Patent Application
20130045135
The present disclosure is generally related to grommets and more particularly is related to a grommet device with pull-tab.
Within the medical industry, there is a need for holding a variety of medical instruments for various purposes. For example, a surgeon needs to be able to access medical instruments for surgery quickly, a dentist needs to be able to access his or her dental tools, and virtually all medical instruments must be placed within a holder during a sterilization process. Conventional holding containers may include a variety of bases holding insertable trays that have specifically-designed areas for holding specific tools. However, with smaller tools, such as small dental tools, it is frequently inefficient to store them in these containers, since they're prone to being moved around and jostled as the container is moved. This may result in a grouping of smaller tools in one area, which means that the surgeon or medical staff member must sift through the grouping to locate a specific tool.
Conventionally, medical instruments are often held in containers or trays with holes and grommets. The grommets may be positioned within the holes and provide a secure interface between the medical instrument and the hole within the container or tray. Often, the grommets are sized to match a certain shaft size of various medical instruments, and a container or tray may include a variety of different sized grommets to allow for holding a variety of medical instruments. Because of the risk of harboring bacteria and other contaminants, the grommets are permanently installed within the holes, with the surfaces of the grommets forming tight seals with the container or the tray. This may prevent bacterial from becoming lodge within cracks, crevices or other areas, which may prevent complete sterilization of the medical tool. However, users often try and remove the grommets when they become damaged, or when they desire to reposition the grommet in a new location. This removal of the grommet may result in damage to the grommet structure itself, as well as present additional areas for harboring bacterial.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for a grommet device. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The grommet device includes a base structure having a base surface. A top structure has a top surface, wherein the top structure connected to the base structure with a middle portion. An aperture is connected between the base surface and the top surface, and positioned within the base structure, the top structure, and the middle portion. A pull-tab is connected to the top structure.
The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a medical instrument sterilization system. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A sterilization tray has at least one hole formed therein. A grommet device is removably positioned within the at least one hole, wherein the grommet device has an aperture formed at a substantially center point of the grommet device. A pull-tab is integrally affixed to the grommet device, wherein the pull-tab is positioned lateral to the at least one hole and above the at least one hole formed within the sterilization tray.
The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing methods of using a grommet device within a sterilization tray. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: inserting the grommet device into a hole within the sterilization tray; placing a medical instrument within an aperture in the grommet device; subjecting the medical instrument, grommet device, and sterilization tray to at least one sterilization process; removing the medical instrument from the aperture; and removing the grommet device from the hole within the sterilization tray by biasing a pull-tab integrally affixed to the grommet device.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The device 10 may be used with medical tool holding structures, such as sterilization trays used for holding medical instruments during a sterilization process. Accordingly, the device 10 may be used in any industry utilizing medical tools, such as tools, instruments, or any other type of implement used for surgical procedures, operations, or other medical procedures. For example, the device 10 may be used to hold medical instruments in surgical environments before, during and/or after a surgical procedure, or a medical instrument sterilization process. Similarly, the device 10 may be used with dental instruments for dental operations, routine cleanings, or for any other use. Other settings and uses within the medical field are also envisioned, all of which are considered within the scope of the present disclosure.
The top structure 30 may be sized similar to the base structure 20, in that the top structure 30 is sized larger than the grommet-holding structure 80. This may prevent the device 10 from slipping or moving out of position within the grommet-holding structure 80 accidentally. The top structure 30 may also be oriented such that the plane of the top surface 32 is substantially parallel to the plane of the sterilization tray or other structure that the grommet-holding structure 80 is positioned in, but not co-planar to the sterilization tray. Accordingly, the base and top structures 20, 30 may have any size exterior diameters, thicknesses, or other dimensions. Similarly, the overall dimensions of the device 10, including the overall thickness and external diameter may have any size.
The middle portion 40 may integrally connect the base structure 20 to the top structure 30. The middle portion 40 may commonly have a substantially cylindrical exterior shape that is configured to be positioned within the grommet-holding structure 80. For example, as is shown in
The aperture 50 may be positioned within the device 10 connected between the top surface 32 with the base surface 22. In other words, the aperture 50 is a cut-out of material or hole that is positioned within the device 10, commonly aligned along a central axis of the cylindrical shape of the device 10. As the aperture 50 is used to hold medical instruments within the grommet-holding structure 80, the aperture 50 should have at least two open ends, and should not be a cavity with only one open end. The central axis may run through a radial center point of the grommet-holding structure 80, or may be positioned off-center, as various designs may dictate. The aperture 50 may be sized to hold any type of medical instrument, and thus, may have any size diameter.
Positioned proximate to the top structure 30 is the pull-tab 60. Commonly, the pull-tab 60 is integral with, affixed to, or integrally affixed to the top structure 30, such that a force exerted on the pull-tab 60 transfers to the top structure 30, which of course, is transferred throughout the device 10. The pull tab 60 may be connected to any portion of the top structure 30, such as an edge of the top structure 30, and the pull-tab 60 may be positioned at an angle with respect to the top surface 32 of the top structure 30 The Pull-tab 60 may have a variety of shapes and designs that allow it to be conveniently grasped by a used. For example, as is shown in
The device 10 may be a substantially cylindrical structure around the base structure 20, the top structure 30, the middle portion 40, and the pull-tab 60, all of which may be integrally connected. For example, the top structure 30, the base structure 20, the middle portion 40, and the pull-tab 50 may be integrally molded together as a unitary structure. Commonly, the device 10 may be constructed from a rubber or silicon material that is substantially resistant to degradation from use and from sterilization environments. Constructing the device 10 from rubber or silicone may also allow the device 10 to have sufficient flexibility, thereby allowing it to retain its shape while positioned within the medical instrument tray, but allowing it to be flexible enough to be removed from the medical instrument tray. Within the medical industry, medical instruments are often sterilized in autoclaves, which utilize high temperatures, high pressures, moisture, and/or chemicals to sterilize a medical instrument, so the material that the device 10 is constructed from should be capable of withstanding the sterilization environment.
Accordingly, when a device 10 needs to be removed or replaced, such as due to degradation, cleaning, or changing positions of the various devices, the pull-tab 60 may be grasped by a user and pulled away from the grommet-holding structure 80. The user may place a finger 8 through the open interior portion of the pull-tab 60 and bias the pull-tab 60 angularly away from the hole of the grommet-holding structure 80. Generally, the pull-tab 60 may be pulled at an angle away from the grommet-holding structure 80, such as a 45° angle, which allows the base structure 20 to slip through the grommet-holding structure 80 and free the device 10 from contact with the grommet-holding structure 80. To assist with pulling the pull-tab 60 at an angle, the pull-tab 60 may be oriented to have a natural angle from the position of the aperture 50, as is shown best in
The device 110 is substantially similar to the device 10 of
As is shown by block 202, the grommet device is inserted into a hole within the sterilization tray. A medical instrument is placed within an aperture in the grommet device (block 204). The medical instrument, grommet device, and sterilization tray are subjected to at least one sterilization process (block 206). The medical instrument is removed from the aperture (block 208). The grommet device is removed from the hole within the sterilization tray by biasing a pull-tab integrally affixed to the grommet device (block 210).
The method may include any number of additional steps, processes, or functions, including any of the steps, processes, and functions disclosed with respect to
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/524,533 entitled “Grommet Device with Pull-Tab” and filed Aug. 17, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61524533 | Aug 2011 | US |
