The use of small fiberoptic visualizing aids has greatly advanced the field of surgery. Through the use of such fiberoptic aids a surgeon is able to make a small incision into a patient and visualize regions of the anatomy that would have otherwise required significantly more invasive procedures. In combination with surgical instrument modified to fit and operate through the small incision, it is also possible to conduct delicate surgery without having to make large surgical incisions. Laparoscopic cholecystectomies is one form of fiberoptic guided surgery and involves the surgical removal of a diseased or otherwise afflicted gall bladder.
During laparoscopic cholecystectomies, a surgeon is usually assisted by several surgical assistants. One such assistant is usually assigned the role of operating a laparoscopic camera while another is assigned to provide the surgeon with various sterilized laparoscopic surgical instruments as needed during the surgery. Typically, these laparoscopic instruments are placed on a tray or table distant from the immediate operating arena, thus requiring unnecessary and potentially intrusive "walking about" by the assigned surgical assistant. This problem has long continued without significant abatement or satisfactory resolution. Apart from inconvenience, disorganization and intrusiveness, the present practice also requires the addition of another staff member to an already typically crowded surgical team, thus increasing hospital costs and the related fees to the patient.
In light of the existing problems, a multi-vessel receptacle for laparoscopic surgical instruments has been designed that may be used to retain instruments in an area within the reach of the surgeon conducting the laparoscopic procedures. Such a receptacle would conceivably end the need to have surgical assistants performing tasks that this device can accomplish simply and more cost effectively. The labor of such surgical assistants can be redirected to more productive ends.
Prior patents have been directed to assorted means for organizing or otherwise arranging medical devices. U.S. Pat. No. 2,557,420, issued to Elliot on Jun 19, 1951, was directed to device with a tubular arrangement for the storage of hypodermic needles. U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,342, issued to Michel on May 27, 1969, was directed to a mailing package having a "Styrofoam" body and sockets for holding biological samples. U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,850, issued to Chen on May 23, 1978, was directed to a tray for use in radioimmunoassays. U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,282, issued to Linder on Oct. 15, 1991, is directed to a pipette shipping package of lightweight materials. Not one of these patent disclose or suggest a device that adequately solves the problems outlined above or contains all the features of the present invention.