Flash sterilization container
Inventors
Jacene, Michael • Griffiths, Jerry R. • Johnson, Christopher M. • KIAPOUR, ALI
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9381263-B2
Publication Date
2016-07-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
A flash sterilization container includes a hermetically sealed rigid and impermeable metal bellow valve. Upon pressurization of the external environment with steam the height of the bellow valve is reduced and this opens the valve thereby allowing steam to enter the sterilization container. Reducing the pressure outside of the sterilization container to atmospheric pressure increases the height of the bellow valve and closes the valve, thereby isolating the sterilized objects within the sterilization container.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a flash sterilization container in which steam pressure is used to open and close a lid aperture for admitting steam into a sealed container and then isolating sterilized objects. A container includes a base with side walls and an open top, and a lid shaped and dimensioned to cover and seal the entire open top of the container.
The lid comprises an aperture that is sealed with a pressure actuated valve assembly. The pressure actuated valve assembly includes a cylindrical metal component and a hermetically sealed metal bellow component positioned within the cylindrical metal component, where the pressure actuated valve assembly opens or closes by decreasing or increasing the height of the hermetically sealed metal bellow component, respectively.
The hermetically sealed metal bellow component comprises a hollow metal bellow body and a dome-shaped closed bottom, and the cylindrical metal component comprises an elongated cylindrical body having an outward extending top ring, an inward extending bottom ring, and a through aperture. The top ring comprises openings dimensioned to receive bolts for securing the pressure actuated valve assembly to the lid, and the bottom ring is shaped and dimensioned to receive the dome-shaped closed bottom of the hermetically sealed metal bellow component.
A bellows structure includes a welded top plate trapping a small amount of air to enable hermetical sealing behavior. The container may include a lid and tray arrangement, with aperture(s) sealed by pressure-actuated valve assemblies for the lid and optionally the base, and internal support elements such as perforated or mesh tray and perforated metal plates.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim set includes one independent claim (clm-00001). This claim covers a sterilization container whose lid aperture is sealed by a pressure actuated valve assembly that includes a cylindrical metal component and a hermetically sealed metal bellows component, where valve opening/closing is driven by bellows height change responsive to pressure conditions, and where the bellows has a hollow bellows body with a dome-shaped closed bottom and specific ring and through-aperture features for bolted attachment to the lid.
Sterilization container with sealed lid aperture and pressure actuated valve assembly
A sterilization container including a container with a base, side walls and an open top, and a lid shaped and dimensioned to cover and seal the entire open top, where the lid comprises an aperture sealed with a pressure actuated valve assembly.
Hermetically sealed metal bellows valve with cylindrical metal component
The pressure actuated valve assembly comprises a cylindrical metal component and a hermetically sealed metal bellow component positioned within the cylindrical metal component.
Valve opening and closing by bellows height change
The pressure actuated valve assembly opens or closes by decreasing or increasing the height of the hermetically sealed metal bellow component, respectively.
Bellows structure with hollow metal bellows body and dome-shaped closed bottom
The hermetically sealed metal bellow component comprises a hollow metal bellow body and a dome-shaped closed bottom.
Cylindrical component ring features and bolted attachment to lid
The cylindrical metal component comprises an elongated cylindrical body having an outward extending top ring, an inward extending bottom ring and a through aperture, where the top ring comprises openings dimensioned to receive bolts for securing the pressure actuated valve assembly to the lid and where the bottom ring is shaped and dimensioned to receive the dome-shaped closed bottom of the hermetically sealed metal bellow component.
Overall, the independent claim scope is directed to a sterilization container whose lid aperture is sealed by a specific pressure actuated valve assembly. The valve assembly is defined by a cylindrical metal component carrying a hermetically sealed metal bellows whose height change controls opening/closing, and by ring and through-aperture geometry for bolted securing to the lid and seating of the dome-shaped bellows bottom.
Stated Advantages
No leakage over multiple cycles.
Faster response mirroring autoclave conditions.
Safe failure mode where the valve remains closed.
Documented Applications
Flash sterilization of objects in a sealed container using external steam pressure to open a pressure actuated valve assembly and admit steam, followed by closing to isolate sterilized objects.
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