Patent ID: 8623289

Claim:
A non-reusable, locking container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and presenting surgical materials in a sterilized condition, the container comprising: a tray comprising a base, a plurality of sides each having a proximal portion in communication with the base and a distal portion away from the base, and a rim defined by the distal portions of the sides, the rim comprising a lower portion of a barrier; a lid comprising a central portion, and a lip, the lip comprising an upper portion of a barrier, wherein the lid and the tray together define a chamber for containing surgical materials and wherein the lip and the rim together form a barrier to inhibit the passage of microorganisms into the chamber between a tray and lid secured together; a permeable filter providing a path for a sterilant to enter the chamber from outside the container and for maintaining aseptic conditions inside the chamber after sterilization; a non-reusable lock for securing the tray and the lid together, the non-reusable lock comprising an upper lock element forming a portion of the lid, and a lower lock element forming a portion of the tray, the lower and upper lock elements fixedly engaging into a non-reusable lock when the lid is mated to the tray to seal the container; and a frangible release in communication with the non-reusable lock for irreversibly detaching the non-reusable lock from only one of the tray or the lid such that the non-reusable lock remains joined to the other upon separation of the tray and lid to access the chamber after sterilization, wherein: (a) the lower lock element is incorporated in the rim of the tray, (b) the upper lock element is incorporated in a peripheral portion of the lid that surrounds the central portion of the lid and includes the lip, (c) the frangible release is a frangible region defined in the lid which separates the peripheral portion of the lid from the central portion of the lid, and (d) the central portion of the lid further comprises a means for removal of the central portion by activation of the frangible region, whereby the peripheral portion of the lid and the rim of the tray fixedly engage into a non-reusable lock when the lid is mated to the tray to seal the container and whereby activation of the frangible region irreversibly detaches the central portion of the lid while the non-reusable lock remains joined to the tray.