Patent ID: 8753059

Claim:
A system for storing and retrieving surgical instruments, said system comprising: an automatic storage apparatus that comprises: a storage area that stores a plurality of instruments of one or more types; a robotic manipulator that manipulates the plurality of instruments; and a sensing mechanism for determining one or more of a type, an instance, a position, an orientation, and a state of openness of the plurality of instruments; wherein all of the plurality of instruments are within reach of the robotic manipulator for retrieving one or more of the plurality of instruments, and the robotic manipulator retrieves the one or more of the plurality of instruments to form an output grouping of instruments, wherein the automatic storage apparatus further comprises one or more sets of mechanized elevating instrument stringers in the storage area for holding the plurality of instruments, wherein each set of the mechanized elevating instrument stringers are comprised of a body, an actuator, stringer rods, an instrument platform, lead screws, a drivetrain, and a controller.