阅读说明：本技术 用于过滤网组合的柔性分离元件 (Flexible separating element for filter screen assembly ) 是由 克里斯托夫·伯迈斯特 于 2018-02-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请公开一种用于对医疗器具灭菌的灭菌过滤网组合的分离元件。所述分离元件具有两个侧壁部分和处于其间的中央壁部分。其形成为基本上平的,且所述中央壁部分因大量开口而被穿孔。一个侧壁部分或两个侧壁部分具有狭缝形间隙,且因此由所述狭缝形间隙分开的这个侧壁部分的侧向区域形成为具有许多侧向突起的弹簧弹性部分。如果只有一个侧壁部分按这个方式形成,那么另一侧壁部分具有至少部分在侧向方向上且至少部分在垂直于所述中央壁部分的延伸平面的方向上延伸的许多突起。(The present application discloses a separation element for a sterile filter screen assembly for sterilizing medical instruments. The separating element has two side wall portions and a central wall portion therebetween. Which is formed substantially flat and said central wall portion is perforated by a large number of openings. One or both side wall parts have a slit-shaped gap, and thus the lateral areas of this side wall part, which are separated by the slit-shaped gap, are formed as spring-elastic parts having a number of lateral protrusions. If only one side wall section is formed in this way, the other side wall section has a number of protrusions extending at least partly in a lateral direction and at least partly in a direction perpendicular to the plane of extension of the central wall section.)

1. A separator for a sterile filter frame for medical instruments has

Two side wall segments and a central wall segment therebetween, wherein

The divider is substantially flat in configuration, and

the central wall segment is configured with a plurality of openings,

it is characterized in that

One side wall section is provided with a slit-shaped recess, such that the lateral areas of this side wall section separated by the slit-shaped recess are formed as resilient sections, wherein the resilient sections have a number of protrusions extending at least in the lateral direction, and

the other side wall segment has a number of protrusions extending at least partially in the lateral direction.

2. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to claim 1, wherein

The at least one protrusion of the other side wall segment extends at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the extension plane of the central wall segment.

3. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to claim 2, wherein

The projection of the other side wall region is substantially L-shaped in configuration and extends first in the lateral direction from the other side wall section and then in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the central wall section.

4. A separator for a sterile filter frame for medical instruments has

Two side wall segments and a central wall segment therebetween, wherein

The divider is substantially flat in configuration, and

the central wall segment is configured with a plurality of openings,

it is characterized in that

Each of the side wall sections has a slit-shaped indentation, such that a lateral area of each side wall section separated by the slit-shaped indentation is formed as a resilient section, wherein the resilient section has a number of protrusions extending at least in a lateral direction.

5. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to claim 4, wherein

The separator is configured to be mirror symmetric.

6. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to claim 4, wherein

The separator is configured to be rotationally symmetrical.

7. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein

Each sidewall region has at least two protrusions.

8. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein

The manipulation section is formed on one of the resilient sections.

9. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to claim 8, wherein

The manipulation section is formed between two protrusions.

10. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to claim 8 or 9, wherein

The actuating section is configured as a lateral recess.

11. The separator of a sterilizing filter frame for sterilization of medical instruments according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein

The separator is made of metal, preferably sheet metal.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a divider for a sterilization filter frame, and in particular to a divider of this type that can be positioned and installed in a sterilization filter frame without the use of tools.

Background

Numerous forms of sterilization filter frames or filter frames are known in the art. These are used for storing medical instruments and/or implants, for cleaning (i.e. washing) the instruments and implants at least partially in the filter frame, and for then placing the filter frame together with the instruments and implants in a sterile or aseptic container. In the sterile container, the filter frame with the instruments and implants therein is then sterilized and stored until needed during the surgical procedure. During preparation for surgery, the filter frame is removed from the sterile container and is ready for use by the surgeon. Some of the instruments and implants are left in the filter frame during preparation, but some are prepared by being removed from the filter frame and placed on, for example, a surgical drape.

In order to enable the instruments and implants to be reliably cleaned in the filter frame, the side walls, the bottom and, if present, the divider and, optionally, the storage rack are equipped with openings so that the passage of the cleaning fluid is impeded as little as possible. Previously, filter frames have also been made from wire mesh. However, since this has the disadvantage that soil can easily accumulate and become lodged at the intersections of the wires, much of the medical community has shifted to producing filter frames from metal sheets that are perforated due to the large number of openings.

The filter frame can assume a wide variety of sizes and shapes. In some cases, the filter frame is enclosed inside other filter frames. The portion placed and stored in the filter frame may be large, but may also be small. To prevent these parts from becoming mixed together during cleaning, some filter frames are equipped with separators. Dividing the filter frame into multiple regions also helps to identify portions, remove them from the filter frame, and safely store them. Identification is facilitated, for example, by storing pedicle screws of different but similar lengths separately from one another.

In these filter frames with dividers, the dividers are always fixedly connected to the filter frame, typically by welding or riveting. However, this does not allow the user to individually adjust the size and shape of the various zones or compartments of his filter frame to his own needs. This means that the manufacturer must produce and supply a very large number of different filter frames with different layouts, or not be able to meet the needs of the user. It is extremely costly to produce many different filter frames in only relatively small pieces and to keep them on hand.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a divider for a sterilization filter frame that allows the user to divide his sterilization filter frame according to his needs and thus to create compartments having individually the desired size in the sterilization filter frame. Another object of the invention is to enable the user to achieve this without the use of tools and to allow the user to adjust the division at any time according to his current needs.

The object of the invention is achieved by a separator for a sterilization filter frame according to claim 1 or claim 4. Advantageous embodiments of such a separator are the subject of the dependent claims.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a divider of a sterilization frame for sterilizing medical instruments is provided having two side wall sections and a central wall section therebetween. The divider is substantially flat in configuration, but it is possible for the divider to be fluted or in a zigzag configuration. The term "plane" in this context merely refers to the fact that the divider forms a dividing wall which is characterized in that it has a significantly larger extension in the two spatial directions than in the third spatial direction. The central wall segment is configured with a large number of openings, i.e., it is configured with perforations across its surface. Furthermore, one of the two side wall sections is equipped with a slit-shaped recess. The lateral regions of the side wall sections are thereby formed as resilient sections. This means that this resilient area, representing said one side edge of the divider, is elastically deformable towards the central area, thereby reducing the maximum lateral extension of the divider.

The resilient section is also provided with a number of protrusions extending at least in a lateral direction. Extending at least in the lateral direction means that this projection may also extend partly or wholly in the lateral direction, i.e. for example obliquely, but the extension in the lateral direction is relevant here, so that these projections engage openings provided in the filter frame into which the divider is to be inserted and mounted. These projections may also extend all within the plane defined by the dividing walls of the divider. Furthermore, the slits are sufficiently wide to allow sufficient elastic deformation of the resilient area against the protrusions provided on this resilient area to disengage from the perforations of the wall segment into which they are inserted to mount the divider.

The other side wall segment likewise has a number of projections extending at least partially in the lateral direction. It is also desirable that the protrusions engage openings provided in the filter frame.

These latter protrusions are preferably also configured to extend at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the extension plane of the central wall section. This extension plane can be said to be an intermediate wall surface or a partition wall surface formed in the filter frame by the separator.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the projection on the further side wall region is substantially L-shaped in configuration. These projections extend first in the lateral direction and then in a direction running perpendicular to the surface of the central wall section from the other side wall section.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a divider of a sterilization screen for sterilizing medical instruments is provided having two side wall sections and a central wall section therebetween. The divider is substantially flat in configuration, but in this case it is also possible for the divider to be grooved or of zigzag configuration. Here again, the central wall section is configured with a large number of openings. Each of the two side wall sections has a slit-shaped recess, such that a lateral area of each side wall section separated by the slit-shaped recess is formed as a resilient section. Thus, in this embodiment, resilient segments are provided on each of the two sides of the divider, as described above with respect to the first embodiment. Each of the two resilient segments has a number of protrusions extending at least in a lateral direction.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the separator is constructed mirror-symmetrically. This helps to properly insert the divider into the filter frame, as it is not necessary to ensure proper right/left orientation. This means that the following is indiscriminate: which side of the separator is first inserted into the filter frame and anchored by a protrusion in one wall, and then the other side of the separator is anchored by its protrusion in the opposite wall.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the second aspect, the divider is configured rotationally symmetrical. This helps to properly insert the divider into the filter frame, as it is not necessary to ensure proper top/bottom orientation. In this embodiment, the divider no longer has a top and a bottom; instead, many of the projections are located on one side in the upper region of the divider and the other projections are located on the other side in the lower region of the divider. Thus, irrespective of how the separator is oriented, it can be inserted into the filter frame, for example, by first being anchored in one wall of the filter frame by the projection in the lower region, and then in the opposite side by the projection on the other side (which is therefore located in the upper region). Of course, this operation may be performed in the reverse order, but if the resilient section is made to grip in the upper region of the divider and if the protrusion is also in the upper region of the divider, it is more susceptible to elastic deformation. The procedure described above is presumably an easier way to install a corresponding separator according to the invention in a filter frame.

According to an advantageous embodiment of both aspects of the invention, each side wall region has at least two protrusions. This ensures in a simple manner that the divider mounted in the filter frame can no longer tilt due to lateral forces, since the two protrusions counteract any tilting torque. For this purpose, it is advantageous to position the two protrusions on each side at a distance from each other.

According to another advantageous embodiment of both aspects of the invention, the steering section is formed on one resilient section. This handling section contributes to the elastic deformation of the resilient section for the purpose of temporarily reducing the lateral extension of the divider, so that the protrusion provided on the resilient section can first be guided through the hole in the filter frame, allowing the positioning of said protrusion and the entire divider, after which said protrusion can be inserted into the desired hole in the filter frame by loosening the resilient section.

At the same time, this type of handling section provides an intuitive instruction for the user that he should grasp the separator in this position and deform it elastically.

The manipulation section is preferably formed between two protrusions. This also ensures that the two protrusions are at a sufficient distance from each other to absorb the tilting torque. In addition, this ensures in a simple manner that the user will intuitively move the protrusion sufficiently resiliently towards the centre of the divider to avoid accidentally catching the protrusion in a hole in the filter frame where the user does not wish to anchor the divider.

It is also preferred that the actuating section is configured as a lateral recess, for example as an arc-shaped recess. A very simple actuating section can thus be formed, which at the same time indicates visually to the user that he should deform the resilient section in the direction in which the lateral recess is directed.

The separator is particularly advantageously made of metal, in particular sheet metal. The metal is extremely well suited for sterilization equipment as long as it is a rust-proof metal, for example, stainless steel or aluminum or an alloy thereof. If the divider is produced from sheet metal, all of the structures may be molded from the sheet in a single machining step, for example, by stamping, laser cutting, water jet cutting, wire EDM, and the like. With the divider according to the first aspect of the invention, then only a few projections are necessary to be moulded in an L-shape as appropriate. For other aspects, this process step is not even necessary. This enables a very simple and fully automated manufacturing process.

Drawings

Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments. In the context of the drawings, it is intended that,

fig. 1 shows a view of a divider according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the divider of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the initial installation of the divider of FIG. 1 into a filter frame;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a progression of installing the divider of FIG. 1 into a filter frame;

FIG. 5 shows a filter frame with a plurality of dividers according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a view of a second exemplary implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a view of a third exemplary implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a view of a fourth exemplary implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the divider of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10A and 10B show the initial installation of the divider of FIG. 8 into a filter frame;

11A and 11B show a progression of installing the divider of FIG. 8 into a filter frame; and is

Fig. 12 shows a filter frame with a plurality of dividers according to fig. 8.

Detailed Description

A first exemplary implementation of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1 to 5.

Fig. 1 shows a view of a divider 100 according to a first exemplary embodiment. The divider 100 is produced from 2-mm thick stainless steel sheet and has a central wall section 101, a first sidewall section 110, and a second sidewall section 120. In the first sidewall section 110, a slit-shaped notch 111 is formed, which separates the resilient section 112 from the central wall section and spatially deforms the resilient section 112 towards the central wall section 101. On the resilient section 112, two lateral protrusions 114 are formed, between which the handling section 113 is formed. The manipulation section 113 is configured as a lateral recess having a shape of a circular arc. The arc is directed towards central wall section 101 thereby indicating to the user the direction in which he must deform the resilient section to install divider 100 in the filter frame. The protrusion 114 in this exemplary embodiment is precisely the same length as the thickness of the wall of the filter frame into which the divider is to be inserted. In the second sidewall section, two protrusions 121 are formed. As is clear from fig. 2, the two protrusions 121 are L-shaped. These L-shaped projections extend first in the lateral direction, substantially at the same distance from the edge of the divider 100 as the thickness of the wall of the filter frame into which the divider is to be inserted. Said protrusions then extend in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the divider (towards the rear in fig. 1), approximately at the same distance as the spacing between two holes in the wall of the filter frame into which the divider is to be inserted. The central wall section 101 has a plurality of openings or holes arranged in rows and columns and thus forming a grid-like structure. In this exemplary embodiment, the aperture shape is elliptical; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Central wall section 101 additionally has support projections 103 which locate against the bottom of the filter frame when spacer 100 is inserted into the filter frame. The support tabs 103 aid in the vertical alignment of the divider relative to the filter frame during insertion. Wall segments 101, 110, and 120 merge with one another and are not necessarily strictly delineated.

In this example, the slit-shaped indentation 111 is rounded at its root to prevent the divider from further becoming indented in this area due to a large amount of elastic deformation of the resilient section 112. In other words, the rounding serves to reduce stress peaks in the divider 100 when the resilient section 112 is in a deformed state.

Fig. 3A-4B show the manner in which such a divider 100 may be inserted into the filter frame 10. First, the separator 100 is inserted into the filter frame 10 and the L-shaped projections 121 are inserted into the two holes or openings 12 arranged one above the other in the perforations of the filter frame. The divider 100 is then rotated about the L-shaped protrusion 121. At that point, by means of the handling section 113, the resilient section 112 is deformed towards the central wall section 101 to temporarily reduce the lateral extension of the divider, so that the protrusion 114 will snap into the aperture of the filter frame until the divider 100 has reached the desired position. The unattached end of the L-shaped protrusion 121 is snapped around one of the coupling plates formed between adjacent openings of the perforation 12 of the filter frame. When the divider 100 has reached the desired position, which is generally precisely perpendicular to the two walls of the filter frame 10, the resilient section 112 is released and returns to its original position or shape in which the protrusions 114 snap into the two openings 12 in the walls of the filter frame 10. When the divider 100 is pivoted about the L-shaped protrusion 121, the support protrusion 103 slides along the bottom of the filter frame and thus serves to ensure proper vertical alignment of the divider 100.

The holes 102 and the protrusions 114 and 121 may also be arranged so that the separator 100 may also be anchored on one side, or even on both sides in similar separators 100. This allows the divider 100 to have various lengths and/or heights, thereby enabling highly individualized partitioning of the filter frame.

Fig. 5 shows the filter frame 10, and three separators 100 of the first exemplary embodiment are inserted into the filter frame 10. In view of the view shown in fig. 5, a portion of one sidewall of the filter frame 10 has been cut away for purposes of illustration.

A second exemplary implementation of the present invention is shown in fig. 6. The divider 200 has a central wall section 201 with an aperture 202 and two side wall sections 210. In each of these wall segments 201, a slit-shaped notch 211 is formed, which separates the resilient segment 212 from the central wall segment 201. On each resilient section 112, two protrusions 214 are formed, between which, in each case, an operating section 213 is formed in the form of an arc or circular arc shaped recess. One of the two slit-shaped recesses 211 extends into the separator 200 from the top, and the other slit-shaped recess 211 extends into the separator 200 from the bottom. Thereby forming a rotationally symmetric divider 200 that no longer has distinct top and/or bottom sides. The separator 200 is also made of metal.

This divider 200 is preferably inserted into the filter frame 10 such that, first, those protrusions 114 on one of the two side wall sections 210 that are generally located closer to the bottom of the filter frame 10 are anchored in the wall of the filter frame 10. The divider 200 is then rotated or pivoted about these projections and the insertion process continues as described for the first exemplary embodiment. However, it is also possible that those protrusions 114 on the wall segments 210 which are generally located closer to the upper edge of the filter frame 10 are anchored first in the wall of the filter frame 10.

The protrusions 114 of both side wall sections 210 may also be arranged at the same height, however, it is irrelevant which protrusions are anchored first in which wall of the filter frame 10 or of the other divider 100 or 200. It is also possible that both resilient segments 212 are deformed, thus allowing all the protrusions 114 to be anchored simultaneously in the respective wall of the filter frame 10 or in the other divider 100 or 200 (by insertion into its opening 12).

In fig. 7, a third exemplary implementation of the present invention is shown. This divider 300 likewise has a central wall section 301 with an aperture 302 and two side wall sections 310. In each side wall section 310, again a slit-shaped recess 311 is provided, which forms a resilient section 312, on which resilient section 312 two protrusions 314 are again provided, in each case between the two protrusions 314 a handling section 313 is formed. In contrast to the second exemplary embodiment, two slit-shaped recesses 311 extend into the separator 300 from the same side, thereby making the separator mirror-symmetrical. The divider 300 is inserted in substantially the same manner as possible with the second exemplary embodiment. The third exemplary embodiment is made of a strong plastic.

In fig. 8-11, a fourth exemplary implementation of the present invention is shown. This separator 400 of the fourth exemplary embodiment differs from the separator 100 of the first exemplary embodiment only in that the protrusions 421 are configured as lateral protrusions, while the protrusions 121 of the first exemplary embodiment are configured as L-shaped protrusions. The protrusions 421 of the fourth exemplary embodiment extend entirely within the plane of the dividing wall.

Numerous variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art from the various exemplary implementations. The individual features of the exemplary embodiments can be combined meaningfully with one another in many ways. For example, the support protrusions 103 may also be formed on the lower side of the separator 300, or on the upper side and/or the lower side of the separator 200. The materials may likewise be exchanged as desired.

The slit-type notches 111, 211, 311 are not limited to a specific shape, and the slit-type does not mean that the notches must be particularly narrow. The notches must achieve sufficient elastic deformability of the resilient segments 112, 212, 312, and at the same time should be so large that the separators 100, 200, 300 can no longer effectively divide the filter frame 10. This also depends on the size of the elements to be stored in the filter frame.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10 filter frame

11 side wall

12 opening and perforation

100 divider

101 central wall segment

102 opening, piercing

103 support projection

110 lateral region

111 recess

112 resilient segment

113 operating section

114 lateral protrusion

120 lateral region

121L shaped projection

200 divider

201 central wall segment

202 open and perforate

210 lateral region

211 notch

212 resilient segment

213 manipulation section

214 lateral protrusion

300 divider

301 central wall segment

302 opening, piercing

310 lateral region

311 notch

312 resilient section

313 manipulation section

314 lateral protrusion

400 separator

401 central wall segment

402 openings, perforations

403 support projection

410 lateral area

411 notch

412 resilient segment

413 operating section

414 lateral projection

420 lateral region

421 side direction protrusion