Abstract: A retainer assembly for locating a medical device in a container having a wall with a vent hole. The retainer assembly includes a retainer with an undersurface that is larger than the vent hole and an axial passage having a selected length and cross section extending into the retainer from the surface. The assembly also includes a keeper having a head that is larger than the vent hole and a sleeve extending from the head to an end. The sleeve has substantially the same cross-section as the passage and is shorter axially than the passage so that when the retainer surface is engaged to one face of the container wall so that the passage is aligned with the vent hole and the keeper is engaged to the retainer by frictionally engaging its sleeve in the passage until its head contacts the opposite face of the container wall, the retainer becomes securely, but releasably, anchored to the container wall.

Abstract: A medical instrument holder assembly comprises a holder module base including first tubes defining first passages, each first passage having open upper and lower ends, at least one first web connecting and supporting those first tubes in parallel spaced-apart relation so that a fluid can circulate around and between the first tubes, and instrument supports underlying the first tubes for supporting medical instruments placed in the first passages while allowing a fluid to circulate through those passages. The holder assembly also includes a cover for seating on the base and covering the instruments supported thereby, the cover being formed by second tubes defining second instrument receiving passages, each second passage having upper and lower open ends, the lower ends having the same cross-sections as the upper ends of the first passages.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for supporting medical instruments and the like. The assembly includes a support member formed with lines of vent holes, the vent holes in each line being spaced apart a selected distance. The bracket includes a base strip having a plurality of feet extending down for the base strip, the feet having footprints larger than those of the vent holes and being spaced apart along the base strip a distance substantially equal to an intregal multiple of the selected distance. This allows the bracket to be aligned with a line of vent holes in the support member so that its feet overlie selected ones of the vent holes in that line. A plurality of anchors is provided for anchoring the plurality of feet to the support member at the selected vent holes so that any segment of the base strip between the feet is spaced above the support member so as not to obstruct any underlying vent holes in the support member.

Abstract: A tray system composed of a vertical stack of trays especially adapted to contain, and protect surgical instruments being carried from a sterilizer to an operating site. The trays may have various heights and be arranged in any order in the stack. Each tray includes a plurality of latches, each latch having an arm swingably mounted to the tray and terminated by a projection spaced a selected distance D1 above the tray rim or top when the latch is swung to its latching position. Each tray also includes a corresponding plurality of latching surfaces located under the latches on that tray. The distance D2 between the seating surfaces and latching surfaces of each tray corresponds substantially to the distance D1 of that tray. This enables the latch arms of each tray to be latched to the latching surfaces of an overlying tray in the stack or to a cover so as to form a closed compact transportable package. Different latch embodiments for securing the trays together are also disclosed.

Abstract: A latch assembly for securing a cover to a container comprises a base for mounting to the container cover adjacent to an edge thereof, a cover member secured to the base and a slider slidable between the base and cover member between a latched position wherein a portion of the slider interfits with the container and an unlatched position wherein the slider portion is disengaged from the container. A headed spring member interposed between the slider and the base interfits with holes or recesses in the slider to signal when the slider has reached its latched and unlatched positions and to releasably retain the slider at those positions.

Abstract: A holder for an acetabular reamer of the type including a generally hemispherical shell having a circular edge and cross arms connected adjacent to the edge and which converge at the center of the edge. The holder includes a base having a datums and at least three pedestals extending up from the base at locations spaced radially from, and distributed about, the datums. Each pedestal has side walls and an upper wall extending between the side walls and facing away from the base. The upper wall is curved so that together the upper walls of the pedestals define an imaginary surface having substantially spherical curvature, so that the pedestals help to retain a reamer whose shell is congruent to the collective upper walls and whose edge is substantially parallel to the base.

Abstract: A sterilization container for medical instruments includes a receptacle with a bottom wall and an open top, there being a multiplicity of vent openings in the bottom wall. The receptacle has a cover movable between a closed position wherein the cover closes the open top of the receptacle and an open position wherein the cover is positioned to allow access to the interior of the receptacle. A filter sheet is positioned in the receptacle so as to cover the bottom wall and the vent openings therein and the receptacle contains one or more trays for supporting medical instruments above the filter sheet. A perforated highly thermally conductive plate is positioned between the trays and the filter sheet so that when steam enters the container through the vent openings during steam sterilization, it heats the plate to a temperature sufficient to revaporize steam condensate collecting on the plate. The internal structure of the container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sterilization mat has a mesh-like backing with opposite faces composed of intersecting stringers defining relatively large openings in the backing. The stringers have rounded or inclined surfaces at one face of the backing and a multiplicity of resilient pins or fingers project from those surfaces for supporting and fixating medical instruments. Preferably, rounded or inclined surfaces are also provided at the underside of the backing. During sterilization, the mat minimizes the accumulation of condensed moisture on and under the mat and promotes efficient sterilization of the instruments on the mat.

Abstract: A sterilization container for medical instruments includes a receptacle with a bottom wall and an open top, there being a multiplicity of vent openings in the bottom wall. The receptacle has a cover movable between a closed position wherein the cover closes the open top of the receptacle and an open position wherein the cover is positioned to allow access to the interior of the receptacle. A filter sheet is positioned in the receptacle so as to cover the bottom wall and the vent openings therein and the receptacle contains one or more trays for supporting medical instruments above the filter sheet. A perforated highly thermally conductive plate is positioned between the trays and the filter sheet so that when steam enters the container through the vent openings during steam sterilization, it heats the plate to a temperature sufficient to revaporize steam condensate collecting on the plate. The internal structure of the container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sterilization tray is constructed primarily of a single stamped metal part which forms the bottom wall and at least two opposite side walls of the tray. The side walls of the tray are joined by end closures which form the end walls of the tray. In one tray embodiment, the end closures are plastic end walls which are hooked to the ends of the side walls. In a second embodiment, the end closures are formed by a bottom wall extension of the metal part which are folded up to form the tray end walls and plastic corner pieces which are hooked to the adjacent ends of the side and end walls. The tray is highly thermally conductive yet relatively inexpensive to make in quantity.

Abstract: A medical instrument fixation system for a sterilization tray having a bottom wall and an array of ventilation holes in the bottom wall, the holes being arranged in columns and rows with a selected spacing between the columns and rows includes a plurality of elongated rails. Each rail has a bottom surface, a top surface and a plurality of projections extending from the bottom surface and spaced apart along each rail a distance equal to, or an intregal multiple of, the selected spacing, the projections being sized to plug into the holes so that the rail extends along a column or row of holes. The system also includes a plurality of posts, each post having opposite ends and means for keying one end of each post to a different one of the rails so that so that each post can slide along the corresponding rail to a selected position thereon. A method of fixating the instruments in the tray using special retention devices is also disclosed.

Abstract: A safety clasp for locking a cover to a container includes a rocker and an axle pivotally connecting the rocker to the cover. A slider is positioned between the axle and the cover and is slidable along the cover in a direction generally perpendicular to the axle between a locked position wherein a portion of the slider interfits with the container and an unlocked position wherein the slider portion is disengaged from the container. The slider has a projection extending away from the cover and the rocker is moveable about the axle between a first position wherein a portion of the rocker engages behind the projection when the slider is in its locked position thereby preventing the slider from moving to its unlocked position. The rocker is also moveable to a second position wherein the rocker portion clears the projection thereby allowing the slider to be moved from its locked position to its unlocked position. A spring is located between the rocker and the slider for biasing the rocker to its first position.

Abstract: A bracket for fixating medical instruments or other articles includes a base member with a plurality of spaced-apart fingers extending up from the base member. A recess is formed in a side wall of at least one finger, which recess faces the adjacent finger. Also, a sheath engages around each finger which sheath has a flexible, resilient side wall which overlies any recess in that finger and defines therewith a void. When an article is wedged into the space between the one and the adjacent finger, it will snap into a stable position opposite the void so that the article is resiliently engaged and fixated by the overlying sheath wall.

Abstract: A modular sterilization tray system for medical instruments comprises a rigid, substantially rectangular case having a pair of opposite side walls, a pair of opposite end walls and a bottom wall. A plurality of vertical columns of vertically spaced apart uniform size holes are formed in the case side walls and end walls. Also, one or more substantially rectilinear instrument trays are provided for placement in the case, the length and width dimensions of each of the trays being directly related to the spacing of the columns of holes in the case side and end walls such that one or more trays may be positioned within the case so as to be bracketed by selected columns of holes. The system also includes fixtures for positioning in selected holes of the bracketing columns of holes for fixing the position of one or more trays at a selected elevation in the case and fixation brackets for variously shaped instruments placed in the trays.

Abstract: A modular sterilization tray system for medical instruments comprises a rigid, substantially rectangular case having a pair of opposite side walls, a pair of opposite end walls and a bottom wall. A plurality of vertical columns of vertically spaced apart uniform size holes are formed in the case side walls and end walls. Also, one or more substantially rectilinear instrument trays are provided for placement in the case, the length and width dimensions of each of the trays being directly related to the spacing of the columns of holes in the case side and end walls such that one or more trays may be positioned within the case so as to be bracketed by selected columns of holes. The system also includes fixtures for positioning in selected holes of the bracketing columns of holes for fixing the position of one or more trays at a selected elevation in the case.

Abstract: A pressure responsive valve assembly for a sterilization container having a valve opening comprises a valve closure member for closing the opening and a fluid tight plenum chamber including a rigid wall and an opposite movable wall connected to the valve closure member for movement along a common axis therewith. A spring biases the movable wall and valve closure member away from the rigid wall of the plenum chamber. The movable wall has an area comparable to that of the valve closure member and the plenum chamber has a relatively small length-to-diameter ratio so that when the valve closure member is moved to open or close the valve, the resulting movement of the chamber movable wall changes the volume of the plenum chamber by less than 20%.