Transparent sterilization, storage, display and transportaion system

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a transparent sterilization, storage, display and transportation (SSDT) system and device for sterilizing medical instrument trays with instruments is provided. The system includes a plurality of SSDT devices that are selectively vertically and horizontally stackable. Each SSDT device comprises a transparent filtered lid (TFL) assembly configured to provide a transparent interior chamber within which the medical instrument trays and the instruments are sterilized, stored, displayed and transported. The TFL includes a plurality of exterior lid interconnectors. Each SSDT device also includes a configurable filtered base carriage (CFBC) assembly configured to latch and seal a bottom edge of the TFL assembly. The CFBC assembly includes a base carriage platform having a plurality of base interconnectors configured to, in a first mode, have a plurality of wheels selectively attached thereto and, in a second mode, interconnect to a plurality of exterior lid interconnectors of another TFL assembly.

1 . A transparent sterilization, storage, display and transportation (SSDT) device for sterilizing medical instrument trays with instruments, the SSDT device comprising:
 a transparent filtered lid (TFL) assembly configured to provide a transparent interior chamber within which the medical instrument trays and the instruments are sterilized, stored, displayed and transported, the TFL including a plurality of exterior lid interconnectors; and   a configurable filtered base carriage (CFBC) assembly configured to latch and seal thereto a bottom edge of the TFL assembly, the CFBC assembly includes a base carriage platform having a plurality of base interconnectors being configured to, in a first mode, have a plurality of wheels selectively attached thereto and, in a second mode, interconnect to a plurality of exterior lid interconnectors of another TFL assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shelf assembly coupled to the CFBC assembly, the shelf assembly having a shelf elevated above the base carriage platform and being configured to stack thereon a first set of medical instrument trays with a first number of instruments wherein the base carriage platform is configured to stack below the shelf a second set of medical instrument trays with a second number of instruments.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the TFL assembly, the CBFC assembly and the shelf assembly are made of plastic material configured to withstand temperatures within an autoclave. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first disposable filter removably coupled to the TFL assembly; and   a second disposable filter removably coupled to the base carriage platform of the CFBC assembly, wherein the first disposable filter and the second disposable filter are vertically aligned and configured to permit ingress or egress of steam, sterilant agent or air therethrough while filtering bacteria or microbial organisms.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first filter cover configured to be attached to an exterior top side of the TFL assembly over the first disposable filter; and   a second filter cover configured to be attached to an exterior underside of the base carriage platform over the second disposable filter.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first handle bar coupled to a first side of the base carriage platform; and   a second handle bar coupled to a second side of the base carriage platform.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the base carriage platform comprises:
 first interlock connectors on the first side of the base carriage platform; and   a second interlock connector on the second side of the base carriage platform wherein a first handle bar is removably coupled to the first interlock connectors and the second interlock connector.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first interconnector of the base carriage platform is configured to be selectively attached to another second interlock connector of another CFBC assembly wherein the first handle bar is configured to hitch together the first interlock connectors to said another second interlock connector of the another CFBC assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the plurality of wheels; and   a plurality of locking pins, a respective one locking pin being removably coupled to both a respective one base interconnector and a respective one wheel to selectively lock or unlock the wheel to the CFBC assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the TFL assembly includes:
 a top ceiling wall having a vent opening formed therein, the vent opening configured to permit ingress or egress of steam, sterilant agent or air therethrough;   a plurality of vertical side walls, vertically depending from the top ceiling wall, wherein the top ceiling wall and the plurality of vertical side walls are transparent; and   a lid filter assembly removable attached to an underside of the top ceiling wall and around the vent opening, the lid filter assembly including a filter configured to cover the vent opening.   
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the top ceiling includes a sloped surface to promote fluid run-off in a direction toward the plurality of vertical side walls. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein an base carriage platform comprises:
 a base vent opening configured to be covered by a second filter; and   a plurality of treads arranged around the base vent opening, wherein the treads have a same vertical height and a space between adjacent treads permits a flow of steam, a sterilant agent or air and fluid run-off   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the trays includes four trays. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the CBFC assembly further comprises:
 a gasket embedded in and in proximity to a perimeter of the base carriage platform; and   a plurality of latches coupled to the base carriage platform, the plurality of latching being configured to be latched to the TFL assembly and pull down an edge of the TFL assembly into the gasket.   
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein an underside of the CFBC assembly is configured to be vertically stacked on top of a top exterior side of the TFL assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A transparent sterilization, storage, display and transportation (SSDT) device for sterilizing medical instrument trays with instruments, the SSDT device comprising:
 a transparent filtered lid (TFL) assembly configured to provide a transparent interior chamber within which the medical instrument trays and the instruments are sterilized, stored, displayed and transported;   a configurable filtered base carriage (CFBC) assembly configured to latch and seal thereto a bottom edge of the TFL assembly; and   a shelf assembly coupled to the CFBC assembly, the shelf assembly having a shelf elevated above the CFBC assembly and being configured to stack thereon a first set of medical instrument trays with a first number of instruments and permits ingress or egress of steam, a sterilant agent or air and the CFBC assembly is configured to stack thereon and below the shelf a second set of medical instrument trays with a second number of instruments.   
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the TFL includes a plurality of exterior lid interconnectors; and the CFBC assembly comprises a base carriage platform having a plurality of base interconnectors being configured to, in a first mode, have a plurality of wheels selectively attached thereto and, in a second mode, interconnect to a plurality of exterior lid interconnectors of another TFL assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the TFL assembly, the CBFC assembly and the shelf assembly are made of plastic material configured to withstand temperatures within an autoclave. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first disposable filter removably coupled to the TFL assembly; and   a second disposable filter removably coupled to the CFBC assembly, wherein the first disposable filter and the second disposable filter are vertically aligned and configured to permit ingress or egress of the steam, the sterilant agent or the air therethrough while filtering bacteria or microbial organisms.   
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first filter cover configured to be attached to an exterior top side of the TFL assembly over the first disposable filter; and   a second filter cover configured to be attached to an exterior underside of the CFBC assembly over the second disposable filter.   
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the CFBC assembly comprise a base carriage platform; and further comprising:
 a first handle bar coupled to a first side of the base carriage platform; and   a second handle bar coupled to a second side of the base carriage platform.   
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the base carriage platform comprises:
 first interlock connectors on the first side of the base carriage platform; and   a second interlock connector on the second side of the base carriage platform wherein a first handle bar is removably coupled to the first interlock connectors and the second interlock connector.   
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein the first interconnector of the base carriage platform is configured to be selectively attached to another second interlock connector of another CFBC assembly wherein the first handle bar is configured to hitch together the first interlock connectors to said another second interlock connector of the another CFBC assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 the plurality of wheels; and   a plurality of locking pins, a respective one locking pin being removably coupled to both the CFBC assembly and a respective one wheel to selectively lock or unlock the wheel to the CFBC assembly.   
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the TFL assembly includes:
 a top ceiling wall having a vent opening formed therein, the vent opening configured to permit ingress or egress of the steam, the sterilant agent or the air therethrough;   a plurality of vertical side walls, vertically depending from the top ceiling wall, wherein the top ceiling wall and the plurality of vertical side walls are transparent; and   a lid filter assembly removable attached to an underside of the top ceiling wall and around the vent opening, the lid filter assembly including a filter configured to cover the vent opening.   
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the top ceiling includes a sloped surface to promote fluid run-off in a direction toward the plurality of vertical side walls. 
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the CFBC assembly comprises:
 a base carriage platform comprising:
 a base vent opening configured to be covered by a second filter; and 
 a plurality of treads arranged around the base vent opening, wherein the treads have a same vertical height and a space between adjacent treads permits a flow of the steam, the sterilant agent or the air and fluid run-off. 
   
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 27 , wherein the trays includes four trays. 
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 27 , wherein the CBFC assembly further comprises:
 a gasket embedded in and in proximity to a perimeter of the base carriage platform; and   a plurality of latches coupled to the base carriage platform, the plurality of latching being configured to be latched to the TFL assembly and pull down an edge of the TFL assembly into the gasket.   
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein an underside of the CFBC assembly is configured to be vertically stacked on top of a top exterior side of the TFL assembly. 
     
     
         31 . A transparent sterilization, storage, display and transportation (SSDT) system for sterilizing medical instrument trays with instruments, the SSDT system comprising:
 a plurality of transparent sterilization, storage, display and transportation (SSDT) devices configured to be stacked vertically or horizontally, each SSDT device comprising:
 a transparent filtered lid (TFL) assembly configured to provide a transparent interior chamber within which the medical instrument trays and the instruments are sterilized, stored, displayed and transported, the TFL including a plurality of exterior lid interconnectors; and 
 a configurable filtered base carriage (CFBC) assembly configured to latch and seal thereto a bottom edge of the TFL assembly, the CFBC assembly includes a base carriage platform having a plurality of base interconnectors being configured to, in a first mode, have a plurality of wheels selectively attached thereto and, in a second mode, interconnect to a plurality of exterior lid interconnectors of another TFL assembly of the plurality of SSDT devices. 
   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said each SSDT device comprises:
 a shelf assembly coupled to the CFBC assembly, the shelf assembly having a shelf elevated above the base carriage platform and being configured to stack thereon a first set of medical instrument trays with a first number of instruments wherein the base carriage platform is configured to stack below the shelf a second set of medical instrument trays with a second number of instruments.   
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said each SSDT device further comprises:
 a first disposable filter removably coupled to the TFL assembly; and   a second disposable filter removably coupled to the base carriage platform of the CFBC assembly, wherein the first disposable filter and the second disposable filter are vertically aligned and configured to permit ingress or egress of steam, sterilant agent or air therethrough while filtering bacteria or microbial organisms.   
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 33 , wherein said each SSDT device further comprises:
 a first filter cover configured to be attached to an exterior top side of the TFL assembly over the first disposable filter; and   a second filter cover configured to be attached to an exterior underside of the base carriage platform over the second disposable filter.   
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said each SSDT device further comprises:
 a first handle bar coupled to a first side of the base carriage platform; and   a second handle bar coupled to a second side of the base carriage platform.   
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the base carriage platform comprises:
 first interlock connectors on the first side of the base carriage platform; and   a second interlock connector on the second side of the base carriage platform wherein a first handle bar is removably coupled to the first interlock connectors and the second interlock connector of the base carriage platform is configured to be selectively attached to another second interlock connector of another CFBC assembly.   
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said each SSDT device further comprises:
 the plurality of wheels; and   a plurality of locking pins, a respective one locking pin being removably coupled to both a respective one base interconnector and a respective one wheel to selectively lock or unlock the wheel to the CFBC assembly.   
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the TFL assembly of said each SSDT device includes:
 a top ceiling wall having a vent opening formed therein, the vent opening configured to permit ingress or egress of steam, sterilant agent or air therethrough;   a plurality of vertical side walls, vertically depending from the top ceiling wall, wherein the top ceiling wall and the plurality of vertical side walls are transparent; and   a lid filter assembly removable attached to an underside of the top ceiling wall and around the vent opening, the lid filter assembly including a filter configured to cover the vent opening.   
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein an base carriage platform comprises:
 a base vent opening configured to be covered by a second filter;   a plurality of treads arranged around the base vent opening, wherein the treads have a same vertical height and a space between adjacent treads permits a flow of steam, a sterilant agent or air and fluid run-oft   a gasket embedded in and in proximity to a perimeter of the base carriage platform; and   a plurality of latches coupled to the base carriage platform, the plurality of latching being configured to be latched to the TFL assembly and pull down an edge of the TFL assembly into the gasket.   
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein an underside of the CFBC assembly is configured to be vertically stacked on top of a top exterior side of the TFL assembly of another SSDT device of the plurality of SSDT devices.