Multi-level instrument organizer

Abstract

The present invention is a stackable surgical instrument organizer with slots defined beneath upward U-shaped extensions for compact stacking of multiple organizers.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A plurality of disposable polymer and stackable surgical instrument organizers, each organizer adapted to support surgical instruments having a single pivot connection for two long shanks at about a midpoint of those shanks and having two finger rings at proximal ends of two pivoted shanks, each organizer comprising: 
 (a) four or more adjacent supporting means secured to a rectangular box base formed with base length walls and base end walls;    (b) each of the supporting means extending laterally and perpendicular to the base length walls and adapted to support substantially edgewise a single surgical instrument of substantially any length from only one of the finger rings and lateral sides of the shanks so that distal ends of the shanks lie on a tabletop when the base rests thereon, each supporting means further comprising a lower support and an upper support;    (c) a lower cavity containing the lower supports, where the lower cavity is defined by an inside surface of one of the base length walls, inside surfaces of the base end walls, a cavity floor, and an inside surface of a cavity forward wall substantially adjacent to rearward edges of the upper supports;    (d) the lower supports each comprising two upside down and vertical U-shaped lower support loops spaced apart, parallel and secured at legs in rearward and forward locations in the cavity floor to form a ring handle slot adapted to receive and support the ring handle of a surgical instrument;    (e) lower loop slots defined in the lower cavity floor vertically beneath each lower support loop, each lower loop slot having a width greater than a thickness of the lower support loops;    (f) an upper floor extending from a top edge of the cavity forward wall to the second base length wall, where upper supports each comprise two upside down and vertical U-shaped lower support loops spaced apart, parallel and secured at legs in rearward and forward locations in the upper floor to form a shank slot adapted to receive and support the lateral sides of the pivoted shanks of a surgical instrument; and    (g) upper loop slots defined in the upper floor vertically beneath each upper support loop, each upper loop slot having a width greater than a thickness of the upper support loops.    
     
     
         2 . The organizers of  claim 1  wherein a first organizer is placed on top of a second organizer so that each of the lower support loops of the second organizer project into the lower loop slots of the first organizer.  
     
     
         3 . The organizer of  claim 2  wherein each of the upper support loops of the second organizer project into the upper loop slots of the first organizer.  
     
     
         4 . The organizer of  claim 3  wherein end walls of the box bases of the organizers are provided with connector means for connecting in an end to end orientation.  
     
     
         5 . The organizer of  claim 1  wherein the lower support loops have an elevation no higher than a top edge of the cavity forward wall.