MEDICAL INSTRUMENT BRACKET ASSEMBLY
A bracket assembly for supporting medical instruments and a method of producing the bracket assembly are provided. Generally the bracket assembly contains a lower portion made of a resilient material adapted to attach to a tray and an upper portion made of a flexible material adapted to receive a medical instrument.
1 . A bracket assembly for supporting medical instruments, said bracket assembly comprising:
a tray;
a lower portion made of a resilient material adapted to removably attach to the tray; and
an upper portion made of a flexible material adapted to receive a medical instrument, the upper portion attached to the lower portion.
2 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient material is a silicone material.
3 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the resilient material is a high durometer material.
4 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the flexible material is a silicone material.
5 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the flexible material is a low durometer material.
6 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tray is a sterilization tray adapted to support medical instruments for sterilization.
7 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are mechanically interlocked.
8 . The bracket assembly of claim 1 , where wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are adhesively joined.
9 . A method of providing a bracket assembly, comprising the steps of:
extruding a piece of resilient material,
extruding a portion of flexible material,
combining the resilient material and the flexible material to form a bracket,
attaching the bracket to a medical tray.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising permanently attaching the bracket to the medical tray.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising mechanically interlocking the resilient material and the flexible material.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising adhesively joining the resilient material and the flexible material.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the resilient material has a materially higher durometer than the flexible material.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the resilient material and the flexible material are co-extruded.
15 . A bracket assembly for supporting medical instruments, said bracket assembly comprising:
a tray;
a lower portion made of a resilient material having a durometer of approximately at least 85, the lower portion adapted to removably attach to the tray; and
an upper portion made of a flexible material having a durometer of approximately between 35 and 55, the upper portion adapted to receive a medical instrument, wherein the upper portion attached to the lower portion.
16 . The bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lower portion and the upper portion are co-extruded.
17 . The bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lower portion is attached to the tray with at least one screw inserted through holes in the tray from an underside of the tray.
18 . The bracket assembly of claim 17 , wherein holes are preformed in the lower portion to receive the screws.
19 . The bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lower portion and the upper portion are formed of silicone.