Filter system with outlet function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10688206-B2
Application number	US-201716073944-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2017
Priority date	Feb 3, 2016
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A gas-permeable filter system for a sterile container includes a filter element and a seal portion that sealingly surrounds a gas exchange opening provided in a sterile container wall section in such a manner that the seal portion rests against the sterile container wall section so that a sterile flow path is formed through the gas exchange opening and the filter element. A temperature-sensitive adjusting section releases at least the seal portion from the sterile container wall section when a specified temperature is reached or exceeded such that a non-sterile flow path is formed which allows fluid to be supplied or discharged via the gas exchange opening while bypassing the filter element. The sterile container includes a base and walls that define a receiving space. The sterile container also includes a cover for closing the receiving space. At least one filter system is preferably secured to the sterile container base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas-permeable filter system for a sterile container, the filter system comprising:
a filter element;
a seal portion which is adapted to sealingly surround a gas exchange opening provided in a sterile container wall section in such a manner that the seal portion rests against the sterile container wall section of the sterile container so that a sterile flow path is formed through the gas exchange opening and the filter element; and
at least one temperature-sensitive adjusting section which releases at least the seal portion from the sterile container wall section when a specified temperature is reached or exceeded such that a non-sterile flow path is formed which allows fluid to be supplied or discharged via the gas exchange opening while bypassing the filter element.

2. The filter system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive adjusting section is at least one adjusting element formed separately from the filter element.

3. The filter system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive adjusting section is formed in one piece with the filter element.

4. The filter system according to claim 1 , wherein the filter element is reinforced by a plurality of uniformly circumferentially distributed webs extending from a center to a surrounding edge.

5. A sterile container for receiving and storing surgical instruments or surgical material in a sterile manner, the sterile container comprising:
a sterile container wall section defining a receiving space, the sterile container wall section comprising a sterile container base and sterile container walls, wherein at least one filter system according to claim 1 is secured to the sterile container wall section which has a gas exchange opening.

6. The sterile container according to claim 5 , wherein the temperature-sensitive adjusting section, when the specified temperature is reached or exceeded, moves the filter element from a first position, in which the filter element is aligned parallel to the sterile container wall section to a second position in which the filter element is not aligned parallel to the sterile container wall section.

7. The sterile container according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one filter system further comprises a cover and a spring which exerts a preload force contrary to that of the temperature-sensitive adjusting section, and wherein the preload force of the spring is less than a force applied by the temperature-sensitive adjusting section when the specified temperature is reached or exceeded, and wherein the preload force of the spring is greater than the force applied by the temperature-sensitive adjusting section when the specified temperature is not reached or exceeded.

8. The sterile container according to claim 7 , wherein the spring is supported in a center of the cover and/or on the filter element.

9. The sterile container according to claim 7 , wherein at least one lateral opening is provided in the cover, said at least one lateral opening being located on a side of the cover facing the sterile container wall section, so that a fluid located in the receiving space of the sterile container can be discharged from the sterile container through the at least one lateral opening and the gas exchange opening.

10. The sterile container according to claim 5 , wherein the gas exchange opening comprises a plurality of openings provided in the sterile container base, wherein the openings are arranged in a circular form, and wherein a circular segment in the sterile container base on which the temperature-sensitive adjusting section is supported, does not comprise any of the openings.

11. The sterile container according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one filter system is secured to the sterile container base.

12. The sterile container according to claim 6 , wherein the sterile container wall section is the sterile container base.

13. The filter system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one adjusting element is in the form of a snap disc.

14. The filter system according to claim 3 , wherein the one piece as a whole is designed as a snap disc.

Assignees

• Aesculap Ag

Inventors

• Thomas Stefan
• Sauter Wolfgang
• Timmermann Jörg Hinrich

Classifications

• A61L2/26

  Accessories · CPC title

• A61L2/28

  Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation or disinfection, e.g. indicators which change colour · CPC title

• A61L2/07 Primary

  Steam · CPC title

• A61L2202/182

  Rigid packaging means · CPC title