Method of securing a portable electronic device
A method of securing a portable electronic device with a touchscreen interface for use in a sterile environment comprises providing a sterilizable enclosure and providing a transfer device. The transfer device has an upper wall and a lower wall defining a passage. The enclosure provides a frame and a base movable between open and closed positions. The enclosure is held open with the transfer device. The electronic device is inserted through the passage and into the enclosure. One of the transfer device and the enclosure is moved away from the other.
1. A method of securing a portable electronic device having a touchscreen interface for use in a sterile environment, the method comprising:
providing a sterilizable enclosure comprising:
a frame defining a window with a transparent panel attached to the frame adjacent to the window and positioned to abut the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device,
a base selectively movable relative to the frame between an opened position and a closed position, and
a seal between the base and the frame and engaged therebetween when the sterilizable enclosure is in a closed position for preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronic device;
providing a transfer device having a pair of outer members, an upper wall extending between and connecting to the outer members, and a lower wall extending between and connecting to the outer members and spaced from the upper wall to define a passage therebetween, the walls configured to shield at least a portion of the sterilizable enclosure from contaminants while holding the sterilizable enclosure in an opened position;
holding the sterilizable enclosure in the opened position with the transfer device;
inserting the portable electronic device through the passage and into the sterilizable enclosure while the transfer device is held in the opened position; and
moving one of the transfer device and the sterilizable enclosure away from the other while continuing to hold the sterilizable enclosure to allow the frame to move towards the base into the closed position.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a handle on the transfer device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the handle is provided on one of the upper wall and the lower wall.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising grasping the handle and pulling the transfer device away from the enclosure.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the base is pivotally coupled to the frame for movement between the opened position and the closed position, and gravity biases the frame toward the base, and the frame pivots towards the base and the closed position as the transfer device is pulled away from the enclosure.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing hollow receptacles in the lower wall of the transfer device to receive latches of a lock mechanism of the enclosure.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a ramp on each of the outer members with each ramp extending inwardly toward the other for receipt of edges of the frame.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing three cover elements, two of which extend toward each other from the outer members spaced below the ramps, and one of which extends from the lower wall for disposition over edges of the base.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the cover elements are angled downwardly to facilitate receipt of the portable electronic device by the base.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising holding the enclosure partially open in the transfer device, with the frame pivoted away from the base less than 90 degrees.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising resting one edge of the base on a portion of the lower wall and resting the frame on at least one of a portion of the upper wall and the ramps.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure has sterile no-touch zones on an exterior surface that are shielded from contact with a non-sterile person that inserts the portable electronic device into the enclosure.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sterile user engages a sterile no-touch zone of the enclosure to hold the enclosure in the transfer device while the portable electronic device is loaded into the enclosure by a non-sterile user.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein, after the portable electronic device has been loaded into the enclosure, the sterile user holds the enclosure as the transfer device is moved away from the enclosure by the non-sterile user.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base is pivotally coupled to the frame for movement between the opened position and the closed position.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer members are outer walls.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the outer walls are shaped to prevent a sterile user from positioning their hands between the base and the frame when grasping the base and the frame.