Patent Publication Number: US-7717264-B2

Title: Modular container for medical instruments and implants with extruded flexible bracket and rigid holders

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of containers and cases for holding surgical instruments, implants and devices and to the brackets for holding the instruments, implants and devices. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Various types of containers and cases have been provided to organize surgical instruments, implants and other medical devices. These items must not only be organized but protected from damage. Likewise, the items must be sterilized, stored and then delivered for ready use. In our U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,097, we have disclosed an instrument cassette and sterile wrap assembly composed of a tray and a lid mounted thereto. In our U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,502 we have disclosed an instrument cassette having a mechanism to prevent lateral movement of the medical instrument when positioned within the cassette. In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,987 the tray is provided with downwardly extending feet that are nestable within recesses provided in the tray cover located there beneath. In our U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,738 the storage and sterilization tray assembly is designed to be slidably mounted on a horizontally extending rack. 
   The sterilization and storage tray assemblies must be modified or tailored to the particular size and configuration of the instruments, implants and devices to be held within the tray. Various types of bracketry and holders are typically mounted within the tray assembly with the configuration of the brackets depending upon the devices to be held within the assembly. In order to utilize the tray assembly in a variety of different applications, it is desirable to provide a tray assembly having internal brackets that may be easily moved or changed depending upon the devices to be held by the brackets. Disclosed herein is such a tray assembly. 
   One such bracket we have devised is shown in  FIGS. 29-34 . The bracket shown is particularly useful in partitioning the container into multiple compartments through the use of a bar mounted to a plurality of rigid brackets holding the bar to a base plate or the floor of a container. The bar is produced from a flexible material, such as, silicone rubber thereby allowing the bar to be cut and shaped to hold a variety of differently configured medical items. The length of a bracket produced from a flexible material is limited when vertical posts are used to mount the bracket since the material will flex an undesirable amount. The flexible bar shown in  FIG. 29  on the other hand is secured along its length thereby limiting the amount of flexibility. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment of the present invention is a bracket arrangement to hold medical items on a base wall including elongated first and second brackets. The first bracket has a first main body with a plurality of first feet extending there beneath. The first main body has a first plate extending the length thereof and arranged relative to the first feet at a first angle so that when the first feet are mounted to a base wall, the first plate is arranged relative to the base wall at the first angle. Likewise, the second bracket has a second main body with a plurality of second feet extending there beneath. The second main body has a second plate extending parallel to the first plate. The second plate is arranged relative to the second feet at a second angle so that when the second feet are mounted to the base wall, the second plate is arranged relative to the base at the second angle. An elongated bar of flexible material extends along the length of the first and second brackets and has a lower edge portion releasably holdable between the brackets by the first and second plates. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tray assembly incorporating the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is the same view as  FIG. 1  illustrating the tray assembly from a different perspective. 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a fixture utilized in installing internal components within the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is the same view as  FIG. 3  only showing vertical posts mounted to the fixture and used to locate and assemble internal components within the tray assembly. 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the tray assembly without the cover mounted thereto illustrating examples of internal components located within the tray, as located by the fixture assembly shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of two brackets mounted to the tray for holding instruments. 
       FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of an assembled tray having a variety of tools retained within with the tools shown being non-medical tools simply for illustration purposes only. 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of one embodiment of a fixture post. 
       FIG. 9  is the same view as  FIG. 8  only with a fastening button shown positioned to be inserted on the post for installation on the tray. 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged end view of the tray of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one end of the tray including the cover and showing a handle mounted to the tray. 
       FIG. 12  is the same view as  FIG. 11  only showing an exploded view of the handle with the tray assembly having the cover removed therefrom. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the cover. 
       FIG. 14  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the cover mounted to the tray with a hook-shaped end protruding through the cover and the handle positioned between the hook-shaped end and the cover. 
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of another embodiment of a fixture post. 
       FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of yet another embodiment of a fixture post. 
       FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of a bracket mounting post. 
       FIG. 18  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 6  and viewed in the direction of the arrows. 
       FIG. 19  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 6  and viewed in the direction of the arrows. 
       FIG. 20  is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the tray illustrating labels positioned beneath rigid and flexible brackets as well as an alternate embodiment of the rigid bracket. 
       FIG. 21  is a top view of two of the labels illustrated in  FIG. 20  with the bracket and, mounting posts and button fastener removed. 
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the tray having flexible brackets and posts incorporating the present invention. 
       FIG. 23  is the same view as  FIG. 22  only showing two of the flexible brackets holding a medical instrument or other type of item. 
       FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  24 - 24  of  FIG. 22  and viewed in the direction of the arrows and showing the template plate of  FIG. 25  mounted to the tray. 
       FIG. 25  is a top perspective view of a template plate mountable atop the floor of the tray of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 26  is the same view as  FIG. 25  only showing location indicia marked on the template plate. 
       FIG. 27  is the same view as  FIG. 24  only showing the cover mounted to the tray. 
       FIG. 28  is a bottom perspective view at the cover mountable to the tray of  FIG. 22 . 
       FIG. 29  is a top perspective view of an extruded flexible wall mounted to a pair of brackets, in turn, mounted to a base for partitioning a compartment or holding medical instruments and/or implants. 
       FIG. 30  is an exploded view of the device of  FIG. 29 . 
       FIG. 31  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line  31 - 31  of  FIG. 29  and viewed in the direction of the arrows. 
       FIG. 32  is a bottom perspective view of the device of  FIG. 29 . 
       FIG. 33  is the same view as  FIG. 31  only showing the device positioned within a container. 
       FIG. 34  is a perspective view of a container having two of the flexible bars mounted thereto. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended; such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a versatile storage and delivery system incorporating the present invention. The system includes a container  30  for the organization, protection, sterilization, storage, and delivery of surgical instruments, implants, and related devices. 
   Container  30  includes a perforated tray  31  and an optional, identically perforated cover  32  removably secured thereto by a pair of handle assemblies  33  and  34 . The tray  31  ( FIG. 5 ) has a perforated floor  35  joined to a pair of end walls  36  and  37  and a pair of side walls  38  and  39  with the end walls and side walls extending outwardly from the floor forming a cavity  40  into which may be located surgical instruments, implants and related devices. 
   Movable internal posts and buttons are located within the tray and retain rigid and flexible brackets and supports for holding the surgical instruments, implants and related devices within the tray. A fixture is first used to hold the posts in position for subsequent installation within the tray. 
   Fixture  41  ( FIG. 3 ) is a flat plate having a plurality of holes  42  matching and alignable with the plurality of holes  52  provided in floor  35  ( FIG. 5 ) of the tray. The tray and components may be assembled prior to shipment and use. Fixture  41  is utilized to configure or reconfigure the tray to the particular use. 
   A plurality of cylindrical fixture posts  43 ,  106  &amp;  107  ( FIGS. 8 ,  15  &amp;  16 ) are mounted to fixture  41 . Each post  43 ,  106  &amp;  107  includes a reduced diameter first end  45  sized to closely fit through holes  42  of fixture  41 . Ends  45  are removably mounted to fixture  41  by conventional means. For example, each end  45  may have an internally threaded hole to receive a threaded bolt, the head of the bolt preventing disengagement of the post from the fixture. Likewise, a variety of snap rings and other devices may be used. As an alternative, external threads may be provided on ends  45  that extend through the fixture being threadedly received by internally threaded nuts provided on the opposite side of the fixture. 
   Fixture  41  is placed on a supporting work surface, such as a bench, etc., with the posts  43 ,  106  &amp;  107  facing outward in the same direction as depicted in  FIG. 4 . Posts  106  serve as alignment posts with respect to the fixture and tray  31 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , four such posts  106  are utilized and are shown as posts  48 ,  49 ,  50  and  51 . These four posts are spaced apart to be positioned in the four corners of tray  31 . The outer distal end  109  ( FIG. 15 ) of each post  106  has a reduced diameter to extend through the holes  52  of the tray floor  35  once the tray is inverted and temporarily mounted to the outwardly extending posts of fixture  41 . 
   Fixture posts  43  have ends  52  that are counter bored to receive the heads of button fasteners  53  ( FIG. 9 ) with the shanks  46  extendable through the tray floor  35 . Shanks  46  have grooves to receive snap rings or may be externally threaded to receive an internally threaded fastener. Fixture posts  43  are used to install the button fasteners  53  on the tray as will be described latter in this specification. 
   Fixture posts  107  ( FIG. 16 ) are hollow and internally sized to slidably receive bracket mounting posts  108  ( FIG. 17 ) Once posts  43 ,  106  and  107  are mounted to the fixture, the bracket mounting posts  108  are positioned in the hollow fixture posts  107  and button fasteners  53  are positioned in the ends  52  of fixture posts  43 . 
   Bracket mounting posts  108  are solid and include a cylindrical body with opposite ends  111  and  112 . End  111  has a reduced diameter and is sized to fit through the optional cover  32  when mounted to tray  31 . Post  108  has enlarged portions  113  and  114 , that are ring-shaped in the preferred embodiment, adjacent ends  111  and  112  that act to restrain a flexible bracket mounted thereon and to be described later in this specification. End  112  has a reduced diameter portion  118  extendable through the floor of the tray with a groove  115  provided thereon to receive a retaining ring mounting the post to the tray floor. Other techniques may be utilized to secure post  108  to the tray floor. A variety of retaining rings are available. For example, one such ring is available from Truarc Company, LLC, 70 East Willow Street, Millburn, N.J., under Truarc Part No. 5304-15. Other means may be utilized to secure ends  112  and  46  to floor  35 , such as described for the attachment of end  45  to fixture  41 . 
   Post portion  116  ( FIGS. 17 and 18 ) has a diameter greater than end  112  forming shoulder  110  but less than the main body of the post forming shoulder  117 . Shoulder  117  abuts against the upwardly facing surface of wall  120  of bracket  70  whereas shoulder  110  abuts against the upwardly facing surface of floor  35  thereby cooperatively with the retaining ring on the opposite side of the tray floor holding the post in an upright and fixed position. 
   Posts  108  and button fasteners  53  ( FIG. 5 ) are used to removably mount a plurality of flexible brackets  56  and rigid brackets  55  and  70  to the floor  35  of the tray. Button fastener  53  is designed to hold planer surfaces in mated contact including but not limited to rigid brackets and overlapping joints, such as those present at the corners of enclosures fabricated from folded sheet. Post  108  provides a cylindrical projection that occupies most of the vertical distance between floor  35  and the optional cover and locates the flexible brackets using the passages present at the ends of the brackets. Alternatively, posts  108  extend through the mid or other points of the brackets. The flexible and rigid brackets removably hold the various surgical instruments, implants and other devices in the tray. 
   As an example, right angle rigid bracket  55  ( FIG. 5 ) has a first wall  58  parallel to and removably mounted atop floor  35  by a pair of button fasteners  53  having an enlarged head positioned adjacent wall  58  with the end  46  ( FIG. 19 ) of each button fastener extending through wall  58  and holes  52  of floor  35 . A variety of techniques may be used to removably secure the shank of the button fastener to floor  35 . For example, the shanks may be externally threaded and receive internally threaded nuts positioned on the opposite side of floor  35 . The vertically extending bracket wall  60  includes a top end  61  with openings  62  formed therein to releasably receive and hold the ends  63  of items  64  and  65 . The shape and configuration of openings  62  may be varied depending upon the size and configuration of the instrument, implant or other device to be held by the bracket. 
   The flexible brackets are configured to removably receive and hold the variety of instruments and devices positioned within the tray. For example, flexible bracket  56  ( FIG. 5 ) includes a flexible web  69  integrally joined to a pair of cylindrical ends  67  and  68  each having a passage extending therethrough to removably receive a post  108 . The top end of web  69  is provided with a recess or hole to removably receive and hold the particular instrument or device within the tray. The flexible casing forming ends  67  and  68  are slipped over and around post  108  so that the top and bottom of ends  67  and  68  ( FIG. 5 ) rest adjacent enlarged portions  113  and  114  ( FIG. 17 ). The bottom end of post  108  extends through the floor  35  and may be secured thereto by an external retaining clip. The top end of post  108  has a reduced diameter top end to fit into the holes of any cover or tray stacked atop the post. Bracket  70  has an upstanding wall having a solid surface against which the ends of tools  64  and  65  may abut. 
   Fixture posts  43 ,  106  &amp;  107  are mounted to fixture  41  and bracket mounting posts  108  are positioned within fixture posts  107 , button fasteners  53  are positioned in ends  52  of posts  43  and rigid brackets  55  and  70  are mounted to posts  43  so ends  46  of button fasteners  53  extend through the brackets. Tray  31  is then positioned atop the posts so ends  46 ,  109 , and  112  of the posts and button fasteners extend through the floor of the inverted tray with the ends  46  and  112  then being secured to the floor by the fastening means previously described. Tray  31  is then removed from fixture  41  along with its posts  43 ,  106  and  107  and the flexible brackets are slipped onto posts  108 . 
   The flexible and rigid brackets are configured depending upon the instrument or device to be held within the tray. For example, flexible brackets  76  and  77  ( FIG. 7 ) are mounted by vertical posts  108 . Bracket  76  includes a hole  78  through which the shank of a screw driver extends whereas bracket  77  includes an upwardly opening recess to receive the handle  79  of the screw driver. Brackets  76  and  77  are designed to each receive three vertical posts thereby allowing for the mounting of a pair of screw drivers. The tools shown in  FIG. 7  are for illustration purposes only. 
   The top end  111  of post  108  is extendable through the optional cover  32  ( FIG. 1 ) or optional insert tray identical to and positioned above tray  31  thereby reinforcing the post and the surrounding floor and preventing any deformation by inertial forces generated by movement of the instruments and devices held within the tray. The top ends  111  of the posts extend through the holes of the cover limiting movement of the posts during any movement of the tray and also in the event medical instruments within the tray impact the posts. 
   Posts  108  extend from the floor  35  of tray  31  to cover  32  thereby allowing the ends  67  and  68  ( FIG. 5 ) of the flexible brackets to extend with integral flexible web  69  from floor  35  to cover  32 . Prior flexible brackets typically hold the various surgical instruments, implants and related devices in a press fit relationship since the brackets did not extend to the underside of the cover, preventing utilization of the cover for vertical retention. Concerns therefore exist relative to cleaning and sterilization issues existing between a tight fitting bracket relative to the device held by the bracket. The flexible brackets disclosed herein are produced from silicone and are supported along their entire height from floor to cover allowing the openings in the integral web  69  to loosely receive and hold the surgical instruments, implants and related devices providing for superior sterilization results. Further, the silicone brackets completely encase posts  108  preventing damage to the devices held by the brackets by preventing the devices from contacting the posts as compared to conventional brackets and metal posts not encased in silicone or other protective coatings. 
   A plurality of external stacking feet  80  ( FIG. 10 ) are provided on the under surface of tray  31 . The stacking feet may be cast, machined or molded from any suitable material and serve to elevate the system when placed upon sterile drape used to cover work surfaces at the point of use. The feet  80  also serve to locate stacked systems atop one another by nesting within features present on the system cover  32 . The general shape of each foot allows the system to be placed upon or removed from wire racks without snagging and presents soft contours minimizing the possibility of puncturing sterile wrap. The foot  80  is ideally fastened to the floor  35  of the container using the same retaining clip found elsewhere in the system, and may or may not contain features to allow placement of internal components in perforations adjacent to that in which the foot is affixed. The feet may be placed in any unoccupied perforation. At minimum, diagonally opposed feet are required for proper stacking. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , each foot  80  has a truncated conical shape with an upper pin (not shown) extending upwardly through the holes  52  of the bottom floor  35  of tray  31 . The pins of the feet may then be secured to floor  35  by any suitable means, such as the retaining clips, threaded bolts or internally threaded nuts. 
   Handle assemblies  33  and  34  ( FIG. 1 ) are attached to the opposite end walls of tray  31 . End walls  36  and  37  have rectangular openings to facilitate the mounting of the assemblies. 
   Assembly  34  will now be described it being understood that an identical description applies to assembly  33 . Assembly  34  includes a folded sheet metal bracket  82  ( FIG. 12 ) with a pair of ears  83  and  84  extending through rectangular opening  81  provided in wall  37 . The main body  85  ( FIG. 12 ) of bracket  82  is positioned immediately adjacent and inside wall  37 . Bracket  82  has a hook shaped top end  96  that protrudes above the top of tray  31  and through the cover  32  when mounted to the tray. An elastomeric member  86 , having a cross section identical to the flexible bracket  56 , is mounted to bracket  82  by means of a cylindrical pin  97  ( FIG. 11 ) that extends through ears  83  and  84  and the hollow cylindrical bottom end  87  of member  86 . Member  86  has a central web  88  integral with end  87 . Retaining clips similar to those used to affix the internal components to the tray floor also serve to retain pin  97  to ears  83  and  84 . The clips reside in grooves on pin  97  located between the elastomeric member  86  and ears  83  and  84 . It is understood that flexible bracket  56  and elastomeric member  86  are the same raw material. 
   A wire bail forms a handle  91  with the lower wire portion  92  of the wire bail  91  extending through the hollow centers of top ends  89  and  90  of elastomeric member  86 . A tubular grip  93  receives the top opposite spaced apart ends of handle  91  and acts to cushion the gripping area of the handle assembly. 
   When assembly  34  is in a non-latch position, ends  89  and  90  are located vertically above web  88  and bottom end  87 . Web  88  assumes the bent configuration depicted in  FIGS. 11 and 12  when assembly  34  is pulled inwardly so that the bottom wire portion  92  of the handle  91  that extends through ends  89  and  90  may be retained securely beneath the hook shaped top end  96  of bracket  82 . By pulling the wire bail inwardly, the elastomeric member  86  is stretched so that the wire bail bottom portion  92  may be retained securely beneath the hook shaped top end  96 . Thus, the weight of the system is not carried by the elastomeric member  86  but by the bracket  82  and thus by the tray. Accidental disengagement of the wire bail handle from the hook will not result in dropping of the system and its contents. Cylindrical bottom end  87  is positioned adjacent and outwardly of wall  37 . Web  88  attaches cylindrical bottom end  87  to the pair of cylindrical hollow top ends  89  and  90  that are positioned over tray  31 . Ends  89  and  90  are spaced apart with hook shaped end  96  of bracket  82  positioned therebetween. 
   Cover  32  may be constructed from any sterilizable, suitably rigid material. For example, the cover may be a drawn aluminum pan, fabricated from folded sheet metal or from polymer resin being molded, vacuum formed etc. The quantity and locations of perforations present in the cover must, at a minimum, match exactly those present for the fastening of internal components to the floor of a single layer system or the floor of the top insert tray in a multiple layer system. Cover  32  ( FIG. 13 ) includes a pair of rectangular openings  94  and  95  at the opposite end portions to allow for the passage of hook shaped ends  96  of assemblies  33  and  34 . 
   The cover is mounted to the tray when using sterile wrap in lieu of rigid container systems, as the cover is necessary to prevent the contents of the container from escaping their retaining brackets when the system is tumbled during the wrapping process. 
   When installing the cover to the tray, ends  111  of the posts  108  are extended into or through the cover. Hook shaped ends  96  are extended from beneath the cover through openings  94  and  95  ( FIG. 13 ) with the hook shaped ends then protruding over and above the cover. The holes extending through the cover and floor allow fluid sterilant flow facilitating the sterilization of the items held within the tray. 
   Tubular grips  93  of assemblies  33  and  34  are then grasped and pulled upwardly and then over the cover positioning bottom wire portion  92  of each handle around the edge  103  of hook shaped end  96  in the direction of arrow  104  and into and beneath the hook shaped end so that portion  92  is positioned between the hook shaped end  96  and the top of the cover. In the event the cover is not utilized, then wire portion  92  is still positioned beneath the hook shaped end  96 . 
   With the cover mounted to the tray, the handles may rotate approximately 210 degrees from a position lying inward and flush atop the cover to a binding position extending outward of the perimeter of the cover. This binding position, achievable by carrying the system by the handles while inverted, increases the security that the handle assemblies will remain engaged in the retained cover position. The method of carrying the system with or without the cover present and securing the cover when present is equally applicable to any container system of suitably rigid material having a close or flush fitting cover and appropriate openings at each end of the floor and cover. Additional characteristics include: (1) a latched or unlatched state is visually apparent, (2) one-hundred percent field repairable without the use of special tools, and (3) the system does not require precision manufacturing tolerances for optimum function. 
   By removing the cover from the tray, the system is properly configured when used inside present rigid container systems in lieu of sterile wrap systems. With the perforated cover mounted to the tray, the system is configured when using sterile wrap as the cover is necessary to prevent the contents of the container from escaping their retaining brackets when the system is tumbled during the wrapping process. 
   Cover  32  ( FIG. 13 ) may be provided with circumferentially extending ridges  98  or other projections to promote the secure stacking of the systems by providing nesting locations for the external feet  80  when the systems are placed atop one another. 
   Many variations of the described structure are contemplated and included in the present invention. For example, the flexible and rigid brackets may take many shapes and configurations depending on the items to be secured. As an example, flexible bracket  130  ( FIG. 5 ) includes a bowed web  131  integral with the opposite tubular shaped ends forming a pouch to receive the end of an instrument  132  ( FIG. 7 ). Further as an example, spaced apart posts  133  and ( FIG. 7 ) include an outer silicone casing extending around posts  108  to receive the ring shaped ends  135  and  136  ( FIG. 7 ) of an instrument. 
   When mounting the various surgical instruments, implants and devices in the tray, it is helpful for the user to know where the particular device is to be mounted within the tray. Thus, we have provided labels associated with the flexible and rigid brackets. The labels may consist of a flat plate  140  ( FIG. 20 ) made from a metal, plastic or paper material and having the indicia  141  provided on the upwardly facing surface of the label identifying the particular device to be mounted to the bracket. The indicia may consist of a bar code, letters or numbers or any type of identifying marks. The indicia may be placed on the plate by printing, etching or any conventional technique. The thickness of the plate is such that the ends of the plate fit between the floor  35  of the tray and the head of button fastener  53  and between the floor  35  of the tray and shoulder  117  ( FIG. 17 ) of bracket mounting post  108 . The thickness of plate  140  may be equal to the length of reduced portion  116  of post  108 . Thus, the labels may be utilized with the rigid brackets and/or flexible brackets previously described. 
   Label plate  140  has a pair of opposite beveled ends  143  and  144  ( FIG. 21 ) with a curved recess  145  to partially receive the shank of button fastener  53  and post  108 . The width  146  of plate  140  equals the distance  147  between the centers of adjacent holes  52  of floor  35  to allow positioning of adjacent plates extending between rows of adjacent holes  52 . Plate  142  is shown positioned beneath a flexible bracket  56  and extending out from either side of the flexible web of the bracket to allow label indicia to be provided on the label to show on the opposite sides of the flexible web. The beveled edges  148  and  149  of labels  140  and  142  allow locating the labels and brackets at right angles relative to each other thereby allowing for a wide variety of positioning of the brackets atop the floor. 
   A variation of the rigid bracket is shown in  FIG. 20 . Brackets  151  and  152  are identical to brackets  55  and  70  previously described except that the opposite end edges of the wall  157  resting atop floor  35  are formed at forty-five degree angles  155  relative to the bracket longitudinal axis extending the length of the bracket creating at the opposite ends of each bracket a pair of edges  154  and  153  between which is formed curved recess  156  to receive the shank of the button fastener  53 . Edges  154  and  153  may also be in contact with the beveled end edges of the labels. For example, a label  140  having edge  149  may be positioned so edge  149  contacts edge  153  of bracket  151  with a fastener  53  then securing label  140  to the tray floor. Thus, the labels may be utilized with both rigid brackets and flexible brackets. Some of the button fasteners are removed in  FIG. 20  from the brackets to illustrate the bracket edges. A pair of brackets  151  and  158  may be aligned in a row with their end edges in contact with each minimizing the space occupied by adjacent brackets. The brackets may be arranged to form areas or compartments, for example area  150 , in which are located specific types of items to be held by the brackets. 
   The container and tray shown in  FIGS. 22-28  is identical to the previously described tray and cover of  FIGS. 1-21  with the exception that additional flexible brackets are illustrated, the bottom surface of the cover includes spacers extending thereacross to provide a cushion in the event the instruments within the container move towards the cover, a template plate is mounted to the tray floor, and the tray feet are integral with the floor. Thus, container  30  ( FIG. 22 ) includes a tray  31  and cover  32  ( FIG. 28 ) removably secured thereto by a pair of handle assemblies  33  and  34  ( FIG. 22 ). The tray has a perforated floor  35  integrally joined to a pair of end walls  36  and  37  and a pair of side walls  38  and  39  with the end walls and side walls extending outwardly and upwardly from the floor forming a cavity into which may be located surgical implants, implants and related devices. 
   Cover  32  includes a pair of downwardly extending end walls  209  and  210  ( FIG. 27 ) that fit externally against the end walls  36  and  37  of the tray. Likewise, the cover includes a pair of downwardly turned side walls  211  and  212  ( FIG. 28 ) that extend externally and adjacent the side walls  38  and  39  ( FIG. 22 ) of the tray. A pair of slots  213  and  214  ( FIG. 28 ) are provided adjacent the end walls of the cover to allow the hook shaped ends  96  to extend therethrough as previously described and illustrated in  FIG. 12 . A plurality of cushion spacers  215  are provided on the downwardly facing inside surface of cover  32  to limit movement of any instruments held within the tray as the tray is tumbled thereby preventing contact between the instruments and the main body of cover  32  and protect the surface finish of the instruments and the cover. A variety of insulation spacers  215  may be provided. For example, in  FIG. 28  there are shown a plurality of diagonally extending spacers  215  positioned between the holes extending through the cover. Excellent results have been obtained by placing a bead of silicone with the bead extending diagonally across the cover. Once the silicone has solidified, the insulation spacers are formed. The present invention contemplates and includes utilization of different types of materials to form spacers  215  such as, various plastics and rubbers. Likewise, spacers  215  do not need to extend diagonally and continuously across the cover but may extend at different angles and may be interrupted as the spacers extend across the cover. 
   In lieu of utilizing feet  80  ( FIG. 10 ) secured to the bottom of the tray which nest in complimentary shaped recesses of the cover, the present invention contemplates and includes downwardly extending feet  216  ( FIG. 27 ) integral with the bottom wall  35  and end and side walls of the tray. Likewise, the cover  32  ( FIG. 28 ) may be provided with downwardly extending depressions  217  ( FIG. 27 ) to nestingly receive feet  216  when the containers are vertically stacked. Recesses  217  are formed immediately inward of the upraised corners  218  ( FIG. 27 ) of the cover whereas feet  216  are located inwardly from the end and side walls of the tray thereby being aligned with recesses  217 . 
   In lieu of using the flat plates  140  ( FIG. 20 ) which are provided with indicia identifying the particular instrument or device to be mounted to the brackets, a removable large indicia plate  200  ( FIG. 25 ) is mounted within the tray. The plate is provided with images, graphics and/or outlines  205  ( FIG. 26 ) on the top surface thereof corresponding to the particular instrument to be mounted to the brackets, in turn, mounted to the tray atop plate  200 . 
   As previously explained, mounting posts  108  ( FIG. 17 ) have opposite ends  111  and  112  sized to fit respectively through the holes in cover  32  and the perforated floor  35 . Post  108  has an enlarged portion  114  having a diameter larger than the cylindrical main body of post  108  thereby forming an upwardly facing surface  219  ( FIG. 24 ) upon which plate  200  rests. Plate  200  is spaced upwardly from the bottom floor  35  of the tray and has two recesses  201  and  202  ( FIG. 25 ) to allow the plate to be moved downwardly past the opposing handles secured to the opposite end walls of the tray when being mounted to the floor of the tray. Since plate  200  is spaced apart from the floor, the space in between may be easily cleaned and the flow of sterilant in the space is not impeded. The holes  203  of plate  200  are sized to allow enlarged portion  113  and the main body of post  108  to extend therethrough but are not sufficiently large to allow the enlarged portion  114  to be extended through the holes. Immediately, beneath enlarged portion  114  is a reduced portion  116  having a reduced diameter as compared to enlarged portion  114 . Reduced portion  114  forms a downwardly facing shoulder  110  ( FIG. 17 ) that abuts against the upwardly facing surface of floor  35  thereby cooperatively with the retaining ring on the opposite side of the tray floor holding the post in an upright and fixed position and spacing plate  200  from the floor. Plate  200  may extend across the entire width and length of the floor or only across a portion thereof depending on the positioning of the instruments within the tray. 
   A plurality of flexible brackets are mounted to the tray by posts  108 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 23 , a pair of flexible brackets  206  and  207  are depicted removably holding a medical instrument  208 . Bracket  206  will now be described it being understood that an identical description applies to bracket  207 . Flexible bracket  206  is produced from a material, such as, silicone or other material that exhibits flexibility. Bracket  206  includes a pair of parallel walls  220  and  221  that are spaced apart and are integrally joined to a pair of flexible upstanding tubes  222  and  223 . Wall  220  has a c-shaped configuration and includes a pair of legs  224  and  225  integrally joined together at one end of the legs and with the opposite ends of the legs integrally joined to tubes  222  and  223 . Walls  221  has a C shaped configuration and extend across the gap between one tube  222  to the other tube  223  without having any bends in the wall. 
   Tubes  222  and  223  are hollow to slidingly receive posts  108  with the bottom end of the tubes resting atop plate  200  which rests atop upwardly facing surfaces  219  ( FIG. 24 ) of the enlarged portions  114  of the posts and with the top ends of the tubes abutting against the downwardly facing surfaces  226  of the enlarged portions  113  of the posts. Thus, tubes  222  and  223  are held between and by the enlarged portions  113  and  114 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 23 , the tray is not provided with an indicia plate  200  and thus tubes  222  and  223  rest atop the upwardly facing surfaces  219  of the enlarged portions  114  of the two posts. On the other hand,  FIG. 24  illustrates a tray having the removable indicia plate  200  mounted therein. 
   Wall  221  is provided with a cutout portion or recess  227  ( FIG. 23 ) to receive one end of the instrument held therein. The size of the recess  227  is appropriate to releasably hold the instrument. Wall  220  extends from the bottom ends of the tubes  222  and  223  to the top ends of both tubes to provide a backup wall to limit movement of the instrument. Brackets  206  and  207  have walls  221  facing each other, with each having a recess portion to receive the opposite ends of the medical instrument. 
   Referring to  FIG. 22 , the tray is shown as having two different types of brackets. Some of the brackets are double walled brackets. For example, brackets  206  and  207  have a pair of spaced apart walls that span the gap between the upright tubes mounted to the tubes. That is, bracket  206  includes spaced apart walls  220  and  221  integrally joined to tubes  222  and  223 . Both walls and tubes are provided from flexible material. A second type of bracket  230  includes a pair of upright flexible tubes mounted to the tray by the posts with a single wall spanning the gap between the tubes. Both the tubes and the single wall are produced from a flexible material. A particular advantage of all of the flexible brackets shown in  FIG. 22  is that they may be extruded and then cut to the particular height desired. Wall  221  may be cut further thereby forming the hollow portion or recess  227 . Excellent results have been achieved by producing both types of brackets from silicone. 
   Post  108  is particularly advantageous in that the post may be used to extend through the bottom rigid wall  120  ( FIG. 18 ) of rigid bracket  70  with wall  120  mounted in contact with the floor of the tray and surface  117  ( FIG. 17 ) of enlarged portion  114 . The upright flexible brackets, such as, bracket  230  ( FIG. 22 ) may then be mounted atop the enlarged portion of the post as shown in  FIG. 18  with the same combination also shown in  FIG. 5  as flexible bracket  56  and rigid bracket  70 . In such a case, indicia plate  200  is not utilized. Thus, wall  120  contacts the downwardly facing surface  117  of post  108  whereas the flexible bracket is mounted atop surface  219  ( FIG. 24 ). In the event the indicia plate  200  is utilized, the indicia plate is positioned atop seat or surface  219  with the flexible bracket then being positioned in contact with the upwardly facing surface of indicia plate  200 . 
   The preferred embodiment of the bracket utilized in the tray or container is shown in  FIGS. 29-34 . Bracket device  300  includes a bar or plate  301  produced from an extruded flexible material, such as silicone rubber. Bar  301  is held along its bottom portion by a pair of opposing brackets  303  and  304  that are removably mounted to a plate or base wall  302  that may be separate from the floor of a container or may be the actual floor of the container itself. The bar may be formed by extruding the flexible material along the length as contrasted to the height. For example, flexible bracket  56  ( FIG. 5 ) is extruded in a direction that extends from the bottom of the bracket mounted adjacent the floor of the container to the top of the bracket whereas bar  301  is extruded in the direction from one end of the bar through its length  305  to the opposite end of the bar. 
   In the embodiment shown in the drawings, plate  302  includes four rows of holes extending therethrough with the rows extending the length of the plate. The holes are aligned across the width of the plate to enable the feet of brackets  303  and  304  to extend therethrough. Brackets  303  and  304  are rigid being produced from metal. The present invention contemplates and includes a plate with a different hole arrangement than that shown in  FIG. 29 . 
   Bracket  304  will now being described it being understood that a similar description applies to bracket  303 . Bracket  304  ( FIG. 30 ) includes a main body  306  with a plurality of downwardly extending legs  307  integrally attached thereto. Main body  306  has an outwardly facing surface  308  ( FIG. 31 ) and inwardly facing surface  312 . Each leg  307  has a top surface  310  and a bottom surface  311 . The main body  306  is arranged relative to legs  307  at an acute angle  322  so that when the upwardly facing surface  310  is parallel to plate  302 , main body  306  is arranged at an acute angle relative to the plate. That is, angle  322  formed between surfaces  310  and  312  is an acute angle. The plate shaped main body of brackets  303  and  304  are positionable to be parallel when mounted to the base wall. 
   Many variations are contemplated and included in the present invention. For example, plate  302  is shown as having four rows of holes extending the length of the plate with each of the holes arranged in a four hole pattern extending across the width of the plate. It is to be understood that a greater number or less number than the number of holes shown in  FIG. 30  is contemplated and included in the present invention. Brackets  303  and  304  are shown as each having 22 legs. The number of legs attached to each bracket may be greater than or less than 22. For example, each bracket  303  and  304  may have only a pair of legs with one leg located at one end of the bracket and the second leg located at the opposite end of the bracket. 
   In the embodiment shown in the drawings, bar  301  has a dovetail shaped bottom end  313 . Bar  301  has a pair of outwardly facing side surfaces  314  and  315 . Likewise, bottom end  313  has a pair of outwardly facing side surfaces  309  and  321  that extend convergingly from the bottom surface of bottom end  313 . Surfaces  314  and  315  are arranged at obtuse angles  319  and  318  relative respectively to side surfaces  321  and  309 . Angles  322  and  318  must be chosen so that the inwardly facing surface  312  of main body  306  contacts and rests against the bottom side surface  309 . Likewise, angles  325  and  319  must be chosen so that the inwardly facing surface  320  of bracket  303  contacts and rests against the bottom side surface  321  of bottom end  313 . The inwardly facing surface  320  of bracket  303  is arranged at an acute angle  325  relative to the horizontally extending top surface  350  of legs  327 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 31 , angles  318  and  319  are each 125 degrees whereas angles  322  and  325  are each 55 degrees. Angle  322  is supplementary to angle  318  and angle  325  is supplementary to angle  319  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 31  when angles  322  and  325 . 
   Many variations are contemplated and included in the present invention. For example, the bottom end of bar  301  is shown as a dovetail shape having its enlarged end at the very bottom of the bar; however, the bottom end of the bar may take a variety of additional configurations, such as a semi-spherical shape. In any event, the inwardly facing surfaces and of brackets  303  and  304  must be configured so that they contact and extend along the bottom end of the bar to secure the bar to base wall  302 . 
   Rigid brackets  304  and  303  each include a plurality of legs or fingers  307  and  327  ( FIG. 30 ) that extend through the holes of base wall  302 . Fingers  307  have upwardly facing surfaces contacting and extending along the bottom surface of wall  302  when rigid bracket  304  is mounted thereto. Fingers  307  and  327  have adjacent distal ends  351  and  352  ( FIG. 32 ) separated by gap  329 . Thus, fingers  307  and  327  extend toward each other when the two brackets are mounted to base wall  302  on the opposite sides of the flexible bar  301 . 
   The flexible wall  301  and rigid brackets  303  and  304  may be mounted directly to either the floor of a container or to a separate base wall  302  that may be positioned within a container and either attached or unattached to the floor of the container. For example, base wall  302  ( FIG. 31 ) is shown as fragmented to represent either a separate base wall  302  or floor  35  ( FIG. 5 ). That is, the rigid brackets and wall may be directly mounted to the bottom wall  35  of container  31  ( FIG. 5 ) without the necessity of utilizing a separate base wall  302  such as shown in  FIG. 29 . Alternatively, the rigid brackets  303  and  304  along with wall  301  may be mounted directly to base wall  302  which is then positioned atop wall  35  ( FIG. 33 ) either extending across the width or the length of the container. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 33 , wall  302  extends lengthwise across the width of the container and has a length approximately equal to the spacing of side walls  38  and  39 . By sizing the length of base wall  302  to be approximately the distance between side walls  38  and  39 , the base wall is held in place without the necessity of separate fasteners extending between wall  302  and floor  35 . Alternatively, the rigid brackets and flexible wall may extend the length of container  31  between the end walls  36  and  37  ( FIG. 34 ). In the event base wall  302  is placed atop floor  35  but does not extend the entire length of the container between end walls  36  and  37  and/or across the entire width of the container between walls  38  and  39 , then it may be necessary to securely fasten base wall  302  to floor  35 . In such a case, the flexible wall  301  may be used to partition the container into separate areas or compartments. Conventional fasteners  330  may be used to secure base wall  302  to floor  35  ( FIG. 33 ). 
   Flexible wall  301  is particularly useful in holding medical items. For example, in  FIG. 34 , a pair of flexible walls  301  and  340  are shown mounted directly to the floor  35  of container  31 . The two flexible walls are identical except for that the walls are cut with different recesses to conformingly fit around and hold the medical item. Thus, a pair of flexible walls  301  and  340  are each mounted by a pair of rigid brackets, in turn, mounted directly to floor  35 . Thus, wall  301  includes a pair of rigid brackets  303  and  304  with the fingers of each bracket extending through the holes of floor  35  in a manner identically as previously described for wall  302 . Likewise, flexible wall  340  is held by a pair of rigid brackets  341  spaced apart by a gap into which flexible wall  340  extends in a manner identical to that described for wall  301 . One such rigid bracket  341  is shown in  FIG. 34  it being understood that a second rigid bracket is positioned on the opposite side of wall  340 . Walls  301  and  340  are parallel and are spaced apart with the medical items, not shown, extending there between. Wall  301  is shown as having a plurality of holes  342  extending through the wall allowing a medical item to extend therethrough. Likewise, flexible wall  340  includes a plurality of holes  343  extending through the flexible wall with holes  343  aligned across from holes  342 . A passage extends from the top edge of each wall leading into holes  342  and  343 . For example, passage  344  extends from the top edge of wall  301  into hole  342  allowing the medical instrument to be inserted through the passage and into hole  342 . Likewise, passages  345  are cut into the top edge of flexible wall  340  and lead into holes  343  allowing the opposite end of the medical item to be inserted into hole  343 . 
   In order to mount device  300 , brackets  304  and  305  are first mounted to wall  302  by inserting the feet of each bracket through the holes in wall  302 . Next, the brackets are pivoted so that the upwardly facing surface of each foot is in contact with the bottom surface of wall  302  as shown in  FIG. 31 . Last, flexible wall  301  is slid lengthwise into the gap existing between the main bodies of the brackets. The perpendicular distance from the top of the upwardly facing surface of the feet must be equal to or only a few thousandths of an inch greater than the thickness of the wall  302 . For example, for bracket  304 , the distance  347  of a line perpendicular to surface  310  extending upwardly to the lowermost edge  346  of main body  306  must be equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of wall  302 . Likewise, the perpendicular distance from the lowermost edge of the main body of bracket  303  must be sized the same. In the event, that the brackets are mounted directly to the container floor without floor  302 , then the perpendicular distance from the lowermost edge of the bracket main bodies must be equal or only slightly greater than the thickness of the container floor. This arrangement insures that the brackets will tightly bind the flexible wall in place while allowing the flexible wall to be changed and remounted by sliding the flexible wall out of the gap between the brackets. 
   While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.