Surgical instrument support

Abstract

A surgical instrument support is provided having an elongated body portion and a series of slots located in the upper portion of the support adapted to receive a series of surgical instruments. The support may be made of hard plastic, resilient plastic or metal such as stainlees steel, aluminum or aluminum alloy. In one embodiment the slots are sized to receive the surgical instruments with an easily removable interference fit. In another embodiment elastomeric inserts are provided in the slots to provide a yieldable interference fit for instrument removal.

Description

I FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001] This invention relates to a support for surgical instruments to be used in medical operations.II BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002] It has been reported in the Press and over radio and T.V. that instruments and sponges have been left in patients after the operation has been completed, causing serious damage to the patient.[0003] In one system presently in use 10 some of the instruments 12 to be used in the operation are located on a towel 14 with the handles 16 of the instruments 12 resting on the towel 14. Other instruments 20 are located on a stand or table 30 resting on a cloth 32 which may be either disposable or sterilized between operations. See FIG. 1 and Ex. 1.[0004] In another system 50 presently in use for endoscopic surgery shown in FIG. 2, in which instruments to be used in the operation are inserted into the patient and viewed externally are located in a tray 51 having vertical supports 52 having curved slots 54 of varying size 58, 56 to su...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a surgical instrument support which maintains the surgical instruments laterally spaced from each other.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical instrument support which maintains the surgical tools in a desired location relative to each other.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a surgical instrument support which provides structure which indicates whether or not a surgical instrument is missing and may have been misplaced or left in the patient.

[0015] In another embodiment the external surface of the support includes at least one arcuate portion to assist in maintaining the instruments in place on the support. In another embodiment the support includes a pair of arcuate surfaces to assist in maintaining the instruments in place on the support. In one embodiment the support includes at least one tapered surface to assist in maintaing the tools in place on the support. In another embodiment the support includes a pair of tapered surfaces to assist in maintaining the instruments in place on the support. In another embodiment the support is made in two or more sections and one section telescopes within another section. In another embodiment the sections are connected with a removable interlocking fit.

Problems solved by technology

It has been reported in the Press and over radio and T.V. that instruments and sponges have been left in patients after the operation has been completed, causing serious damage to the patient.

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