Patent ID: 8533887

Claim:
A sanitizer for disinfecting the outer surface of a handheld instrument, the sanitizer comprising: a container comprising: a body; a first opening configured for a handheld instrument to pass there through to enter the container; a second opening configured for the handheld instrument to pass there through to exit the container, wherein the second opening is configured to deform upon the application of pressure exerted on the second opening by the handheld instrument as the handheld instrument exits the container through the second opening; and wherein the container forms a well for holding a disinfectant; and an absorbent material located in the well, the absorbent material configured to substantially retain the disinfectant within the well and to disperse a portion of the disinfectant on substantially the entire outer surface of the handheld instrument to substantially disinfect the handheld instrument as the handheld instrument passes through the container.