Tray Mounting System

Abstract

A tray mounting system for use with a piece of medical/surgical equipment includes a tray and a tray support base. The tray and tray support base are attached to one another using a locking mechanism. When the instruments, devices and/or consumables on the tray are in need of replacement, either the tray alone or the combination of the tray and tray support base may be removed and replaced.

1 . A tray mounting system for use with a medical/surgical system, said tray mounting system comprising:
 a multi-positionable mounting arm constructed and arranged for positioning by the operator of the medical/surgical system;   said multi-positionable mounting arm being further constructed and arranged to include a mounting for a tray;   said mounting for a tray constructed and arranged for use with trays of different configurations.   
   
   
       2 . The tray mounting system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said mounting for a tray includes a tray support base. 
   
   
       3 . The tray mounting system as defined in  claim 2  wherein the tray is detachable from said tray support base. 
   
   
       4 . The tray mounting system as defined in  claim 3  further including a locking mechanism to affix the tray to said tray support base. 
   
   
       5 . The tray mounting system as defined in  claim 4  wherein said locking mechanism is deactivated by a handle. 
   
   
       6 . The tray mounting system as defined in  claim 2  wherein the tray and said tray support base are removable from said multi-positionable mounting arm as a unit. 
   
   
       7 . A mounting for a tray containing instruments, devices or consumables associated with a procedure performed by a piece of medical/surgical equipment, said mounting for a tray comprising of:
 a tray constructed and arranged to hold and organize the instruments, devices or consumables;   a tray support base constructed and arranged to removably support said tray;   said tray support base constructed and arranged for removable attachment to the piece of medical/surgical equipment.   
   
   
       8 . The mounting for a tray as defined in  claim 7  wherein said tray is connected to said tray support base using a locking mechanism. 
   
   
       9 . The mounting for a tray as defined in  claim 8  wherein said locking mechanism is deactivated by a handle connected to said tray support base. 
   
   
       10 . The mounting for a tray as defined in  claim 9  wherein said handle includes a visual characteristic associated with the instruments, devices or consumables on said tray. 
   
   
       11 . The mounting for a tray as defined in  claim 9  wherein said handle includes a tactile characteristic associated with the instruments, devices or consumables on said tray. 
   
   
       12 . The mounting for a tray as defined in  claim 9  wherein said handle includes a geometrical characteristic associated with the instruments, devices or consumables on said tray. 
   
   
       13 . A method for reconfiguring a piece of medical/surgical equipment for performance of different medical/surgical procedures, said method comprising the steps of:
 identifying the instruments, devices and/or consumables used with a medical/surgical procedure;   assembling the identified instruments, devices and consumables on a tray;   affixing said tray to the end of arm extending from the piece of medical/surgical equipment;   replacing said tray with another tray holding a new set of instruments, devices and consumables whenever a medical/surgical procedure has been completed.   
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 13  wherein said tray includes a tray support base. 
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 14  wherein said tray is removable from said tray support base.