Patent Description:
The invention is defined in the independent claim and other embodiments are listed in the dependent claims.

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> describe racks for implants.

A brief summary of various example embodiments is presented below. Some simplifications and omissions may be made in the following summary, which is intended to highlight and introduce some aspects of the various example embodiments, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Detailed descriptions of example embodiments adequate to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventive concepts will follow in later sections.

Embodiments include a tube rack apparatus including a bottom portion having a first length, a plurality of indents formed in the bottom portion and configured to receive tubes and keep tubes straight and restrict the movement of a bottom of the tubes, the plurality of indents exposing a lower surface of the bottom portion, a plurality of legs extending from the bottom portion, a top portion having a second length longer than the first length, a plurality of openings formed in the top portion, the plurality of openings aligned with the plurality of indents, and at least one handle member extending from a first end of the top portion.

The at least one handle member may be spaced from the plurality of openings by a distance substantially equal to a width of a row of openings.

The top portion may include hook members configured to fit into the plurality of legs of the bottom portion.

The plurality of legs may include slanted legs configured to fit into angled drawers.

At least one slanted leg may be formed of a same continuous piece as the at least one handle member. The slanted legs may extend between the bottom portion and the top portion forming an open space that is configured to stack multiple tube racks.

The top portion, bottom portion, and handle member may include rounded corners for ease of user handling.

All of the plurality of legs may extend substantially perpendicular from a flat surface of the bottom member.

A label holder may have peg elements configured to fit into the openings of the top portion. The label holder may include a flat portion and a clip portion configured to snap onto the peg element.

The top portion may include a plurality of label holder holes and an extended label holder configured to fit into the plurality of label holder holes.

The tube rack apparatus may include a plurality of label holders with different labels configured to demarcate the rack into different areas. The extended label holder may extend above the handle for easy viewing. A label may have a plurality of fields to display names, shapes, and dimensions of elements.

Tube rack labels may be affixed to the tube rack apparatus. The tube rack labels may include color coded fields to identify at least one of part type, part image, and a dimension of the part.

The part type may be a screw. The dimension may be a diameter. The color coded fields of the tube rack may be consistent with other tube rack apparatus labels including one of cabinet label, drawer label, and tube labels.

Labels may be configured to be affixed to a plurality of tubes.

Additional objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the drawings. Although several example embodiments are illustrated and described, like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the figures, in which:.

It should be understood that the figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

The descriptions and drawings illustrate the principles of various example embodiments. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Additionally, the term, "or," as used herein, refers to a non-exclusive or (i.e., and/or), unless otherwise indicated (e.g., "or else" or "or in the alternative"). Also, the various example embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some example embodiments can be combined with one or more other example embodiments to form new example embodiments. Descriptors such as "first," "second," "third," etc., are not meant to limit the order of elements discussed, are used to distinguish one element from the next, and are generally interchangeable. Values such as maximum or minimum may be predetermined and set to different values based on the application.

In the art, many companies use sterile packed implants that include screws, plates, etc. Though transferring screws to sterile packaging has benefits for traceability and safety, challenges remain. Users have difficulty storing various types of screws. Space in hospitals is limited and a solution is needed to make the storage of screws as efficient and effective as possible. Inventory and nursing staff struggle to find a correct implant. Poor labeling, organization and inconsistency cause hospital staff to misplace product, open the wrong product, or even implant the incorrect product. Using the racks and labelling systems described herein, sterile tube packaging may enter a hospital or care environment and seemlessly integrate into their existing systems.

A sterile tube system to be used in a hospital or care environment may include one or more cabinets to store various drawers. The drawers may include many types of medical supplies. In order to distinguish one type of medical supply product from another, labels may be placed on different drawers in the cabinet. One or a plurality of drawers may include tube racks as described herein. The tube racks may include tubes that house various types of screws or other items to be used in medical and surgical procedures. Various parts of the tube racks and the individual tubes may carry labels that provide information to distinguish contents of racks and tubes from each other.

<FIG> illustrates a tube rack apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the invention. The tube rack apparatus <NUM> is made up of a bottom portion <NUM> having a first length L1 and a first width W1. Within the bottom portion <NUM> are a plurality of indents <NUM>. The plurality of indents <NUM> are formed within the bottom portion <NUM> and configured to receive tubes (such as tubes <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>) and keep the tubes straight and restrict movement of the of the end of the tube in indents <NUM>. The plurality of indents <NUM> expose a lower surface <NUM> of the bottom portion <NUM> that is different than an upper surface <NUM> of the bottom portion <NUM>. The plurality of indents <NUM> are holes that are formed between the upper surface <NUM> and the lower surface <NUM>. The plurality of indents <NUM> do not extend through the lower surface <NUM> of the bottom portion <NUM> and therefore any tubes placed in the tube rack apparatus <NUM> will not extend through the bottom portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a plurality of legs are configured to extend from the bottom portion <NUM>. The plurality of legs include slanted legs 120a and perpendicular legs 120b that are positioned substantially perpendicular to a flat surface of the bottom portion <NUM>. The plurality of legs 120a and 120b connect to a top portion <NUM> of the tube rack apparatus <NUM>. The top portion <NUM> has a second length L2 that is longer than the first length L1 of the bottom portion <NUM>. Because of the longer length, the top portion <NUM> may extend past both sides of the the bottom portion <NUM>. The difference in lengths L2 and L1 on either side of the tube rack apparatus <NUM> leaves an open space <NUM> configured to stack one tube rack apparatus <NUM> on top of another and to accommodate a handle from a lower tube rack apparatus <NUM>.

The top portion <NUM> includes a plurality of openings <NUM>. The plurality of openings <NUM> are vertically aligned with the plurality of indents <NUM>, to receive and hold a plurality of tubes <NUM>. Attached to the top portion <NUM> is at least one handle member <NUM>. Handle members <NUM> may be used to lift the tube rack apparatus <NUM> in or out of a drawer <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) or move about a medical facility. Drawers <NUM> may have a particular depth or limited space in which a user such as a medical worker may access the tube rack apparatus <NUM>. The handles <NUM> may facilitate easy access to the tube rack apparatuses <NUM> and the contents therein.

The at least one handle member <NUM> may have a width W2 smaller than a width W1 of the bottom portion <NUM>. The width W1 may also be a width of the top portion <NUM>. The width W2 of the handle member <NUM> is configured in order to facilitate stacking of multiple tube rack apparatuses <NUM>. From below, a handle member <NUM> will fit into the open space <NUM>. A pair of handle members <NUM> may be used to lift the tube rack apparatus <NUM> and move it from one location to another, such as into and out of a drawer or rack cabinet, a shelf, medical procedure space, or below or on top of another tube rack apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a disassembled view of the tube rack apparatus <NUM> in accordance with <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the plurality of legs 120a and 120b are configured to extend from the bottom portion <NUM> towards the top portion <NUM>. The plurality of legs 120a and 120b may be formed of one continuous piece with the bottom portion <NUM>. A material for the tube rack apparatus <NUM> may be plastic, polymer, or other materials as known in the art. The top portion <NUM> may include hook members <NUM> that are configured to fit into the plurality of legs 120a and 120b of the bottom portion <NUM>. In other embodiments, the legs 120a and 120b may be formed of one continuous piece with the top portion <NUM>, and the bottom portion <NUM> may include the hook member that are configured to fit into the plurality of legs 120a and 120b. Further, other connection mechanisms may be used to connect the bottom portion <NUM> and <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the plurality of legs may include slanted legs 120a at distal ends of the tube rack apparatus <NUM>, and substantially perpendicular legs 120b at a middle portion of the bottom portion tube rack apparatus <NUM>. The slanted legs 120a may be so configured as to fit into angled drawers such as drawers <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates multiple tube rack apparatuses <NUM> in a stacked configuration <NUM> in accordance with <FIG>. The stacked configuration <NUM> may be used when the tube rack apparatuses do not have tubes inserted therein, or when tubes are only inserted into a top tube rack apparatus <NUM>. As described herein, the slanted legs 120a may extend between the bottom portion <NUM> and the top portion <NUM> forming the open space <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) that is configured to receive a handle member <NUM> of subordinate tube rack apparatus <NUM>. The handle members <NUM> have the smaller width W2 configured to fit within the open spaces <NUM>. Because the tube rack apparatuses <NUM> may be handled by human hands, including the placing and removal of tubes, the edges of all tube rack apparatus <NUM> surfaces including the bottom portion <NUM>, plurality of legs 120a and 120b, top portion <NUM>, and handle member <NUM> may have smoothed and rounded corners for ease of handling.

<FIG> illustrates an example embodiment of a tube rack apparatus in accordance with example embodiments described herein. In <FIG>, a tube rack apparatus <NUM> may be configured to have all legs <NUM> extending between a bottom portion <NUM> and a top portion <NUM> to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom portion <NUM> and top portion <NUM>. In the example embodiment of <FIG>, a width of a handle member <NUM> may be smaller than a width of the bottom portion <NUM> and top portion <NUM>, to allow tube rack apparatuses <NUM> to be stacked one on top of another.

<FIG> illustrates a tube rack apparatus <NUM> having a wide width W3 and short length L3 in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The dimensions are not limited to what is illustrated. Length and wide dimension of tube rack apparatuses described herein may be designed to have various lengths and widths to meet customer or design requirements. In addition to middle legs 520b, the tube rack apparatus <NUM> may include a plurality of corner legs 520a to provide more stability when a larger side tube rack apparatus is designed and built. Similar to other designs, a width of a handle member <NUM> is kept smaller than a width separating two legs, allowing a stackable configuration of tube rack apparatuses <NUM>. Tube rack apparatus may be manufactured that are narrow such that two or more racks may be inserted within a drawer. For example, four racks as shown in <FIG> may be placed in a drawer side by side (along the width direction). In another example, four racks as shown in <FIG> may be arranged in a rectangular configuration, where the four racks are arranged in a 2x2 formation.

<FIG> illustrates a tube rack apparatus <NUM> in another configuration in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The tube rack apparatus <NUM> may include a bottom portion <NUM> and a top portion <NUM> that have larger indents <NUM> and larger holes <NUM> than other example embodiments. In fact, tube rack apparatuses in accordance with example embodiments may be designed to have the diameter sizes of top portion holes and bottom portion indents various sizes in response to customer or design demand.

<FIG> illustrates a label holder system <NUM> in accordance with embodiments described herein. The label holder system <NUM> may be used with a tube rack apparatus such as tube rack apparatus <NUM> of <FIG>, but label holder systems <NUM> are not limited thereto. Label holder systems <NUM> as illustrated and described with regard to <FIG> may be used in other tube rack apparatuses of the present application. The label holder system <NUM> may include a peg component <NUM> including two pegs jointed by a label holder <NUM>. The two pegs are vertical members that extend through openings <NUM> and fit snugly into indents <NUM>. The pegs may have a diameter substantially the same from bottom to top, or may have a diameter that tapers towards a top of the pegs. A label <NUM> may be affixed to the label holder <NUM>. The peg components <NUM> may be inserted into openings <NUM>. The label <NUM> may be affixed in various ways to the label holder <NUM>. A label <NUM> may also be affixed to various handles <NUM> of the tube rack apparatus <NUM>. A tube rack apparatus <NUM> may use labels <NUM> atop handle members <NUM> and label holder systems <NUM> to demarcate different sections of the tube rack apparatus <NUM>. For example, a first area of the tube rack apparatus <NUM> may include cortex screws of a particular type, material, and size. A second area of the tube rack apparatus <NUM> may include locking screws of a particular type, material, and size. Embodiments are not limited to two areas of demarcation, and may include multiple areas designated by a plurality of label holder systems <NUM> with or without additional labelling on a handle member <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a side view of the label holder system <NUM> in accordance with <FIG>. The label holder <NUM> may be flat and have a snap or clip member <NUM> configured to connect the label holder <NUM> to the peg component <NUM>. The snap member <NUM> may be rounded to affix to a round part of the peg component <NUM>, or may be rectangular or other shape to snap onto a handle member <NUM>. Other affixing parts may be used to affix the label holder <NUM> to the peg component <NUM> such as Velcro, stickers, temporary glue, or other mechanical means of fixation. The label holder <NUM> may provide an indentation for interchangeable labels used to identify contents of various tubes. The snap member may curve around the peg component <NUM> to adjust an angle of view of the label holder <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an extended label holder <NUM> in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The extended label holder <NUM> may include a pair of thin posts <NUM> connected by a label section <NUM>. The thin posts <NUM> may have perimeters that are smaller than perimeters of the handle members. Instead of placing peg components into tube openings in the top portion <NUM>, the extended label holders <NUM> may be inserted into a plurality of label holder holes <NUM> disposed adjacent edges of the top portion <NUM>. Into the label holder holes <NUM> may be placed the extended label holders <NUM>. The extended label holders <NUM> are configured to rise higher than handle members <NUM> such that the extended label holders <NUM> provide high labels for easy viewing. There may be multiple extended label holders <NUM> placed within a rack to demarcate a plurality of different components stored in different tube areas.

<FIG> illustrates another placement for the extended label holder <NUM> in accordance with example embodiments described herein. As illustrated in addition to extended label holders <NUM> being placed across a length of a top portion <NUM>, extended label holders <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be placed on along a side of the top portion <NUM>. Multiple extended label holders <NUM> may be placed in label holder holes <NUM> and used to demarcate different areas of the tube rack apparatus <NUM>. As indicated in <FIG>, handle members <NUM> may have indentations <NUM> formed therein. The indentations <NUM> may provide surface variation to a handle member <NUM> which is configured to aid in gripping the tube rack apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates indentations <NUM> having drainage holes <NUM> in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The indentations <NUM> may include drainage holes <NUM> to prevent water or other liquids from pooling in the indentations <NUM> after cleaning the tube rack apparatus <NUM>. Other handle members as illustrated and described herein may also have indentations and drainage holes.

<FIG> illustrates a detail of a tube rack apparatus <NUM> in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The tube rack apparatus <NUM> and other tube rack apparatuses illustrated and described herein may have drainage holes <NUM> formed in indents <NUM>. The drainage holes <NUM> may prevent water or other liquids from pooling up in the indents <NUM> after cleaning of the tube rack apparatus <NUM>. Between a handle member <NUM> and a first row of tubes may be disposed a clearance space <NUM>. This clearance space <NUM> is designed to allow a user such as a medical worker grab the handle member <NUM> from the inside or outside of the tube rack apparatus <NUM> and not disturb the row of tubes. The clearance space <NUM> also allows a user to access the handle members <NUM> and remove the tube rack apparatuses from a storage drawer. A width of the clearance space <NUM> along the top portion <NUM> of the tube rack apparatus <NUM> may be substantially equal to a width of a row of openings <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a variation of the extended label holder in accordance with <FIG>. Example embodiments include an ability to provide taller extended label holders <NUM> to higher heights enabling a user to more readily see contends of a tube rack apparatus. Thus, a larger space <NUM> may be formed between a handle <NUM> and a label holder <NUM>. Labels <NUM> to be affixed to the label holders described herein may include different fields including names, shapes, and dimensions of elements deposited in label holders <NUM>. Labels may also be used to provide similar information on tubes.

In the various label holders, the labels may be inserted from the top or from the side to allow for easy initial labelling or for later changing the label.

<FIG> illustrates another example embodiment of a tube rack apparatus <NUM> in accordance with example embodiments described herein. <FIG> includes additional variations that may be used with the different tube rack apparatuses described herein. Similar to others, the tube rack apparatus <NUM> may include slanted legs 1220a on opposing ends thereof. In this example embodiment, the handle members <NUM> may be formed continuously, being a part of the slanted legs 1220a. Alternatively, the handle members <NUM> could be part of the top portion <NUM>. The tube rack apparatus <NUM> includes middle legs 1220b, substantially perpendicular to the top portion <NUM> and bottom portion <NUM>. The bottom portion <NUM> includes the middle legs 1220b that end in a hook member <NUM> that clips to the top portion <NUM>. Label holders <NUM> are illustrated that have the peg and snapping label arrangement, and label holders having extended labels could also be used.

<FIG> illustrate various labelling systems in accordance with embodiments described herein. In <FIG>, a cabinet <NUM> may include various label locations such as a cabinet label <NUM> positioned at a top right corner of the cabinet <NUM>, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. The cabinet label <NUM> may be placed on various parts of the cabinet as desired by a user. In <FIG>, the drawer <NUM> may a be drawer that is configured to hold a plurality of tube rack apparatuses such as two or four, or may hold a single tube rack apparatus. <FIG> illustrates contents of a drawer configured to hold four tube rack apparatuses <NUM> in accordance with embodiments described herein. Depending on the number of tube rack apparatuses, drawer labels <NUM> may be placed on external surfaces thereof. Tubes with numerical labels <NUM> LOCK, 22CRTX, <NUM> CRTX, <NUM> VA, and the like may fill up an entire space as illustrated or be mixed within a designated space.

<FIG> illustrates a tube rack apparatus <NUM> as described herein. The tube rack apparatus <NUM> may include a plurality of tubes <NUM>. A label holder system may include one or more tube rack labels <NUM> at various points along the tube rack apparatus <NUM> to demarcate and designate different elements present in different tubes. <FIG> illustrates tubes <NUM> with different types of labels thereon. A regulatory tube label <NUM> on a tube <NUM> may be a body label that surrounds or partially surrounds the tube <NUM>. A cap label <NUM> may be attached to a cap <NUM> of the tube <NUM>. The cap label <NUM> may allow a user to quickly ascertain an identification of contends of a tube.

All of the labels discussed herein may include various types of information to allow a user to quickly and easily identify contents of cabinets, drawers, tube rack apparatuses, and tubes. The cabinet labels <NUM>, drawer labels <NUM>, tube rack labels <NUM>, regulatory tube labels <NUM>, and cap labels <NUM> may be designed to have different fields representing consistent information on each label. Studies were conducted throughout many groups of healthcare workers and medical personnel to determine the types of information to display on the labels, as well as how to present the information in an efficient manner for quick identification, use, and return of unused tubes a designated area.

<FIG> illustrates an example cabinet label <NUM> in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The cabinet label may include dimension and identifying information <NUM> of the types of screws or other parts such as plates that may be stored in the cabinet <NUM>. The cabinet label <NUM> includes images of drawers <NUM> to indicate that each of the screw types of each row may be found in a different drawer. The other fields on the cabinet label <NUM> including part name <NUM>, part diameter <NUM>, image of part <NUM>, and driver type <NUM> are consistent fields on other labels including drawer labels <NUM>, tube rack labels <NUM>, regulatory tube labels <NUM> and cap labels <NUM>. Thus, a cabinet label may include information including screw diameter and color, screw type abbreviations, product pictures, product system (small frag), screw recess, drawer location, and company logo.

Part name <NUM> fields may include descriptions such as "Cortex Screws (CRTX), self-tapping, SST" having a first color. Another field could be "Locking Screws (LOCK), self-tapping, SST," having a second color. SST referring to stainless steel. Other screw labels could include materials such as titanium. Cabinet labels are not limited to screw types. Other cabinet labels could identify implant types such as plates and other parts.

The part name includes the circular field <NUM> that identifies the part diameter of the screw type. The diameter will have a fixed color that is consistent across all labels. The part images <NUM> of each screw will be consistent, as well as a shape designating the driver type <NUM> to be used to insert a screw. All of this information will be readily used by personnel as they approach a cabinet and determine which parts they need for a particular procedure.

<FIG> illustrates examples of drawer labels 1325A and 1325B in accordance with embodiments described herein. As noted, a drawer label 1325A such as "Locking Screw (LOCK), self-tapping, SST" shares many of the same data fields and color schemes as the cabinet label <NUM>, including part name <NUM>, part diameter <NUM>, part image <NUM>, and driver type <NUM>. The label may include other dimension and identifying information <NUM>. Another type of drawer label 1325B includes a type of plate to be used in different procedures having an identifying field <NUM>, image field <NUM>, and other identifying information <NUM>. A drawer label may thus include information including screw type, screw type abbreviation, screw diameter and color, screw information (as needed), product picture, screw recess, screw length, product system (small frag), and company logo.

<FIG> illustrates examples of tube rack labels 1335A and 1335B in accordance with example embodiments described herein. The tube rack labels <NUM> carry consistent label fields and colors such as part name <NUM>, part diameter <NUM>, and part image <NUM>. The tube rack label <NUM> may therefor include screw type, screw type abbreviation, screw diameter and color, screw information (as needed), and product picture.

<FIG> includes examples of cap labels 1355A, 1355B, and 1355C in accordance with embodiments described herein. As illustrated, the cap labels <NUM> have consistent fields such as part name <NUM>, part diameter <NUM>, and driver type <NUM>. The cap label <NUM> has been carefully designed such that certain information may be readily obtained by a user from above when looking down into a tube rack apparatus holding a plurality of tubes <NUM>. In <FIG>, the large number "<NUM>" represents a length <NUM> of a screw. The color markings on either side of the length <NUM> represent a particular part diameter <NUM>. The part diameter <NUM> is also indicated on a strip that goes along a length of the tube <NUM>. On other labels such as the cabinet label <NUM>, drawer label <NUM>, and tube rack label <NUM>, the two color and numerical value of diameter are together in one field. In the cap labels <NUM>, the diameter information is separated. Thus, a single color may represent diameter throughout all of the labels, for easy and quick identification, which may be corroborated by the numerical value. Similarly separated on the cap label <NUM> are the naming conventions of the part. On the center portion <NUM>, an abbreviation of the type of part is written, which is combined with more detailed written information on another side of the cap label <NUM>. The center portion <NUM> may be rounded, rectangular, or other shapes that may convey the desired information. The cap label <NUM> may include information such as screw length, screw type, and screw diameter. The regulatory tube label <NUM> may include screw diameter, screw diameter color, a second screw identifier, and screw recess (driver type).

Example embodiments also include a method of manufacturing a tube rack apparatus. In accordance with <FIG>, for example, a method may include forming a bottom portion <NUM> having a first length L1. A plurality of indents <NUM> may be formed in the bottom portion <NUM> and configured to receive tubes and keep tubes straight, the plurality of indents <NUM> having a lower surface <NUM> and a higher surface <NUM>, wherein inserted tubes do not pass through the lower surface <NUM>. The method may include forming a plurality of legs 120a and 120b extending from the bottom portion. The method may include forming a top portion <NUM> having a second length longer than the first length. The method may include joining the top portion <NUM> to the bottom portion <NUM>. The legs 120a and 120b may be formed continuously with the bottom portion <NUM>. Alternatively, the legs 120a and 120b may be formed continuously with the top portion <NUM>. The method may include forming a plurality of openings <NUM> in the top portion, the plurality of openings <NUM> aligned with the plurality of indents <NUM> of the bottom portion <NUM>. The method of manufacture may also include forming at least one handle member <NUM> extending from a first end of the top portion <NUM>. The method steps described regarding <FIG> may also be used for other example tube rack apparatus example embodiments, of varying size and shape. Once a tub rack apparatus is complete, varous label holder may be coupled with the tube rack apparatus to accurately label contents of a tube rack apparatus.

Claim 1:
A tube rack apparatus (<NUM>), comprising:
a bottom portion (<NUM>) having a first length;
a plurality of indents (<NUM>) formed in the bottom portion (<NUM>) and configured to receive tubes (<NUM>) and keep tubes (<NUM>) straight and restrict the movement of a bottom of the tubes (<NUM>), the plurality of indents (<NUM>) exposing a lower surface of the bottom portion (<NUM>);
a plurality of legs (120a, 120b) extending from the bottom portion (<NUM>);
a top portion (<NUM>) having a second length longer than the first length;
a plurality of openings (<NUM>) formed in the top portion (<NUM>), the plurality of openings (<NUM>) aligned with the plurality of indents (<NUM>); and
at least one handle member (<NUM>) extending from a first end of the top portion (<NUM>), characterized in that
the plurality of legs (120a, 120b) include slanted legs configured to fit into angled drawers (<NUM>), wherein the slanted legs extend between the bottom portion (<NUM>) and the top portion (<NUM>) forming an open space that is configured to stack multiple tube racks (<NUM>).