Sterilization accessory formed from open cellular material

A sterilization system for sterilizing a surgical instrument, said sterilization system comprising:

• a generally planar sterilization surface;
• and
• a sterilization accessory disposed on said generally planar sterilization surface that receives the surgical instrument thereon or therein, said sterilization accessory consisting essentially of a single sheet of material shaped such that it comprises:
• a generally planar base surface;
• a plurality of cells extending from said base surface, each of said plurality of cells comprising a side wall, which extends from said base surface, and an end wall at least a portion of which is disposed generally parallel to the base surface, said side wall and said end wall together defining a cell volume;
• wherein each of said plurality of cells has formed in the end wall or the side wall thereof, an aperture, which aperture permits gases surrounding the single sheet of material to pass into and out of each of said plurality of cells;
• and
• wherein each of the end walls of the plurality of cells comprises an exterior surface and the surgical instrument is received on the exterior surfaces of the end walls.