Patent ID: 9463257
Filing Date: 2016-10-11
CPC Classification: A61L

Claim Text:
1. A system comprising a sterilization device and an instrument container; said sterilization device comprising a heating chamber, a wall, a door, an engagement member, and an air handling plenum; said instrument container comprising: wherein said instrument container is positionable within said heating chamber in a partially inserted position not against the rear of said heating chamber when said door is open and when said door is closed; wherein said engagement member is engageable to move said instrument container from said partially inserted position to a fully inserted position against the rear of said heating chamber while said door is closed; wherein, while said instrument container is positioned in said partially inserted position, said air exhaust valve plate is in said closed position and said air supply valve plate is in said closed position; wherein, while said instrument container is positioned in said fully inserted position, said air supply access portal and said air supply portal are held in sealed contact at the rear of said heating chamber and said air supply valve plate is held in said open position to establish a first airtight passage connecting said instrument container and said air handling plenum, and said air exhaust access portal and said air exhaust portal are held in sealed contact at the rear of said heating chamber and said air exhaust valve plate is held in said open position to establish a second airtight passage connecting said instrument container and said air handling plenum; wherein said instrument container and said air handling plenum together define an airtight space while connected by said first airtight passage and said second airtight passage and while said top opening is sealed; wherein said instrument container defines an airtight space while said air supply valve plate is in said closed position and said air exhaust valve plate is in said closed position, by said air supply valve plate forming an airtight seal over said air supply access portal and said air exhaust valve plate forming an airtight seal over said air exhaust access portal; wherein said engagement member is disengageable to release said instrument container from said fully inserted position while said door is closed such that said instrument container defines an airtight space while said door is closed.