Method and system for handling and transporting syringes

1. A handling system for a plurality of syringes, the system comprising:

a tray having an array of apertures provided therethrough, each of said apertures adapted for receiving a syringe barrel and an associated needle shield;

said tray comprising a support surface extending around each of said apertures and configured to support the weight of a syringe in at least one position;

said tray comprising a length and a width, said length and said width being substantially perpendicular, said width being greater than said length;

each of said apertures being spaced apart along said length and said width, wherein adjacent apertures in a width direction are spaced farther apart than adjacent apertures in a length direction;

a first plurality of ribs extending along said length direction, and a second plurality of ribs extending along said width direction, wherein said first plurality of ribs comprise a greater thickness than the second plurality of ribs; and

wherein said support surface extends in only one of said width direction and said length direction such that a syringe may only be provided in an aperture in a first orientation or a second orientation and wherein said second orientation is characterized by a 180 degree rotation of said syringe from said first orientation.

2. The handling system of claim 1 , wherein said tray further comprises a flange member extending around substantially the entire perimeter of said tray.

3. The handling system of claim 2 , further comprising a tub, the flange member comprising a contact surface for contact with said tub and wherein said tub comprises a depth greater than a length of said syringe.

4. The handling system of claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises a molded plastic material.

5. The handling system of claim 2 , wherein the flange member comprises a plurality of recesses adapted to allow a user to grasp the tray.

6. The handling system of claim 1 , wherein the apertures are non-circular.

7. A tray for handling a plurality of syringes, the tray comprising:

an array of wells adapted for receiving a plurality of syringes;

wherein each of the wells comprises an aperture and a support surface configured to support a weight of a syringe in at least one position;

the tray comprising a rectangular shape having a length and a width, the length and the width being substantially perpendicular;

a flange extending around a perimeter of the tray, the flange comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the lower surface is adapted to contact a tub;

each of said apertures being spaced apart along said length and said width;

a first plurality of ribs extending along said length direction, and a second plurality of ribs extending along the width direction, wherein the first plurality of ribs comprise a greater thickness than the second plurality of ribs; and

wherein the support surface extends in only one of said width direction and said length direction such that a syringe may only be provided in an aperture in a predetermined orientation.

8. The tray of claim 7 , wherein the wells comprise a sidewall, and wherein the sidewall extends downwardly beyond the lower surface of the flange.

9. The tray of claim 8 , wherein the sidewalk comprise a first diameter and a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

10. The tray of claim 7 , wherein the tray comprises a molded plastic material.

11. The tray of claim 7 , wherein the flange member comprises a plurality of recesses adapted to allow a user to grasp the tray.

12. The tray of claim 7 , wherein the apertures are non-circular.

13. A tray for handling a plurality of syringes, the tray comprising:

an array of wells adapted for receiving a plurality of syringes;

the array of wells at least partially defined by a first plurality of ribs and a second plurality of ribs;

the tray comprising a rectangular shape having a length and a width, the length and the width being substantially perpendicular;

the first plurality of ribs comprising a plurality of ribs extending in a length direction and being parallel to one another;

the second plurality of ribs extending in a width direction and being parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first plurality of ribs;

the first plurality of ribs comprising a greater thickness than the second plurality of ribs, and wherein wells are provided between intersecting ribs, each of the wells comprising a recessed rectangular shape with an aperture provided therein and a support surface configured to support a weight of a syringe in at least one position;

a flange extending around a perimeter of the tray, the flange comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the lower surface is adapted to contact a tub;

each of said apertures being spaced apart along said length and said width; and

wherein the support surface extends in only one of said width direction and said length direction such that a syringe may only be provided in an aperture in a predetermined orientation.

14. The tray of claim 13 , wherein the wells comprise a sidewall, and wherein the sidewall extends downwardly beyond the lower surface of the flange.

15. The tray of claim 14 , wherein the sidewalls comprise a first diameter and a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

16. The tray of claim 13 , wherein the tray comprises a molded plastic material.

17. The tray of claim 13 , wherein the flange member comprises a plurality of recesses adapted to allow a user to grasp the tray.

18. The tray of claim 13 , wherein the apertures are non-circular.

19. The tray of claim 13 , wherein a lower portion of the wells comprise a greater internal diameter than an upper portion of the wells.

20. The tray of claim 13 , wherein the tray comprises thirty six wells.