Safety seal for sterilizable containers
US5147351A · kind A · utility
9Cited by
5References
3Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 9, 1991 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 9, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T292/319
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A safety seal for sterilizable containers that is closed by the temperature prevailing in the sterilizer. The closed seal then indicates the integrity of the container. The sealing mechanism in the illustrated embodiment is a pushbutton 100 that is subject to the force of a spring 102. The spring is made of a memory-retaining alloy that provides tension at a temperature above a transition temperature and forces the pushbutton into a locking state. The container can be opened once the pushbutton has been forced back, but the pushbutton cannot be returned to its locking position until it attains the transition temperature again.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.