Instrument tray assembly and brackets for inserting into an instrument tray

Abstract

An instrument tray assembly and support brackets for mounting in an instrument tray assembly, for example, for retaining medical supplies and medical devices, are provided. The brackets engage the instrument tray and are adapted to facilitate installation and removal of the brackets from the tray. The support brackets include a bottom and a plurality of side walls extending from the bottom. The plurality of side walls are adapted to engage a perforation in a planar surface of the instrument tray to secure the support bracket to the instrument tray. The side walls of the brackets include outwardly biased, cantilevered projections positioned to engage a perforation in the instrument tray. The projections releasably engage the tray for installation and removal. Methods of engaging a bracket into an instrument tray are also disclosed.

1 . An instrument tray assembly comprising:
 a planar surface having one or more perforations; and   at least one instrument support bracket, the instrument support bracket having a bottom and a plurality of side walls extending from the bottom, at least some of the plurality of side walls adapted to engage at least one of the one or more perforations in the planar surface to secure the support bracket to the planar surface.   
     
     
         2 . The instrument tray assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the support bracket is positioned below the planar surface when the at least some of the plurality of side walls of the support bracket engage the planar surface. 
     
     
         3 . The instrument tray assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side walls comprise outwardly biased, cantilevered projections positioned to engage at least one of the one or more perforations. 
     
     
         4 . The instrument tray assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the one or more perforations comprise elongated perforations having ends, and wherein the outwardly biased, cantilevered projections engage the ends of the elongated perforations. 
     
     
         5 . The instrument tray assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein to secure the support bracket to the planar surface comprises to releasably secure the support bracket to the planar surface. 
     
     
         6 . The instrument tray assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instrument tray assembly comprises a medical device instrument tray assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The instrument tray assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the medical device instrument tray assembly is adapted to be sterilized. 
     
     
         8 . The instrument tray assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the medical device instrument tray assembly is adapted to retain a plurality of medical devices. 
     
     
         9 . The instrument tray assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the medical device instrument tray assembly is adapted to retain a plurality of surgical implants. 
     
     
         10 . A instrument tray support bracket comprising a bottom and a plurality of side walls extending from the bottom, the plurality of side walls adapted to engage a perforation in a planar surface of an instrument tray to secure the support bracket to the planar surface of the instrument tray. 
     
     
         11 . The bracket as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of side walls comprise outwardly biased, cantilevered projections positioned to engage a perforation in the instrument tray. 
     
     
         12 . The bracket as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the outwardly biased, cantilevered projections engage ends of an elongated perforation in the instrument tray. 
     
     
         13 . The bracket as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the outwardly biased, cantilevered projections comprise outwardly biased projections in opposing side walls. 
     
     
         14 . The bracket as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the bracket further comprises at least one projection adapted to facilitate handling. 
     
     
         15 . The bracket as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one projection adapted to facilitate handling projects from the bottom of the bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The bracket as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the bracket further comprises a plurality of projections adapted to retain articles. 
     
     
         17 . A method of engaging a bracket into a instrument tray comprising:
 inserting a bracket having a plurality outwardly-biased, cantilevered projections into a perforation in the instrument tray;   contacting the plurality of projections with edges of the perforation in the instrument tray and inwardly deflecting the outwardly-biased projections;   passing the outwardly-biased projections through the perforation;   allowing the outwardly-biased projections to outwardly deflect; and   engaging the instrument tray with the outwardly-deflected projections.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises, after passing the projections through the perforation, contacting the instrument tray with a second projection on the bracket whereby the bracket is retained on the instrument tray between the outwardly-deflected, outwardly-biased projection and the second projection. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises rigidly mounting fixing the bracket to the instrument tray. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein fixing the bracket to the instrument tray comprises fusing a projection of the bracket to the instrument tray.