Self-orienting desiccant holder for use in a suction device

Abstract

A receptacle for consistently orienting a sterilized surgical instrument for natural grasping by a physician without removing his or her vision from the operational field, wherein the receptacle may also comprise a reservoir and desiccant for maintaining sanitized or sterilized instruments.

1 . A holder for a medical suction device including a desiccant holder, the combination comprising:
 a generally tubular holder sized and shaped to hold a medical suction device, said holder having an open base; and   a desiccant holder removably attached to said open base, said desiccant holder comprising:
 a generally cylindrical hollow tube shaped body having a closed end and forming a reservoir; and 
 a circular opening at a top end, said circular opening having a diameter generally the same as said open base; 
   wherein a center axis of the circular opening is aligned to a center axis of said open base when the reservoir is attached to said open base of said holder, and   wherein when said medical suction device is in said holder, fluid in said medical suction device drains into said reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir further includes a desiccant. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said desiccant is a liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said desiccant is selected from the group consisting of silica gels, silica clay, vermiculite, desiccant paper, activated alumina, activated carbon, calcium oxide, zeolite, and calcium sulfate. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said desiccant includes an anti-microbial agent selected from the group consisting of: an anti-viral agent, an anti-fungal agent, and an anti-bacterial agent. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said center axis is a curve in three dimensions. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said desiccant holder removably attaches to said open base via a threaded connection.