WO2015080578A1

WO2015080578A1 - Cassette for holding medical instruments

Info

Publication number: WO2015080578A1
Application number: PCT/NL2014/050806
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jochem OERLEMANS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-28
Filing date: 2014-11-27
Publication date: 2015-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-28
Also published as: EP3076895A1

Abstract

Cassette for holding medical instruments, comprising a first part provided with holders for holding instruments, wherein the first part is connected with a hinge to a second part, wherein the holder is movable from a folded-open position, in which the instruments can be taken out of the cassette, and a closed position in which the second part is folded onto the first part and encloses the held instruments, wherein the second part also comprises holders for holding instruments.

Description

CASSETTE FOR HOLDING MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS

The present invention relates to a cassette for holding medical instruments, for instance dental instruments, comprising a first part provided with holders for holding instruments, wherein the first part is connected with a hinge to a second part, wherein the holder is movable from a folded-open position, in which the instruments can be taken out of the cassette, and a closed position in which the second part is folded onto the first part and encloses the held instruments.

Cassettes for holding medical instruments are per se known and are used to hold instruments when they are disinfected in a thermo-disinfector or sterilized in bags in a sterilizer. Following sterilization they are stored in the bags for later use.

Such cassettes generally have two parts, wherein the one part is provided with holders, for instance clamps or U-shaped receiving spaces, from which the instruments can be taken. By closing the cassette, i.e. arranging the one part on the other part, the instruments are enclosed and then undergo the recirculation process. An open structure is desirable for this purpose.

It is a drawback of such cassettes that they require a large volume in the disinfector and sterilizer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, among others, to provide a more efficient and/or improved cassette for holding medical instruments.

This object, among others, is achieved according to the invention by a cassette according to claim 1. The cassette of the type stated in the preamble more specifically has for this purpose the special feature that the second part also comprises holders for holding instruments. The capacity of the cassette is increased here, and even doubled, when the same number of holders is arranged in the second part. In the folded-open position the instruments can be laid here in the holders of the second part, and in the closed position these instruments are also enclosed. The holders in the second part are configured for this purpose to hold the instruments in both the folded-open and closed position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the two parts lie adjacently of each other, preferably in substantially the same plane, in the folded-open position, wherein the holders in the two parts are aligned for the purpose of holding the instruments in the two mutually adjacent and connecting parts. In the folded-open position the instruments are presented efficiently to the dentist so that he/she can pick up the instruments easily. The cassette used at the chair takes up much less space in the work area because the instruments are stored in both parts.

In order to improve cleaning of the instruments in the cassette it is moreover advantageous for the holders to be configured in the closed position to hold the instruments in the first part offset relative to the instruments in the second part in a direction ttansversely of the longitudinal axes of the instruments. Owing to the greater accessibility, this palisade position enhances the cleaning process.

Folding the cassette open in order to present the instruments to the user, for instance a dentist, is moreover facilitated when the holders are configured to hold the instruments such that the longitudinal axes of the instruments are parallel and wherein the parts are pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to these longitudinal axes. The parts pivot here about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of the instruments. This moreover results in a more compact assembly.

According to a preferred embodiment, the holders are formed by U-shaped receiving spaces. The instruments can be easily arranged herein and also removed therefrom again by the user, while a stable support of the instruments is nevertheless provided, for instance during folding shut.

However, in order to prevent instruments rolling out of the U-shaped holders during closing, and this without the U-shaped receiving spaces having to be given a deep form such that it is difficult for the user to take the instruments out of these receiving spaces, a cassette according to a further preferred embodiment comprises shallow holders with U-shaped receiving spaces which have a first depth, wherein the depth is defined by the greatest distance between the base of the U- shape and the outer ends of the legs of the U-shape, and deep holders which have a second depth which is greater than the first depth, wherein the deep and shallow holders are movable relative to each other for the purpose of alternately holding the instruments such that in the folded-open position the instruments are held by the shallow holders and wherein the instruments are held by the deep holders when the two parts are folded shut. In the folded-open position the instruments are held in the shallow holders so that the user can easily remove the instruments as he/she is accustomed to do so. In this situation the instruments moreover preferably rest solely on these holders, and particularly not on a surface such as a tray. Possible contamination by the surface is then prevented. When however the cassette is folded shut, the instruments are held by the deeper holders so that the instruments are prevented from rolling out of the holders during folding shut. The deep and shallow holders are preferably movable relative to each other in a vertical direction so that due to the gravitational force the instruments come to lie on one of the holders. The holders are preferably movable so that due to the gravitational force the instruments come to lie on the deep holders and due to the contact with the surface the instruments are pushed upward by the shallow holder.

One of the deep or shallow holders is preferably arranged fixedly on a part of the cassette, wherein the other holders are movable. The holders are preferably mutually connected with a resilient element such as a leaf spring. The cassette is preferably configured such that in rest state the deep holders can hold the instruments, wherein the shallow holders come into engagement with the instruments by moving counter to the spring force. The holders can alternatively be mutually connected with a hinge. It is possible here for the parts to be moved relative to each other by gravitational force without resilient elements being necessary for the purpose of moving the holders back relative to each other.

In order to prevent the instruments rolling out of the U-shaped holders during folding shut, it is recommended that the legs of the U-shaped receiving spaces of the deep holders take a higher form in the direction of the hinge than the legs of the U-shaped receiving spaces in the direction away from the hinge. When a part is tilted during folding shut, the instruments are held in the receiving spaces by the higher legs. It is particularly advantageous for the purpose of preventing the instruments from rolling out during folding shut that the legs of the U-shaped receiving spaces of the deep holders take a claw-like form in the direction of the hinge, wherein a portion close to the outer end of the claw-like legs has a surface with a normal having a component opposite to the normal of the base of the U-shape.

For efficient and synchronous movement of the shallow and deep holders relative to each other it is advantageous for at least one of the parts to comprise a sub-frame on which the deep or the shallow holders are arranged, wherein the other of the deep or the shallow holders are arranged on a main frame, wherein the sub-frame is movable relative to the main frame. The deep holders can for instance be arranged on the main frame of a part, wherein the shallow holders are arranged on a sub-frame movable relative to the main frame. Owing to the relative movement of the frames the holders arranged thereon will move relative to each other. The sub-frame is preferably arranged spring-mounted in the main frame, wherein in the rest state of the spring the deep holders extend for the purpose of engaging the instruments.

For relative movement of the holders, or the frames on which they are arranged, it is advantageous for the deep or the shallow holders to comprise supports for supporting on a surface for relative movement of the holders in supported and non-supported state. When the cassette is then arranged on a surface, the holders or the frames will move because the support makes contact with the surface and thus moves the holders relative to each other. When the cassette is once again removed from the surface, these holders or this frame will preferably move back again, for instance through the agency of the resilient element between the holders and/or the frames.

It is advantageous here for the supports to be formed complementarily to and/or be configured to engage on the holders for instraments of a tray configured to hold medical instruments, in particular dental instruments, for instance a disposable tray as known under the name 'Dispotray' . Such a tray is provided with a row of U-shaped holders for instruments. The cassette is preferably formed complementarily to such a tray and can be received therein. The parts are preferably provided for this purpose with recesses for receiving these holders of the tray. In the folded-open position the cassette fits precisely into such a tray. It is possible here that during arranging the supports engage on the tray for the relative movement of the holders. The supports can for instance engage on the row of V-shaped holders. The supports can be situated here at the height of or at a distance above the lower surface of the cassette so that an elevation in the surface, for instance in the form of the holders in a tray, is necessary for relative movement of the holders. It is however also possible for the support to be situated under this lower surface of the cassette, so that the holders are moved relative to each other by the cassette being placed on a flat surface.

It is noted that the deep and shallow holders can also be applied in a cassette wherein only one of the parts is provided with holders. The holders in this part can then move relative to each other.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the cassette is manufactured from a plastic. By for instance manufacturing at least the holders from a plastic instead of metal as is known, protective supports on these metal holders are no longer necessary, so that the holders in the cassette according to the invention can be given a thinner form. This reduces washing blind spots. The walls of the holders preferably have a thickness decreasing upward toward the surface for engaging the instruments. This reduces the contact area still further. The cassette is preferably manufactured solely from plastic. The cassette can then be manufactured efficiently. The hinges, and for instance the resilient elements, are then also embodied in a plastic. These resilient parts can for instance have smaller wall thicknesses so that they have better resilient or pivoting properties.

A plastic more preferably has a greater coefficient of expansion than the coefficient of expansion of the instruments. When the cassette is then placed in an autoclave, the cassette will then expand relative to the instruments so that some clearance occurs. This reduces washing blind spots, while this clearance is once again removed when the cassette cools so that the instruments are then once again firmly enclosed.

The cassette, in particular the parts provided with holders, is moreover preferably provided with walls which limit the movement of the instruments in the longitudinal direction. Both the first part and the second part are preferably provided with such walls, wherein the two walls connect in closed position and have a tapering form. The cassette is then easy to slide into a bag. The two parts moreover close over each other at these locations so that closing is only possible when all instmments lie inside the parts and do not protrude therefrom.

It is noted that such a plastic, including the hinge, the resilient elements and the holders, can also be applied in cassettes with holders in only one of the parts.

The invention also relates to a combination of a tray for medical instruments, in particular dental instruments, and a cassette arranged thereon according to the invention. The tray is preferably a disposable tray. Such a tray is preferably provided with a row of U-shaped holders for instruments. The cassette is preferably formed complementarily to at least a part of such a tray and is received fittingly therein. The holders ar e preferably moved relative to each other here such that the instmments are held by the shallow holders. The user can now take the instruments out easily.

The present invention is further illustrated with reference to the following figures which show a preferred embodiment of the cassette according to the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the cassette in closed position;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the cassette during opening or closing;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the cassette in opened position;

Figures 4 and 5 show side views of the relatively movable U-shaped holders; and

- Figures 6 and 7 show a variant of the cassette in respectively closed and open position.

Shown in figures 1-3 is a cassette 1 according to the invention which consists of two parts 2, 3 mutually connected with a hinge 4. The cassette is furthermore provided with a lock in the form of a tongue 5 which mutually locks parts 2 and 3 in the closed position. Parts 2 and 3 have an open structure so that the instruments held therein can be cleaned effectively. Parts 2 and 3 have side walls 21 and 31 provided with openings 22 and 32 and rear walls 23 and 33 which taper to some extent so that cassette 1 can be easily received in a closable bag. The undersides of parts 2 and 3 are open so that the upper side and underside of cassette 1 are also open in closed position, see figure 1.

Parts 2 and 3 are mutually connected with a hinge 6. Hinge 6 is formed by a wall part embodied more thinly relative to for instance side walls 21 and 31. Hinge 6 makes it possible for the cassette to be folded open, see figure 3, wherein parts 2 and 3 lie adjacently of each other, and to be folded shut, see figure 1, wherein parts 2 and 3 lie on one another and enclose the instruments held therein.

Parts 2 and 3 are moreover provided with holders 25, 26, 35, 36 for medical instruments. Holders 25, 26, 35, 36 are provided with a plurality of U-shaped receiving spaces, in this case five, in which the instruments can be received. Part 2 is provided with deep holders 35 arranged on the outer side and shallow holders 36 arranged further inward. Deep holders 35 are fixedly connected to part 33, so integrally with for instance side walls 31 and rear walls 33. Shallow holders 36 are arranged on a frame 37 arranged with a leaf spring 38 on part 3. Holder 2 is also provided with the deep holders 25, shallow holders 26 on a frame 27 which is movable using spring 28.

Holders 35 and 36, and so also holders 25 and 26, are movable relative to each other as shown in figures 4 and 5. In this embodiment spring 39 presses frame 37 with shallow holders 36 downward so that normally speaking an instrument 100 is received in deep holders 35. These holders 35 are deeper in the sense that the legs of deep holders 35 have a height hi which is greater than the height h2 of the legs of the shallow holders 36. An instrument 100 therefore lies more stably in deeper holders 35. When however cassette 1 is laid in opened position on an insert tray with elevation 200, indicated schematically with the broken line in figure 5, frame 37 with shallow holders 36 is then moved upward so that the instruments lie in shallow holders 36 and no longer in deep holders 35. A support 39 arranged on frame 37 can engage here on the elevation, for instance U-shaped holders in an underlying instrument tray. The transverse connections indicated with 27 and 37 and forming the frame can also engage on such elevations.

In the raised position, in which shallow holders 26, 36 are located higher than deep holders 25, 35, the instruments can be easily taken out of the cassette. When the cassette is folded shut again, holders 36 will then move downward again, in this embodiment through the action of spring 38, so that the instruments also come into engagement again with deep holders 35. The claw-like legs 35a then prevent the instruments rolling out of holders 35 during folding shut, see figure 2. For this purpose the legs 35a of the U-shapes on the side of hinge 6 take a claw-like form.

The variant 1 a shown in figures 6 and 7 largely corresponds to the above embodiment and is once again provided with two parts 2 and 3 which are foldable relative to each other and each provided with deep holders 25, 35 which again take a claw-like form as indicated with 29, 39.

Claws 29, 39 are again directed away from pivot axis A so that, when cassette la is folded shut, the instruments lying in U-shaped holders 25, 35 cannot roll out of holders 25, 35.

Also provided once again in this variant are frames 27 and 37 which are arranged movably on the respective parts 2 and 3. Provided for this purpose in this embodiment are pin-slot connections 28a, 38a. Frames 27 and 37 are more specifically provided with pins which slide in slots arranged in parts 2 and 3 so that frames 27 and 37 are movable relative to parts 2, 3 in the vertical direction, indicated with z in the figures. Shallow U-shaped holders 26 and 36 are once again arranged on the movable frames 27 and 37.

As shown most clearly in figure 6, frames 27 and 37 extend a distance h₃ beyond the undersides 201 and 301 of parts 2 and 3. When cassette la is now folded open onto a flat surface, wherein frames 27 and 37 are also supported (this not being shown in figure 7), frames 27 and 37, and thereby also the shallow holders 26 and 36 arranged thereon, will move upward and engage and raise the instruments at least partially out of deep holders 25, 35. The instruments can now be removed more easily from cassette la. When cassette la is folded shut, frames 27 and 37 will no longer be supported so that, because of the gravitational force, they move back again and will set the instruments down in deep holders 25, 35.

Figure 7 moreover shows an additional holder 4 which is configured to hold smaller instruments such as drills. This holder 4 is also provided with U-shaped holders for holding these instruments and can be connected releasably to frame 27 using suitable snap means.

The present invention is not limited to the shown embodiments, but also extends to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Cassette for holding medical instruments, comprising a first part provided with holders for holding instruments, wherein the first part is connected with a hinge to a second part, wherein the holder is movable from a folded-open position, in which the instruments can be taken out of the cassette, and a closed position in which the second part is folded onto the first part and encloses the held instruments, characterized in that the second part also comprises holders for holding instruments.

2. Cassette as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the folded-open position the two parts lie adjacently of each other, preferably in substantially the same plane, wherein the holders in the two parts are aligned for the puipose of holding the instruments in the two mutually adjacent and connecting parts.

3. Cassette as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein in the closed position the holders are configured to hold the instruments in the first part offset relative to the instruments in the second part in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axes of the instruments.

4. Cassette as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the holders are configured to hold the instruments such that the longitudinal axes of the instruments are parallel and wherein the parts are pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to these longitudinal axes.

5. Cassette as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the holders are formed by U-shaped receiving spaces.

6. Cassette as claimed in claim 5, comprising shallow holders with U-shaped receiving spaces which have a first depth, wherein the depth is defined by the greatest distance between the base of the U-shape and the outer ends of the legs of the U-shape, and deep holders which have a second depth which is greater than the fir st depth, wherein the deep and shallow holders are movable relative to each other for the purpose of alternately holding the instraments such that in the folded-open position the instruments are held by the shallow holders and wherein the instruments are held by the deep holders when the two parts are folded shut.

7. Cassette as claimed in claim 6, wherein the legs of the U-shaped receiving spaces of the deep holders take a higher form in the direction of the hinge than the legs of the U-shaped receiving spaces in the direction away from the hinge.

8. Cassette as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the legs of the U-shaped receiving spaces of the deep holders take a claw -like form in the direction of the hinge, wherein a portion close to the outer end of the claw-like legs has a surface with a normal having a component opposite to the normal of the base of the U-shape.

9. Cassette as claimed in at least one of the claims 6-8, wherein at least one of the parts comprises a sub-frame on which the deep or the shallow holders are arranged, wherein the other of the deep or the shallow holders are arranged on a main frame, wherein the sub-frame is movable relative to the main frame.

10. Cassette as claimed in at least one of the claims 6-9, wherein the deep or the shallow holders comprise supports for supporting on a surface for relative movement of the holders in supported and non-supported state.

11. Cassette as claimed in claim 10, wherein the supports protrude beyond the underside of the cassette for the purpose of moving the holders when the cassette is placed on a flat surface.

12. Cassette as claimed in claim 10, wherein the supports are formed complementarily to the holders for instruments of a tray for medical instruments, in particular dental instruments.

13. Cassette as claimed in claim 10, wherein the supports are configured to engage on holders for instruments of a tray for medical instruments, in particular dental instruments.

14. Cassette as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the cassette is manufactured from a plastic.

15. Combination of a tray for medical instruments and a cassette as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims arranged on the tray.