STERILE CONTAINER FOR STORE OF MEDICAL STERILE GOODS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a sterile container for receiving cleaned / sterilized or medical items to be cleaned / sterilized, comprising a sterile container lower part forming a receiving space for the item and a sterile container lid detachably attachable to the sterile container lower part for closing the receiving space. At least one handle element is arranged on the sterile container lower part and can be positioned between a carrying position protruding from the sterile container lid and a locking position locking the sterile container lid to the sterile container lower part. A receiving region is formed in the sterile container lid for completely receiving the handle element therein in the locking position. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a sterile container.

[0002] Sterile containers for holding items to be sterilized, such as medical instruments and devices, are well known in the art. Such sterile containers are also referred to as sieve trays and are used in devices for sterilizing medical devices. The sterile containers, filled with cleaned medical devices such as drills, scalpels, mirrors, catheters, or similar devices, are placed in a sterile barrier system, such as a sterile container, and transported to sterilization facilities where the medical devices are sterilized while they lie in the sieve tray.

[0003] Sterile containers in the form of mesh tray containers are known. These containers have a mesh tray base that forms a receiving area for items to be sterilized, and a sterile container lid for closing the receiving area of ​​the mesh tray base. This is to prevent, for example, light or small instruments from being thrown out of the receiving area during a cleaning or washing process, to prevent instruments from falling out during transport in sterile barrier systems, on transport trolleys, etc., and to ensure a distance between instruments and a soft packaging for the mesh tray so that the latter cannot be damaged. The mesh tray base and the sterile container lid are designed like a grid or are perforated to ensure the inflow and outflow of a cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization medium.

[0004] To facilitate handling of closed mesh trays, they have carrying handles, which are located either on the mesh tray base or on the connected mesh tray lid. Furthermore, to prevent accidental opening of the mesh tray lid, a locking device is known to be installed on the mesh tray base, with which the mesh tray lid can be locked to the mesh tray base. Some known mesh trays have such a locking function integrated into the carrying handles. Despite the lid, such carrying handles / locking devices must be easily accessible for the user of the mesh tray. It is particularly important that the mesh tray can be carried safely, especially when loaded with cleaned instruments. Finally, for transport and storage purposes, it is necessary that several mesh tray containers can be safely and stably stacked in a closed state, i.e. with lids.

[0005] DE 10 2010 050 919 A1 discloses a sieve tray container for receiving items to be sterilized. The container comprises a receiving container (sieve tray lower part) made of grid-like perforated material, which defines a material receiving area and is closed on one side by a flat, openable lid (sieve tray lid) made of grid-like perforated material. At least one locking device is provided on the receiving container, which secures the lid to the receiving container in a closed position. The locking device can be pivoted into a lid-locking position via a locking element attached to the lid, utilizing the spring properties of the locking device and the locking element.The locking device consists of a bow-shaped handle that can be pivoted over the flat lid. In the locked position, it rests on the top of the lid and thus protrudes from the lid surface. A disadvantage of this sieve tray is that the bow-shaped handle protrudes above the lid surface, preventing stable and secure stacking of multiple sieve trays, as there is no flat surface available for an upper sterile container.

[0006] US Pat. No. 8,668,111 B2 discloses a sieve tray with a sieve tray base and a sieve tray lid. The sieve tray lid has a main panel / lid surface defined by opposing side edges and opposite end edges. The sieve tray lid forms a receiving area for locking handles pivotably mounted on the sieve tray base by means of ribs projecting upwards from the surface of the main panel. These handles allow the user to carry the sieve tray base in one functional position and lock the sieve tray base to the sieve tray lid in another functional position. The ribs form a snap connection with the locking handles.A disadvantage of this sieve tray is that the handles of the container base rest on the main plane of the lid, so stable stacking of multiple sieve trays is achieved by a complex lid and base structure with additional support ribs protruding upwards from the surface of the lid. Furthermore, the geometries shown would be difficult and costly to manufacture from stainless steel sheet.

[0007] Another sieve tray is known from the prior art, in which two sieve tray handles arranged on opposite sides of the sieve tray base are inserted within the receiving space and can be moved linearly and vertically. The sieve tray handles can each be positioned between an extended carrying position and a resting position inserted into the receiving space. Separate locking elements are provided for locking the lid to the base. A disadvantage of this sieve tray is that the sieve tray handles are difficult to reach.

[0008] There are known sieve trays in which the carrying handle is not located on the sieve tray base, but on the sieve tray lid, which is locked to it. Carrying handles located on the lid prevent the secure and stable stacking of closed sieve trays. To prevent this, sieve trays are known in which the carrying handles located on the lid can be retracted into a recess in the lid. However, this still has the disadvantage of unsafe transport, as the entire weight of the sieve tray is borne by the lid, which can lead to unintentional opening despite the locking mechanism.

[0009] A known solution for ensuring stable stacking when carrying handles or locking elements are arranged on the mesh tray lid is to provide spaced-apart feet on the underside of the mesh tray container. However, such mesh trays with feet are disadvantageously unsuitable for soft packaging, as the protruding feet can perforate and damage the containers.

[0010] Furthermore, relevant prior art also results from DE 10 2018 130 542 A1, DE 201 05 328 U1, US 5 065 885 A, US 2007 / 212 277 A1, WO 2019 / 197 494 A1, EP 3 434 611 A2, DE 10 2018 104 942 A1, WO 2020 / 169 778 A1 and US 6 012 577 A.

[0011] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to reduce the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned, in particular to enable a sterile container with a lid in which handle elements, which enable the filled and thus heavy sterile container to be carried in a particularly loss- and release-proof manner, are easy to reach and operate for a user, the lower part of the sterile container can be carried by means of the handle elements (and not on the lid) and a stable stacking of several closed sterile containers with lids is possible, wherein a simple and secure locking function of the lower part and lid can also be achieved.

[0012] This object is achieved according to the present invention by a sterile container according to claim 1, i.e. by a sterile container with a sterile container lower part forming a receiving space and a sterile container lid which can be detachably arranged on the sterile container lower part for closing the receiving space, wherein at least one handle element is arranged on the sterile container lower part, which handle element can be positioned between a carrying position protruding from the sterile container lid and a locking position locking the sterile container lid to the sterile container lower part, wherein a receiving area, in particular an edge-side receiving area, is formed in the sterile container lid for receiving the handle element therein in the locking position, wherein the receiving area is formed as a grip recess in the form of a depression protruding into the receiving space relative to the lid plane for completely receiving the handle element therein,and whereby at least one web or transition between the sterile container lid and the receiving area forms a gripping recess, which is at least partially fluid-permeable, preferably having a perforated mesh, and wherein the gripping element is U-shaped with two free legs and a grip piece connecting them to one another and is hinged to the sterile container lower part by the free legs, wherein the lid plane lies in or below a virtual plane spanned by an edge of the sterile container lower part.

[0013] It is a particular advantage of the invention that the grip recess / receiving area is lowered compared to the lid level or main level of the sterile container lid. The receiving area or grip recess receives the grip element of the sieve tray in such a way that, when closed, it is positioned below the lid surface, in particular completely below the lid surface, and thus does not protrude above the lid level or the lid surface upwards, i.e. in the direction away from the receiving space. When several such closed and locked containers are stacked, the grip element of the lower sterile container section of a lower sterile container is therefore located below the contact surface of an upper sterile container lower section, so that the upper sterile container essentially rests / rests over its entire surface on the lid level of the sterile container lid of the lower sterile container.Furthermore, the invention ensures that the handle element of the sterile container base is easily accessible in the locking position and can be easily moved into the carrying position. With the handle element in the carrying position, the sterile container closed with the sterile container lid can also be carried particularly securely, even when loaded and relatively heavy, since the handle element is arranged on the sterile container base. The handle element can be moved from the locking position to the carrying position and vice versa in an advantageous manner without the lid having to be opened or being able to be opened. Overall, the invention combines a number of advantages, which have a positive effect on storage suitability / stackability in a first aspect, on portability in a second aspect, and on maintaining sterility conditions in a third aspect.

[0014] The object underlying the invention is also achieved by a method for producing a sterile container with a sterile container lower part forming a receiving space and a sterile container lid for closing the receiving space, in particular a sterile container according to the present description or according to one of the appended claims, wherein a receiving area for completely receiving the handle element therein in a locking position is formed in the sterile container lid, comprising the following steps: Providing a sheet, in particular made of a stainless steel material, introducing slots into the sheet in order to provide an area intended for deformation between the lid plane and the grip recess for forming the grip recess, forming the grip recess for the handle element by deforming the area of ​​the sheet provided with slots in the direction pointing towards the receiving space of the sterile container lower part.

[0015] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are claimed in the subclaims and are explained in more detail below.

[0016] The sterile container preferably has a substantially rectangular cross-section. A grip recess is formed on each of two opposite sides, preferably the short sides, of the container lid. The opposing grip recesses are preferably designed and arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other. The shape / outer shape of the grip recess preferably corresponds to the outer shape of the handle element.

[0017] One embodiment is characterized in that the sterile container lid has a substantially flat lid surface and the recess projects inwards into the receiving space relative to the lid surface. Such a flat lid surface is particularly advantageously easy to manufacture and clean and offers a particularly large support surface for a stacked additional sterile container. Preferably, the lid surface lies in a plane with a virtual plane formed by the edge of the sterile container base. This enables the largest possible container volume. In a further embodiment, the lid surface / lid plane can lie below the virtual plane spanned by the edge of the sterile container base, i.e. on the side facing the receiving space.In this way, an edge surrounding the top side of the lid plane (the side of the lid plane facing away from the receiving space) can be formed on the otherwise as flat as possible lid, which serves as a position securing and positioning aid for further sterile containers stacked on the lid.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the receiving area is formed by the cover surface being deformed inward into the receiving space. Alternatively, the receiving area can be formed by a sheet metal part attached, in particular welded, to the cover surface. In this case, the connection between the cover surface and the welded sheet metal part can be realized by connecting tabs, which are welded at their respective ends either to the cover surface or to the sheet metal part. Furthermore, the connecting tabs allow recesses in the transition area between the cover surface and the sheet metal part, whereby the receiving area can be particularly well flushed with a cleaning fluid during cleaning by flushing the recesses in the receiving area with cleaning fluid.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, the handle element can be U-shaped with two free legs and a handle connecting them. It is preferably hinged to the sterile container, in particular to an upper edge of the sterile container, with the free legs. Due to the hinged connection, it can be moved / positioned particularly easily into the locking position and the carrying position. Hinge connection at the upper edge of the lower part of the sterile container has the advantage that the receiving area / grip recess does not have to be particularly deep in order to ensure complete reception and good accessibility of the handle element for a user. Furthermore, the size / height of the receiving space of the sterile container is restricted as little as possible. With such a U-shaped handle element, the grip recess has an essentially U-shaped peripheral shape.In other words, the bottom of the grip recess has a peripheral shape corresponding to the shape of the grip element, in this case a substantially U-shaped peripheral shape, and is also preferably completely flat.

[0020] Preferably, the two free legs and the handle are flat. In the locking position, they are preferably aligned parallel to the lid surface and / or arranged entirely on the side of the lid surface facing the receiving space.

[0021] A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the sterile container lid is a perforated sterile container lid made of stainless sheet steel. Alternatively or additionally, the sterile container base can generally be a perforated sterile container base made of stainless sheet steel. In this way, the invention provides a sterile container in the form of a sieve tray container. The recessed grip can be produced in various ways, for example in the form of separate elements adapted to the lid, or directly by deformation from the lid sheet. The recess forming the recessed grip can be formed, in particular, by a sheet metal part attached, in particular welded, to the lid surface. Alternatively, and as already explained above, the recess forming the recessed grip can be formed by a deformed region of the lid plane.Both variants allow for easy production of a lid that is easy to clean.

[0022] A particularly easy-to-clean grip recess can be achieved by forming the deformed area with parallel slots or openings in the lid plane, which, after deformation, form a diamond-shaped lattice structure. This provides a lid whose grip recess can be particularly easily rinsed with a cleaning fluid during cleaning by flushing the openings on the grip recess or in the area of ​​the grip recess with cleaning fluid. Sections of the lid / cover sheet that are deformed during the manufacturing process are, in this embodiment, designed according to the principle of "expanded metal." This means that through-openings are formed on or in the cover sheet, in particular slot-shaped openings, which are created, for example, by a punching process.which deform into diamond-shaped openings, for example, due to stretching during the deformation of the lid material into the grip recess.

[0023] A further embodiment of the sterile container is characterized in that a latching structure for latching with the handle element in the locked position is formed in the receiving area. This can be formed by appropriately shaping the lid material in the area of ​​the grip recess. A grip recess that is particularly easy to produce by deformation can be achieved if the latching structure is formed by a spring element, in particular made of plastic / injection molding, fixed to the sterile container lid, in particular in the grip recess. It is particularly elegant if the latching element has fastening projections that engage in suitably shaped fastening recesses in the lid material and thus preferably latch. The fastening recesses can be formed, for example, by through-openings made, in particular punched out, in the lid material.

[0024] At this point, it should be noted that the aforementioned locking structure can, of course, also be provided in other ways. As an alternative to the above embodiment, it can also be made / formed from a plastic, for example, an elastomer, preferably a silicone material. This can then be mounted as a separately manufactured component in the area of ​​the grip recess on the lid (material). Furthermore, the locking structure can be an elastic molded body, especially when provided as a separate plastic element.

[0025] In further embodiments of the method according to the invention, it can also be provided that perforations are introduced, in particular punched out, into the sheet metal material for the sterile container lid, which perforations are not deformed when sections of the lid material are formed into recessed grips. In a further embodiment of the method, after all the perforations have been introduced, the sheet metal material can be subjected to a washing process, which can optionally be followed by a straightening process, for example in the form of rolling. In a further embodiment, the sheet metal material can then be subjected to a grinding and / or deburring process. Optionally, a further washing process can be carried out. Only after these method steps does the material get shaped / deformed into the recessed grip(s), in particular by pressing.Optionally, a preferably fully circumferential edge can subsequently be formed as a boundary for additional containers according to the invention stacked on the sterile container lid, again preferably by pressing. It is particularly effective and advantageous if the forming of the grip recess(es) and optionally the stacking edge are realized in a single stamping tool or process step.

[0026] One could also say that the invention provides a perforated sterile container lid made of stainless sheet steel, which accommodates the handles of the associated mesh tray or sterile container in recessed grips on the front side. These grips are recessed relative to the main surface so that the handles (including optional closure elements) remain below the lid surface when closed. In this way, the invention can provide a sterile container / mesh tray in which, despite the use of a sterile container lid, the handles are easily accessible to a user, the sterile container or mesh tray can be carried by the handles (and not by the lid), and several sterile containers / mesh trays can be stacked particularly securely on top of one another.

[0027] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following exemplary and non-limiting description of the figures. These are merely schematic in nature and serve only to facilitate understanding of the invention. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a sterile container according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 in a perspective view a section of a sterile container according to a further embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 in a perspective view a section of the sterile container of the Figure 1 , Fig. 4 in a perspective view a part of two sterile containers according to the invention stacked on top of each other, Fig. 5 in a perspective view a part of a punched sheet for a sterile container lid of a sterile container according to the invention and Fig. 6 in a perspective view the part of a stamping sheet of the Figure 4with molded grip recesses.

[0028] Figure 1 shows a sterile container 1 according to one embodiment of the invention in a perspective view. The sterile container 1 is designed as a sieve tray 1, has a sterile container lower part 2 and a sterile container lid 3 and serves to hold sterilized medical goods or those to be sterilized, which are not shown in the figures. The sterile container lower part 2 has a base (not visible in the figures), two short side walls 4 arranged thereon and two long side walls 5. The short side walls 4 and the long side walls 5 together form a circumferential container lower part rim 6 and surround a receiving space 7 for the medical goods. Both the sterile container lower part 2 and the sterile container lid 2 are each made of a stainless, perforated sheet steel.

[0029] The sterile container lid 3 is detachably arranged on the circumferential edge 6 and serves to close the receiving space 7 in such a way that, on the one hand, goods located therein are protected from external damage and, on the other hand, the goods accommodated therein cannot accidentally fall out of the receiving space 7.

[0030] A handle element 8 is articulated on each of the short side walls 4 of the sterile container base 2. This handle element can be positioned between a carrying position (not shown in the figures) protruding from the sterile container lid 3 and a locking position (shown in the figures) locking the sterile container lid 3 to the sterile container base 2. The handle element 8 is essentially U-shaped with two free legs 14a and 14b and a handle piece 15 connecting them. Its free legs 14a, 14b are articulated in pivot bearing receptacles 27 on the upper edge 6 of the sterile container base 2.

[0031] The sterile container lid 3 is designed as a stamped sheet metal part. It has a substantially flat lid surface 9, which corresponds virtually to the sheet metal surface in the undeformed state. The lid surface 9 forms a support surface or bearing surface for stacking another sterile container 1 (see in Figure 4 ). In the Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, when the container lid 3 is placed on the container rim 6, the lid surface 9 is located virtually in the plane defined by the container rim 6 or just above it. In this embodiment, the lid surface 9 is surrounded by a partially circumferential lid rim 10. This rim encloses the container rim 6 and thus ensures a positionally determined fit of the container lid 3 on the container base 2.

[0032] The Figures 1 and 3 The embodiment shown differs from that shown in Figure 2shown embodiment in that the lid surface 9 is substantially completely offset from the plane spanned by the container edge 6 in the direction of the receiving space 7. This is achieved in that the lid plane 9 is surrounded by a lid edge 11 projecting upwards, i.e. in the direction away from the receiving space 7, the inner side of which, facing the container edge 6, forms a receiving groove 12 for the container edge 6.

[0033] In the sterile container lid 3, more precisely in its lid surface 9, a grip recess 13 is formed on both sides. As can be seen particularly in the Figures 1, 2 and 3 As shown, the handle element 8 which is hinged to the corresponding short side wall 4 and is in the locking position is completely received in the respective handle recess 13 in such a way that no part of the handle element 8 protrudes outwards beyond the lid surface 9.

[0034] In all embodiments shown in the figures, the lid surface 9 is substantially flat and the grip recess 13 is designed in the form of a depression relative to the lid surface 9, projecting inwards into the receiving space 7.

[0035] Another difference between the versions of the Figures 1 and 3 on the one hand and the Figure 2 on the other hand, is that in the design of the Figure 2 the grip recesses 13 are each formed by a sheet metal part 16 welded to the cover surface 9, while in the embodiment of the Figures 1 and 3 the grip recesses 13 are each formed by a deformed section 17. Figure 2shows that the sheet metal part 16 has a perforated recessed grip base 18 and connecting tabs 19 arranged thereon, which are welded to the lid surface 9. The deformed section 17, on the other hand, has a likewise perforated recessed grip base 20 and a likewise perforated recessed grip wall 21 extending between it and the lid surface 9.

[0036] In connection with the design of the Figure 2 clarify the Figures 5 and 6 the manufacture of the grip recess 13 from a flat sheet material 22. Figure 5 the sheet material 22 in a still undeformed state, while Figure 6 which represents the grip recess 13 formed by deformation. The sheet material 22 is provided with first perforations 24, namely in the area of ​​the later cover surface 9 and in the area of ​​the later grip recess base 20. Between these two areas there is a section with in the undeformed state ( Figure 5) slot-shaped through-openings 23. During the forming process from the Figure 5 shown condition in the Figure 6 In the state shown, forming the grip recess 13, the slot-shaped through openings 23 widen to form essentially diamond-shaped perforations 28.

[0037] Regardless of the respective embodiment, a locking structure 25 is formed in the grip recess 13 for locking with the handle element 8 in the locked position, more precisely with its grip piece 15. The locking structure 25 is preferably a plastic part 25 that is fastened to the sterile container lid 3 in the grip recess 13. For this purpose, it has fastening elements (not shown in the figures) that engage and lock into appropriately shaped fastening recesses 26 in the grip recess base 18, 20. The fastening recesses 26 are formed here in the form of through-openings 26 punched out into the lid material. List of reference symbols

[0038] 1Sterile container, sieve tray 2Sterile container base 3Sterile container lid 4Short side wall 5Long side wall 6Rim of container base, all-round edge 7Receiving space 8Handle element 9Lid surface 10Lid rim 11Lid rim 12Receiving groove 13Recessed grip 14aFree leg 14bFree leg 15Handle 16Sheet metal part 17Deformed section 18Recessed grip base 19Connecting tab 20Recessed grip base 21Perforated recessed grip wall 22Sheet metal material 23Slotted through-openings 24Diamond-shaped perforations 25Locking structure 26Mounting recesses, through-openings 27Pivot bearing receptacles 28Diamond-shaped perforations

Claims

1. A sterile container (1) for receiving cleaned or sterilized medical goods or medical goods to be cleaned or sterilized, with a lower part (2) of the sterile container forming a receiving space (7) for the goods and a sterile-container lid (3) which is detachably arrangeable on the lower part (2) of the sterile container for closing the receiving space (7), wherein at least one handle element (8) is arranged on the lower part (2) of the sterile container, said handle element (8) being positionable between a carrying position projecting from the sterile-container lid (3) and a locking position locking the sterile-container lid (3) to the lower part (2) of the sterile container, wherein a receiving region (13) is formed in the sterile-container lid (3) for receiving the handle element (8) therein in the locking position, wherein the receiving region (13) is formed as a recessed grip (13) in the form of a depression projecting into the receiving space (7) relative to the lid plane (9) for completely receiving the handle element (8) therein, and whereby at least one web is formed between the sterile-container lid (3) and the receiving region (13) as a recessed grip (13), wherein the web is fluid-permeable at least in sections, preferably comprises a perforated mesh, characterized in that the handle element (8) is U-shaped with two free legs (14a, 14b) and a handle piece (15) connecting them to each other and is hinged with the free legs (14a, 14b) to the lower part (2) of the sterile container wherein the lid plane (9) is in or below a virtual plane defined by an edge (6) of the lower part (2) of the sterile container.

2. The sterile container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two free legs (14a, 14b) and the handle piece (15) are plane and, in the locking position, are oriented parallel to the lid surface (9) and / or, in the locking position, are arranged completely on the side of the lid surface (9) facing the receiving space (7).

3. The sterile container (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the sterile-container lid (3) has a substantially plane lid plane (9) and the depression of the recessed grip (13) projects inward into the receiving space (7) relative to the lid plane (9).

4. The sterile container (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the recessed grip (13) is formed by deforming the lid plane (9) inward into the receiving space (7).

5. The sterile container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sterile-container lid (3) is a perforated sterile-container lid (3) made of a stainless steel sheet.

6. The sterile container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depression forming the recessed grip (13) is formed by a sheet metal part (16) fixed to the lid plane (9), or that the depression forming the recessed grip (13) is formed by a deformed region (17) of the lid plane (9).

7. The sterile container (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the deformed region (17) is formed by slots (23) or openings (23) formed in the lid plane (9) that are parallel to each other and form a rhombic grid structure after deformation.

8. The sterile container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a latching structure (25) is formed in the recessed grip (13) for latching with the handle element (8) in the locked position.

9. The sterile container (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the latching structure (25) is formed by a spring element (25) fixed to the sterile-container lid (3).

10. A method of manufacturing a sterile container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, having a lower part (2) of the sterile container forming a receiving space (7) and a sterile-container lid (3) for closing the receiving space (7), wherein a recessed grip (13) is formed in the sterile-container lid (3) for completely receiving the handle element (8) therein in a locking position, comprising the following steps: - providing a metal sheet, - making slots (23) in the sheet metal to provide a region (17) for deformation between the lid plane (9) and the recessed grip (13) to form the recessed grip (13), - forming the recessed grip (13) for the handle element (8) by deforming the region (17) of the sheet metal provided with slots (23) in the direction facing the receiving space (7) of the lower part (2) of the sterile container.