical device is removed for cleaning, the liner can be disposed of so that the container can avoid direct contact with the used medical device.

[0072] Reference now Fig. 6A, the liner 600 can have a liner portion 605 and a closure feature 610. The liner portion 605 can be sized to extend over the sides 110a-110d of the container 100, 200a-200e to fit over the interior portion 125. The liner portion 605 can extend completely over the sides 110a-110d to the exterior surface 148 of the bottom 105 of the container 100, 200a-200e. The liner portion 605 can enclose or substantially enclose the container 100, 200a-200e to act as a protective barrier and prevent and / or minimize direct contact between the medical device and the container and / or between the user and the medical device and / or the container (see Figure 7 ). The liner portion 605 can be formed of a flexible material, such as a single plastic sheet, and can have an edge that serves as a closure feature 610. The flexible material can allow the liner 600 to conform to the shape of the container 100, 200a-200e, for example, the liner can wrap around the sides 110a-110d and can be located in the interior portion 125 of the container. In an embodiment, the liner 600 can be at least partially substantially transparent or translucent, although it is also contemplated that the liner 600 can be colored, or opaque. The liner 600 can include symbols, textures, patterns, and / or text, for example, to indicate the orientation of the tray within the liner, highlight the closure feature 610, indicate the status of the medical device during various stages of use, reprocessing, transportation, and operation.

[0073] The liner 600 may be removably attached to a container or may be closable around a container via a closure feature 610 so that when the container 100, 200a-200e is lined, the closure feature 610 holds the liner 600 in place and closes the container 100, 200a-200e. Figure 6B As shown, when the liner 600 closes the container 100, 200a-200e, the closure feature 610 can be disposed on the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105. In an embodiment, a groove 146 can be incorporated into the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105 of the container 100, 200a-200e, and the raised space of the groove 146 into the inner portion 125 can accommodate the gathered closure feature 610 (e.g. Figure 6B By aligning the liner 600 so that the liner portion 605 extends continuously across the interior portion 125 of the container 100, 200a-200e, contamination of the container can be minimized. For example, liquid or other particles may not leak over the edge of the closure feature 610 when positioned on the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105.

[0074] In an embodiment, the closure feature 610 can be an elastic member. The liner 600 can be stretched onto the container 100, 200a-200e by the elastic member, for example, by expanding the elastic member to a stretched position. Once the elastic member is positioned to close the container, the elastic member can return to an unstretched position at the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105. In some embodiments, the elastic member can be in an unstretched position gathered in a substantially oval or football-shaped opening. Figure 6B As shown, the football-shaped opening may leave only a small portion of the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105 of the container 100, 200a-200e exposed, as shown by reference numeral 615. By substantially closing the container 100, 200a-200e with the liner 600, leaving only a portion of the bottom surface of the container exposed, contamination of the container and / or clean medical equipment may be minimized. Figure 6A-6B , but it will be appreciated that the liner may be removably attached to or enclosed around the container in any manner, including but not limited to drawstrings, adhesives, fasteners, or combinations thereof (see Figures 8A-12B ).

[0075] In some embodiments, the padding may partially extend over the sides 110a-110d so that the closure feature 610 remains in a stretched position around the sides 110a-110d. As described above, the closure feature 610 or elastic member may engage with the grooves 230a-230e and / or the protrusions 240.

[0076] As described, the liner 600 can be removably attached to or enclosed around the container 100, 200a-200e prior to placing the medical device in the interior portion 125 of the container. Figure 7 As shown, after the liner 600 is attached to the container, the medical device 705 can be placed in the interior portion 125 of the container 100, 200a-200e.

[0077] When the medical device is placed in the container, the cover can extend across the second open end 120 so that the medical device is captured between the liner 600 and the cover. Figure 6C-6D and Figure 7, the first cover 620 may have a cover portion 625 and a closure feature 630, and the second cover 635 may have a cover portion 640 and a closure feature 645. In embodiments, the cover portions 625, 640 may be formed of a flexible material, such as a single plastic sheet, and may have an edge as the respective closure feature 630, 645. The flexible material may allow the first and second covers 620, 635 to extend across the container 100, 200a-200e, for example, the first cover and / or the second cover 620, 635 may form a barrier across the second open end 120 of the container 100, 200a-200e. In embodiments, the first cover and / or the second cover 620, 635 may be at least partially substantially transparent or translucent. It is also contemplated that the first and second covers 620, 635 may be different colors, and / or may include symbols, patterns, and / or text to indicate the status of the medical device. Different colors and / or patterns can provide a simple indication to medical professionals who are traversing a medical facility, picking up used medical devices and / or delivering clean medical devices, thereby minimizing the misdelivery of medical devices. In an embodiment, the liner 600, the first cover 620, and / or the second cover 635 may include a portion for writing on the top surface. Details about the medical device may be included by the medical professional, for example, recording details such as the time the medical device was used to track the time from use to cleaning. In some medical institutions, used medical devices must be reprocessed within a predetermined time period, such as less than 1 hour. In an embodiment, the first cover 620 may be different from the second cover 635 so that the medical professional can have a visual indication of the condition of the medical device 705 in the container 100, 200a-200e. For example, a green cover 620 may indicate a clean medical device. The medical professional can see the green cover 620 and transport the medical device to the patient's surgical site for use. Similarly, a red cover 635 may indicate a used medical device, so the medical professional can transport the medical device to the reprocessing site. In some embodiments, a hazardous waste symbol and / or a pattern of a hazardous waste symbol may be printed on cover 635 to represent used medical equipment such that the pattern may indicate to a medical professional for proper handling and disposal.

[0078] The first and / or second covers 620, 635 can be removably attached to or closed around the container via respective closure features 630, 645 so that the covers 620, 635 are substantially taut over the second open end 120 (e.g., the covers may not be depressed into the interior portion 125 of the container). The first and / or second covers 620, 635 can be interchangeable with each other, such as by a medical professional. For example, after reprocessing an endoscope, the cleaned medical device 705 can be placed in a padded container (see Figure 7 ), the first cover 620 can extend across the second open end 120 and can be green in color. The container can be transported from the reprocessing site to a medical procedure site where the clean medical device can be used on the patient. After the procedure, the used medical device can be placed back into the container and the second cover 635 can extend across the second open end 120 and can be red. This can indicate to the medical professional or other medical facility personnel that the medical device should be transported back to the reprocessing area for cleaning. Additionally, instead of having a second cover, the first cover can be reversible, and each side of the reversible cover can be used to visually verify different conditions of the medical device. For example, after endoscope reprocessing, the clean medical device 705 can be placed in a lined container (see Figure 7 ), a reversible cover 620 having opposing sides colored green and red may extend across the second open end 120, with the green side facing upward to provide visual verification of the cleanliness of the endoscope. The container may be transported from the reprocessing site to a medical procedure site, where the cleaned medical device may be used on a patient. After the procedure, the used medical device may be placed back into the container, and the reversible cover 620 may extend to the second open end 120, with the red side facing upward to provide visual verification of the use status of the endoscope. This may indicate to medical professionals or other medical facility personnel that the medical device should be transported back to the reprocessing area for cleaning. Similarly, opposing sides of the reversible cover may include symbols, patterns, and / or text to indicate the status of the medical device at various stages of use, reprocessing, transportation, and operation.

[0079] Similar to the liner 600, the first and / or second covers 620, 635 can enclose the sides 110a-110d and the already attached liner 600, and the closure feature 610 can be provided on the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105. In an embodiment, the groove 146 can be incorporated into the bottom surface 105, as described, and the raised space into the interior portion 125 can accommodate the gathered closure features 610 of the first and / or second covers 620, 635, similar to Figure 6BThe closure feature 610 of the liner 600 is shown while maintaining a substantially flat bottom surface. By aligning the first and second covers 620, 635 so that the cover portions 625, 640 can extend continuously across the interior portion 125 of the container 100, 200a-200e, clean medical devices can be protected from external contaminants. In addition, used medical devices, which may include contaminants from a patient, can be contained by the covers 620, 635 and the liner 600. For example, liquid or other particles may not leak past the closure features 630, 645 when positioned on the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105.

[0080] In an embodiment, the closure features 630, 645 may be elastic. The covering 620, 635 may be stretched onto the container 100, 200a-200e by the elastic, for example, causing the elastic to expand to a stretched position. Once the elastic is positioned to close the container, the elastic may return to an unstretched, gathered position at the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105. In some embodiments, the first covering and / or the second covering 620, 635 may partially close the sides 110a-110d so that the closure features 630, 645 may engage with the grooves 230a-230e and / or the protrusions 240 to remain in a substantially stretched position. In some embodiments, the elastic may be in an unstretched position in a substantially oval or football-shaped opening. Similar to the liner 600, the football-shaped opening may leave only a small portion of the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105 of the container 100, 200a-200e exposed (see Figure 6B ). By substantially enclosing the container 100, 200a-200e with the cover 620, 635, leaving only a portion of the bottom surface of the container exposed, contamination of the container and / or clean medical equipment can be minimized. Figure 6C-6D The elastic member is described in the embodiment of the present invention, but it is understood that the first cover and / or the second cover can be removably attached to the container or closed around the container in any manner, including but not limited to a drawstring, adhesive, fasteners or a combination thereof (see Figures 8A-12B ).

[0081] In an embodiment, the liner 600 and / or the first cover and / or the second cover 620, 635 may incorporate an elastic configuration for the respective closure features 610, 630, 645, so that once the liner 600 and / or the first cover and / or the second cover 620, 635 are positioned to close the container, the elastic configuration of the respective closure features 610, 630, 645 assumes a partially stretched position at the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105, leaving an exposed portion 615 of the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105 of the container 100, 200a-200e in contact with the container. Figure 6BBy substantially enclosing the container 100, 200a-200e (including the peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the container) with the liner 600 and the lid 620, 635, contamination of the container and / or clean medical equipment can still be minimized, and the container can still be protected from the user's fingers contacting the bottom surface of the container periphery, where the container is typically gripped when handling the container.

[0082] Reference Fig. 6E , illustrates an embodiment of an elastic member that may be used interchangeably as a closure feature 610 or a cushion 600, and / or a closure feature 630, 645 of a first cover 620, 635, and a second cover 630, 635, respectively.

[0083] As a liner 600, the liner portion 605 can be sized to extend over the sides 110a-110d of the container 100, 200a-200e and to outline the interior portion 125. The liner portion 605 can be formed of a flexible material, such as a single plastic sheet, and can have elastic members as closure features 610 at the edges of the liner 600. The flexible material allows the liner 600 to conform to the shape of the container 100, 200a-200e, for example, the liner can surround the sides 110a-110d and can be located in the interior portion 125 of the container. As a cover 620, 635, the cover portions 625, 640 ( Figure 6C-6D ) can be formed of a flexible material, such as a single plastic sheet, and can have elastic members at the edges of the first and second covers as respective closure features 630, 645. The flexible material can allow the first and second covers 620, 635 to be stretched tautly over the container 100, 200a-200e, for example, the first and second covers 620, 635 can form a barrier across the second open end 120 of the container 100, 200a-200e.

[0084] The liner 600 and the first and / or second covers 620, 635 may be removably closed around the container via respective closure features 610, 630, 645. Fig. 6EAs shown, when the container 100, 200a-200e is closed, the closure feature 610, 630, 645 can be disposed on the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105. The closure feature 610, 630, 645 can be an elastic member composed of a first elastic sheet 610a, 630a, 645a and a second elastic sheet 610b, 630b, 645b. The two elastic sheets can be connected to each other at a junction 610c, 630c, 645c at the ends of the sheets to form a continuous elastic member at the edge of the liner or cover. The connection at the junction 610c, 630c, 645c can be formed by stitching, welding, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, etc. Although two junctions are described, it is contemplated that any number of junctions and elastic members can be implemented.

[0085] The elastic members and flexible material of the liner and cover can be gathered in a clamped position at the juncture at the ends of the two elastic members, resulting in more material being gathered near and at the juncture than away from the connection and in the middle. The material can be pleated so that the liner and cover can be folded (e.g., accordion-style) into a compact form when packaged and before being unfolded around the container. The number, type and / or location of the junctures, the amount of material gathered at the junctures, and / or holding the elastic members in a partially stretched position around the bottom surface can allow for control of a variety of different shapes and sizes of the exposed portion 615 of the outer surface 148. As an example, refer to Fig. 6E , 6F and 6G, the shape of the exposed portion 615 is a square opening with a joint at the corner of the container ( Fig. 6E ), a football-shaped opening with a joining point along the side of the container having the indentation 130 ( Fig. 6F ), and an oval or circular opening with a junction along the side of the container having a handle 160 ( Figure 6G ).

[0086] Reference Figure 6H , illustrating an example of a first covering 620 or a second covering 635 having a two-piece elastic configuration that encloses the sides 110a-110d of a container and encloses a liner 600 having a two-piece elastic configuration having closure features 610 and 630 or 645 disposed on a peripheral portion of the outer surface 148 of the bottom surface 105.

[0087] The covers 620 , 635 may be removably attached to or enclosed around the container 100 , 200a - 200e and the attached liner 600 . Figure 7 An exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a containment and transport system 700 is shown. Figure 7An exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a containment and transport system 700 is shown, which includes a medical device 705 that can be enclosed between a respective cover 620, 635 and a liner 600, thereby avoiding direct contact with the container. In an embodiment, the lid 300, 400 can be closed on the first cover or the second cover 620, 635, which can provide additional protection for the clean medical device and / or inhibit contaminants from the used medical device. The respective cover portions 625, 640 can have excess material so that when the lid 300, 400 is closed onto the container 100, 200a-200e, the first cover and / or the second cover 620, 635 may not be damaged or otherwise torn or torn. Minimizing or preventing tearing can protect the container or lid from contamination by the used medical device and / or can protect the clean medical device from contamination by the outside world. Similarly, the liner 600, the first cover 620 and / or the second cover 635 can have excess material for covering the grooves 130, 230a-230e and / or the protrusions 240 so that when the container is inserted and / or removed from the transport device, the liner 600, the first cover 620 and / or the second cover 635 can be not damaged or otherwise torn or torn while still mating with the container 100, 200a-200e.

[0088] like Figure 5A and Figure 5C-5D As shown, the transport device 505a may include sides 510 for receiving one or more containers 100, 200a-200e therebetween. In some embodiments, the transport device 505a may be a cart 505c. The sides 510 may include rails 515 for engaging with the constrictions 130, 230a-230e and / or the protrusions 240 of the containers 100, 200a-200e. The rails 515 may be spaced a certain distance apart so that the transport device 505a can receive multiple containers, and may be arranged in parallel pairs so that the containers can remain substantially parallel to the ground. Figure 5D In some embodiments, the transport device 505a, or cart 505c, may be a rolling cabinet having sides 510 and rails 515 for accommodating a plurality of containers 100, 200a-200e. Figure 5EIn some embodiments, a rail 515 for a side 510 of a transport device 505a or cart 505c may include softened (e.g., rounded) top and bottom horizontal surface edges 516, and / or softened (e.g., rounded) vertical surface edges 517 at the ends of the rail 515 that include an opening of the transport device 505a or cart 505c. Such softened horizontal and / or vertical surface edges 516, 517 may be incorporated into the rail 515 to facilitate loading of the container 100, 200a-200e into the transport device or cart, for example, the edges 516, 517 may present a surface that engages the groove 130 of the container that is softer than straight horizontal and / or vertical edges that may be easily caught on the groove or on a pad and / or covering that may extend into the groove. The cart may include a handle 540 and casters 520 with separate locking tabs 525. The cart shown has four casters, but there may be more or fewer casters, as well as other ways of transporting the cart besides casters. The cart may accommodate a door (not shown), which may be hung on hinges fixed to holes 530 on either side of the cart 505c. The choice of which side of the cart to mount the door determines the direction in which the door swings when opened. The latch of the door may be fixed to the cart using holes 535. In some embodiments, the top of the cart may be formed with a groove or depression 545, which may be used to firmly hold the container 100 to prevent sliding when the user accesses the contents of the container. The groove 545 may also be used for the purpose of stacking cabinets together. For example, if the casters are made removable and the base of each cabinet is formed with a raised surface extending toward the floor and matching the contour of the groove 545, then one cart can be stacked on top of another cart. This is done to improve storage efficiency or to increase the number of containers that can be transported at one time.

[0089] As described above, in some embodiments, the liner 600, the first cover 620, and / or the second cover 635 can be extendable to close the sides 110a-110e so that the grooves and / or protrusions are also closed. The liner 600, the first cover 620, and / or the second cover 635 can serve as a protective barrier for the transport device 505a, 505c to prevent contamination of clean medical devices and / or limit the transfer of contaminants from used medical devices between the container and the transport device.

[0090] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the containment system 800 may include a combined container and a lid 805, such as Figures 8A-8C. For example, the container and lid can be a single configuration and can be interchangeable with each other, so that the containment system does not require separate components and can be compatible with multiple transport devices. The container and lid 805 can have sides 810a-810d and a bottom 815 to form an interior portion 825. The container and lid 805 can have four sides to form a rectangle or square, but it will be appreciated that any number "n" of sides can be included to form the containment and transport of any shape of medical device.

[0091] The container and lid 805 may have more than one handle 820 formed as a protrusion from the sides 810a-810d of the container and lid. The handle 820 may be centrally arranged along the sides 810a-810d so that the container and lid 805 can be balanced during handling. In addition, the handle 820 may engage with a transport device, such as a guide rail of a transport device 505a, 505c, so that it can be received and maintained in the transport device so as to be transported throughout the medical facility as needed. Since the lid and container 805 are identical, when configured together to enclose the medical device, the handles 820 may be aligned with each other on the respective sides 810a-810d.

[0092] In an embodiment, the lid and container 805 may include locking features 825 and lockable features 830, configured on more than one side 810a-810d. For example, the locking features 825 may be disposed on the side 810b of the lid and container 805, and the lockable features 830 may be disposed on the opposite side 810d of the lid and container 805, so that in the connected configuration, the lid 805 can be inverted and rotated 180° from the position of the container 805 to engage the locking features 825 on the container 805 and the lockable features 830 on the lid 805.

[0093] The lid and container can be removably attached to each other to engage via a locking feature 825 and a lockable feature 830. The locking feature 825 and the lockable feature 830 can include mating locking tabs and / or slots for engagement. For example, the locking feature 825 can include a protrusion 835 extending outwardly from the side 810a-810d and substantially perpendicular to the side 810d, and can include a slot 840. The lockable feature 830 can include a protrusion 845 extending directly from the side 810a-810d, so that the protrusion 845 can be substantially parallel to the side 810a-810d and extend as it. The protrusion 845 can include a locking tab 850, wherein the locking tab 850 can be inserted into the slot 840 of the locking feature 825. The locking tab 850 can be configured to be inserted into the slot 840 when the lid 805 is engaged with the container 805 (e.g., as shown by the directional arrow "A"). The locking piece 850 can be locked into the slot 840 in an interference fit manner to maintain the closed structure between the container 805 and the lid 805 .

[0094] In an embodiment, the liner 855, the first cover 860, and / or the second cover 865 can be removably attached to or enclosed around the container 805, as described above with respect to Figures 6A-6D and Figure 7 As described and Figures 8A-8C Shown for illustration purposes only.

[0095] Reference now Figures 9A-9B , shows another exemplary embodiment of a containment system 900. The container 905 may include sides 910a-910d and a bottom surface 915 to form an interior portion 927. The sides 910a-910d may be substantially straight so that the securing features 920 may engage with the sides 910a-910d. In an embodiment, the sides 910a-910d may be angled outward from the bottom surface 915, for example, as a trapezoidal prism, so that the securing member 920 may engage relative to the sides 910a-910d. When the securing member 920 is slid upward from the bottom surface 915 in the direction of arrow "B", the angled sides 910a-910d may engage with and lock with the securing member 920 (see FIG. 2 ). Fig. 9B ).

[0096] The fastener 920 can secure the liner 925, the first cover 930, and / or the second cover 935 around the container 905 and can be configured as a frame positioned around the container 905. In some embodiments, the liner 925 can be similar to the liner 600, and the first cover and / or the second cover 930, 935 can be similar to the first cover and the second cover 620, 635. For example, the liner 925, the first cover 930, and / or the second cover 935 can extend around the sides 910a-910d in the direction of arrow "C". The liner 925, the first cover 930, and / or the second cover 935 can be formed as a flat plate, although in some embodiments, they can include closure features such as elastics, drawstrings, or the like, as described above (see Figures 12A-12B ).

[0097] The fixing member 920 may include one or more locking tabs 940. For example, the locking tabs 940 may be disposed on opposite sides so that in the attached configuration, the container 905 may engage with a rail of a transport device, for example, via the locking tabs 940. The locking tabs 940 may be protrusions extending outwardly in a substantially vertical direction, for example, so that the container 905 may be substantially parallel to the ground when engaged with a rail of a transport device.

[0098] The fastener 920 can adapt the container 905 to multiple transport devices. For example, the container may not be compatible with a selected transport device, such as a transport device that the medical institution has acquired. The fastener 920 can be removably attached to a container that may not engage with the selected transport device, so that the locking tab 940 can engage with the selected transport device. Figures 10A-10C As shown, the size of each locking piece 1040a, 1040b, 1040c can be determined as needed so that the container 905 can be received in multiple transport devices by using the selected fixings 1020a, 1020b, 1020c. In addition, because the fixings 920, 1020a-1020c are removably attached, the container 905 may not be permanently changed, so that they can be compatible with other transport devices without fixings 920, 1020a-1020c in other aspects. In some embodiments, the fixings 920, 1020a-1020c may include a cutout 945, which can serve as a mating feature with the transport device. For example, the cutout 945 can be mated with a corresponding protrusion on the transport device, for example, so that only the container 905 and the fixings 920, 1020a-1020c can be received in the selected transport device.

[0099] Although the fixture 920, 1020a-1020c can be formed as a frame, for example, having four sides to completely surround the container 905, it is understood that the fixture can be formed in a horseshoe shape, or a U shape. Figures 12A-12B , the fastener 1220 can be removably attached to the container 905. For example, the fastener 1220 can be engaged with the container 905 by sliding the fastener onto the container 905 in the direction indicated by the arrow "D". Although one side 910a-910d may not be engaged with the fastener 1220, the remaining three sides 910a-910d can secure the liner 925, the first cover 930 and / or the second cover 935, and can be engaged with the transport device as described above. Therefore, the liner 925, the first cover 930 and / or the second cover 935 can include closure features, such as elastics, drawstrings, etc., to engage with the sides 910a-910d of the container 905 in other ways.

[0100] like Figures 11A-11B As shown, the liner 925, the first cover 930, and / or the second cover 935 can be removably attached to or enclosed in the container 905 by a drawstring 950. For example, the liner 925, the first cover 930, and / or the second cover 935 can be formed into a sheet with a drawstring 950 around its periphery. To engage with the container 905, the drawstring 950 can be tightened around the sides 910a-910d. The tightened drawstring 950 can maintain engagement with the container 905, for example, before engaging with the fixing member 920, 1020a-1020c, 1220.

[0101] Reference Figures 13A-13B and Figures 14A-14B , describes an alternative handle configuration for the container 100. In some embodiments, for example, Figures 13A-13B , the recessed portion 145 of the bottom surface 105 may include a bottom handle 170 to facilitate the picking up and moving of the container 100. Respective bottom handles 170a, 170b may be integrated into opposite sides of adjacent sides 110d, 110b of the recessed portion 145. The handles 170a, 170b may be located near the respective sides 110d, 110b so that the user's fingertips can touch the handles. For example, each handle 170a, 170b may have a width W h , height H h and depth D h The size of the handle 170a, 170b is set to accommodate the fingers of the user's palm facing up to grasp the container. Each handle 170a, 170b can have a width W extending 3-7 inches (76.2-177.8 mm). h , Extends 0.5-2.0 inches (12.7-50.8 mm) in height H h and extends to a depth D of 0.5-2.0 inches (12.7-50.8 mm) hThe handles 170a, 170b may extend inwardly from the recessed portion 145 of the bottom surface 105 to the interior portion 125 of the container 100 and may include inclined surfaces 175a, 175b that meet at a point to form a triangle in cross-section and extend along the width W of the handle. h A wedge shape is formed. Other shapes and sizes of the handle 170 are also possible, for example, rectangular, depending on the user's requirements.

[0102] In some embodiments, for example Figures 14A-14B , the sides 110b, 110d may include side handles 180 to facilitate holding and moving the container 100. The respective side handles 180a, 180b may be integrated into the opposite side 110d, 110b. Each side handle 180a, 180b may have a width W h , height H h and depth D h The size of the handle 180a, 180b is set to accommodate the fingers of the user's palm facing up to grasp the container. For example, each handle 180a, 180b can have a width W extending 3-7 inches (76.2-177.8 mm). h , Extends 1.0-2.0 inches (25.4-50.8 mm) in height H h , and extends to a depth D of 0.5-2.0 inches (12.7-50.8 mm) h . The handles 180a, 180b may extend inwardly from the sides 110d, 110b, respectively, to the interior portion 125 of the container 100. The handles 180a, 180b, similar to the groove 130, have surfaces 185a-185c formed substantially perpendicular to each other (90 degrees ± 10 degrees), although in some embodiments, more than one surface may form an obtuse angle (≥ 90 degrees). Other shapes and sizes of the handle 180 are also possible according to user requirements.

[0103] The bottom or side handles 170 , 180 , similar to the corner handles 160 , may provide a more secure grip than grasping the container from the bottom surface 105 and / or sides 110 a - 110 d , particularly if the container is wrapped in a liner 600 .

[0104] Reference now Fig.15, a flowchart 1500 of an exemplary method for containing and transporting a medical device is illustrated. In step 1505, a medical professional may select a clean container and lid (if applicable) for containing and transporting the clean medical device. The medical professional may be at a reprocessing site of a medical facility where the container and medical device are processed and cleaned between patient surgeries. In step 1510, a clean liner may be attached to the clean container, extending at least partially around the sides and interior portion of the container to conform to the contour of the container. In step 1515, the clean medical device may be placed on the liner in the interior portion of the container, and in step 1520, a second cover may be included in the interior portion of the container in a closed configuration (e.g., folded) for subsequent use. In some embodiments, the second cover may not be included in the container, but may be provided separately at the medical procedure site. In step 1525, the first cover may be stretched across the opening of the container to enclose the medical device between the liner and the cover in the container. As described above, the first cover may be green, or other pattern, to visually indicate that a clean medical device is enclosed in the container. In step 1530, a lid may be optionally attached to the container and / or the first cover.

[0105] In step 1535, the container can be inserted into the transport device, for example, by engaging with corresponding rails through grooves and / or protrusions. The container can be compatibly received in multiple transport devices through grooves, protrusions and / or other fixing features on the container. In step 1540, one or more containers can be transported from the reprocessing site to the medical procedure site in the medical institution via the transport device.

[0106] When the container is delivered to the medical procedure site, the medical professional can remove the cap (if attached), and the first cover can be removed and disposed of in anticipation of use of the medical device in step 1545. The second cover can be set aside for post-procedure use, and / or the second cover can be obtained for later use. The medical professional can then use the medical device for surgery on a patient in step 1550. For example, when the medical device is a reusable endoscope, the endoscope can be inserted into the patient to perform the surgery as needed.

[0107] After the procedure is completed, the used medical device can be placed on the liner inside the container in step 1555. The second cover can then be extended across the opening of the container to enclose the used medical device between the liner and the second cover. In an embodiment, the second cover can be red, or patterned, as a visual indication that the medical device is being used. In step 1560, a lid can be optionally attached to the container and the second cover.

[0108] The container may be inserted into a transport device in step 1565 in the same manner as in step 1535. The transport device may transport the container from the medical procedure site back to a reprocessing site in the medical facility for cleaning. In step 1570, the used medical device may be removed from the container and cleaned for reuse. The second cover and liner may be disposed of, and the container and lid (if applicable) may also be cleaned. The method may return to step 1505 to further select clean medical devices and containers for use.

[0109] Many specific details are set forth herein to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention may be implemented without these specific details. In other cases, well-known operations, components, and circuits are not described in detail to avoid confusion with the embodiments. It is understood that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the present embodiments.

[0110] Some embodiments may be described using "coupled" and "connected" and their derivatives. These terms are not intended to be synonymous with each other. For example, some embodiments may be described using the terms "connected" and / or "coupled" to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. However, the term "coupled" may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact, but still cooperate or interact with each other.

[0111] It should be noted that the methods described herein do not have to be executed in the order described or in any particular order. In addition, various activities described with respect to the methods identified herein can be executed in serial or parallel manner.

[0112] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may replace the specific embodiments shown. This statement is intended to cover any and all modifications or variations of the various embodiments. It should be understood that the above description is made in an illustrative manner and not restrictive. Combinations of the above embodiments, as well as other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, the scope of the various embodiments includes any other applications using the above compositions, structures, and methods.

[0113] Although the structural features and / or methodological acts of the subject matter have been described in specific language, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A system for containing and transporting a medical device, the system comprising: a container including a bottom surface and surrounding sides as a closed first end and an open second end to form an interior portion for receiving and retaining a medical device, at least a portion of one or more of said sides having a recess extending along the length of the respective side; as well as a liner removably closable around the container, the liner extending over the side to fit over the interior portion of the container to the exterior surface of the bottom surface of the container so that the liner can conform to the shape of the container; wherein the recess is formed in the interior portion of the container so as to enable the container to be compatibly received in a first transport device in a first orientation; The groove has a flared end opening.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the container includes a contoured portion such that the container is compatibly received in the first transport device in a second orientation different from the first orientation.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lid removably attached to the open second end of the container, the lid being extendable over the side to close the interior portion of the container.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a lid that is removably attached to the open second end of the container, the lid being at least partially insertable into the interior portion of the container such that an overhang of the lid contacts an upper edge of the side of the container.

5. The system of any one of claims 3-4, wherein the contour of the lid is formed to match the contour of the bottom surface of the container so that a plurality of containers and lids can be stacked in alignment with each other.

6. The system of any one of claims 3-4, wherein the lid includes a handle.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a first cover removably closable about the container and extending over at least a portion of the side and across the open second end of the container to close the interior portion; and a second cover removably closable about said container and extending over at least a portion of said side and across said open second end of said container to close said interior portion; in, The first cover is interchangeable with the second cover to provide visual verification of the condition of the medical device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is compatibly receivable in a second transport device, the second transport device being different from the first transport device, such that the container is interchangeable between the first transport device and the second transport device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the liner is removably closed around the container by an elastic opening, a drawstring or fastener, or a combination thereof.

10. Containers for containing and transporting medical devices, including: a bottom surface and surrounding side surfaces as a closed first end and an open second end to form an interior portion for receiving and retaining a medical device; and At least a portion of one or more of the side surfaces has a first groove extending along the length of the respective side surface; wherein the first groove on the at least a portion of the one or more sides is formed in the interior portion of the container; the first groove has a flared end opening; and The container is compatibly receivable in a first transport device.

11. The container of claim 10, further comprising a protrusion extending from at least a portion of one or more of the side surfaces and positionable relative to the first recess on the at least a portion of the one or more side surfaces of the container.

12. The container of claim 10, wherein said at least a portion of said one or more sides of said container comprises a second groove.

13. The container of claim 10, wherein a liner is removably enclosed around the container, the liner being extendable over the sides to fit over the interior portion of the container such that the liner can conform to the shape of the container.

14. The container of claim 10, wherein the container is compatibly receivable in a second transport device, the second transport device being different from the first transport device such that the container is interchangeable between the first transport device and the second transport device.

15. The container of claim 10, wherein a lid is removably attached to the open second end of the container to close an interior portion of the container.

Images