Elastomeric banding device for dental and medical instruments

Abstract

An improved method for cleaning and sterilizing medical and dental instruments and employs the use of a banding device to segregate and hold together medical or dental instruments after use thereof in a particular procedure. The banded instruments are then cleaned and sterilized. This method essentially eliminates the time and effort formerly required when unsegregated instruments were mixed with other instruments for cleaning and sterilization and then sorted according to the particular procedure for which they are intended and/or according to the intended particular user thereof.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . An elastomeric device for banding medical and dental instruments, the device comprising: 
 an elongated main body portion comprised of an elastomeric material capable of withstanding high temperatures, wherein the main body portion includes an intermediate section and at least one end element secured to an end of the intermediate section, and wherein the main body portion includes at least one opening formed therein.    
   
   
       6 . The elastomeric device of  claim 5  wherein the elongated main body portion includes two end elements secured at opposite ends of the intermediate section.  
   
   
       7 . The elastomeric device of  claim 6  wherein the intermediate portion comprises a pair of elongated bands that extend between the end elements.  
   
   
       8 . The elastomeric device of  claim 5  wherein the main body portion includes a plurality of openings defined therein.  
   
   
       9 . The elastomeric device of  claim 7  wherein the intermediate portion includes a plurality of cross members extending between the elongated bands.  
   
   
       10 . An elastomeric device for banding medical and dental instruments in combination with at least one medical or dental instrument, the elastomeric device comprising:  
     an elongated main body portion comprised of an elastomeric material capable of withstanding high temperatures, wherein the main body portion includes an intermediate section and at least one end element secured to an end of the intermediate section, and wherein the main body portion includes at least one opening formed therein, and 
 wherein the elastomeric device is wrapped around the at least one medical or dental instrument and the at least one end element is inserted through the at least one opening.  
 
   
   
       11 . The elastomeric device of  claim 10  wherein the elongated main body portion includes two end elements secured at opposite ends of the intermediate section.  
   
   
       12 . The elastomeric device of  claim 11  wherein the intermediate portion comprises a pair of elongated bands that extend between the end elements.  
   
   
       13 . The elastomeric device of  claim 10  wherein the main body portion includes a plurality of openings defined therein.  
   
   
       14 . A method of sterilizing a plurality of medical or dental instruments, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) collecting the plurality of medical or dental instruments,    b) banding the plurality of medical or dental instruments together, and    c) sterilizing the plurality of medical or dental instruments.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of medical or dental instruments are banded together using an elastomeric device that comprises an elongated main body portion that includes an intermediate section and at least one end element secured to an end of the intermediate section, and wherein the main body portion includes at least one opening formed therein.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein step (b) includes inserting the at least one end element through the at least one opening.  
   
   
       17 . A method of organizing a plurality of medical or dental instruments, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) banding a first set of the plurality of medical or dental instruments together into a first bundle using an elastomeric band that has a first predetermined identifier associated therewith, and    b) storing the first bundle.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first predetermined identifier is a color.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first predetermined identifier is a number.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of banding a second set of the plurality of medical or dental instruments into a second bundle using an elastomeric band that has a second predetermined identifier associated therewith, wherein the first predetermined identifier is different than the second predetermined identifier.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first set of medical or dental instruments are banded together using an elastomeric device that comprises an elongated main body portion that includes an intermediate section and at least one end element secured to an end of the intermediate section, and wherein the main body portion includes at least one opening formed therein.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of sterilizing the bundle before storing the bundle.