US20130175276A1

US20130175276A1 - Sterile container

Info

Publication number: US20130175276A1
Application number: US13/771,128
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilhelm Gleichauf; Mariana Jakab; Stefan Schuster; Stefan Thomas; John Gray-Dreizler
Original assignee: Aesculap AG
Current assignee: Aesculap AG
Priority date: 2010-09-20
Filing date: 2013-02-20
Publication date: 2013-07-11
Also published as: RU2013118101A; DE102010037659A1; WO2012038314A1; EP3192532A1; CN103118711B; CN103118711A; JP2013539999A; DE202010008767U1; EP2618854A1; JP5818895B2; EP2618854B1

Abstract

A sterile container for the sterilization of surgical instruments is provided. The sterile container has a bottom wall, a side wall and a lid which, in a closed position of the sterile container, has a lid rim which engages over a free rim arranged on a side of the side wall that faces away from the bottom wall. At least one projection element is arranged between the bottom wall and the free rim. The projection element projects from the side wall in the direction of an outside of the sterile container at least as far as the lid rim and is located at a shorter distance from the bottom wall than the lid rim. The side wall, in a wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim, does not protrude in the direction of a center of the sterile container over the side wall.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of international application number PCT/EP2011/065960 filed on Sep. 14, 2011 and claims the benefit of German application number 10 2010 037 659.0 filed on Sep. 20, 2010, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sterile container for the sterilization of surgical instruments, comprising a bottom wall, a side wall and a lid which, in a closed position of the sterile container, with a lid rim engages over a free rim arranged on a side of the side wall that faces away from the bottom wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The surgical instruments that are to be sterilized are placed in such sterile containers, and the lid is slipped over the side wall in order to close the sterile container. By means of attachment elements, for example, in the form of clasps, the lid is fixed to the side wall so as to obtain as good a sealing as possible between the side wall and the lid in the closed state of the sterile container. This is important because an exchange of gas between the container interior and the atmosphere should take place solely through filter elements fitted in the side wall and/or in the lid. In practice, it may, however, happen that an operator inadvertently strikes the lid rim of the closed container or grips it from below in such a way that an exchange of gas between the container interior and the atmosphere is also possible through a gap between the free rim and the lid rim. Owing to the exchanged gas not having been filtered, this has a negative effect on the sterilization results.
An object of the present invention is to provide a generic sterile container having greater ease of handling, while producing the best possible sterilization results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the invention, a sterile container for the sterilization of surgical instruments comprises a bottom wall, a side wall and a lid which, in a closed position of the sterile container, with a lid rim engages over a free rim arranged on a side of the side wall that faces away from the bottom wall. The sterile container has at least one projection element arranged between the bottom wall and the free rim on the side wall, the projection element projecting from the side wall in the direction of an outside of the sterile container at least as far as the lid rim and being located at a shorter distance from the bottom wall than is the lid rim, and the side wall, in a wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim, not protruding in the direction of a sterile container center of the sterile container over the side wall in a wall area between the at least one projection element and the bottom wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The foregoing summary and the following description may be better understood in conjunction with the drawing figures, of which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a first preferred embodiment of the sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention in the open state;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view in a transverse center plane of the sterile container from FIG. 1 in the closed state; and

FIGS. 3 to 11 show detailed views of a second to a tenth preferred embodiment of the sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention in a representation corresponding to detail A in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.
The present invention relates to a sterile container for the sterilization of surgical instruments, comprises a bottom wall, a side wall and a lid which, in a closed position of the sterile container, with a lid rim engages over a free rim arranged on a side of the side wall that faces away from the bottom wall. The sterile container has at least one projection element arranged between the bottom wall and the free rim on the side wall, the projection element projecting from the side wall in the direction of an outside of the sterile container at least as far as the lid rim and being located at a shorter distance from the bottom wall than is the lid rim, and the side wall, in a wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim, not protruding in the direction of a sterile container center of the sterile container over the side wall in a wall area between the at least one projection element and the bottom wall.
The sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention has at least one projection element on the side wall, which is arranged between the free rim and the bottom wall, i.e., between the upper side and the lower side of the side wall, in relation to a position of use of the sterile container, in which it rests with the bottom wall on a set-down surface. The projection element is spaced at a shorter distance from the bottom wall than is the lid rim engaging over the free rim, i.e., it is arranged below the lid rim when the sterile container is closed. In addition, it projects on the outside of the sterile container from the side wall at least so far that it reaches the lid rim. In this way, it is possible to reduce the risk that an operator will inadvertently strike the lid rim or grip it from below in such a way that, even if only to a slight extent, the lid will also become detached from the sterile container so as to allow an exchange of gas to pass through between the lid and the free rim. On the one hand, this directly ensures good sterilization results, which, on the other hand, influences the handling of the sterile container as inadequate sterilization results require the operator to sterilize the surgical instruments again.
In addition, the side wall, in the sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention, in a wall area above the at least one projection element does not protrude in the direction of the sterile container center over the side wall in a wall area below the at least one projection element. Therefore, the container interior does not become narrower in the wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim of the side wall. Consequently, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk that an operator, when removing the surgical instruments from the container interior, will strike and even get caught on the upper wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim. This has a direct advantageous effect on the handling of the sterile container. Furthermore, the probability is significantly reduced that an instrument will escape the operator's grasp due to striking or getting caught, and, in the worst case, will even fall on the floor, which will impair its sterility and make a new sterilization process necessary. If the surgical instruments are accommodated in the container interior in a perforated basket, the risk that an instrument will be ejected from the perforated basket and become contaminated is largely avoidable. This also ensures the sterility of the instruments.
It is advantageous if the side wall in the wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim protrudes in the direction of an outside of the sterile container over the side wall in the wall area between the at least one projection element and the bottom wall. As a result, the container interior widens in the upper wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim. This makes it easier for the operator to insert instruments into and remove them from the sterile container.
It is preferable for at least one projection element, in particular, all projection elements, to project beyond the lid rim in the direction of an outside of the sterile container from the side wall. This further reduces the probability that an operator will inadvertently strike the lid rim or grip it from below. Consequently, there is also less probability that an undesired exchange of gas will take place between the container interior and the atmosphere by it passing through between the lid and the free rim.
It is advantageous if at least one projection element engages the lid rim from behind at a side that faces away from the side wall. It is thus possible to further reduce the probability that an operator will strike the lid rim or grip it from below and cause an undesired exchange of gas between the container interior and the atmosphere. For example, the lid rim engages a recess in the shape of a groove formed between the side wall and the at least one projection element.
It is advantageous if at least one projection element, preferably all projection elements, comprises or forms an abutment element for the lid rim, for example, an abutment surface, on the upper side of which the lid rim may rest. As a result, the lid may also assume a specially defined position relative to the sterile container in the closed state. The lid is supported on the side wall via the at least one projection element such that in the closed state the lid can also be fixed to the sterile container with a greater tensile strength than has been possible so far. A higher degree of tightness between the lid and the free rim of the side wall is thereby also achievable.
In a different kind of advantageous embodiment of the sterile container in accordance with the invention, it may be provided that the lid rim, in the closed position of the sterile container, is spaced relative to the at least one projection element. It is thus possible, for example, for an excess pressure occurring during the sterilization process in the sterile container to be relieved by the lid being raised somewhat and/or becoming deformed as a result of the excess pressure and an auxiliary flow path thereby being opened up between the side wall and the lid.
The side wall preferably comprises at least one projection element and, advantageously, all projection elements. This enables a constructionally simple design of the sterile container.
An even simpler constructional design of the sterile container is enabled if the at least one projection element comprised by the side wall is formed integrally with the side wall.
The projection element is preferably formed by reshaping the side wall. For example, it projects from a plane also defined by the side wall in the direction of an outside of the sterile container. This makes it possible, for example, to impart a more rigid construction to the side wall.
The projection element is advantageously a bead formed in the side wall. As a result, the projection element can be formed integrally with the side wall in a constructionally particularly simple way and, in addition, a desirable increase in rigidity of the side wall can be achieved. The bead may be a full bead or a half bead, and the bead may, for example, have a U-shaped, a rectangular, a triangular, a wave-shaped or a pulse-shaped cross section.
In a different kind of embodiment of the sterile container, in which the projection element is formed integrally with the side wall, the projection element may preferably be formed by bending the side wall over at the free rim in the direction of an outside of the sterile container. The projection element can thereby also be formed in a constructionally simple way, while increasing the rigidity of the side wall.
In a different kind of embodiment of the sterile container in accordance with the invention, it is advantageous for at least one projection element, for example, also all projection elements, to be formed separately from the side wall and fixed thereto. This makes it possible, for example, with use of different materials for manufacturing the side wall and the at least one projection element, to form these in accordance with the specific requirements for the intended use. Savings in costs for the manufacture of the sterile container and/or a more robust design of the sterile container may possibly be achieved as a result. The projection element is fixed, in particular, to the outside of the side wall with force locking, positive locking and/or substance-to-substance bonding, for example, by adhesive bonding, riveting, screwing or welding. The use of a clamp connection, a latch connection or a plug connection for fixing the projection element to the side wall is conceivable.
It may be provided that the projection element is releasably fixed to the side wall.
The projection element is, advantageously, an, in particular, elongated profile, for example, an L-profile or a J-profile, and it may be configured as a grid profile or as a perforated plate profile. The rigidity of the side wall can be increased significantly by means of a profile fixed to the outside thereof.
In a different kind of embodiment of the sterile container in accordance with the invention, it may be provided that at least one projection element is pin-shaped, with the pin projecting in its longitudinal direction outwards from the side wall. The pin-shaped projection element may be comprised by the side wall and, in particular, formed integrally with it, or it is formed separately from it and fixed to it.
It is preferable for the at least one projection element to be sterilizable so as to enable use of the sterile container for the intended purpose.
It may be provided that at least one projection element is made at least partly of metal, and, in particular, entirely of metal, for example, of aluminum, titanium or high-grade steel. Use of a metal alloy for the projection element is also possible.
Furthermore, it may be provided that at least one projection element is made at least partly of plastic material, and, in particular, made entirely of plastic material, for example, of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK), of polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) or of a silicone material.
The at least one projection element is preferably, at least partly, arranged in a horizontal plane extending parallel to the bottom wall and/or parallel to the lid. If more than one projection element is present, these may be arranged in different horizontal planes.
At least one projection element is preferably arranged on a longitudinal side of the sterile container, and it is advantageous for it to extend along the entire longitudinal side. This further reduces the probability that an operator will inadvertently grip the lid rim from below or strike it.
In a corresponding manner, it may be provided that at least one projection element is arranged on a transverse side of the sterile container and, in particular, extends along the entire transverse side of the sterile container. In this case, too, the probability that an operator will inadvertently grip the lid rim from below can be reduced.
It is advantageous for at least one projection element to extend along an entire circumference or substantially along an entire circumference of the sterile container. In this embodiment, the projection element extends all the way or substantially all the way along the side wall enclosing the container interior. The lid rim is thereby protected along the entire or substantially the entire circumference of the container interior against being inadvertently struck or gripped from below.
It may also be provided that at least one projection element extends along a continuous peripheral line along a circumference of the sterile container, for example, when attachment elements for fixing the lid on the sterile container are also arranged on the side wall beyond the projection element.
Furthermore, it may be provided that a plurality of projection elements respectively extend along a continuous peripheral line along a circumference of the sterile container and are spaced from one another in the circumferential direction. For example, attachment elements such as clasps for attaching the lid may be provided between two projection elements that are spaced from each other.
A simple constructional design may be advantageously imparted to the sterile container by the sterile container comprising precisely one projection element. In particular, the precisely one projection element may be a bead that is formed on the side wall and extends along the entire or substantially along the entire length of the circumference of the container.
In a different kind of embodiment of the sterile container in accordance with the invention, it may be provided that the sterile container comprises a plurality of projection elements.
In the latter case, the constructional design of the sterile container may be made simple by all of the projection elements of the sterile container being of identical construction.
A first preferred embodiment of a sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention for the sterilization of surgical instruments which can be placed loosely or in a perforated basket in the container interior is shown in perspective in the open state in FIG. 1 and generally denoted therein by reference numeral 10. The sterile container 10 comprises a tub 12 with a bottom wall 14 and a circumferential side wall 16 which has a free rim 18 on the upper side. “On the upper side” refers in this context to a position of use of the sterile container 10, in which it rests with the bottom wall 14 on a set-down surface.
The sterile container 10 further comprises a lid 20 which can be transferred from an open position (FIG. 1) to a closed position (FIG. 2) and vice versa. In the closed position, the lid 20 can be attached to the tub 12 by means of attachment elements, known per se, in the form of clasps (only one clasp 22 is shown). The lid 20 is a so-called “slip-over lid”, which with a lid rim 24 can engage over the free rim 18 in the closed state of the sterile container 10 along the entire circumference of the side wall 16 (FIG. 2).
A sealing element 26 held on the lid rim 24 secures the sterile container 10 in the closed state against an exchange of gas between a container interior 28 and the atmosphere, the exchange of gas passing through a gap between the free rim 18 and the lid 20. Instead, an exchange of gas between the container interior 28 and the atmosphere should only take place through filter devices 30 and 32 inserted in the lid 20.
The sterile container 10 has a plurality of projection elements 34 to 37 arranged on the side wall 16. The projection elements 34 and 35 are each arranged on one of the longitudinal sides of the sterile container 10 on the side wall 16. The projection elements 36 and 37 are also of identical construction and are arranged on a transverse side of the sterile container 10 on the side wall 16 and are spaced from each other by the attachment element interacting with the clasp 22. With reference to FIG. 2, the projection element 34 will be dealt with below in greater detail, and the remarks pertaining thereto are to be directly applied to the projection element 35. The projection elements 36 and 37 differ only to a minor degree from the projection element 34, and, therefore, a separate explanation of the projection elements 36 and 37 will not be given.
The projection element 34 is a horizontal bead 38 formed by the side wall 16 and, in particular, integrally therewith, and extending parallel to the bottom wall 14 and to the lid 20. The bead 38, furthermore, projects from the side wall 16 in the direction of the outside of the sterile container 10, as far as the lid rim 24. In this context, “projects from the side wall 16” means that the projection element 34 projects from the side wall 16 in relation to a course which the side wall 16 would follow from the bottom wall 14 to the free rim 18, were the projection element 34 not present.
The bead 38 is arranged approximately somewhat above the middle of the side wall 16. Below the bead 38, the side wall 16 has a lower wall area 40 as far as the bottom wall 14, and above the bead 38, the side wall 16 has an upper wall area 42 as far as the free rim 18. The side wall 16 is of such shape that the upper wall area 42 does not protrude in the direction of a sterile container center of the sterile container 10 over the lower wall area 40, but even remains behind it. The upper wall area 42, therefore, protrudes with respect to the lower wall area 40 in the direction of an outside of the sterile container 10. This means that the container interior 28 widens in the direction of the free rim 18.
As mentioned above, the bead 38 projects from the side wall 16 as far as the lid rim 24. It thereby forms on its upper side an abutment element 44 for a bottom end of the lid rim 24. When the sterile container 10 is closed, the lid rim 24 can be supported with its bottom end on the abutment element.
The sterile container 10 in accordance with an aspect of the invention has the following advantages:
Since the lid rim 24 is supported on the bead 38 in the closed state, it is possible to attach the lid 20 to the tub 12 with a higher tensile force than would be possible without it being supported. This results in an only extremely low probability of an undesired exchange of gas occurring in the area of the sealing element 26 from the container interior to the atmosphere through a gap between the free rim 18 and the lid 20. Instead, the exchange of gas takes place, as intended, through the filter devices 30 and 32, which results in an overall improvement in the sterilization results with use of the sterile container 10.
In addition, the bead 38 protects the lid rim 24 against inadvertent striking or gripping of the lid 20 from below in a direction away from the tub 12. This reduces the probability that in spite of the improved sealing at the sealing element 26, a gap will form between the free rim 18 and the lid 20, through which an exchange of gas is possible from the container interior 28 into the atmosphere and vice versa. This also has an advantageous effect on the sterilization results. For, in the case of such an exchange of gas, it might prove necessary to perform a new sterilization process in order to kill germs which may enter the container interior 28 between the free rim 18 and the lid 20 and contaminate surgical instruments located therein for sterilization purposes. This, therefore, also improves the handling of the sterile container 10.
Its handling is also improved by the upper wall area 42, as mentioned above, protruding with respect to the lower wall area 40 in the direction of an outside of the sterile container 10, so that the container interior 28 widens in the direction of the free rim 18. This makes it easier for the operator to insert surgical instruments and/or perforated baskets with surgical instruments into the container interior 28 or to remove these from it.
The probability that an operator will strike or get caught on the side wall 16 when inserting or removing the instruments is extremely low. Consequently, these instruments cannot slip out of the operator's hand and fall onto the floor, which might ruin the sterilization results. In a corresponding manner, the probability is extremely low that an operator will strike or get caught on the side wall 16 when removing a perforated basket full of instruments, which, at worst, might result in an instrument being ejected from the perforated basket and becoming contaminated. The fact that the upper wall area 42 does not protrude with respect to the lower wall area 40 in the direction of a sterile container center, but even recedes, therefore also proves to be advantageous in achieving best possible sterilization results.
The bead 38 formed integrally with the side wall 16 can be manufactured in a constructionally simple way, and, in addition, it increases the rigidity of the side wall 16, so that the sterile container 10 has a high degree of shape stability.
In a variant of the sterile container 10, it may be provided that the lid rim 24 is of such dimensions or that the bead 38 is arranged on the side wall 16 in such a way that in the closed state of the sterile container 10, the lid rim 24 is spaced from the bead 38, and the bead 38 does not form an abutment element. This is helpful in enabling an excess pressure in the interior of the sterile container 10 to also be relieved by the lid 20 becoming slightly deformed as a result of the excess pressure and/or being lifted off the side wall 16 somewhat, thereby opening up an auxiliary flow path between the lid 20 and the side wall 16. Accordingly, it may be provided that in variants of the embodiments 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 60, 66 and 68, explained below, in accordance with FIGS. 3 to 11 of the sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention, the lid rim 24 is spaced relative to the respective projection element of the sterile container.
In FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, further preferred embodiments 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54 of the sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention are shown in part in a representation corresponding to detail A in FIG. 2. The sterile containers 46 to 54 each differ from the sterile container 10 solely in how the bead 38 of the side wall 16 is formed. In FIGS. 3 to 7, identical reference numerals are, therefore, used for the features and component parts of the sterile container 10 and the sterile containers 46 to 54. The advantages achievable with the sterile container 10 are also achievable with the sterile containers 46 to 54.
In the sterile container 46 in accordance with FIG. 3, the bead 38 is hook-shaped. Its abutment element 44 is formed on a horizontal ledge for the lid rim 24 to rest reliably thereon.
In the sterile container 48 in accordance with FIG. 4, the bead 38 is approximately arcuate and of simple construction.
In the sterile container 50 in accordance with FIG. 5, the bead 38 is triangular and, in particular, sawtooth-shaped. It also forms a horizontal ledge with abutment element 44 for the lid rim 24.
In the sterile container 52 in accordance with FIG. 6, the bead 38 is pulse-shaped, and it has a horizontal ledge with abutment element 44 for the lid rim 24. Furthermore, it imparts a high rigidity to the side wall 16.
In the sterile container 54 in accordance with FIG. 7, the bead 38 is wave-shaped, i.e., it has the configuration of a wave train, thereby imparting a high rigidity to the side wall 16.
In the sterile containers 46 to 54, the bead 38 is, in each case, a full bead formed integrally with the side wall 16.
The beads 38 of the sterile containers 46, 50, 52 and 54 project at the outside beyond the lid rim 24 and protect it particularly effectively against being struck and/or gripped from below.
FIG. 8 shows a further preferred embodiment 56 of the sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention, the projection element 34 of which is formed integrally with the side wall 16. In the case of the sterile container 56, the side wall 16 is bent over at the free rim 18 through 180° in the direction of the underside of the sterile container 56, at the outside of the sterile container 56. As a result, the upper wall area 42 is of double-layered configuration. At a distance from the free rim 18, the side wall 16 is bent again in the direction of the outside of the sterile container 56, thereby producing a horizontal ledge 58, which forms the projection element 34 of the sterile container 56.
The side wall 16 of the sterile container 56, which is bent in the manner described above, has a particularly high rigidity. With regard to the advantages achievable with the sterile container 56, reference may be made to the above explanations regarding sterile containers 10 and 46.
A further preferred embodiment 60 of the sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention, shown in FIG. 9, comprises a projection element 62 in the form of a profile 64 which is of stepped and elongated (i.e. extending perpendicularly to the drawing plane) cross section. The profile 64 is non-detachably fixed, for example, by adhesive bonding, welding, riveting or screwing, to the side wall 16 which, in the sterile container 60, is of planar configuration. Since it is manufactured separately from the sterile container 60, it may be made of a different kind of material. This might possibly lead to a saving in manufacturing costs of the sterile container 60 compared with those of the sterile container 10.
Instead of the profile 64, in the sterile container 60, a profile could be used, which is detachably fixable to the side wall 16, for example, by means of a latch, clamp or plug connection.
The profile 64 projects from the planar side wall 16 in the direction of the outside of the sterile container 60 beyond the lid rim 24 so as to engage it from behind on the side facing away from the side wall 16. The lid rim 24 is thereby protected in a particularly reliable way from being struck and/or gripped from below by an operator.
In a manner corresponding to the sterile container 60, preferred embodiments 66 and 68 of the sterile container in accordance with an aspect of the invention, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, each comprise a profile manufactured separately from the side wall 16 and fixed thereto, which projects on the outside over the lid rim 24. The same reference numerals are used for the respective profile of the sterile containers 66 and 68 and for the projection element respectively forming it as in the case of the sterile container 60.
In the sterile container 66 in accordance with FIG. 10, the profile 64 is J-shaped. In the sterile container 68 in accordance with FIG. 11, the profile 64 is a hollow profile.
The advantages achievable as explained above with the sterile container 10 can also be achieved with the sterile containers 60, 66 and 68, and, therefore, reference may be made in this respect to the explanations given above.

Claims

1. Sterile container for the sterilization of surgical instruments, comprising a bottom wall, a side wall and a lid which, in a closed position of said sterile container, with a lid rim engages over a free rim arranged on a side of the side wall that faces away from the bottom wall, said sterile container having at least one projection element arranged between the bottom wall and the free rim on the side wall, the projection element projecting from the side wall in the direction of an outside of said sterile container at least as far as the lid rim and being located at a shorter distance from the bottom wall than is the lid rim, and the side wall, in a wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim, not protruding in the direction of a sterile container center of said sterile container over the side wall in a wall area between the at least one projection element and the bottom wall.

2. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein the side wall in the wall area between the at least one projection element and the free rim protrudes in the direction of an outside of the sterile container over the side wall in the wall area between the at least one projection element and the bottom wall.

3. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element projects beyond the lid rim in the direction of an outside of the sterile container from the side wall.

4. Sterile container in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least one projection element engages the lid rim from behind at a side that faces away from the side wall.

5. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element comprises or forms an abutment element for the lid rim.

6. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein the side wall comprises at least one projection element.

7. Sterile container in accordance with claim 6, wherein the projection element is formed integrally with the side wall.

8. Sterile container in accordance with claim 6, wherein the projection element is formed by reshaping the side wall.

9. Sterile container in accordance with claim 6, wherein the projection element is a bead formed in the side wall.

10. Sterile container in accordance with claim 6, wherein the projection element is formed by bending the side wall over at the free rim in the direction of an outside of the sterile container.

11. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element is formed separately from the side wall and is fixed thereto.

12. Sterile container in accordance with claim 11, wherein the projection element is releasably fixed to the side wall.

13. Sterile container in accordance with claim 11, wherein the projection element is an elongated profile.

14. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one projection element is sterilizable.

15. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element is made at least partly of metal.

16. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element is made at least partly of plastic material.

17. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element is arranged on a longitudinal side of the sterile container.

18. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element is arranged on a transverse side of the sterile container.

19. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element extends along an entire circumference or substantially along an entire circumference of the sterile container.

20. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one projection element extends along a continuous peripheral line along a circumference of the sterile container.

21. Sterile container in accordance with claim 20, wherein a plurality of projection elements respectively extend along a continuous peripheral line along a circumference of the sterile container and are spaced from one another in the circumferential direction.

22. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sterile container comprises precisely one projection element.

23. Sterile container in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sterile container comprises a plurality of projection elements.

24. Sterile container in accordance with claim 23, wherein all of the projection elements of the sterile container are of identical construction.