Patent ID: 6077485
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: A61B,A61L

Abstract:
A storage container for receipt of a medical instrument cassette for autoclaving and subsequent storage of the medical instrument cassette within the storage container until the medical instrument cassette is needed, said storage container comprising:a tray portion including a base and a plurality of surrounding side walls which cooperate to define a hollow interior space which is sized to receive therein a medical instrument cassette;a lid assembly including a plurality of lid apertures for an autoclave sterilant to flow through;at least one latch assembly attached to the tray portion and cooperating with said lid assembly to clamp the lid assembly closed onto the tray portion and being movable to an unlatched condition wherein said lid assembly is removable from said tray portion; andat least one filter assembly assembled into said lid assembly, said at least one filter assembly including a removable cover plate defining a plurality of cover apertures for an autoclave sterilant to flow through, said cover plate being positioned over said lid apertures, said at least one filter assembly having a low profile design such that the overall thickness of said at least one filter assembly, prior to being assembled into said lid assembly, is less than 3/8 of an inch.