Abstract:
Disclosed are various embodiments for holding and organizing surgical instruments in a surgical environment. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument holder comprises an elongated body portion including a plurality of slots. Each of the slots may be configured so as to retain a surgical instrument in a fixed position. The elongated body portion may have a base surface configured to contact a table surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled “SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HOLDER,” filed on Feb. 22, 2010, and assigned application Ser. No. 12/710,052, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/154,014 filed on Feb. 20, 2009 entitled “SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HOLDER,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Patient safety is a measurable and improvable outcome in any hospital. Patient outcomes during surgery are continually examined, and there are measurable circumstances which have been shown to improve these outcomes. Studies have shown that a decrease in surgical time and blood loss leads to a decrease in length of hospital stay, decrease in infections, and increased patient satisfaction. Currently, operating room technicians store surgical instruments on rolled towels, decreasing accessibility and visibility of the instruments. Handling of the instruments is also technically difficult with this setup as multiple instruments become attached to one another or mixed with other types of instruments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a detailed side view of a surgical instrument holder according to various embodiments. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the surgical instrument holder according to various embodiments. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the surgical instrument holder according to various embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the surgical instrument holder according to various embodiments. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the surgical instrument holder according to various embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are perspective views of surgical instrument holders according to alternative embodiments. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Briefly described, one embodiment, among others, is a surgical instrument holder. The surgical instrument holder comprises an elongated body portion, which includes a plurality of slots. Each of the slots is configured so as to retain a surgical instrument in a fixed position. The elongated body portion has a base surface configured to contact a table surface. 
         [0011]    Another embodiment is also a surgical instrument holder. The surgical instrument holder comprises an elongated body portion having a top surface and a base surface. The base surface is configured to contact a table surface. When a portion of a surgical instrument is laid upon the top surface, the top surface is configured to deform under an applied weight so as to limit movement of the surgical instrument. 
         [0012]    Another embodiment is yet another surgical instrument holder. The surgical instrument holder comprises an elongated body portion having a top surface and a base surface. The base surface is configured to contact a table surface. The top surface has a slot formed along a longitudinal axis. The slot is configured to receive a plurality of surgical instruments and to retain each of the surgical instruments in a fixed position. 
         [0013]    Another embodiment is a method for organizing surgical instruments in a surgical environment. The method comprises the step of placing a surgical instrument holder upon a table surface. A base surface of the surgical instrument holder thereby fully contacts the table surface and resists movement along the table surface. The method also comprises the step of inserting a first surgical instrument into a first groove in the surgical instrument holder. The first surgical instrument is retained in a fixed position within the first groove. The method also comprises the step of inserting a second surgical instrument into a second groove in the surgical instrument holder. The second surgical instrument is retained in a fixed position within the second groove. The first groove is separated from the second groove by at least one other groove. 
         [0014]    Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    It is imperative to have a surgical instrument storage system which allows very easy access to as well as rapid access to surgical instruments during a case. The surgical instrument holder of this disclosure meets all of the fundamental requirements of sterile surgical technique and packing, while allowing for quicker instrument counts and easier access during the operation or procedure. This in turn, will lead to decreased surgical time, decreased blood loss, and overall improved patient outcomes. 
         [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , shown is a detailed side view of a surgical instrument holder  100  according to various embodiments. The surgical instrument holder  100  comprises at least one grouping  101  of slots  103 , or grooves, adapted to receive and hold in a fixed position handles or other components of various surgical instruments, such as clamps, scalpels, scissors, and other surgical instruments. While the slots  103  are shown as parallel to the lateral axis of the surgical instrument holder  100 , this is merely one example. In another embodiment, the slots  103  may be oriented diagonally. 
         [0017]    The surgical instrument holder  100  may be formed of a material such as Styrofoam or some other hard foam, plastic such as polyethylene, rubber, paper, metal, or another suitable material. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument holder  100  is formed of stainless steel and configured to be sterilized in an autoclave along with any contained surgical instruments in a sterilization tray. The surgical instrument holder  100  may be solid in some embodiments and hollow in other embodiments. If the surgical instrument holder  100  is hollow, it may be preferred to form the surgical instrument holder  100  out of a rigid material, such as plastic or another rigid material. 
         [0018]    The surgical instrument holder  100  may be distributed as a sterile and disposable unit, or may be reusable and constructed of a material capable of sterilization, e.g., stainless steel. The surgical instrument holder  100  may also be recyclable in some embodiments. The surgical instrument holder  100  may be packaged as a separate unit or as a part of a surgical package. 
         [0019]    Each grouping  101  of slots  103  may be divided by a plurality of separators  106 . The separators  106  may be formed of the same or different material than the rest of the surgical instrument holder  100 , such as foam, plastic, etc. In one embodiment, each grouping  101  of slots  103  comprises five slots  103  divided by four separators  106 . However, a grouping  101  of slots  103  may comprise some other number or numbers of slots  103  in other embodiments. In one embodiment, a slot  103  is ⅛ inch wide and a separator  106  is 1/16 inch wide, though the widths may vary in other embodiments in order to receive instruments of varying widths. Additionally, if the surgical instrument holder  100  is constructed out of a foam or other suitable material, slots  103  may be expanded by pressure or cutting out of the material. If the surgical instrument holder  100  is hollow, the slots  103  may be openings into the interior of the hollow surgical instrument holder  100 , or the slots  103  may be bounded by material (e.g., of the separators  106 ) along the depth of the slots  103 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, a surgical instrument holder  100  may comprise ten groupings  101  of slots  103 , adapted to receive fifty surgical instruments in total, though the total number of groupings  101  of slots  103  may vary in other embodiments. In various embodiments, each grouping  101  of slots  103  may be separated by a separation distance  109 . As a non-limiting example, the separation distance may be one inch. The separation distance  109  may be selected based on preventing contamination of groups of instruments, the length of the instruments being used, and other factors. 
         [0021]    By having a grouping  101  of some number of slots  103 , users can easily count the number of instruments in one or multiple groupings  101 . Additionally, the order of the instruments stored in the slots  103  of a grouping  101  may be important. Moreover, certain types of instruments may be arranged in one grouping  101  versus another grouping  101 . Thus, the groupings  101  of slots  103  may be used to maintain logical groupings of instruments if desired. Depending on the material of the surgical instrument holder  100 , the surgical instrument holder  100  may be divided into two or more pieces for convenience and grouping ability. 
         [0022]    The surgical instrument holder  100  may have a first end surface  112  separated from a grouping  101  by an end separation distance  115  of, as a non-limiting example, ½ inch. The first end surface  112  may also be associated with a height  117 . As a non-limiting example, the height  117  may be 1 and ¼ inches. 
         [0023]    The surgical instrument holder  100  may have a base surface  120  and a top surface  123 . In various embodiments, the base surface  120  may have an adhesive backing, suction mechanism, or another securing mechanism used to secure the surgical instrument holder  100  to a table surface. A securing mechanism such as an adhesive backing may be needed, for example, if the surgical instrument holder  100  is constructed of a lightweight material. 
         [0024]    Referring next to  FIG. 2 , shown is a side view of the surgical instrument holder  100  ( FIG. 1 ) according to various embodiments. In particular, the surgical instrument holder  100  has a first end surface  112  ( FIG. 1 ) and a second end surface  126 . As depicted in this non-limiting example, the surgical instrument holder  100  has ten groupings  101  ( FIG. 1 ) of slots  103  ( FIG. 1 ). The overall length of the depicted surgical instrument holder  100  may be, for example, 18 and ¾ inches or longer.  FIG. 3  depicts a top view of this example of a surgical instrument holder  100  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0025]    Moving now to  FIG. 4 , shown is an end view of the surgical instrument holder  100  ( FIG. 1 ) according to various embodiments. The first end surface  112  ( FIG. 1 ) is depicted as a semicircle. In other embodiments, the first end surface  112  may appear as an elongated semi-circle, a semi-ellipse, a polygon, or some other shape. The first end surface  112  is associated with a base width  403 . The second end surface  126  ( FIG. 2 ) may be identical to the first end surface  112 . The first end surface  112  may be perpendicular to the base surface  120  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0026]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , depicted is a perspective view of the surgical instrument holder  100  ( FIG. 1 ) according to various embodiments. As illustrated, the surgical instrument holder  100  is adapted to receive surgical instruments in each grouping  101  ( FIG. 1 ) of slots  103  ( FIG. 1 ) and to maintain the surgical instruments in an organized and accessible condition. 
         [0027]    In various embodiments, the surgical instrument holder  100  may be severable. As non-limiting examples, the surgical instrument holder  100  may be distributed in an extra long form or in a roll form. The surgical instrument holder  100  may be severed by cutting it, for example, with scissors, a knife, or by some other cutting tool. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument holder  100  may be severed by breaking or snapping it. To facilitate severing, the surgical instrument holder  100  may include lines or other indications showing a user where the surgical instrument holder  100  may be cut or broken along a lateral axis into two surgical instrument holders  100 . The surgical instrument holder  100  may be manufactured, for example, with indents or partial cuts to ease breaking or fracturing. 
         [0028]    In various embodiments, the surgical instrument holder  100  may contain a magnetic strip in order to facilitate secure retention of the surgical instruments contained by the surgical instrument holder. 
         [0029]    Referring next to  FIG. 6 , shown is an alternative embodiment of a surgical instrument holder  200 . In contrast to the surgical instrument holder  100  ( FIG. 1 ), the surgical instrument holder  200  includes no slots. However, the surgical instrument holder  200  is formed of a material that is configured to deform under the weight of a surgical instrument  203  or another weight applied thereto. The deformation produces an indentation  206  so as to limit movement of the surgical instrument  203 . At least a portion of the surgical instrument holder  200  may be formed, for example, of a non-rigid foam material. In one embodiment, the material may be non-resilient, resulting in a permanent deformation of the material. In another embodiment, the material may be resilient, resulting in only a temporary deformation of the material. In one embodiment, indications such as lines may be provided on the surgical instrument holder  200  to show proper placement of a surgical instrument  203  or to define logical groupings of surgical instruments  203 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , shown is another alternative embodiment of a surgical instrument holder  300 . In contrast to the surgical instrument holder  100  ( FIG. 1 ) and the surgical instrument holder  200  ( FIG. 6 ), the surgical instrument holder  300  has one slot  303  running lengthwise. The slot  303  may be used to retain any number of surgical instruments in a fixed position. 
         [0031]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.