# US 9,517,105 B2 · Movable holder for medical instruments and associated methods

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- Number: US 9,517,105 B2
- Document ID: US9517105B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/722,779
- Filed: 2015-05-27
- Published: 2015-09-10
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-16
- Assignees: Symmetry Medical Manufacturing, Inc.
- Applicants: Symmetry Medical Manufacturing, Inc.
- Inventors: Brian Carette; George P. Hannafin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517105B2

## CPC

- A61B 50/33: Trays
- 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 90/57: Accessory clamps
- A61L 2/06: Hot gas
- A61L 2/26: Accessories
- F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
- A61C 19/00: Dental auxiliary appliances (dental chairs or accessories therefor, working stands whether or not combined with chairs A61G15/00)
- A61C 19/002: {Cleaning devices specially adapted for dental instruments}
- A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 29/4984: Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
- 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)
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A movable instrument holding apparatus and method of retaining a medical instrument with a movable instrument holding apparatus are disclosed. The movable instrument holding apparatus includes a housing structure retaining a gripping structure. A rail is connected to the housing structure. A depressible arm is connected to the rail, the depressible arm having a first quantity of ratchet teeth, wherein the first quantity of ratchet teeth is movable with the depressible arm. A track is sized to receive the rail, wherein the track has a second quantity of ratchet teeth, and wherein the first quantity of ratchet teeth are engagable with the second quantity of ratchet teeth when the rail is positioned at least partially within the track.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of retaining a medical instrument with a movable instrument holder, the method comprising the steps of:
connecting a track to a medical instrument sterilization tray;
positioning a rail within a channel formed in the track, wherein the rail is connected to a housing structure having at least one gripping structure supported therein;
controlling engagement of the rail with the track with a depressible arm connected to the rail, wherein a first quantity of ratchet teeth formed on the depressible arm is engagable with a second quantity of ratchet teeth formed on the channel; and
retaining the medical instrument between at least two of the gripping structures.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling engagement of the rail with the track with the depressible arm further comprises:
positioning the depressible arm in a first position to engage the first quantity of ratchet teeth with the second quantity of ratchet teeth; and
positioning the depressible arm in a second position to disengage the first quantity of ratchet teeth from the second quantity of ratchet teeth.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of subjecting the medical instrument retained between the at least two gripping structures to a sterilization environment.