Surgical or medical instrument holder

Abstract

A device for holding scalpels or other instruments is provided. The device includes a non-fixed sterile body having at least one instrument mounting station that includes a holding portion for releasably holding the proximal end of a surgical or medical instrument while allowing access to the proximal end for grasping and removal of the instrument from the device by a user. The device has a recessed area or compartment for receiving the distal end of the instrument to facilitate preventing of inadvertent contact of the distal end by the user while the instrument is held by the device

1 . A device for holding surgical or medical instruments having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising a non-fixed sterile body having at least one instrument mounting station that includes a holding portion for releasably holding a surgical or medical instrument while allowing access to the proximal end for manually grasping and removal of the instrument from the device with the fingers of one hand and having a compartment area for receiving the distal end of the instrument to facilitate preventing of inadvertent contact of the distal end by the user while the instrument is held by the device.  
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 there are at least two instrument mounting stations.    
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the device is a disposable unit.    
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the holding portion includes at least one of a rest, a frictional holder, a hook and loop fastener holder, a magnetic holder and an adhesive holder.    
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a suture needle holder having at least one suture station having an enclosing material wherein a suture needle of a suture may penetrate and be held by the enclosing material.    
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 there is a plurality of visually distinguishable suture stations to facilitate accounting of sutures.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the suture station has an enclosing material wherein a suture needle of a suture may penetrate and be held by the enclosing material.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a support structure mounting portion for mounting the device to the support structure.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an instrument disposal portion having a receiving area for receiving and storing used surgical or medical instruments.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 the instrument disposal portion is provided with a closure to make the receiving area inaccessible.    
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 one of the mounting stations is longer than the other to accommodate instruments of different lengths.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the device is prefilled with at least one sterile surgical or medical instrument.    
   
   
       13 . A method of holding surgical or medical instruments having a proximal end and a distal end, the method comprising; 
 providing a non-fixed sterile body having at least one instrument mounting station that includes a holding portion for releasably holding a surgical or medical instrument while allowing access to the proximal end for manually grasping and removal of the instrument from the device with the fingers of one hand and having a compartment area for receiving the distal end of the instrument to facilitate preventing of inadvertent contact of the distal end by the user while the instrument is held by the device.    
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the distal end of the instruments are suspended within the compartment area when held by the device.    
   
   
       15 . A device for holding surgical or medical instruments having a proximal end and a distal end, the device comprising a non-fixed sterile body having at least one instrument mounting station that includes a holding portion for releasably holding a surgical or medical instrument while allowing access to the proximal end for manually grasping and removal of the instrument from the device with the fingers of one hand and having a compartment area for receiving the distal end of the instrument to facilitate preventing of inadvertent contact of the distal end by the user while the instrument is held by the device, and further including an instrument disposal portion having a receiving area for receiving and storing used surgical or medical instruments, and wherein the instrument disposal portion is provided with a closure to make the receiving area inaccessible when closed.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the compartment area of the mounting stations forms the receiving area of the instrument disposal portion and wherein the closure covers the compartment areas.    
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the receiving area of instrument disposal portion does not include the compartment area of the mounting stations.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the closure locks into place upon closing.