Abstract:
A cassette has a top joined with a releasably attached double hinge to a bottom. An interior region can be filled with dental/medical instruments for sterilization and/or storage. The instruments can be supported by pre-arranged supports and retaining members. A practitioner can configure the arrangement in the cassette in accordance with his/her preferences.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/525,274 filed Nov. 26, 2003, entitled “Configurable Cassettes”. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention pertains to instrument sterilizing cassettes. More particularly, the invention pertains to cassettes of a type that are configurable by a dental practitioner in accordance with his/her preferences in arranging sets of instruments for sterilization, and subsequent use.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Dental practitioners are known to have very specific preferences as to the arrangement of instruments to be used in a given dental procedure. Differing procedures call for different sets of instruments and different arrangements of those instruments prior to starting the procedure.  
         [0004]     Subsequent to the procedure, the instruments need to be cleaned and sterilized. They also need to be placed into the practitioner&#39;s preferred configuration for subsequent use.  
         [0005]     It has been known to load sets of instruments into bags for sterilization subsequent to a procedure. The sterile bag of instruments can then be provided to the practitioner at the start of the next procedure. One of the disadvantages of using sterilization bags is that the instruments are loose in the bag and are not arranged as preferred by the practitioner.  
         [0006]     Dental instrument cassettes represent another approach to sterilizing, and storing arranged instruments for use by a practitioner. Such cassettes can be formed of sterilizable heat resistant plastic or medical grade stainless steel. Known cassettes often have hinged sections which can be closed upon one another to form an interior region. The instruments can be arranged in the interior region for sterilization and storage until the practitioner is ready to use them for the next procedure. When the cassette is opened, the instruments are presented to the practitioner in his/her preferred arrangement.  
         [0007]     Plastic sterilization and storage cassettes have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,992 entitled “Apparatus for Organizing, Sterilizing and Maintaining Medical/Dental Instruments”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,413 entitled “Sterilization and Storage Cassette”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,929 entitled “Sterilization and Storage Cassette”. Metal storage cassettes have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,475 entitled “Instrument Cassette”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,726 entitled “Two-Tiered Sterilization and Storage Cassette”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,84,632 entitled “Two-Tiered Sterilization and Storage Cassette”, Des. Patent No. D 441,457 entitled “Sterilization Cassette” and Des. Patent No. D 360,697 entitled “Sterilization Cassette”. The previously enumerated patents are all assigned to the assignee hereof and incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0008]     While the known cassettes have been useful and effective for their intended purposes, there continues to be a need for cassettes which enable dental practitioners to more readily arrange instruments in accordance with their preferences. Preferably such cassettes could also be readily reconfigurable in the event that the practitioner wishes to change the instrument set, or, wants to modify the instrument arrangement. It would also be desirable if the cassettes could be configured so as to have a minimal footprint when opened. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of an instrument sterilization and storage cassette in accordance with the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 1B  illustrates one instrument storage configuration usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 1C  illustrates an alternate instrument storage configuration usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating additional details of the instrument configuration of  FIG. 1B ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial view of a portion of the hinge of the cassette of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial view of an interior region of the cassette of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the cassette of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  taken together illustrate additional details of the hinge configuration of the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial view of a corner of the cassette of  FIG. 6B ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8A  illustrates a syringe clip usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8B  illustrates a needle cap holder usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8C  illustrates a hinged instrument clip usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0021]     FIG,  8 D illustrates a compression rail usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8E  illustrates an alternate form of a compression rail usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8F  is an exemplary base rail assembly usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8G  illustrates an exemplary base rail anchor usable with the cassette of  FIG. 1A ; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates an alternate instrument configuration in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 1A, 1B ,  1 C illustrate different configurations of a dental instrument storage and sterilization cassette  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the cassette  10  includes a cover, an upper, molded, thermoplastic body member  12   a  and a base, a lower, molded thermoplastic body member  12   b.    
         [0028]     The members  12   a, b  can be molded of any high strength autoclavable thermoplastic. Alternately, one or both of members  12   a, b  can be formed of metal.  
         [0029]     Members  12   a, b  when closed against one another, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , define and bound an interior instrument storage region.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1B  illustrates the cassette  10  in an open state and having a first instrument configuration  10 - 1 . The configuration  10 - 1  presents to the practitioner a plurality of instruments I- 1  which could be the same or different depending on the procedure with which the instruments are associated. The instruments I- 1  are oriented and arranged in the configuration  10 - 1  with their elongated axes, perpendicular to an elongated axis of each of the members  12   a, b . The instruments I- 1  are supported on removable and rearrangeable silicon based rail assemblies, best seen in  FIG. 8F . Other instruments can be retained by one or more base rail anchors  18 , or clips and holders, best seen in  FIGS. 8A, 8B  and  8 C.  
         [0031]     The upper region or cover  12   a ,  FIG. 1B , carries a removably attached compression rail indicated generally at  22 . When the cover  12   a  is closed against the base  12   b , the compression rail  22  clamps the instruments I- 1  against the respective base rail assemblies  16   a, b  thereupon blocking any movement of the respective instruments during sterilization, transportation to the location for the procedure, or, during storage between procedures.  
         [0032]     The base rail assemblies  16   a, b  are either directly coupled to or indirectly coupled to the base  12   b  via base rail anchors  18 , by engaging various members of an elongated plurality of openings, such as the representative opening  26  in base  12   b.  The openings  26  are spaced axially along the base  12   b . Shorter openings  26 - 1  are spaced axially along the base  12   b  and provide additional locations to which the rails  16   a,b  and/or base rail anchors  18 , clips or instrument holders can be attached.  
         [0033]     The cover  12   a  also includes a plurality of circular perforations such as representative perforation  28 . It will be understood that the elongated perforations or openings  26 ,  26 - 1  and circular openings  28  not only facilitate locating and attachment of various instrument support elements, they also contribute to and facilitate sterilization of the instruments carried in the cassette  10  when in a closed state, such as in  FIG. 1A .  
         [0034]     It will also be understood that the cover  12   a  and base  12   b  could be identical. In this configuration, the perforations  26 ,  26 - 1  and  28  would also be identical.  
         [0035]     Clips for hinged instruments, such as clips  32   a,    32   b  can be releasibly attached to selected ones of the openings  28  in accordance with the practitioner&#39;s preferences. A hinged instrument, such as scissors I- 2  can be carried by the hinged instrument clips such as  32   a, b . As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the hinged instrument clips as well as the instruments for rails and rail base anchors can be arranged in a variety of configurations relative to covers  12   a  and base  12   b . These arrangements are preferably based on the preference of the practitioner.  
         [0036]     An alternate instrument configuration  10 - 2  is illustrated in  FIG. 1C . In  FIG. 1C , a plurality of instruments I- 3  is supported on respective base rails, such as  16   a ′,  16   b ′, which could be identical to the base rails  16   a, b.  In the configuration  10 - 2 , the plurality of instruments I- 3  extend parallel to the elongated axis of the cassette  10 . The instruments I- 3  can be retained in place by compression rail  22 ′ which is retained in circular openings  28 . The configuration  10 - 2  does not include supports  32   a, b.    
         [0037]     The cassette  10  is also advantageous in that a practitioner can initially use insrument configuration  10 - 1  and subsequently change the same in accordance with his/her preferences. Similarly, the hinged instruments such as instrument I- 2  can be added or deleted from the instrument set.  
         [0038]     The cover  12   a  and base  12   b  can be latched together with a pair of elongated latches  38   a, b.  The latches  38   a, b  are preferably carried on cover  12   a.  They slidably engage respective latching elements  40   a, b  on the base  12   b  when the cover  12   a  is closed against the base  12   b.  Other latch configurations come within the spirit and scope of the invention, for example the latches could be carried on the base  12   b.    
         [0039]     Those of skill will understand that instrument configurations  10 - 1 , - 2  are exemplary only. Other configurations come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of cassette  10  with instrument configuration  10 - 1 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the top  12   a,  and base  12   b  are pivotally joined by a removably attachable double hinge indicated generally at  44 . The hinge  44  could be formed, preferably, of stainless steel. Alternately, it could be formed of cured resin.  
         [0041]     The hinge  44  has two spaced apart parallel pivoting axis  44   a, b.  The two axis are joined by an intervening, elongated rigid member  46   a.  Rigid elongated member members  46   b  and  46   c  of hinge  44 , rotate relative to the member  46   a  about the axis  44   a, b.  The members  46   b,c  slidably and removably engage cover  12   a  and base  12   b  at slots  12 - 1 ,- 2 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  illustrates a preferred engagement structure of hinge  44 . It will be understood that other engagement structures comes within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Examples include snap-lock arrangements, friction fit or fasteners.  
         [0043]     The members  46   b,c  extend through slots such as slots  12 - 1 , - 2 , respectively formed in cover  12   a  and base  12   b.  As the members  46   b, c  slide into the respective slots,  12 - 1 , - 2 , perforations therein, such as perforations  48   a,    48   b  slidably receive spring biased ends  50   a  and  50   b.  The ends  50   a, b  are carried within members  50 - 1  and  50 - 2  and releasibly lock the hinge  44  to cover  12   a  and base  12   b.    
         [0044]      FIG. 4 , an enlarged section of a portion of the base  12   b  of  FIG. 2 , illustrates details of the base rails, such as base rails  16   a,b  or  16   a′, b′ . The respective rails can be attached to base rail anchors. Alternately, they can be directly attached to the base member  12   b  with a friction or snap fit.  
         [0045]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the cover  12   a.    
         [0046]      FIGS. 6A, 6B  illustrate beneficial and advantageous aspects of the cassette  10 . The cover  12   a  folds completely under the base  12   b  as a result of the structure of the double hinge  44 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6A, 6B , as a result, the cassette  10  exhibits only a single tray footprint, thus taking up less valuable space when in use.  
         [0047]      FIG. 7 , an enlarged, corner, fragmentary view of base  12   b,  illustrates the use and installation of an accessory clip, such as clip  54   a.  Such clips could be formed of metal, stainless steel, for example, or resin. Clip  54   a  is slidably mounted on molded post  54   b  which extends from base  12   b.    
         [0048]     A needle cap holder  56   a  is slidably mounted on another molded post  56   b . The clips  54   a  and needle cap holder  56   a  are exemplary only. Neither their configuration nor their characteristics are limitations of the present invention. Other clips come within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0049]      FIGS. 8A-8G  illustrate various types of exemplary instrument support/restraining members usable with the cassette  10 .  FIG. 8A  illustrates details of syringe clip  54   a .  FIG. 8B  illustrates details of needle cap holder  56   a .  FIG. 8C  illustrates details of the hinged instrument clip  32   i .  FIGS. 8D, 8E  illustrate two different forms of compression rails  22 - 1 , - 2 . Both types of compression rails can be releasibly attached to cover  12   a.    
         [0050]      FIG. 8F  illustrates an exemplary rail assembly  16 i.  FIG. 8G  illustrates a base rail anchor, such as anchor  18 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of another instrument configuration  10 - 3 . The configuration  10 - 3  uses the cover and base  12   a, b,  discussed previously, along with the hinge  44 . However, instrument configuration  10 - 3  is based on incorporating one or more trays such as  66   a,b,c  within the region formed by the cover and base  12   a, b.    
         [0052]     For example, and without limitation, instruments can be stored in a deep tray  66   a  or one of two shallow trays  66   b,    66   c.  The trays can be retained by resin tie downs  68  which slidably engage posts, such as post  70  to clamp the respective trays to the base  12   b.    
         [0053]     In addition to the trays, hinged instrument clips, such as the clips  32   i  discussed previously, can be slidably attached to the cover  12   a  for purposes of carrying one or more hinged instruments as would be understood by those of skill in the art. It will be understood that other tray based instrument storage arrangements come within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be understood that all elements or components usable in the cassette  10  could be formed of resin or metal.  
         [0054]     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.