Adjustable surgical instrument stringer, tray system, and method of sterilization

Abstract

An adjustable surgical instrument stringer, tray system, and method of sterilization comprising, in general, a one or more axis adjustable stringer to be inserted into the finger rings or ring handles of the surgical instruments to sequentially group the surgical instruments, a surgical instrument tray and lid configured with a pattern of sterilization apertures, the lid having two or more recessed valleys configured to receive the stringer of ringed surgical instruments and releasably hold the surgical instrument therein.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An adjustable stringer configured to string surgical instruments having ring handles comprising:
 two or more rod sections, each rod section of said two or more rod sections configured with at least one angle section therein, and wherein each said rod section is configured to be inserted in one ring handle of the ring handles of the surgical instruments; and   two or more slidable coupler sections, each said slidable coupler section configured to extend and retract two of said two or more rod sections.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 1 , wherein two of said two or more slidable coupler sections are configured as adjustable in one axis. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 1 , wherein each said rod section is configured from a plurality of smaller rod sections. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of smaller rod sections is coupled together to form each said rod section. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 2 , wherein said two or more slidable coupler sections are configured as adjustable in one or more axis. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 5 , wherein said two or more slidable coupler sections are configured as rectangular. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 1 , wherein each said rod section is formed as a solid. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 1 , wherein each said slidable coupler sections traverse linearly. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 1 , wherein said slidable coupler sections further comprises a channel. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 9 , wherein said rod section further comprise a set screw configured to slide within said channel. 
     
     
         11 . A method of organizing surgical instruments having ring handles comprising the steps of:
 providing a stringer having two or more rod sections, each rod section of said two or more rod sections configured with at least one angle section therein and two or more slidable coupler sections, each said slidable coupler section configured to extend and retract two of said two or more rod sections;   inserting each said rod section in one ring handle of the ring handles of the surgical instruments to group the one or more surgical instruments;   providing a tray bottom, tray configured to fit said tray bottom, said removable tray top having a surface configured to support the surgical instruments, said surface further comprises two or more valleys formed in parallel in said surface and configured to receive the ring handles of the surgical instruments;   adjusting said two or more slidable coupler sections of said stringer to fit said two or more valleys formed in parallel in said surface; and   positioning said stringer of the ring handled surgical instruments in two of said two or more valleys formed in parallel in said surface to releasably retain the ring handles of the surgical instruments evenly spaced in an open jaw position.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprises the step of inspecting the surgical instruments. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprises the step of pre-washing the surgical instruments. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprises the step of washing the surgical instruments. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprises the step of retracting said two or more slidable coupler sections to gather together the retained surgical instruments and position thereon said surface in an open jaw position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprises the step of sterilizing the surgical instruments in an open jaw position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , reducing a period of time cleaning the surgical instruments. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , reducing a number of sharps bundled with the surgical instruments. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable stringer of  claim 1 , further comprising
 at least one stringer attachment device utilized to releasably attach said adjustable stringer and the surgical instruments to one or more holes configured in a surgical instrument support tray.   
     
     
         20 . The stringer attachment device of  claim 19 , wherein said stringer attachment device further comprises a clip to releasably receive a rod section of said two or more rod sections. 
     
     
         21 . The stringer attachment device of  claim 19 , wherein said stringer attachment device further comprises a clasp configured to releasably receive a rod section of said two or more rod sections. 
     
     
         22 . The stringer attachment device of  claim 21 , wherein said clasp further comprises a trough. 
     
     
         23 . The stringer attachment device of  claim 22 , wherein said clasp further comprises one or more pegs configured to releasably affix said clasp to said one or more holes configured in said surgical instrument support tray. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument support tray of  claim 21 , wherein said clasp is configured to enable vertical placement of said rod section of said two or more rod sections to string the ring handles of the surgical instruments thereon.