STERILISING CONTAINER AND CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

A sterilizing container for medical purposes includes a base and a lid fastenable to the base. When the lid is closed, the base and lid define an inner region of the sterilizing container. A media exchange mechanism is designed, when the lid is closed, to selectively open and close at least one fluid-mechanical connection between the inner region and a surrounding environment. A control device is designed to control the media exchange mechanism. The sterilizing container has a ventilation device designed to convey a medium in the inner region and/or in the surrounding environment of the sterilizing container to the media exchange mechanism. The control device is designed to control the media exchange mechanism and the ventilation device in such a way that the at least one fluid-mechanical connection is open when a medium is conveyed. A control device can externally control the control device of the sterilizing container.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A sterilization container for medical purposes, the sterilization container comprising: a bottom element; a lid which is fixable to the bottom element and which, in a closed state of the lid, together with the bottom element defines an inner region of the sterilization container; a media exchange mechanism configured to selectively open and close, in the closed state of the lid, at least one fluid-mechanical connection between the inner region and surroundings via a filter that is air-permeable or gas-permeable but impermeable to germs; a control apparatus configured to control the media exchange mechanism; and a ventilation apparatus configured to convey a first medium in the inner region and a second medium in the surroundings of the sterilization container to the media exchange mechanism, the control apparatus being configured to control the media exchange mechanism and the ventilation apparatus in such a way that the at least one fluid-mechanical connection is open when the first medium in the inner region is conveyed into the surroundings and is closed when the second medium in the surroundings is conveyed into the inner region via the filter.

12. The sterilization container according to claim 11, further comprising a sensor apparatus configured to measure a value of one or more of pressure, temperature and humidity in the inner region and/or in the surroundings of the sterilization container, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control the media exchange mechanism and the ventilation apparatus, taking into account said value of one or more of pressure, temperature and humidity in the inner region and/or in the surroundings of the sterilization container.

13. The sterilization container according to claim 11, wherein the media exchange mechanism and the ventilation apparatus are configured on the lid.

14. The sterilization container according to claim 11, wherein: the at least one fluid-mechanical connection comprises a first fluid-mechanical connection and a second fluid-mechanical connection, each of the first fluid-mechanical connection and the second fluid-mechanical connection being selectively openable and closable, and the control apparatus is configured to control the ventilation apparatus such that the ventilation apparatus conveys the second medium in the surroundings of the sterilization container to the first fluid-mechanical connection and conveys the first medium in the inner region of the sterilization container to the second fluid-mechanical connection.

15. The sterilization container according to claim 14, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control the ventilation apparatus such that the ventilation apparatus alternatingly convey: the second medium in the surroundings of the sterilization container to the first fluid-mechanical connection, and the first medium in the inner region of the sterilization container to the second fluid-mechanical connection, and the second medium in the surroundings of the sterilization container to the second fluid-mechanical connection, and the first medium in the inner region of the sterilization container to the first fluid-mechanical connection.

16. The sterilization container according to claim 11, further comprising a wirelessly rechargeable energy storage configured to supply energy to the control apparatus and/or the media exchange mechanism and/or the ventilation apparatus.

17. The sterilization container according to claim 11, wherein the control apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive actuation signals which cause the control apparatus to convey media via the ventilation apparatus from the inner region and/or from the surroundings of the sterilization container.

18. A control device for externally controlling the control apparatus of the sterilization container according to claim 17, the control device comprising at least one of: a control transmitter configured to transmit actuation signals to the control apparatus; and a control receiver configured to receive status signals from the control apparatus.

19. The sterilization container according to claim 11, wherein the control apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit status signals containing information about a status of the media exchange mechanism and/or of the ventilation apparatus.

20. A control device for externally controlling the control apparatus of the sterilization container according to claim 19, the control device comprising at least one of: a control transmitter configured to transmit actuation signals to the control apparatus; and a control receiver configured to receive status signals from the control apparatus.

21. The control device according to claim 20, wherein: the sterilization container comprises a wirelessly rechargeable energy storage configured to supply energy to the control apparatus and/or the media exchange mechanism and/or the ventilation apparatus, and the control device comprises a charging apparatus for wirelessly charging the wirelessly rechargeable energy storage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0037] The present invention is described in more detail below based on a preferred configuration example with reference to the accompanying FIGURE. The FIGURE shows a perspective view of a sterilization container according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The sterilization container 2 according to the disclosure shown in the FIGURE has a trough-shaped bottom element 4 and a lid 6. The sterilization container 2 has a substantially rectangular outline.

[0039] The FIGURE shows the sterilization container 2 in a closed state of the lid 6. In this state, the bottom element 4 and the lid 6 define an inner region (not shown). In the closed state, the lid 6 is connected to the bottom element 4 in a manner impermeable to germs via a seal (not shown) on the circumference of the lid 6 or on free rims of sidewalls of the bottom element 4.

[0040] Two openings 8 are provided in the lid 6, which can be opened and closed via a media exchange mechanism. The media exchange mechanism has two replaceable filters 10 that are impermeable to germs but permeable to air, which are arranged in the openings 8. In the state shown in the FIGURE, the filters 10 are in a closed position. In the closed position of the filters 10 and in the closed state of the lid 6, the inner region is locked impermeable to germs with respect to the surroundings of the sterilization container 2.

[0041] An axial fan 12 is provided above each of the two filters 10 or on an outer side of each of the two filters 10 facing the surroundings.

[0042] Each of the two axial fans 12 is enclosed by a control apparatus 14 or by a housing of the control apparatus 14. An energy storage unit (not shown) is provided in the control apparatus 14, which also supplies the electric motors (not shown) provided in the control apparatus with energy to drive the axial fans 12.

[0043] A sensor apparatus 16 with two sensors for measuring a temperature, a pressure and/or a humidity of the surroundings and the inner region is arranged on the outer side of the control apparatus 14 between the axial fans 12.

[0044] The control apparatus 14 is configured to control one of the two axial fans 12 in such a way that a pressure gradient is generated in the direction of the surroundings when a predetermined measuring value or several predetermined measuring values are measured by the sensor apparatus 16, and to control the other one of the two axial fans 12 in such a way that a pressure gradient is generated in the direction of the interior.

[0045] The filters 10 are configured in such a way that they open automatically when a pressure gradient in the direction of the surroundings is applied to the respective filter 10, and that they remain in the closed position when a pressure gradient in the direction of the inner region is applied to the respective filter 10. In this way, a medium or air that is conveyed into the inner region by an axial fan 12 is filtered by the corresponding filter 10. In contrast, a medium or air that is conveyed into the surroundings by an axial fan 12 is not filtered.

[0046] The control apparatus 14 is configured to control the one of the two axial fans 12 that conveys medium into the inner region in such a way that the flow resistance generated by the corresponding filter 10 is overcome. In particular, the axial fans 12 are controlled in such a way that a medium or air flow into the inner region is the same strength as a medium or air flow out of the inner region.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0047] 2 sterilization container [0048] 4 bottom element [0049] 6 lid [0050] 8 opening [0051] 10 filter [0052] 12 axial fan [0053] 14 control apparatus [0054] 16 sensor apparatus