Surgical container

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for facilitating surgical procedures. A container is provided that has tool compartments configured to maintain one or more tools for use during the surgical procedure, binders used to maintain membranes and other materials at a point of repair and fasteners for fixing the binders to bone. Thus, in a single container, a selection of components, tools and other elements are provided to a practitioner. Combinations of components are identified to allow quick identification of compatible elements suitable for a specific procedure and repair site.

1 . A container comprising:
 one or more tool compartments configured to maintain a tool for use during a surgical procedure;   one or more spaces configured to maintain a plurality of differently sized membranes, each membrane adapted for fixing to bone, and further adapted to facilitate repair of a portion of the bone;   a section configured to organize a plurality of sets of fasteners; and   a plurality of covers, the plurality of covers including a dial adapted to provide selective access among the plurality of sets of fasteners.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein two of the sets of fasteners comprise fasteners of the same fastener type, and wherein each of the two sets has fasteners that are differently sized from the other of the two sets. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of two sets of fasteners comprise fasteners of the same fastener type, and wherein each of the two sets has fasteners that are of a different type than the fasteners in the other of the two sets of fasteners. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein one of the sets of fasteners comprises a plurality of different fasteners arranged in a combination of fasteners selected for the surgical procedure. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the combination of fasteners corresponds to at least one of a plurality of binders, the at least one binder and the corresponding combination of fasteners being matched for the surgical procedure, wherein the binder assists fastening of the membrane to the bone. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the surgical procedure comprises a reconstructive surgical procedure and wherein the container further comprises one or more compartments for containing the plurality of binders. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the combination of fasteners and the at least one of the plurality of binders is selected to immobilize the membrane proximate to the bone, thereby enabling the membrane to facilitate growth of the bone. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the tool maintained in the one or more tool compartments is adapted to manipulate the shape of the at least one binder. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein each of the covers are perforated to permit sterilizing of fasteners, binders, membranes and tools contained by the container. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the tool maintained in the one or more tool compartments is adapted to fasten each of the combination of fasteners to the bone. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the tool maintained in the one or more tool compartments is adapted to cut or trim the membrane. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein each of the covers are perforated to permit autoclaving of fasteners, membranes and tools contained by the container. 
     
     
         12 . A method for organizing components used during reconstructive surgery, comprising:
 providing a container having a container body and at least one cover, wherein the body and the at least one cover are perforated to permit contents of the container to be sterilized by autoclaving;   providing a tool in a tool compartment of the container, wherein the tool is configured for use during a surgical procedure;   providing a plurality of differently sized binders in a binder compartment of the container, each binder adapted for fixing to bone, and further adapted to keep a material in place to facilitate repair of the bone; and   providing a plurality of fasteners organized in sets of fasteners, each fastener adapted to fix at least one portion of one of the plurality of binders to the bone.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sets of fasteners comprise fasteners necessary to fix one of the plurality of binders to the bone, and further comprising identifying the sets of binders with the corresponding binder. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each combination of fasteners and corresponding binder correspond to a predefined type of surgical procedure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the surgical procedure comprises a reconstructive surgical procedure and further comprising identifying a membrane stored in the container, the membrane corresponding to the combination of fasteners and corresponding binders. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each combination of fasteners and corresponding binder is selected to immobilize the membrane proximate to the bone, thereby enabling the membrane to facilitate growth of the bone. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising identifying a tool associated with the each combination, the tool being contained in the container and operable to fasten the corresponding binder. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising identifying a tool associated with the each combination, the tool being contained in the container and operable to cut or trim the membrane. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising identifying a tool associated with the each combination, the tool being contained in the container and operable to manipulate the shape of the at least one binder. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising sterilizing the container and its contents in an autoclave.