Systems, Devices, And Methods For Providing Handheld Electronic Devices In Sterile Environments

Abstract

Devices, arrangements and methods for encasing non-sterile handheld electronic device into a sterile case are disclosed. A sterile case encases the handheld electronic device. The handheld electronic device may be inserted into the sterile case using a transfer apparatus arranged to permit the device to be inserted into the sterile case without the user or the device contacting an outside surface of the case. The transfer apparatus additionally may contain an apparatus for closing the sterile case without the user directly contacting the sterile case. The sterile case and the transfer apparatus may be used in combination to insert a handheld electronic device into the sterile case without a user directly touching the sterile case.

1 . A transfer apparatus for sealing a non-sterile handheld electronic device in a sterile case without compromising the sterility of the sterile case, said transfer apparatus comprising:
 (a) a cavity for holding the sterile case;   (b) an input port sized to accept the handheld electronic device, and positioned such that the handheld electronic device is insertable into a sterile case disposed in the cavity when the handheld electronic device is passed through the input port, optionally having a closed configuration and an open configuration;   (c) a release port for removing the sterile case from transfer apparatus, optionally having a closed configuration and an open configuration; and   (d) a closing feature.   
     
     
         2 . The transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (d) the closing feature comprises a plunger adapter to be advanced into the cavity.   
     
     
         3 . The transfer apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (d) the plunger is attached at an advancing end of a rod adapted to be at least partially advanced into the cavity.   
     
     
         4 . The transfer apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein advancement of the rod into the cavity moves the input port from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and wherein retraction of the rod from the cavity moves the input port from the closed configuration to the open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The transfer apparatus of any of  claims 2 - 4 , wherein the rod is a threaded rod, and the closing feature further comprises a knob operably linked to the threaded rod, wherein rotation of the knob advances or retracts the rod into the cavity of transfer apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (d) the closing feature comprises a compliant cover.   
     
     
         7 . The transfer apparatus of any of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein
 (b) the input port comprises a push element adapted to be inserted into the cavity, wherein the push element is sized to carry the handheld electronic device.   
     
     
         8 . The transfer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (b) the input port is sized to carry the handheld electronic device and comprises a push element adapted to be inserted into the cavity; and   (d) the closing feature comprises an element adapted to transform movement of the push element into the cavity into movement of a plunger into the cavity.   
     
     
         9 . An arrangement for inserting a handheld electronic device into a sterile case, said arrangement comprising:
 (a) a transfer apparatus according to any of  claims 1 - 8 ; and   (b) a sterile case in an open configuration, wherein the sterile case is positioned in the cavity such that:
 (b1) a handheld electronic device is insertable into the case through the input port without a user directly contacting the sterile case; and 
 (b2) the closing feature of transfer apparatus of (a) is capable of interacting with a surface of the sterile case to move the sterile case from the open configuration to a closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein:
 (b) the sterile case comprises
 (b1) a first surface; 
 (b2) a second surface adapted to engage with the first surface defining a receiving cavity for receiving and holding the non-sterile handheld electronic device between the first surface and the second surface; and 
 (b3) at least one engagement feature adapted to secure the first surface to the second surface in the closed configuration, thereby sealing the handheld electronic device in the cavity between the first surface and the second surface. 
   
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein
 (b1) the first surface comprises:
 (b1a) a first edge; and 
 (b1b) a second edge; 
   (b2) the second surface comprises:
 (b2a) a first edge attached to a first edge of the first surface to form an axis of rotation, wherein the first and/or second surface is capable of rotating around the axis of rotation from the open configuration to the closed configuration; and 
 (b2b) a second edge; and 
   (b3) the at least one engagement feature comprises:
 (b3a) a first section disposed at the second edge of the first surface; and 
 (b3b) a second section disposed at the second edge of the second surface, 
   
       wherein, in the open configuration, the first section of the engagement feature is not engaged with the second section of the engagement feature, and the cavity for receiving the handheld electronic device is accessible to the handheld electronic device; and 
       wherein, in the closed configuration, the first section of the engagement feature engages with the second section of the engagement feature to seal the handheld electronic device between the first surface and the second surface. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the first edge of the first surface is attached to the first edge of the second surface by a hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge is a live hinge. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of any of  claims 10 - 13 , wherein the engagement feature comprises a first mating part on the first surface and the second mating part on the second surface adapted to mate with the first mating part. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the first mating part and second mating part define a snap feature. 
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of any of  claims 6 - 12 , wherein the sterile case further comprises a water-tight seal when in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . A method of inserting a non-sterile handheld electronic device into a sterile case, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a sterile case in an open configuration disposed in a transfer apparatus of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the sterile case:
 (a1) is positioned in the cavity such that a handheld electronic device is insertable into the case via the input port without a user directly contacting the sterile case and without compromising sterility of the sterile case when the sterile case is in the open configuration; and 
 (a2) a surface of the sterile case is located in position accessible to interaction with the closing feature of transfer apparatus of (a) such that interaction between the closing feature of transfer apparatus and the surface of the sterile case transfers the sterile case from the open configuration to a closed configuration; 
   (b) inserting a handheld electronic device into the sterile case via the input port;   (c) activating the closing feature of transfer apparatus, thereby moving the sterile case into the closed configuration; and   (d) removing the sterile case from the cavity of transfer apparatus through the release port.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 (b) inserting comprises:
 (b1) moving a door of the input port from a closed position to an open position, thereby placing the input port in the open configuration; 
 (b2) inserting the handheld electronic device into the cavity via the input port, thereby inserting the handheld electronic device into the sterile case; and 
 (b3) optionally, moving the door of the input port from the open position to the closed position, thereby placing the input port in the closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 (b) inserting comprises:
 (b1) removing a seal from the input port, thereby placing the input port in the open configuration; 
 (b2) inserting the handheld electronic device into the cavity via the input port, thereby inserting the handheld electronic device into the sterile case; and 
 (b3) optionally, placing a seal over the input port, thereby placing the input port in the closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of any of  claims 17 - 19 , wherein:
 (b) inserting comprises:
 (b1) inserting the handheld electronic device in to a push element comprised in the input port; and 
 (b2) pushing the push element through an opening in the wall of transfer apparatus and into the cavity, thereby inserting the handheld electronic device into the sterile case. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of any of  claims 17 - 20 , wherein insertion of the handheld electronic device into the sterile case activates the closing feature. 
     
     
         22 . The method of any of  claims 17 - 21 , wherein:
 (c) activation of the closing feature comprises advancing a plunger into the cavity, wherein advancing the plunger into the cavity transfers the sterile case from the open configuration to the closed configuration.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the plunger is attached at an advancing end of a rod adapted to be at least partially advanced into the cavity and retracted from the cavity, and wherein activation of the closing feature comprises advancing the rod into the cavity, thereby advancing the plunger into the cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein advancement of the rod into the cavity moves the input port from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and wherein retraction of the rod from the cavity moves the input port from the closed configuration to the open configuration. 
     
     
         25 . Transfer apparatus of any of  claim 23 , wherein the rod is a threaded rod, and the closing feature further comprises a knob operably linked to the threaded rod, wherein rotation of the knob advances or retracts the rod into the cavity of transfer apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The method of any of  claim 22 - 25 , wherein the plunger holds the surface of the sterile case in the open configuration with an interference fit before activation of the closing feature. 
     
     
         27 . The method of any of  claims 17 - 20 , wherein the closing feature comprises a compliant cover, and wherein activation of the closing feature comprises application of pressure to the compliant cover. 
     
     
         28 . The method of any of  claims 17 - 27 , wherein, in the case water-tightly seals the handheld electronic device into the sterile case when the sterile case is transferred from the open to the closed configuration. 
     
     
         29 . A sterile case for containing a non-sterile handheld electronic device in a sterile environment without compromising sterility of the sterile environment, said case comprising:
 (a) a first surface;   (b) a second surface adapted to engage with the first surface defining a cavity for receiving and holding the non-sterile handheld electronic device between the first surface and the second surface; and   (c) at least one engagement feature adapted to secure the first surface to the second surface, thereby sealing the handheld electronic device in the cavity between the first surface and the second surface.   
     
     
         30 . The sterile case of  claim 29 , wherein:
 (a) the first surface comprises:
 (a1) a first edge; and 
 (a2) a second edge; 
   (b) the second surface comprises:
 (b1) a first edge attached to a first edge of the first surface to form an axis of rotation, wherein the first and/or second surface is capable of rotating around the axis of rotation from a first position to a second position; and 
 (b2) a second edge; and 
   (c) the at least one engagement feature comprises:
 (c1) a first section disposed at the second edge of the first surface; and 
 (c2) a second section disposed at the second edge of the second surface, 
   
       wherein, in the first position, the first section of the engagement feature is not engaged with the second section of the engagement feature, and the cavity for receiving the handheld electronic device is accessible to the handheld electronic device; and 
       wherein, in the second position, the first section of the engagement feature engages with the second section of the engagement feature to seal the handheld electronic device between the first surface and the second surface. 
     
     
         31 . The sterile case of  claim 29 , wherein the first edge of the first surface is attached to the first edge of the second surface by a hinge. 
     
     
         32 . The sterile case of  claim 31 , wherein the hinge is a live hinge. 
     
     
         33 . The sterile case of any of  claims 29 - 32 , wherein the engagement feature comprises a first mating part on the first surface and the second mating part on the second surface adapted to mate with the first mating part. 
     
     
         34 . The sterile case of  claim 33 , wherein the first mating part and second mating part define a snap feature. 
     
     
         35 . The sterile case of any of  claims 29 - 34 , wherein engagement of the engagement feature water-tightly seals the cavity. 
     
     
         36 . Use of the sterile case of  claims 29 - 35  for introducing a non-sterile handheld electronic device into a sterile environment without compromising sterility of the sterile environment.