# US 8,739,363 B2 · Removable grommet device with enlargeable slit and method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,363 B2 - Document ID: US8739363B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/614,207 - Filed: 2012-09-13 - Published: 2013-03-14 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-14 - Assignees: Symmetry Medical Manufacturing, Inc. - Applicants: Kraig Herman Allen - Inventors: Kraig Herman Allen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739363B2 ## CPC - A61B 50/20: Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02) - A61B 50/33: Trays - A61L 2/26: Accessories - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - Y10T 29/49764: with testing or indicating - Y10T 29/49815: Disassembling - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A grommet device and method of using a grommet device is provided. The grommet device includes a substantially circular base structure. A substantially circular top structure is connected to the substantially circular base structure with a substantially cylindrical middle portion, wherein an aperture having an interior space is positioned interior of the substantially cylindrical middle portion. A flexible top surface is connected to the substantially circular top structure, wherein the flexible top surface is substantially planar. At least one enlargeable slit is formed within the flexible top surface and through an entire thickness of the flexible top surface, wherein an unobstructed path is positioned from a location proximate to an exterior side of the flexible top surface, through the at least one enlargeable slit, and into the interior space of the aperture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A grommet device comprising: a substantially circular base structure; a substantially circular top structure connected to the substantially circular base structure with a substantially cylindrical middle portion, wherein an aperture having an interior space is positioned interior of the substantially cylindrical middle portion; a flexible top surface connected to the substantially circular top structure, wherein the flexible top surface is substantially planar; and at least one enlargeable slit formed within the flexible top surface and through an entire thickness of the flexible top surface, wherein an unobstructed path is positioned from a location proximate to an exterior side of the flexible top surface, through the at least one enlargeable slit, and into the interior space of the aperture, wherein a radial dimension of the substantially circular base structure is larger than a radial dimension of the substantially cylindrical middle portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The grommet device of claim 1, further comprising two enlargeable slits formed within the flexible top surface and through an entire thickness of the flexible top surface, wherein a first slit of the two enlargeable slits is positioned substantially perpendicular to a second slit of the two enlargeable slits. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The grommet device of claim 2, wherein the two enlargeable slits formed within the flexible top surface define four biasable sections of the flexible top surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The grommet device of claim 3, wherein when the four biasable sections are in a non-biased position, the two enlargeable slits are positioned between of the four biasable sections, respectively, and wherein the four biasable sections are position in a biased position, the two enlargeable slits are enlarged to create an enlarged opening to the interior space of the aperture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The grommet device of claim 4, wherein in the non-biased position, the four biasable sections a substantially coplanar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The grommet device of claim 1, wherein a radial dimension of the substantially circular top structure is larger than a radial dimension of the substantially cylindrical middle portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The grommet device of claim 1, wherein the at least one enlargeable slit formed within the flexible top surface substantially intersects a central axis of the aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The grommet device of claim 1, wherein a length dimension of the at least one enlargeable slit is greater than a diameter dimension of the substantially cylindrical middle portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The grommet device of claim 1, wherein at least one enlargeable slit formed within the flexible top surface and through the entire thickness of the flexible top surface further comprises a plurality of enlargeable slits formed within the flexible top surface and through the entire thickness of the flexible top surface, wherein the plurality of enlargeable slits define a plurality of biasable sections of the flexible top surface. ### Claim 10 A system for sterilizing a medical instrument comprising: a medical instrument sterilization platform having a plurality of holes formed therein; a grommet device positioned in one of the plurality of holes of the medical instrument sterilization platform, wherein the grommet device has a substantially circular base structure connected to a substantially circular top structure with a substantially cylindrical middle portion, wherein the substantially circular top structure is positioned on a first side of the medical instrument sterilization platform and the substantially circular base structure is positioned on a second side of the medical instrument sterilization platform, wherein the first side is positioned opposite the second side; an aperture defined by the substantially cylindrical middle portion positioned substantially concentrically of the one of the plurality of holes; and a flexible top surface integrally connected to the substantially circular top structure, the flexible top surface having at least one enlargeable slit formed therein, wherein the medical instrument is frictionally retained in a substantially stationary position by the flexible top surface within the at least one enlargeable slit and at least partially within the aperture, wherein a radial dimension of the substantially circular base structure is larger than a radial dimension of the substantially cylindrical middle portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system for sterilizing a medical instrument of claim 10, wherein the at least one enlargeable slit formed within the flexible top surface further comprises two enlargeable slits formed within the flexible top surface, wherein a first slit of the two enlargeable slits is positioned substantially perpendicular to a second slit of the two enlargeable slits. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system for sterilizing a medical instrument of claim 11, wherein the two enlargeable slits formed within the flexible top surface define four biasable sections of the flexible top surface, wherein the medical instrument is frictionally retained in the substantially stationary position through contact with the four biasable sections of the flexible top surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system for sterilizing a medical instrument of claim 10, wherein when the medical instrument is frictionally retained in the substantially stationary position contacting the four biasable sections, each of the four biasable sections is positioned extending towards an interior space of the aperture.