Patent ID: 6391258
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: A61L,B01J,E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
A pressure vessel for use in sterilizing procedures, the pressure vessel comprising:a pressurizable chamber housing having an interior for receiving items to be sterilized and further having an access opening to said interior, a door positionable relative to said access opening among an open condition, a latched condition, and a latched and sealed condition, a latch structure connected with said door, a seal connected to at least one of said chamber housing and said door and disposed in sealing engagement around said access opening when said door is in the latched and sealed condition, and a powered drive mechanism connected with said chamber housing, said powered drive mechanism having an actuator with a movable output and a movable latch-receiving structure mounted to said movable output, said latch-receiving structure configured to releasably engage said latch structure to provide the latched condition of the door and said movable output operable to translate said latch-receiving structure and said latch structure when in the latched condition such that said door moves from the latched condition to the latched and sealed condition.