MEDICAL DEVICE FOR PRESERVING EXPLANTED CORNEAS
Medical device for preserving explanted corneas, serving as a “viewing chamber”, comprising a sealed outer main case ( 2 ) which contains a container ( 3 ) for preserving and viewing a cornea which comprises a vessel ( 4 ) which inside it forms a preserving chamber, ( 11 ), a supporting unit ( 12 ) for a corneoscleral disc positioned in the preserving chamber ( 11 ), and a first lid ( 5 ) removably joinable or joined to the vessel ( 4 ); the medical device ( 1 ) being ready for use and also comprising a first locking ring ( 18 ) which is joinable or joined to both the first lid ( 5 ) and to the vessel ( 4 ), outside them, and is breakable or deformable; wherein when the first lid ( 5 ) is joined to the vessel ( 4 ) and the first locking ring ( 18 ) is joined both to the first lid ( 5 ) and to the vessel ( 4 ), in an intact and non-deformed condition, the first locking ring ( 18 ) prevents removal of the first lid ( 5 ) from the vessel ( 4 ), whereas in a broken or deformed condition, the first locking ring ( 18 ) allows removal of the first lid ( 5 ) from the vessel ( 4 ).
1 . A medical device for preserving explanted corneas, comprising:
a sealed outer main case ( 2 );
a container ( 3 ), for preserving and viewing a cornea, contained in the sealed outer main case ( 2 );
wherein the container ( 3 ) in turn comprises:
a vessel ( 4 ) having a base wall ( 10 ), a lateral wall ( 9 ) and an upper opening ( 6 ) and which inside it forms a preserving chamber ( 11 );
a supporting unit ( 12 ) for a corneoscleral disc positioned in the preserving chamber ( 11 ); and
a first lid ( 5 ) removably joinable or joined to the vessel ( 4 ) for closing the upper opening ( 6 );
wherein the medical device ( 1 ) is ready for use and also comprises a first locking ring ( 18 ) which is joinable or joined to both the first lid ( 5 ) and to the vessel ( 4 ), outside them, and is breakable or deformable;
and wherein when the first lid ( 5 ) is joined to the vessel ( 4 ) and the first locking ring ( 18 ) is joined both to the first lid ( 5 ) and to the vessel ( 4 ):
in an intact and non-deformed condition, the first locking ring ( 18 ) prevents removal of the first lid ( 5 ) from the vessel ( 4 ); and
in a broken or deformed condition, the first locking ring ( 18 ) allows removal of the first lid ( 5 ) from the vessel ( 4 ).
2 . The medical device according to claim 1 , also comprising a liquid for preserving corneas in the preserving chamber ( 11 ), and wherein the first lid ( 5 ) is joined to the vessel ( 4 ).
3 . The medical device according to claim 2 , wherein the first locking ring ( 18 ) is intact and non-deformed, and is joined both to the first lid ( 5 ) and to the vessel ( 4 ) for preventing them from being separated, and wherein the device also comprises a second locking ring ( 31 ) joinable to the vessel ( 4 ), also inserted in the outer case and separate from the first lid ( 5 ) and from the vessel ( 4 ).
4 . The medical device according to claim 3 , also comprising a second lid ( 32 ) joinable both to the vessel ( 4 ) and to the second locking ring ( 31 ), the second lid ( 32 ) and the second locking ring ( 31 ) being intended, in use, for substituting the first lid ( 5 ) and the first locking ring ( 18 ) once the container ( 3 ) has been opened and a cornea has been inserted in it.
5 . The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first lid ( 5 ) is joined to the vessel ( 4 ) and the first locking ring ( 18 ) is separate both from the first lid ( 5 ) and from the vessel ( 4 ) for, in use, being joinable to them after a cornea has been inserted in the vessel ( 4 ).
6 . The medical device according to claim 2 , wherein the first lid ( 5 ) is joined to the vessel ( 4 ) and the first locking ring ( 18 ) is separate both from the first lid ( 5 ) and from the vessel ( 4 ) for, in use, being joinable to them after a cornea has been inserted in the vessel ( 4 ).
7 . The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first lid ( 5 ) is joined or joinable to the vessel ( 4 ) by screwing onto it.
8 . The medical device according to claim 7 , wherein the first locking ring ( 18 ) comprises a first annular portion ( 19 ) and a second annular portion ( 20 ), which are axially side by side and connected to each other by a facilitated breaking portion ( 21 ), the first annular portion ( 19 ) comprising first engaging elements suitable for interacting with second engaging elements made on the vessel ( 4 ) for preventing a rotation of the first annular portion ( 19 ) relative to the vessel ( 4 ) in a direction that corresponds to a direction of unscrewing of the lid from the vessel ( 4 ), and the second annular portion ( 20 ) comprising third engaging elements suitable for interacting with fourth engaging elements made on the first lid ( 5 ) for preventing disengagement of the second annular portion ( 20 ) from the lid once the first locking ring ( 18 ) has been joined to the lid.
9 . The medical device according to claim 8 , wherein one of either the first engaging elements or the second engaging elements are constituted of first projecting teeth ( 23 ) having a saw-tooth cross-section, and the other of corresponding first seats ( 24 ) shaped to match the projecting teeth, the first projecting teeth ( 23 ) extending radially relative to a central axis of screwing of the first lid ( 5 ) to the vessel ( 4 ).
10 . The medical device according to claim 8 , wherein one of either the third engaging elements or the fourth engaging elements are constituted of second projecting teeth ( 26 ) extending parallel to a central axis of screwing of the first lid ( 5 ) to the vessel ( 4 ), and the other of corresponding second seats ( 27 ) shaped to match the projecting teeth.
11 . The medical device according to claim 9 , wherein one of either the third engaging elements or the fourth engaging elements are constituted of second projecting teeth ( 26 ) extending parallel to a central axis of screwing of the first lid ( 5 ) to the vessel ( 4 ), and the other of corresponding second seats ( 27 ) shaped to match the projecting teeth.
12 . The medical device according to claim 3 , wherein the first lid ( 5 ) is joined or joinable to the vessel ( 4 ) by screwing onto it.
13 . The medical device according to claim 12 , wherein the first locking ring ( 18 ) comprises a first annular portion ( 19 ) and a second annular portion ( 20 ), which are axially side by side and connected to each other by a facilitated breaking portion ( 21 ), the first annular portion ( 19 ) comprising first engaging elements suitable for interacting with second engaging elements made on the vessel ( 4 ) for preventing a rotation of the first annular portion ( 19 ) relative to the vessel ( 4 ) in a direction that corresponds to a direction of unscrewing of the lid from the vessel ( 4 ), and the second annular portion ( 20 ) comprising third engaging elements suitable for interacting with fourth engaging elements made on the first lid ( 5 ) for preventing disengagement of the second annular portion ( 20 ) from the lid once the first locking ring ( 18 ) has been joined to the lid.
14 . The medical device according to claim 13 , wherein one of either the first engaging elements or the second engaging elements are constituted of first projecting teeth ( 23 ) having a saw-tooth cross-section, and the other of corresponding first seats ( 24 ) shaped to match the projecting teeth, the first projecting teeth ( 23 ) extending radially relative to a central axis of screwing of the first lid ( 5 ) to the vessel ( 4 ).
15 . The medical device according to claim 13 , wherein one of either the third engaging elements or the fourth engaging elements are constituted of second projecting teeth ( 26 ) extending parallel to a central axis of screwing of the first lid ( 5 ) to the vessel ( 4 ), and the other of corresponding second seats ( 27 ) shaped to match the projecting teeth.
16 . The medical device according to claim 5 , wherein the first lid ( 5 ) is joined or joinable to the vessel ( 4 ) by screwing onto it.
17 . The medical device according to claim 16 , wherein the first locking ring ( 18 ) comprises a first annular portion ( 19 ) and a second annular portion ( 20 ), which are axially side by side and connected to each other by a facilitated breaking portion ( 21 ), the first annular portion ( 19 ) comprising first engaging elements suitable for interacting with second engaging elements made on the vessel ( 4 ) for preventing a rotation of the first annular portion ( 19 ) relative to the vessel ( 4 ) in a direction that corresponds to a direction of unscrewing of the lid from the vessel ( 4 ), and the second annular portion ( 20 ) comprising third engaging elements suitable for interacting with fourth engaging elements made on the first lid ( 5 ) for preventing disengagement of the second annular portion ( 20 ) from the lid once the first locking ring ( 18 ) has been joined to the lid.
18 . The medical device according to claim 17 , wherein one of either the first engaging elements or the second engaging elements are constituted of first projecting teeth ( 23 ) having a saw-tooth cross-section, and the other of corresponding first seats ( 24 ) shaped to match the projecting teeth, the first projecting teeth ( 23 ) extending radially relative to a central axis of screwing of the first lid ( 5 ) to the vessel ( 4 ).
19 . The medical device according to claim 17 , wherein one of either the third engaging elements or the fourth engaging elements are constituted of second projecting teeth ( 26 ) extending parallel to a central axis of screwing of the first lid ( 5 ) to the vessel ( 4 ), and the other of corresponding second seats ( 27 ) shaped to match the projecting teeth.
20 . The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein everything that is present inside the outer main case ( 2 ) is sterile.