Mobile apparatus and method for sterilizing one or more surgical trays with integrable transfer and storage system
An improved mobile apparatus for sterilizing surgical trays serves as a self-contained autoclave, allowing sterilization of the interior of the apparatus and its contents. A method of sterilization using the apparatus is presented as well. By means of a dedicated transfer and storage system, the apparatus, integrable with respect to a transfer cart and a lift device, may be moved easily between a location of sterilization, a storage area, and an operating room, and more than one such apparatus may be stacked vertically for storage to enhance storage efficiency.
1. A method of sterilizing at least one surgical tray containing at least one surgical instrument using a cabinet, where the cabinet is sized to receive the at least one surgical tray within an interior sterilization chamber, where the cabinet can be configured between an open configuration allowing for insertion and removal of at least one surgical tray into the interior sterilization chamber and a sealed configuration where the at least one surgical tray cannot be removed, the method comprising:
configuring the cabinet in the open configuration;
loading the at least one surgical tray containing at least one surgical instrument into the interior sterilization chamber;
securing the cabinet into the sealed configuration;
positioning of the cabinet at a sterilization location adjacent to an autoclave using a transfer cart;
locking the transfer cart to prevent movement of the transfer cart;
transferring the cabinet from the transfer cart into the autoclave while the transfer cart is locked, where the cabinet or transfer cart includes mechanical guides to guide the transfer cart into the autoclave;
sterilizing the interior sterilization chamber;
positioning the cabinet onto the transfer cart while the cabinet is in the sealed configuration;
releasing the transfer cart; and
relocating the cabinet from the sterilization location using the transfer cart.
2. The method of claim 1 , where loading the at least one surgical tray comprises loading the at least one surgical tray in an unwrapped condition.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein relocating the cabinet from the sterilization location using the transfer cart occurs while the cabinet is in the sealed configuration.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the transfer cart to level the cabinet on the transfer cart.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the transfer cart relative to the autoclave from a side of the transfer cart that is opposite to the autoclave.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising locking the cabinet to the transfer cart.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inspecting a gasket between a door of the cabinet and the cabinet.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising replacing the gasket.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing at least one filter onto the cabinet.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising engaging a security integrity mechanism when securing the cabinet into the sealed configuration.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the mechanical guides either horizontally or vertically.
12. The method of claim 1 , where the cabinet is constrained to move in alignment with the mechanical guides to guide the transfer cart into the autoclave.
13. A method of sterilizing a tray containing at least one surgical instrument, the method comprising:
positioning a cabinet using a transfer cart at a first location, where the cabinet is situated on the transfer cart and is constrained to move relative to the transfer cart along an axis, and where the cabinet and transfer cart are releasably locked together;
opening a panel of the cabinet while the cabinet is positioned on the transfer cart to expose an interior sterilization chamber of the cabinet;
loading the tray containing at least one surgical instrument inside the interior sterilization chamber;
securing the cabinet into the sealed configuration by re-securing the panel to the cabinet;
locking the transfer cart to prevent movement of the transfer cart;
unlocking the cabinet to permit movement of the cabinet on the transfer cart;
transferring the cabinet from the transfer cart into an autoclave while the transfer cart is locked;
sterilizing the interior sterilization chamber;
re-positioning the cabinet onto the transfer cart while the cabinet is in the sealed configuration after sterilizing while the transfer cart is locked;
unlocking the transfer cart to permit movement of the transfer cart; and
relocating the cabinet from the first location to a second location using the transfer cart.
14. The method of claim 13 , where loading the tray comprises loading the at least one surgical tray in an unwrapped condition.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein relocating the cabinet from the first location to the second location using the transfer cart occurs while the cabinet is in the sealed configuration.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising releasing the transfer cart relative to the autoclave from a side of the transfer cart that is opposite to the autoclave.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising locking the cabinet to the transfer cart.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising inspecting a gasket between the panel of the cabinet and the cabinet.
19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising replacing a gasket between the panel of the cabinet and the cabinet.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising engaging a security integrity mechanism when securing the cabinet into the sealed configuration.
21. The method of claim 1 , where at least one mechanical guide constrains movement of the transfer cart along an axis, the method further comprising adjusting the mechanical guide either horizontally or vertically.