Selective holder design and positioning pattern

Abstract

An autoclave tray for the sterilization of medical and/or dental instruments, equipment and appliances includes an autoclave tray which is configured with a uniform row and column pattern of crossed-slot sterilant apertures each of which have a geometric center, the pattern being generally uniform in its overall spacing between such geometric centers. Selectively installed in selected ones of the sterilant apertures are instrument holders which begin as extruded lengths of material which are then cut to the desired length and shaped with appropriate relief for the receipt of the items to be autoclaved. The holders are loaded into selected sterilant apertures by pressing an enlarged base portion of the holders into and through the sterilant apertures. By the use of the crossed-slot apertures the holders can be arranged either vertically or horizontally in a top plan orientation or may actually be used at right angles to each other allowing items to be autoclaved to be installed diagonally. The dimensioning of the holders relative to the dimensioning of the sterilant apertures results in sterilant openings being disposed on either side of the installed holder, these openings coming from the sterilant apertures which are actually used to receive the holder.