Sterile container with sterile filter

Abstract

To improve a sterile container, in particular, for receiving and storing surgical instruments or surgical material under sterile conditions, comprising a receiving space formed by a container bottom and container walls, a lid for closing the receiving space, a gas exchange opening for providing a fluid connection between the receiving space and an environment outside of the sterile container, a filter holding device including a first holding element and a second holding element, and a sterile filter, wherein, in a sterile position in which the sterile filter closes the gas exchange opening, the sterile filter is held between the first holding element and the second holding element, so that the design thereof is simplified and damage to the sterile filter is avoided, it is proposed that the sterile filter be constructed so as to have no openings, that the first holding element have at least one first holding surface, that the second holding element have at least one second holding surface, and that in the sterile position the sterile filter be held clamped between the first holding surface and the second holding surface.

1 . Sterile container, in particular, for receiving and storing surgical instruments or surgical material under sterile conditions, comprising a receiving space formed by a container bottom and container walls, a lid for closing the receiving space, a gas exchange opening for providing a fluid connection between the receiving space and an environment outside of the sterile container, a filter holding device including a first holding element and a second holding element, and a sterile filter, the sterile filter being held between the first holding element and the second holding element in a sterile position in which the sterile filter closes the gas exchange opening, the sterile filter being constructed so as to have no openings, the first holding element having at least one first holding surface, the second holding element having at least one second holding surface, and the sterile filter being held clamped between the first holding surface and the second holding surface in the sterile position.  
     
     
         2 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first holding surface and the at least one second holding surface are arranged so as to face one another.  
     
     
         3 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sterile filter and/or the gas exchange opening are of circular or substantially circular construction.  
     
     
         4 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a wall surface of the sterile container carries or comprises or is formed integrally with the at least one first holding surface.  
     
     
         5 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the gas exchange opening is provided on the lid, and the wall surface forms part of the lid of the sterile container.  
     
     
         6 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first holding element includes a sterile filter receptacle having a cross sectional area that corresponds substantially to a filter surface of the sterile filter.  
     
     
         7 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the sterile filter receptacle is of pot-like construction.  
     
     
         8 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein openings are provided in a side wall of the sterile filter receptacle.  
     
     
         9 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one supporting element is provided, which includes the at least one first holding surface or the at least one second holding surface, and which includes bearing surfaces covering at least partially the gas exchange opening for supporting the sterile filter on one side thereof.  
     
     
         10 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the at least one supporting element is a radial supporting web extending from a center of the gas exchange opening.  
     
     
         11 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the at least one first supporting element is a supporting ring which is concentric in relation to the gas exchange opening.  
     
     
         12 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein two or three concentric supporting rings are provided.  
     
     
         13 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first and/or the at least one second holding element carry a seal on which the sterile filter rests in the sterile position.  
     
     
         14 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first and/or the at least one second holding element have a seal receptacle in which the seal is seated at least partially.  
     
     
         15 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the seal is constructed in the form of a sealing ring.  
     
     
         16 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first holding element and the second holding element are releasably connectable to one another.  
     
     
         17 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sterile filter and the filter holding device are releasably connectable, and the sterile filter is releasable from the filter holding device in a remove position and is held on the filter holding device in a connect position.  
     
     
         18 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein a bayonet connector is provided for connecting the first holding element to the second holding element and for transferring the filter holding device from the remove position to the connect position.  
     
     
         19 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein a locking mechanism is provided for locking the connect position of the two holding elements.  
     
     
         20 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a snap-in locking connection.  
     
     
         21 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a cover is provided for covering the sterile filter one side thereof.  
     
     
         22 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the second holding element includes the cover.  
     
     
         23 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the second holding element and the cover are of integral construction.  
     
     
         24 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the cover is provided with openings for providing a fluid connection between the receiving space and the sterile filter.  
     
     
         25 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the openings are covered by opening covers in a direction transverse to a flow-through direction.  
     
     
         26 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the cover is spaced from the sterile filter, and supporting elements of the first and/or the second holding elements form spacers for the cover.  
     
     
         27 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one pressure-relief valve is provided for providing a fluid connection between an outside environment and the receiving space of the sterile container, and the pressure-relief valve comprises a valve opening, and a valve flap for opening and closing the valve opening, the pressure-relief valve being constructed such that in a normal position the valve opening is closed, and in a flow-through position, when a minimum pressure difference between pressures prevailing in the receiving space and in the outside environment of the sterile container is exceeded, the valve opening is at least partially open.  
     
     
         28 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein in the normal position the valve flap is held in a biased manner on the sterile container.  
     
     
         29 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the pressure-relief valve is constructed in the form of an inlet valve which assumes the flow-through position when a pressure prevailing in an environment outside of the sterile container exceeds a pressure prevailing in the receiving space by the minimum pressure difference.  
     
     
         30 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the sterile filter forms the valve flap.  
     
     
         31 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein at least one stop is provided for delimiting an opening movement of the valve flap away from the valve opening.  
     
     
         32 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the second holding element is mounted so as to be movable relative to the first holding element.  
     
     
         33 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein bearing elements are provided on the second holding element and on the sterile container adjacent to the gas exchange opening for mounting the second holding element movably on the sterile container.  
     
     
         34 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein in the closed position the sterile filter is held in a biased manner between the at least one first and the at least one second holding surfaces.  
     
     
         35 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sterile filter is a permanent filter, in particular, one made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).  
     
     
         36 . Sterile container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the lid is made from a plastic material, in particular, from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU).