US20130074450A1

US20130074450A1 - Apparatus and method for securing medical instruments

Info

Publication number: US20130074450A1
Application number: US13/605,684
Authority: US
Inventors: Seth Higham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-22
Filing date: 2012-09-06
Publication date: 2013-03-28

Abstract

A surgical instrument securing device is provided for holding medical instruments. The surgical instrument securing device may be formed from a silicone, rubber, or other polymer based base and may be elastomeric. Slots in the base may define one or more substantially arcuate, circular, elliptical, or other geometrically shaped spaces within the base which open towards at least one side of the base, wherein one or more surgical instruments may be secured by inserting a portion of the instrument into one of the slots. A method for securing surgical instruments is also provided wherein surgical instruments are secured by inserting a portion of the instruments into the slots within the silicone or other polymer based base.

Description

THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for securing medical instruments. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for securing medical instruments using a silicone, rubber, or other polymer based base or base.

BACKGROUND

Surgical instruments are generally organized, cleaned, stored, and moved within a hospital or other medical facility on securing devices known as surgical instrument stringers (or simply as “instrument stringers” or “stringers”). Instrument stringers come in various sizes and shapes. Two common types of instrument stringers include a U-shaped instrument stringer and a single armed instrument stringer as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively. U-shaped and single armed stringers are commonly available with a clasp at the distal ends to keep the surgical instruments secured to the stringers. U-shaped and single armed stringers may be used to hold instruments during sterilization and for delivery to the surgical field.
While common, the use of instrument stringers raises potential difficulties. For example, instrument stringers generally allow medical personnel to either secure instruments in place or to rapidly remove instruments from the stringer. However, they usually do not provide a method for both securing the surgical instruments in place and for rapid removal of the instruments from the same stringer.
Stringers used to sterilize surgical instruments may not be suitable for the display and access of the same surgical instruments. Similarly, stringers used for display and access of instruments may not be suitable for securing the same instruments in place. If a stringer suitable for display and access is used for sterilization of surgical instruments, the instruments may become jumbled during the normal sterilization handling process.
There are other potential difficulties to using instrument stringers as well. For example, assembling sets of instruments on stringers is very time consuming and one of the most labor-intensive steps in the sterilization process. Surgical instrument stringers may hold sets of instruments ranging anywhere from about thirty to about seventy instruments. Often during a medical procedure, less than half of the surgical instruments on a stringer get used for the procedure and sometimes no more than twenty percent of the stringer instruments will get used.
Considerable time may be spent before and after medical procedures organizing and sorting used and unused surgical instruments. Before a medical procedure, sterile instruments that may be used during the procedure are usually removed from an instrument stringer and organized in a sterile field in preparation for the procedure. Thus, for example, a surgical technician may line up a number of scalpels, forceps and other instruments that are likely to be used on a tray in the operating room. A significant amount of time may be devoted to sorting, arranging, and counting the clean instruments so the surgical technician can be assured that needed instruments are available, while keeping the tray from being cluttered with instruments which are unlikely to be used.
After a medical procedure, used instruments must be processed by being cleaned, inspected, and sterilized. Unused instruments generally require less processing and a lower level of scrutiny as blood and tissue are not present on the instruments. However, while in the surgical field or during medical procedures, the used and unused instruments may mingle, become mixed, or touch one another. Thus, unused instruments are also considered contaminated. It is often the central processing technician's job to inspect all instruments, both used and unused for any signs of blood and tissue and to clean the instruments prior to sterilization.
Furthermore, instrument stringers can be very expensive to purchase because they are made of costly materials, such as stainless steel. For example, the cost for a set of stringers may range anywhere from about $30 to as much as $120. Moreover, because some medical facilities may need to keep hundreds of instrument stringers in stock to organize and store all of their surgical instruments, the cost to purchase and maintain an adequate supply of stringers can be substantial.
Thus, there is a need for an improved apparatus and method for securing surgical instruments that cost effectively reduces time and resources used for pre- and post medical procedure processing of surgical instruments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the above and other objects of the present invention, a surgical instrument securing device is provided that is comprised of a base which may be formed from a base of material. The material may be silicone, rubber, or other polymer based materials. Additionally, the material may be non-porous to improve the sterilizabilty.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the surgical instrument securing device is made of a material and is configured so that it can undergo a sterilization process without substantial or rapid degradation of the material.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a surgical instrument securing device is provided wherein the device includes one or more substantially spherical, cylindrical, elliptical, or other geometrically shaped space or spaces opening towards at least one side of the device wherein surgical instruments may be secured by inserting a portion of the instruments into the opening(s) on at least one side of the device.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a surgical instrument securing device is provided having a plurality of openings in a base forming the device for inserting and securing one or more surgical instruments.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a surgical instrument securing device is provided which may be formed from a silicone, rubber, or other polymer based base that may be suitable for securing the instruments during sterilization and for delivery and display on the surgical field.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a surgical instrument securing device is provided including a silicone, rubber, or other polymer base that may be suitable for displaying and accessing instruments rapidly.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a surgical instrument securing device is provided including a base having a silicone, rubber, or other polymer that may be suitable for cleaning, sorting, sterilization, and display while permitting individual instruments to be removed quickly without disturbing neighboring instruments secured in the surgical instrument securing device.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a surgical instrument securing device may be formed of a base having silicone, rubber, or other polymer wherein surgical instruments may be individually inserted into any one of the one or more openings in the silicone, rubber, or polymer without disturbing any neighboring instruments secured within the surgical instrument securing device.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for securing and displaying surgical instruments using a base wherein the instruments may be secured and assembled in a pre-designated order and wherein the pre-designated instrument assembly may be placed in the surgical field. Additionally, the method may include improved tracking of the surgical instruments to ensure that no instruments have been left in the patient's body.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for securing and displaying surgical instruments using a silicone, rubber, or other polymer base wherein surgical instruments may be used without mingling, mixing, or touching the used instruments with the unused instruments.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for sterilizing surgical instruments while secured in a silicone, rubber, or other polymer base wherein surgical instruments may be secured and assembled in a pre-designated order.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a typical U-shaped surgical instrument stringer in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a typical single armed surgical instrument stringer in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of a surgical instrument securing device in accordance with one aspect the present invention;

FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the surgical instrument securing device of FIG. 3A with a plurality of surgical instruments disposed therein;

FIG. 4 shows an end view of the surgical instrument securing device of FIGS. 3A and 3B;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a surgical instrument securing device in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a surgical instrument securing device in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows an end view of a surgical instrument securing device in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that FIGS. 3-7 are merely illustrative of aspects of the invention and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all advantages of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. It should be noted that the terms “surgical instruments” and “medical instruments” are used interchangeably herein and refer to the broadest definition of the terms, and are not limited to those instruments only used in surgeries, but include any type of instruments used in any medical procedure, including dental and other procures.
Prior to a surgical procedure, it is common for a surgical technician or nurse to acquire the instruments which are likely to be used during the procedure. This may include obtaining a surgical stringer containing the instruments or collecting instruments from a variety of different stringers. The surgical instruments are typically placed on a tray which will be positioned adjacent the surgical technician or nurse during surgery. During the procedure, various instruments are handed to the surgeon and then returned to the tray when no longer in need. Because surgeries often do not go according to plan, the surgical technician or nurse will usually include a number of instruments which are less likely to be used, but need to be available in case they are needed.
As mentioned above, it is not uncommon for used instruments to come into contact with unused instruments. Thus, all of the instruments will need to be re-sterilized after the procedure. Moreover, the nurse or surgical technician is usually required to count the instruments to ensure that each instrument is accounted for after the surgery to ensure that none has been left in the patient. Additionally, the nurse or central processing technician must often hand clean any used instruments to remove blood and tissue after the procedure, but prior to re-sterilization. When used and unused instruments are disposed on the tray, it may be difficult to determine which have been used and which have not. To this end, it is common to treat all of the instruments as used—requiring careful inspection. The set-up and clean-up before and after surgery can be very time consuming. In accordance with the present invention, however, the process can be streamlined, thereby saving time and expense for the hospital.
Turning now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a surgical instrument securing device, generally indicated at 100, is disclosed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The surgical instrument securing device 100 may include a base 104 with at least one opening 108 on the top surface of base 104 and an inner wall structure forming a void configured to allow insertion of a plurality of medical instruments 132, 134, 136, and 138 (FIG. 3B) into the base 104. The medical instruments may engage the base in such a manner than they are held in place until needed. This may be done by having a plurality of slots which receive the medical instruments and/or by frictionally engaging the medical instruments with the inner wall structure defining the void. Medical instruments that may be secured by the device 100 include, but are not limited to, forceps, clamps, scissors, and the like. The base is particularly beneficial for any instruments having finger rings, although other shaped instruments may be used as well.
As shown in the figures, the base 104 includes two openings 108 which lead into two voids in the base, each being defined by an inner wall structures. It should be appreciated that the base 104 may include any number of openings 108 and that the voids may extend part way along the base or, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, may extend the entire length of the base.
Each of the openings 108 may be positioned in communication with a plurality of slots 112 which are formed into the inner wall structures and configured to receive a portion of medical instruments to thereby hold the medical instruments within the base 104 (as shown in FIG. 3B). The slots 112 may be disposed in the base 104 perpendicular to the length of the openings 108, although this is not required. In one aspect of the invention (not shown), the slots 112 may be disposed in the base 104 at an angle less than 90° in relation to the openings 108.
It will be appreciated that the base 104 and the void(s) may be of any desired size suitable to hold medical instruments. However, as currently anticipated, the base is likely between 3 and 24 inches long, 3 and 6 inches wide, and ½ inch to 6 inches high, with 8-12 inches long, 3-4 inches wide and 2-3 inches deep being typical. The voids extending from the openings 108 may be, for example, between about ¾ths of an inch to an 1.5 inches wide and ¾ths to 1.5 inches deep depending on the size of the finger rings and whether is desired to have inwardly extending stays disposed in the voids (i.e. the forceps etc., being partially open) or extending above the middle portion of the base. Additionally each slot may be between 1/16^thand ¼^thof an inch deep to accommodate different thicknesses of forceps, etc.
The planar shape of the slots 112 in planes parallel to an end 110 of the base 104 may be any shape, such as rectangular, square, triangular, or round, although preferably the slots 112 may be generally arcuate, such as circular or elliptical as shown in FIG. 4. The opening 108 may be disposed above a geometric center point of the planar shape defining the slot 112 so that the opening 108 is narrower than the width of the slots 112 below the opening 108. This allows the device 100 to secure the finger rings 144 or other grasping structures of medical instruments in the device 100. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4, the planar shape of the slots 112 is semi-circular to almost circular, and the center points (not shown) of the semi-circles defining the planar shape of the slots 112 are located beneath the openings 108. In another aspect, the planar shapes of the slots 112 are scallops.
By forming the base 104 from an elastomeric or flexible material, the portion of the walls defining the narrower opening 108 may flex outwardly as an instrument is being pulled out or pushed into the opening, thereby allowing the instrument to be placed in or removed from the void. Under ambient conditions, however, the walls engage the handle or proximal portion of the surgical/medical instrument or are otherwise positioned to hold the instrument in the void and typically in a desired slot 112.
Also shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is a lettering or numbering system 124 which is in alignment with and identifies the slots (only letters are shown to avoid confusion with numbering in the drawings). A surgical technician may use the lettering or numbering system to identify which tools are present and which have been used. For example, slots “a” through “e” may be various types of clamps. If at the end of a surgery slots “d” and “e” are empty, the technician may know that he should have a the two types of clamps associated with those slots in the used instrument tray. Thus, the device of the present invention not only holds medical or surgical instruments, it helps the technician verify what has been used and what is present to ensure that instruments are not lost or left in a patient.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a side view of the base 104 is provided with the outline of the slots 112 being shown in dashed lines. The cross-sectional shape of the slots 112 (the shape as would be seen in the planes parallel to a side 114) may also be arcuate or triangular, or other similar shape creating a groove along each of slots 112. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, the cross-sectional shape of each of the slots 112 is generally circular, thus creating grooves 118 in which the instruments can rest without moving or sliding into adjacent slots. In one aspect of the invention, this shape of the slots 112 is uniform along the entire length of the slots 112, thus creating a groove 118 along the entire circumference of the slots 112.
Referring again to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, the slots 112 may extend up to the opening 108 and thus define the inside and outside opening edges 120 and 122, respectively, with a plurality of ridges and scallops 116 or other shapes that help secure instruments in the slots 112 (see FIG. 4). In one aspect of the invention, the ridges and scallops 116 or other shapes of the opening edges 120 and 122 are determined by the cross-sectional shape of the slots 112, i.e. a slot having an arcuate cross-sectional shape will create inside and outside opening edges 118 and 120 having arcuate ridges, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. A slot having a triangular cross-sectional shape along its periphery will create inside and outside opening edges having straight ridges (not shown).
It will be appreciated that the various slots 112 in the base 104 may be of different configurations and shapes if desired. For example, different sized slots 112 in one base 104 could be used to accommodate different sized instruments in the base 104.
As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 6, the slots 112 may be positioned in the base 104 in aligned rows so as to allow medical instruments 132, 134, 136, 138 having two finger rings 144 or other grasping structures to be disposed in the slots 112, with each finger ring 144 or grasping structure of one instrument in a separate slot 112 in the same row. (While FIG. 3B shows only a few instruments for clarity, it will be appreciated that each slot 112 could have a medical instrument), with a base potentially holding two dozen or more instruments. This allows a technician or a nurse to position a large number of surgical instruments in a particular order. It should also be appreciated that, in another aspect not expressly shown, an instrument may be secured in only one slot (such as by removing the central wall structure between the openings 108). Referring again to FIG. 3B, each of the openings 108 has sixteen slots 112. Thus, a nurse or technician can place sixteen instruments into the device 100, and may do so in a desired order (e.g. most likely to use instruments located in the slots closest to end 110). To facilitate this, labeling 124 may be provided adjacent each slot 112, such as numbering or lettering (corresponding to an inventory list) or names of the instruments, to indicate which instrument should be present in the various slots 112.
The slots 112 are generally formed in the base 104 so as to snugly secure the instruments in the device 100, such that the instruments do not fall out when the device 100 is tipped to a side or upside down. This may be accomplished in one aspect by forming the width of the openings to be smaller than the width of the finger rings 144 and any extension thereto. In another embodiment, this may be done by forming the width of the slots 112 to be narrower than the width of the finger rings 144 of the instruments, such that the finger rings 144 must expand the base 104 in order to fit in the device 100.
In one aspect of the invention, the base 104 may be made of a substantially polymer based material. The polymer base 104 may have a mass formed of silicone, rubber, or any other polymer based material, or a composite of any of the foregoing which will withstand the temperatures, chemicals, and handling in the sterilization process, including those encountered in an autoclave. In accordance with one specific aspect of the invention, the material which forms the base 104 is non-porous so as to avoid leaving open cells which can receive contaminants and are harder to sterilize. In another aspect of the invention, the base 104 may be formed from a material which is elastomeric. This allows the base 104 to deform as a medical instrument is inserted by being pushed into slots 112 in the base 104, thereby securing the finger rings 144 or other grasping structure of the medical instrument. For example, outside wall 114 of the base 104 may deflect outward slightly as the medical instrument is inserted or removed from the slots 112. In an ambient state, however, the outside wall 114 will hold the medical instrument in place.
In another aspect of the invention (not shown), the base 104 may include a hollow frame structure having the general shape of the surgical instrument securing device 100, with a polymer coating on the frame to impart flexibility and elasticity for securing surgical instruments in the device 100. The frame may be made of any material, such as a metal, stainless steel, or composite. This embodiment has the advantage of reducing the amount of material needed to make the surgical instrument securing device 100.
The base 104 may be any shape, but in one specific aspect as shown in FIGS. 3A-6, the base 104 has substantially square or rectangular shaped sides and top and bottom surfaces. In one particular embodiment, the surgical instrument securing device 100 may be approximately four inches wide, two inches high, and have a variable length depending on the number of instruments the surgical instrument securing device 100 is configured to hold. However, it would be readily understood by one skilled in the art that the present device 100 could be made using any number of shape variations as well as variations in height, width, and length, so long as the openings 108 are configured to accept and secure the surgical instruments.
In another aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the base 104 may have one or more cutout portions 150 to reduce the bulk and weight of the device 100, aid in flexibility of the device 100, and to reduce the material needed to produce the device 100. This results in cost savings in the manufacture of the device 100, and easier handling by surgical technicians or nurses. FIG. 7 shows a triangular cutout along the length of the base 104, but it should be appreciated that any shape of cutout, in any location on the base 104 that does not interfere with the slots 112, may be implemented. As shown in FIG. 7, the cutout may also be in one or more sides, or in the central portion between the voids. Such may be done, for example, by simply forming holes 130 or other voids 132 through the base 104. In another aspect (not shown), the base 104 may have grips formed in the outside walls 114 to aid in carrying and transporting the device 100. The grips may comprise indentations in the outside walls for receiving an individual's fingers, or the grips may comprise protruding handles for gripping.
Referring again to FIG. 5, in another aspect of the present invention, the device 100 may have holes 136 formed in communication with the bottom of the slots 112 that extend to the bottom of the base 104. The holes 112 may aid in the drying of the device 100 during washing and sterilization by allowing liquid to drain out of the bottom of the slots 112.
In another aspect of the present invention, the surgical instrument securing device 100 may have connection means (not shown) on the ends 110 of the base 104 for connecting two or more surgical instrument securing devices 100. This provides the advantage of allowing a surgical team to tailor the length and instrument-carrying capacity of the surgical instrument securing device 100 to the particular procedure. For example, where some procedures do not require many instruments, a shorter surgical instrument securing device 100 may be used. But when a complicated procedure is involved requiring many more instruments, additional surgical instrument securing devices 100 may be connected to secure all of the instruments that may be needed. The connection means may be any type of attachment device known to those of skill in the art, including but not limited to hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, straps, magnets, snap-fittings, and the like. In another aspect, the connection means may comprise a base having the desired length that adaptably and removably fits to the bottom surfaces of two or more devices 100.
In another aspect of the invention, the surgical instrument securing device 100 has suspension means (not shown) on an outside edge 114 for holding or suspending the device 100 in a manner that causes the tips of the instruments secured by the device 100 to angle downwards, such as toward a tray or table, or into a cleaning or sterilizing solution. The suspension means may comprise hooks, loops, rings, and the like. The suspension means allows all of the instruments secured in the device to be cleansed or sterilized at the same time.
In another aspect of the invention, the surgical instrument securing device 100 is weighted near the bottom surface to aid in the stability of the device 100 and to prevent it from tipping over. For example, this may be accomplished by attaching the base 104 to a heavier base.
The surgical instrument securing device 100 can be made using any number of injection molding or compressed molding techniques well known in the art. It should be understood, however, that the method of making the surgical instrument securing device 100 is not limited to these techniques and could be made by any other number of other manufacturing techniques also known in the art.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of securing a surgical instrument is disclosed, comprising: inserting a surgical instrument into one or more openings positioned on a first side of a polymer base wherein the one or more openings on the first side of the polymer base are configured to accept and secure the proximal ends of the surgical instrument.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of sterilizing surgical instruments secured in a surgical instrument securing device is disclosed comprising: inserting a portion of one or more surgical instruments into one or more openings positioned on a first side of a polymer base wherein the one or more openings on the first side of the polymer base is configured to accept and secure the proximal ends of the surgical instrument; and sterilizing the securing device and the surgical instruments, such as by using a standard sterilization procedure. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of sterilizing surgical instruments secured in a surgical instrument securing device is disclosed wherein the sterilization procedure includes using an autoclave to sterilize the surgical instruments.
The surgical instrument securing device 100 provides many advantages when used during a surgical procedure. For example, the device 100 obviates the need to remove all of the surgical instruments from a typical stringer and place them on a tray for the procedure, because the base 104 holding the instruments may be placed directly on the tray. The base 104 maintains the instruments off the tray and thus out of contact with the tray and other objects on the tray, such as used surgical instruments. As the surgeon requires various instruments during the procedure, a technician or nurse can readily access the needed instrument from the device 100 because they are arranged in an order known to the technician or nurse. Used instruments may be returned to the tray during the procedures, avoiding contact with the unused instruments held in the base 104, and thereby reducing the need to hand inspect and clean the unused instruments after the procedure is completed. Instruments can be inserted and removed easily and quickly without disturbing (and potentially contaminating) or having to remove other instruments.
Once a surgical procedure is completed, the nurse or technician can compare the used instruments on the tray to the unused slots 112 in the base 104, thereby confirming that each instrument which was brought into the operating room has been removed from the patient's body. This may be facilitated by the lettering or numbering 124. For example, if slots 3, 15, 27 and 30 are empty, the technician or nurse may know that the tray should have a gall bladder forceps in slot (3), a gall stone forceps in slot (15), a 3.25 inch towel clamp in slot (27) and a 5.25 inch towel clamp in slot (30). By confirming that each used instrument is on the tray, the nurse or technician can verify to the surgeon that all instruments have been removed from the patient.
Each of the used tools can then be hand inspected and cleaned and returned to the slots from which each was taken. Device 100 and all of the instruments it contains may then be re-sterilized. After re-sterilization, the device 100 and all of the instruments it contains are ready to be used in the next procedure. The technician or nurse can provide the instruments to the surgeon directly from the base 104, rather than taking the time to go through one or more stringers and set them out on a tray. Hours of nurse or technician time may thus be saved by avoiding the need to set up and track the used instruments versus the instruments set out on the tray (which can vary each time) and reducing the need to inspect unused but potentially cross-contaminated instruments. Additionally, better control of instruments is provided as one can instantly confirm that all medical instruments are accounted for.
It will be appreciated that the device 100 and use thereof will significantly reduce both set-up time before and clean-up time after a surgical procedure. A hospital may have a number of the devices 100, with each being dedicated for a particular type of surgery, or with all of them assembled the same. This enables the technician or nurse to quickly learn the order of the instruments with which they work, allowing them to quickly provide the needed instrument to the surgeon and to quickly confirm that each instrument that has been removed from the base 104 during a surgery is located on the tray (or back in the slot if preferred) prior to verifying that every instrument has been removed from the patient.
There is thus disclosed an improved apparatus and method for securing surgical instruments. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument securing device comprising:

a base made having a polymer based material, the base having at least one opening on at least one side of the base; and

wherein the at least one opening on the at least one side of the base are configured to accept and secure at least one or more surgical instruments.

2. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 1, wherein the base includes one or more of silicone, rubber, or a composite thereof.

3. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening on the at least one side of the device comprises a plurality of slots configured for holding surgical instruments.

4. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 3, wherein plurality of slots includes at least one slot which is generally arcuate.

5. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 3, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the at least one slot is generally arcuate.

6. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 3, wherein the at least one slot is grooved.

7. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 3, wherein:

the at least one opening includes a first opening and a second opening, wherein the second opening is substantially parallel to the first opening; and

wherein the plurality of slots includes a plurality of slots extending from the first opening and a plurality of slots extending from the second opening; and

wherein the plurality of slots in the first opening are substantially aligned with the plurality of slots in the second opening.

8. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of slots in the first opening and the plurality of slots in the second opening are grooved.

9. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 1, wherein the width of the opening is narrower than the width of finger rings on surgical instruments.

10. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 3, wherein the width of the slots is narrower than the width of finger rings on the surgical instruments.

11. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 1, wherein the base is non-porous.

12. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 1, wherein the base is elastomeric.

13. The surgical instrument securing device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of slots are labeled.

14. A method of securing a surgical instrument comprising:

selecting a base having at least one opening formed therein; and

inserting a portion of a surgical instrument into the at least one opening so that the surgical instrument engages the based so as to secure the surgical instrument in the base.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of slots, and wherein the method further comprises disposing a plurality of medical instruments into the slots so as to hold the plurality of medical instruments in the base.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the medical instruments comprise at least one of forceps and clamps and wherein finger rings of the medical instruments are secured in the base.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the base is elastomeric and wherein the step of inserting comprises pushing the medical instrument into the base to deform the base.

18. A method for controlling use of medical instruments, the method comprising:

disposing a plurality of medical instruments in a base;

sterilizing the plurality of medical instruments while in the base;

taking the base and medical instrument to a surgical procedure;

selectively removing medical instruments during a surgical procedure;

maintaining any medical instrument used in the surgical procedure outside of the base until it has been cleaned and inspected; and

returning any used medical instrument to the base.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises re-sterilizing the base and medical instruments secured in the base.

20. A system for use in a surgical procedure, the system comprising:

a base made of elastomeric, autoclavable material having a plurality of slots formed therein; and

a plurality of surgical instruments disposed in the slots.