Sterile container comprising a vapour-permeable seal

Abstract

A sterile container includes a container pan, a container cover, a closure for closing the sterile container, and a seal or sealing element between the container pan and the container cover. The seal or sealing element is vapor-permeable.

Claims

1. A sterile container comprising: a container pan; a container cover; and a vapor-permeable seal for sealing an interior of the sterile container from an environment, the vapor-permeable seal being provided between the container pan and the container cover, wherein the vapor-permeable seal is selectively permeable to water vapor, forms a microbial barrier, and is manufactured from a porous material, and wherein the vapor-permeable seal is configured as a sealing lip designed to open a passage for pressure compensation by elastic deformation in response to a negative pressure in the interior of the sterile container.

2. The sterile container according to claim 1, wherein the vapor-permeable seal is a disposable component.

3. The sterile container according to claim 1, wherein the vapor-permeable seal is designed as a cord, package, fabric, knitted mesh or fleece.

4. The sterile container according to claim 1, wherein the vapor-permeable seal is selectively permeable to one or more sterilization media.

5. The sterile container according to claim 4, wherein the vapor-permeable seal is selectively permeable to one or more of hydrogen peroxide, ethylene oxide, ozone and formaldehyde.

6. The sterile container according to claim 1, wherein the vapor-permeable seal is manufactured from porous polytetrafluoroethylene.

7. The sterile container according to claim 1, wherein the passage is a gap between the container pan and the container cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE

(1) The FIGURE is an exploded perspective view of a sterile container according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(2) A possible configuration of the present invention is shown in the FIGURE. The sketch is for illustration purposes only.

(3) As shown in the FIGURE, a sterile container 1 has a container pan 2 and a container cover 3. Not shown is the closure, which may be provided either on the container cover, the container pan or on both, or formed to be independent and separate from the sterile container. The pan and cover geometry is arbitrary.

(4) In the exploded illustration shown, the vapor-permeable seal 4 is shown, which is arranged between the container pan 2 and the container cover 3. Once the sterile container is assembled, the vapor-permeable seal 4 lies flush between the container cover 3 and the container pan 2 and seals the space between these two parts.

(5) In order to ensure sufficient pressure equalization even during strong pressure changes in the sterilizer (if equalization via the seal alone is not sufficient), the closure can be spring-mounted so that the cover can be lifted in the event of excess pressure in the container.

(6) In order to enable pressure equalization even in the event of negative pressure in the container, the seal could be designed in the form of a lip geometry in which the lip “folds away” in the event of negative pressure in the container and opens a gap through which pressure equalization can take place. The seal can be formed, for example, in the form of cords, packings, woven fabrics, knitted meshes and nonwovens.

(7) The core of the invention lies in a combination of media exchange system and seal in one component, preferably a vapor-permeable seal/sealing element, in a sterile container, either as a disposable product or for reuse.

(8) In the case of a disposable product, the visual inspection of the seal, which is otherwise designed as a permanent product, is not necessary. In addition, all components of the media exchange system are omitted.

(9) If designed as a reusable product, all components of the media exchange system are omitted, but the visual inspection must be carried out on the combined component, preferably the vapor-permeable seal/sealing.