INSTRUMENT BRACKET FOR USE WITH A STERILIZABLE TRAY

Abstract: A sterilizable bracket (10) for supporting medical instruments (22) includes a resilient body (12) that surrounds and encapsulates a relatively rigid metal skeleton (14) which is attached to a plurality of studs (16) which secure the bracket (10) to a sterilizable tray (18). The instruments (22) are received in indentations (24) in the resilient body (12). Each indentation (24) includes a plurality of ribs or fingers (28) which permit sterilizing steam to flow around the instruments (22). The resilient body (12) comprises a silicone material which encapsulates the skeleton backbone (14) which, in turn, gives the bracket (10) strength and flexibility. Threaded studs (16) having a slot (46) at one end and threads (50) at the other are employed to attach the bracket (10) to the sterilizable tray (18). The slot (46) in the head (44) of each of the studs (16) receives the metal skeleton backbone (14). Lock nuts (52) or the like are employed to secure the threaded portions (50) of the studs (16) in regularly spaced perforations (20) in the bottom of the sterilizable tray (18). The relatively rigid spring tempered skeleton backbone (14) includes a plurality of peaks (32) and valleys (30) oriented in such a way that they align with peaks (26) and indentations (24) of the resilient body (12) respectively. This structure (14) provides additional strength to the resilient silicone body (12).

Description: TITLE: INSTRUMENT BRACKET FOR USE WITH A STERILIZABLE TRAY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention comprises a bracket for supporting medical instruments in a sterilizable tray in which the bracket body is formed primarily from resilient silicone and is strengthened by a relatively rigid spring tempered metal interior skeleton backbone. 2. Description of Related Art It is common practice to put medical instruments on trays and place them into high temperature environments for the purposes of sterilization. Steam heated autoclaves are probably the most common device used for killing germs and other biohazards. The instruments to be sterilized are generally placed in trays which, in turn, are placed into the cleansing environment. In order to keep the instruments from moving, it is fairly common practice to separate and support them with brackets. Instrument supporting brackets can take several different forms. Perhaps the most common form is a custom tray which includes custom made brackets laid out according to the specific request of the customer. An outline of the instrument to be supported is frequently printed on the bottom surface of the tray so that accurate instrument positioning is achieved. It is also common practice to place an English language legend, such as "Russian Tissue Forceps" adjacent to the outline of the desired instrument. The custom made brackets, which generally have an irregular shape, are then permanently attached to the tray with rivets. While such trays have advantages, they have several disadvantages too. First of all, they are expensive and time consuming to produce because each tray has to be individualized for each specific customer's request. Second, brackets are not removable and, therefore, there is no flexibility in the layout of the tray. Instrument holding trays, such as described are sold under the trademark MEDITRAY® by Case Medical, Inc., 65 Railroad Avenue, Ridgefield, New Jersey 07657. Another technique for attaching prior art brackets to a sterilizable tray is to have the brackets slide into a keyway that is provided for on the tray itself. In an effort to further reduce costs, instrument holding brackets have recently become available which comprise stainless steel or aluminum bodies covered with a thin coat of nylon. The brackets typically have an L-shaped cross section. A pair of studs is attached to the bottom of the L-shaped bracket with nylon serving as the adhesive. The stainless steel or aluminum brackets just described can then be placed selectively or randomly on a tray having a plurality of regularly spaced perforations therein. While the foregoing describe improvements in the art, they still do not present an optimal structure. What is desired is a bracket that will: withstand high temperatures; provide secure support for heavy instruments, yet light support for delicate instrumentation; provide for complete surrounding by steam; provide for the ability to grab and securely hold heavy and delicate instruments, provide flexibility and strong support at the same time, and, also, provide for the ability to place brackets at a wide variety of locations in order to accommodate a wide spectrum of instruments It was in the context of the foregoing prior art and the above identified needs that the present invention arose SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the invention compπses a bracket for supporting medical instruments in a sterilizable tray m which the bracket body is formed primarily from resilient silicone and is strengthened by a relatively πgid metal mteπor skeleton backbone The resilient silicone bracket body includes a plurality of medical instrument receiving mdentations or valleys separated by mtervenmg peaks Resilient πbs formed m the instrument receivmg mdentations gently support the medical instruments and optimally allow sterilizing steam to be exposed to the maximum surface area of the instrument The spring tempered stamless steel skeleton backbone is encapsulated by the silicone body The skeleton also includes peaks and valleys that mimic and align with the peaks and valleys of the silicone body and provide additional strength thereto Flow- through holes or apertures in the skeleton backbone permit the silicone to optimally bond with tine backbone Threaded studs are mechanically attached to the skeleton backbone Each stud includes a slotted head which attaches to the bottom edge of the stamless steel skeleton backbone, a widened, ring-like midsection, and a threaded end that is distal from the slotted end of the stud The slotted end and most of the round midsection of the stud are also encapsulated in the silicone The bracket is preferably attached to the tray by placing the threaded portions of the studs through the perforations in die tray and attachmg them thereto with lock nuts The mvention may be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the sterilizable instrument bracket Fig 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the mvention illustrated in Fig 1 shown in the process of bemg placed mto a sterilizable tray and locked with respect thereto with lock nuts Fig 3 is a partial, perspective cross sectional view of the bracket illustrated m Fig 1 showing the manner m which the slotted head of the studs are attached to the relatively ngid spring tempered skeleton backbone Fig 4 is a front, exploded view illustrating the manner m which the attachment studs are connected to the skeleton backbone Fig 5 is a partial, front cross sectional view of the fully assembled bracket DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION During the course of this description like numbers will be used to identify like elements according to the different views that illustrate the mvention The preferred embodiment of the mvention 10 is illustrated m a perspective view m Fig 1 The three major structural components of the preferred embodiment 10 are a resilient silicone body 12, a skeleton backbone 14 encapsulated by the silicone body 12 and a plurality of threaded studs 16 partially encapsulated by the silicone body 12 Bracket 10 is preferably attached to a sterilizable tray 18 such as illustrated in Fig 2 Tray 18 includes a plurality of regularly spaced perforations or apertures 20 for receivmg the threaded sections 50 of studs 16 of bracket 10 The threaded section or end 50 of studs 16 pass through the perforations 20 and are locked with respect thereto by lock nuts 52 which threadably attach to the threaded portion 50 on the portion of stud 16 opposite from the silicone body 12 Alternate methods could also be employed to attach studs 16 to tray 18 For example, the threaded sections 50 of the studs 16 could be smooth or threaded and a push on clip could be used mstead of lock nuts 52 to secure the bracket 10 to the apertures 20 m tray 18 A plurality of different medical instruments 22 are supported by brackets 10 as shown in Fig 2 Threaded studs 16 are located at intervals identical to the spacing between perforations 20 m tray 18 so that the brackets 10 may be placed in any arrangement for supporting medical instruments 22 Therefore, it is easy to rearrange the brackets to accommodate a wide variety of different medical instruments 22 which may vary substantially in size, weight and shape Details of the silicone body 12, its related relatively rigid sprmg tempered skeleton backbone 14, and threaded support studs 16 will be more fully appreciated by referring to Figs 3 - 5 Medical instruments 22 are received in indentations or valleys 24 m the resilient silicone body 12 The medical receivmg mdentations are separated by resilient peaks 26 Ribs 28 located at regular intervals inside of the instrument receivmg mdentations 24 provide gentle yet firm support for the medical instruments 22 More importantly, πbs 28 permit sterilizing steam to circulate in between so as to further assist m the killing of biohazardous germs and mateπals There is a small gap between adjacent peaks 26 and the valleys 24 so as to further hold and secure an instrument 22 m the bracket 10 The profile of the relatively πgid spring tempered stamless steel skeleton backbone 14 generally mimics the profile of the peaks 26 and valleys 24 of the resilient silicone body 12 Skeleton backbone 14, therefore, includes valleys 30 separated by peaks 32 Each skeleton backbone 14 also includes a top edge 40 which incorporates peaks 32 and valleys 30, a bottom edge 42 which is attached to studs 16, and a pair of side ends 34 Flow through apertures 36 are located along the length of skeleton backbone 14 Likewise a pair of flow through holes or apertures 38, oπented perpendicularly to flow through apertures 36, are located in the side ends 34 of skeleton backbone 14 Each stud 16 mcludes a head 44, a πng shaped midsection 48 m die middle thereof, and a uireaded end or section 50 distal from head 44 A skeleton receiving slot 46 is located in stud head 44 The slot 46 in stud head 44 is slightly smaller than the width of the skeleton backbone 14 so that it mechanically locks onto the bottom edge 42 of the skeleton backbone 14 For additional secuπty it may be desirable to weld the slotted head 44 to the bottom edge 42 of the skeleton backbone 14 The πng shaped midsection 44 of stud 16 supports the bottom edge 42 of the skeleton backbone 14 The bracket 10, accordmg to its preferred embodiment, is constructed in the folio wmg manner First, the bottom edge 42 of the backbone 14 is placed mto the slot 46 m the head 44 of stud 16 Three studs 16 are shown in Figs 1 - 5 but two studs 16 or four or more studs 16 could also be used according to the demands of the use Studs 16 are preferably placed at regular intervals identical to the spacing between perforations 20 m tray 18 as previously described Stud heads 44 are then mechanically attached to the bottom edge 42 of skeleton backbone 14 either by crimping or by weldmg, or bodi Second, the skeleton backbone 14 with studs 16 attached is then placed mto a mold m which silicone is mjected to form resilient body 12 The silicone completely encapsulates the skeleton backbone 14 Flow through apertures 36 and 38 in skeleton backbone 14 further assist m mechanically anchoring the silicone body 12 to the skeleton backbone 14 As previously descπbed, die silicone also encapsulates the head 44 and most of the midsection 48 of stud 16 The exposed portion of die midsection 48 of stud 16 also serves as a stop for the bracket 10 when it is placed in position on tray 18 The resulting molded silicone bracket 10 mcludes sculpted mdents 54 in die sides of die silicone bracket body 12 Sculpted mdents 54 help to conserve weight and space The invention descπbed has several significant, nonobvious advantages over die prior art First, it provides for substantial versatility for permanent or semi-permanent fixtuπng of brackets 10 with respect to instruments Second, it provides important structural support for heavy instruments 22, yet protects delicate instruments 22 Third, die encapsulated metal 14 cannot damage delicate instrumentation 22 Fourth, the flexible silicone ribs 28 provide gπp with minimal contact of the instrument 22 to die bracket surface, yet permits optimum sterilization Presently existing pnor art brackets do not allow for optimal sterilization as they tend to be bulky and gπp a large surface area of the instrument 22 Fifth, the spring tempered metal skeleton 14 permits the bracket 10 to adjust slightly so tiiat the threaded portion 50 of die studs 16 can align with perforations 20 m the tray 18 even if there isn't perfect spacing While the invention has been descπbed with reference to the preferred embodiment uiereof, it will be appreciate by tiiose of ordinary skill in the art that modifications can be made to the structure and form of the mvention without departing from die spiπt and scope thereof

Claims: WE CLAIM 1 A sterilizable instrument supporting bracket apparatus (10) for attachment to a tray (18) having a plurality of regularly spaced perforations (20) tiierem, said apparatus (10) comprising a resilient body (12), instrument supporting means (24) located on said resilient body (12) for supporting at least one medical instrument (22), skeleton means (14) located witinn said resilient body (12) for providmg support to said resilient body (12), and, stud means (16) attached to said skeleton means (14), wherem said bracket apparatus (10) may be attached to said tray (18) by passmg said stud means (16) through said perforations (20) and fastenmg said stud means (16) with respect tiiereto 2 The apparatus of claim 1 wherem said stud means comprises (16) studs havmg a threaded section (50) thereon and wherem said studs (16) are attached to said tray (18) with tiireaded nuts (52) which mate with said threaded sections (50) 3 The apparatus of claim 2 wherem said tiireaded nuts are lock nuts (52) 4 The apparatus of claim 3 wherem said resilient body (12) comprises a silicone body 5 The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said skeleton means comprises a relatively πgid strip (14) 6 The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said instrument supporting means (24) comprises a plurality of instrument receiving mdentations (24) m said resilient body (12) 7 The apparatus of claim 6 wherem said instrument receivmg mdentations (24) include silicone ribs (28) to improve die circulation of steπhzing steam around said medical instrument (22) 8 The apparatus of claim 7 wherem said relatively rigid stnp (14) comprises a spnng tempered metal stnp (14) with apertures (36, 38) therem to permit silicone to flow therethrough m order to mechanically anchor said silicone body (12) to said flexible strip (14) 9 The apparatus of claim 8 wherem said spnng tempered strip (14) mcludes a plurality of peaks (32) and valleys (30), wherein the valleys (30) of said flexible strip (14) are located adjacent to said instrument receivmg mdentations (24) 10 The apparatus of claim 9 wherem said studs (16) mclude a slotted head (44, 46) distal from the threaded section (50) tiiereof and wherem said spnng tempered metal strip (14) is received in said slotted head (44, 46) and mechanically attached thereto 11 The apparatus of claim 10 wherem said spnng tempered metal stnp (14) comprises a stainless steel stnp (14) 12 The apparatus of claim 1 wherem said stud means (16) are attached to said tray (18) by a push on clip means AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 26 September 1997 (26.09.97); original claims 1-12 replaced by amended claims 1-10 (1 page)] 1. A sterilizable instrument support bracket apparatus (10) for attachment to a tray (18) having a plurality of regularly spaced perforations (20) therein, said apparatus (10) comprising: a resilient silicone body (12); instrument support means (24) located on said resilient body (12) for supporting at least one medical instrument (22); skeleton means (14) located within said resilient body (12) for providing support to said resilient body (12), said skeleton means (14) comprising a relatively rigid strip (14); and, stud means (16) attached to said skeleton means (14), wherein said bracket apparatus (10) may be attached to said tray (18) by passing said stud means (16) through said perforations (20) and fastening said stud means (16) with respect thereto. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stud means comprises (16) studs having a threaded section (50) thereon and wherein said studs (16) are attached to said tray (18) with threaded nuts (52) which mate with said threaded sections (50). 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said threaded nuts are lock nuts (52). 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said instrument supporting means (24) comprises a plurality of instrument receiving mdentations (24) in said resilient body (12). 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said instrument receiving indentations (24) include silicone ribs (28) to improve the circulation of sterilizing steam around said medical instrument (22). 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said relatively rigid strip (14) comprises a spring tempered metal strip (14) with apertures (36, 38) therein to permit silicone to flow theretiirough in order to mechanically anchor said silicone body (12) to said flexible strip (14). 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said spring tempered strip (14) includes a plurality of peaks (32) and valleys (30), wherein the valleys (30) of said flexible strip (14) are located adjacent to said instrument receiving indentations (24). 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said studs (16) include a slotted head (44, 46) distal from die threaded section (50) thereof and wherein said spring tempered metal strip (14) is received in said slotted head (44, 46) and mechanically attached thereto. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said spring tempered metal strip (14) comprises a stainless steel strip (14). 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stud means (16) are attached to said tray (18) by a push on clip means. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 Accompanying this Statement is a set of substitute claims 1 - 10. The International Bureau of WIPO is respectfully requested to substitute new claims 1 - 10 for the original claims 1 - 12 submitted earlier. New claim 1 includes the substance of original claims 1, 4 and 5. Dependent claims 2 - 10 depend from new independent claim 1. Dependent claims 2 and 3 correspond to original claims 2 and 3. New dependent claims 4 - 10 correspond, and are identical to original dependent claims 6 - 12.

Inventors: FRIEZE ALLAN S, FRIEZE MARCIA A, FRIEZE, ALLAN, S., FRIEZE, MARCIA, A.
Applicants: CASE MEDICAL INC, FRIEZE ALLAN S, FRIEZE MARCIA A, CASE MEDICAL, INC., FRIEZE, ALLAN, S., FRIEZE, MARCIA, A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A61L2
IPC codes: A61B19, A61L2