Autoclavable modular cassette and tray for holding dental instruments

An autoclavable modular cassette for holding dental instruments comprising:

• two substantially identical trays, the trays having hinge means for removably assembling the trays to one another, each tray having a main plate having a plurality of apertures wherethrough a liquid can be sprayed into and can be drained out of the tray, and at least a pair of parallel side walls, disposed on opposite edges of the main plates;
• a plurality of ribs which are mounted into each tray to occupy substantially parallel positions therein substantially transverse to the general longitudinal axis of the tray, and extending substantially from side wall to side wall, one of the trays including clamping means for holding a plurality of elongated dental instruments in positions substantially transverse to the ribs, the clamping means including
• substantially Y shaped posts protruding upwardly from one of the ribs;
• the trays and the ribs being made of autoclavable plastic material whereby a separate set of dental instruments can be placed into each tray, and whereby the assembled trays forming on the enclosure containing two sets of dental instruments can be cleaned with liquid and ultrasound and can be autoclaved.

An autoclavable modular cassette for holding dental instruments comprising:

• two substantially identical trays, the trays having hinge means for removably assembling the trays to one another, each tray having a main plate having a plurality of apertures wherethrough a liquid can be sprayed into and can be drained out of the tray, and at least a pair of parallel side walls, disposed on opposite edges of the main plates;
• a plurality of ribs which are mounted into each tray to occupy substantially parallel positions therein substantially transverse to the general longitudinal axis of the tray, and extending substantially from side wall to side wall, one of the trays including clamping means for holding a plurality of elongated dental instruments in positions substantially transverse to the ribs;
• two intermediate locking plates, each intermediate locking plate being removably mountable to one tray in position above the ribs,
• the trays and the ribs being made of autoclavable plastic material whereby a separate set of dental instruments can be placed into each tray, and whereby the assembled trays forming on the enclosure containing two sets of dental instruments can be cleaned with liquid and ultrasound and can be autoclaved.

An autoclavable modular cassette for holding dental instruments, comprising:

• two substantially identical trays, each tray having a substantially rectangular main plate and four side plates attached substantially to the edges of the main plate;
• a hinge tongue and ear perpendicular to the tongue protruding from a first side of the tray, and an opening in the opposite second side wall of the tray, the opening being configured to removably receive the hinge ear of the other tray, whereby the two trays can be removably mounted to one another;
• a plurality of ribs mounted into each tray, at least one of said ribs comprising means for supporting the plurality of dental instruments in transverse positions relative to the ribs;
• and
• a pair of intermediate locking plates, each locking plate being removably mountable to one of the trays above the ribs, the locking plates having a plurality of apertures, and the main plates of the trays, having a plurality of apertures, the entire assembly of trays, ribs and locking plates being made of autoclavable plastic material capable of withstanding autoclaving temperatures of 250.degree. to 300.degree. F., whereby separate sets of dental instruments can be placed and contained in each tray, and the assembled trays, which form an enclosure can be washed with liquid, can be ultrasound cleaned and autoclaved while the two sets of dental instruments are contained therein.