WO1994001055A1

WO1994001055A1 - Modular tray and cassette tray for sterilizing dental instruments

Info

Publication number: WO1994001055A1
Application number: PCT/FR1993/000689
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gilbert Roux; Christian Roux
Original assignee: Gilbert Roux; Christian Roux
Priority date: 1992-07-06
Filing date: 1993-07-05
Publication date: 1994-01-20
Also published as: FR2693101A1; AU4505693A; FR2693101B3

Abstract

A modular tray for operative dentistry, including a tray (1) with a receiving surface (10) having a suitable size and shape for receiving a plurality of releasable modular instrument holders (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d...) with a horizontal cross-section or area matching that of one basic square module (M) or a multiple thereof. Furthermore, a lid (2) is combined with said tray (1) to form a cassette tray, and the covering surface (10) of the lid has a suitable size and shape for receiving a plurality of releasable modular holding caps each having a horizontal cross-section or area matching that of one basic square module or a multiple thereof, and thus matching that of the basic square module (M) of the instrument holders (3).

Description

MODULAR TRAY AND TRAY / CASSETTE FOR STERILIZATION OF DENTAL INSTRUMENTA¬ TION

The present invention relates to a tray and a modular tray-cassette for the operative dental procedure and the recycling of instrumentation. More specifically, it is aimed at a standardized "cassette-cassette" assembly comprising a plate and a cover and which allows, on its own, on the one hand, Storage and

10 At the disposal of the practitioner of the instrumentation necessary for a specific operative act and, on the other hand, after the intervention, the recycling of this instrumentation, that is to say its transport, its cleaning in the ultrasonic tank that , its steri L i sation, and

15 finally its storage awaiting a new use.

Traditionally, dental surgeons use, for the various acts that they are called upon to perform, trays of various materials

20 (meta LL ic, different steri plastics Li sabLe or not ⁾ and of variable dimensions (variabLe standards) in Which they have The instruments of the operative procedure, according to their needs, without any prior organization. Besides discomfort and

25 wasted time resulting from such a situation, this generates still other much more significant drawbacks. Indeed, when the practitioner has finished his operating procedure, the dental assistant rids the tray. IT IS HANDLED DURING A

30 instrumentation soiled with risks of injury, the consequences of which are known (contamination by Hepatitis B, Herpes, S.I.D.A., etc.). Thereafter, it deposits the instrumentation in bulk in a basket which will pass into an ultrasonic tank, then in

35 a sterilizer. At the end of sterilization, the instruments are sorted and stored in the non-sterile drawers of the dental office storage units.

It is understood that these multiple successive manipulations of bulk instrumentation generate loss of time, alteration or potential loss of instruments and finally, above all, risk of contamination by injury.

Cassettes are known which solve the problem posed by the various transfers of instruments, as well as that of sterilization.

We know, for example, cassettes comprising a tray and a cover provided with openings allowing the passage of cleaning liquids and arranged, internally, in a non-transformable manner, to receive a certain number of determined instruments of the operating procedure, some of which only are held in place, during the closing of said cassettes, by rails made of flexible silicone. Unfortunately, in their operating tray version, such cassettes as well as the various materials currently offered, are not very rational because of an entirely questionable internal organization and a total absence of standardization. Consequently, the instruments are still not arranged according to fundamental ergonomic principles and the practitioners still do not have trays or cassette trays adapted to the different operating acts which they must perform and to a practice which is personal to them.

The object of the invention is in particular to remedy the various drawbacks mentioned above.

According to a first characteristic arrangement of the invention, the tray for instruments of the operative dental procedure is remarkable in that it comprises a tray whose surface of reception is dimensioned and arranged according to a modular frame, to receive a plurality of removable modular instrument holders whose horizontal surface or section corresponds to a square base module or to a multiple of this square base module.

Thanks to this tray designed according to a modular concept, each practitioner can organize the tray so that it is suitable for their own exercise; this plate thus pre-prepared will always consist of the same instruments arranged in the same order for the same type of act. This ready-to-use tray makes it possible to avoid the loss of time as well as the errors that the traditional method of the tray made during a therapeutic procedure causes. From a square base module, it is possible to equip the tray with removable instrument holders whose horizontal section corresponds to this module and / or with larger instrument holders whose horizontal sections correspond to multiples of this basic module, these horizontal sections can have very varied dimensions and shapes, square, rectangular, L, U, etc. In this way, the filling of all or part of the receiving surface of the tray can be carried out with a very wide variety of combinations.

According to another characteristic arrangement of the invention, a cover is associated with the tray intended for the reception of the instruments, with which it constitutes a cassette tray, and the cover surface of this cover is dimensioned and arranged according to a modular frame, for receive a plurality of removable modular retaining caps whose surface or horizontal section corresponds to a square base module or to a multiple of this square base module which corresponds to the surface or horizontal section of the square base module of the instrument holders. Advantageously, the cover comprises a plurality of removable modular retaining caps, the horizontal surfaces or sections of which correspond to the horizontal surfaces or sections of the removable modular instrument holders associated therewith.

This system allows the practitioner to easily open the "cassette tray" and to have, on the one hand, a complete instrumental tray adapted to the act he will have to perform and also, on the other hand, '' a very useful serving tray (for example: removable patient prosthesis, caps or bridges before sealing, instruments no longer to be used, waste), which doubles the usable base surface. At the end of the intervention, the assembly is closed to allow complete blocking of all the instruments (small or large) contained inside and, thereafter, The various cleaning and sterilization operations can follow one another easily. It is understood that the standard tray cassette and modular according to the invention allows an ^ergonomic work for the dentist, in the version "plateau procedure" pre-prepared and then an ultrasonic cleaning and sterilization of instruments without any risk of injury and / or contamination for the dental assistant.

According to another characteristic arrangement of the invention, the tray itself or tray for receiving the instrument holders and the cover intended for fixing the retaining caps, consist of strictly identical plates capable of closing one on the 'other and whose assembly in the closed position can be obtained by various means and, for example, by quick locking plugs engaged in the corners of said plates shaped and arranged for this purpose. Independently of its interest from the asepsis and ergonomics point of view, The system according to the invention presents a non-negligible economic interest; indeed, the presentation in identical double trays, allows a use in "single tray" for the practitioner who wishes to start the system by a reduced investment. It can then evolve towards the integral "tray-cassette" system, as and when required, by joining and locking trays together.

We understand that this system allows you to start and evolve freely, which excludes the notion of "all or nothing".

The overall format of the cassette tray can be advantageously standardized. This format can be, for example, A4 format (21 x 29.7 cm), so that it can be integrated into already standardized storage systems ("Office Storage" standards). Furthermore, this format allows optimization of the ergonomic characteristics compatible with the size of the ultrasonic tanks and sterilization chambers currently offered on the market.

The adoption of a standardized format makes it possible to provide for storage of stacks of "Cassette Trays" thus constituted in trolleys or storage furniture which will be standardized in A4 format which corresponds to the "Office Storage" standard.

The device of the invention therefore makes it possible to develop a standardization chain which starts in the dental chair, continues in the sterilization room and ends in the storage area, which is fully in line with the ergonomic working concept of the dentist.

The "Tray-Cassette" assembly according to the invention constitutes the keystone of an ergonomic concept which interests both the rationalization of the dental surgeon's clinical acts and the sterilization of small instrumentation. The concepts of modularity and standardization ensure complete therapeutic and economic freedom for each practitioner.

It is emphasized that if a particularly interesting application of the invention is described in the present description for the presentation and recycling of the instrumentation of the operative dental procedure, this destination is not limiting, the invention being able to indeed be implemented advantageously in other medical procedures (surgery, ophthalmology, ENT, etc.) or in certain industries which have, for example, the obligation to clean small parts by ultrasound or otherwise, without these parts do not deteriorate with each other, such as electronics, mechanics, jewelry, etc.

The aims, characteristics and advantages above, and others still, will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and from the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the cassette tray according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view, in plan and partially cut away, illustrating an example of occupation of the receiving surface of the tray; The fine dotted line shows the modular grid defining the basic modules and the arrangement of said receiving surface. This figure illustrates an example of theoretical occupation of the tray, intended to explain the modular design of the device according to the invention. Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are plan views and to a smaller scale, illustrating examples of occupation of the plateau corresponding to different more concrete cases of arrangement of the latter.

FIG. 2A represents an example of arrangement making it possible to receive a large number of long instruments, while FIG. 2D illustrates an example of occupation of the plate allowing the positioning of a small number of such instruments.

FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate two examples of intermediate arrangements. Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the plate itself without instrument holder.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along Line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial top view of the tray shown in Figure 3, with partial cutaway, showing the fixing studs which are respectively provided with the upper surface of the tray and the lower surface of the instrument holders.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

Figure 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the mode of cooperation of the main components of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial plan view illustrating the positioning of a cutter holder module on a receiver plate.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line IX-IX of FIG. 8.

Figure 10 is a partial plan view of a receiving tray, illustrating the positioning of an instrument holder module on which is positioned a long instrument.

Figure 11 is a sectional view along Line XI-XI of Figure 10. Figure 12 is a partial plan view illustrating the positioning of a retaining cap modular on the lower surface of the cover of the cassette tray shown in FIG. 14, this retaining cap being intended to cooperate with a cutter holder module. FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the positioning of a cutter holder module on the receiving plate of this cassette plate.

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the cassette tray constituted by the combination of the cover and the receiver tray illustrated in Figures 12 and 13; the upper half-part of this figure is a cross section along the Line XIV-XIV of Figure 12, while its lower half-part is a cross section along the Line XIV'-XIV * of Figure 13.

FIG. 15 is a partial view, in plan, illustrating the positioning of a modular retaining cap on the lower surface of the cassette tray shown in FIG. 17, this retaining cap being intended to cooperate with a long instrument holder module .

Figure 16 is a partial plan view of a receiver tray provided with an instrument holder module on which is placed a long instrument. Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the cassette tray constituted by the combination of the cover and the receiver tray illustrated in Figures 15 and 16; the upper half-part of this figure is a transverse section along the Line XVII-XVII of FIG. 15, while its lower half-part is a transverse section along the line XVII'-XVII ¹ of FIG. 16.

Figure 18 is a front view of an instrument holder module and an additional modular retaining cap for positioning and locking a long instrument. Figure 19 is a side view of Figure 18.

FIG. 20 is a view of the external face of the two half-parts of a long instrument holder or of two long instrument holding caps, each consisting of a half-module.

Figure 21 is a plan view of Figure 20 illustrating the two half-parts of a Long instrument module.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of FIG. 20, showing two caps for holding long instruments.

FIG. 23 is a view in vertical section and on a larger scale of a "bucket" module and of its associated retaining cap. FIG. 24 is a view in vertical section and on a larger scale of a strawberry support module and of its complementary retaining cap.

FIG. 25 is a view in vertical section and on a larger scale of a module for supporting canal instruments and its associated retaining cap.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view illustrating different instrument holder modules and

Their associated retaining caps positioned on the receiving tray and under the cover, respectively, of a cassette tray.

Figure 27 is a plan view and on a larger scale, of the angle of a tray.

Figure 28 is a sectional view along the line a-b-c-d of Figure 27. Figure 29 is a perspective view of an interlocking piece to ensure the stability of a stack of trays.

Figure 30 is a detail view, in vertical section, showing the use of this interlocking part.

Figure 31 is a longitudinal sectional view a locking plug that can be used to assemble the receiving tray and the cover of a cassette tray.

Figure 32 is a top view of Figure 31.

Reference is made to said drawings to describe an interesting example of embodiment, although in no way limiting, of the tray and the cassette tray according to the invention. This cassette tray mainly includes:

- two plates, preferably identical, 7, 8;

- A plurality of instrument supports 3 shaped to be able to be installed, in a removable manner, on the reception area of one of the trays, so as to constitute a receiver-tray 1;

- A plurality of retaining caps 4 arranged to be able to be fixed, in a removable manner, under the second plate, so as to constitute a cover plate Le 2; - Linking bodies 5 making it possible to assemble, preferably in a separable manner, the receiver plate 1 and the plate-cover the 2.

In addition, preferably, the device according to the invention also comprises interlocking parts 6 making it possible to stabilize stacked receiver trays.

The above components of the cassette tray according to the invention are preferably made of a heat-resistant plastic material in particular because:

- The ease of molding of the stud systems described in the remainder of this presentation and allowing the removable fixing of the instrument holder modules and of the cover cap modules, on their respective support plates;

- The flexibility of friction of these studs between them; - lightness;

- low noise resulting from handling, impact or falling;

- The rapidity of cooling after sterilization;

- the possibility of coloring in the mass to give the possibility of coding by the color of the plates.

The receiver plate 1 and the cover plate 2 each comprise a support plate 7 and 8 respectively, which, according to a characteristic arrangement of the invention, are strictly identical.

These trays preferably have standardized dimensions, for example a length of 29.7 cm and a width of 21 cm corresponding to the standardized A4 format.

The plates 7 and 8 have a flat appearance and have a projecting peripheral border 9 rising towards the interior and a central useful surface 10 delimited by this border. The edge 9 ensures the rigidity of the plate while The useful surface 10 is intended, as appropriate, for the removable fixing of the instrument holders 3 or of the retaining caps 4.

Although hollow, to ensure permeability to liquids and also to reduce the weight of the tray

7, 8, The peripheral edge 9 considerably stiffens, by hull effect, the whole of said plate.

Furthermore, and as will be seen in the remainder of this presentation, the border 9 constitutes a space usable for multiple functions such as: self-blocking stacking of stacking receiver trays 1; locking of the receiving 1 and cover 2 plates in the assembly position;

- realization of a self-supporting tray positioned without support thanks to a fixing core locked at the user's choice over the entire periphery of the rigid border; The ergonomic advantage of this concept is the liberation of all the space occupied after removal of the cervical operating table.

According to the invention, the useful surface 10 of the plates 7 and 8 is dimensioned to correspond to a frame T consisting of a plurality of meshes or square modules M (FIG. 2). Interestingly, the useful surface 10 has a length of 27 cm, a width of 18 cm, and it is divided into meshes or square modules M of 3 x 3 cm, said surface thus being made up of 54 meshes or square modules. The useful surface 10 of the plates 7 and 8 is provided with circular orifices 11 arranged in parallel alignments and having, for example, a diameter of 11 mm, the center distance of these orifices being 15 mm. The edge 9 of the plates is also provided with lateral orifices 12, preferably circular, opening out to the interior.

These orifices 11 and 12 allow the circulation of cleaning and sterilization fluids, draining and drying (for example in a ventilated tank).

The internal face of the ^•• useful surface 10 of the plates 7 and 8 and the rear faces of the instrument holders 3 and / or of the retaining caps 4 are provided with additional means to allow the removable fixing of said instrument holders 3 and / or said retaining caps 4 on said surface uti Le.

According to the very advantageous embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the internal face of the useful surface 10 of the plates 7 and 8 has a plurality of studs or pins 13 constituted by small cylinders aligned in two perpendicular directions. Interestingly, these studs 13 are hollow and arranged coaxially with the orifices 11; they rise inwards from the edge of said orifices. These cylindrical studs have for example a height of 5 mm, a center distance of 15 mm, an internal diameter of 11 mm, an external diameter of 13 mm and, consequently, a thickness of 1 mm.

Each plate 7 or 8 has for example a total height of 25 mm and it has a useful height of 20 mm, delimited by the free end of its studs 13 and the height of its edge 9.

In this way, the height of the cassette tray in the closed position will be 5 cm, thus leaving a useful height * e 4 cm between the two plates 7 and 8, which is sufficient to receive the vertical storage of any of the instruments. dental and, in particular, canal instruments.

The receiver plate 1 according to the invention comprises a plurality of removable and interchangeable instrument holders 3, the dimensions and conformation of which depend on the nature of the instruments which they are called upon to receive, a particularity of these instrument holders being that '' they are modular, that is to say that some of them are dimensioned to correspond to a basic square module M and that the others are dimensioned and shaped to correspond to multiples or submultiples of this basic module. According to the example chosen, the basic module occupies an area of 3 cm x 3 cm, or 9 cm 2, so that the surface of certain instrument holders corresponds to this module, while the surface of the other instrument holders corresponds to a multiple of the basic module. Thus, in Figure 2, we see that The tray receiver 1 supports:

- four instrument holders 3a corresponding to the basic model; two instrument holders 3b corresponding to two basic modules; two instrument holders 3c corresponding to three basic modules; two 3d instrument holders corresponding to four basic modules; - a 3rd instrument holder corresponding to five basic modules; three instrument holders 3f corresponding to six basic modules;

- a 3g instrument holder corresponding to nine basic modules.

The base surface (3 cm x 3 cm) is ergonomic, because it allows the positioning of the instruments with a 15 mm center distance, which allows a good grip of small instruments (files, strawberries, rippers, ...) between thumb and forefinger, without using a tweezer.

The instrument holders of more than two modules M can have various shapes as shown in Figure 2, including shapes including changes of direction (shapes in L, U, etc.).

Figures 23, 24, 25, 18 and 19 show examples of the configuration of instrument holder modules. According to FIG. 23, the modular instrument holder 3 is produced in the form of a bucket, according to FIG. 24 this instrument holder is shaped to constitute a support for strawberries F or similar instruments, while according to FIG. 25, it is consisting of a support for C canal instruments.

According to Figures 18 and 19, the instrument holders 3 are made in the form of multiple cradles intended to support one or more long instruments L. In this case, the instrument holder can consist of two half-parts having a generally elongated shape and each having a surface corresponding to one or more halves of the surface of a module. Figures 20 and 21 show, respectively in bottom view and in top view, The two half-parts of a modular support for long instruments each having a surface corresponding to Half the surface of a module based; These two half-parts have been brought together to show that they belong to the modular system of the invention, but are arranged at a distance from one another, during their use, as seen in particular in FIGS. 16 to 18 The external face of the bottom of the instrument holders 3 is provided with small studs or hollow studs 14 preferably constituted by small cylinders extending in the direction of the exterior from said face. These studs 14 have an external diameter, a center distance and a height which are a function of the external diameter, the center distance and the height of the blocks 13 of the plate itself 7 of the receiving plate 1. Taking account of the indications above given by way of example, during the description of the pLots 13, the plots 14 of the modular instrument holders may advantageously have: a height of 5 mm, a center distance of 15 mm, an external diameter of 8 mm and a diameter internal 6 mm.

In other words. The studs 14 and the studs 19 mentioned below have a diameter allowing their friction engagement in the inter-stud spaces 15 of the useful surface 10 of the plates 7, 8, so as to achieve the removable fixing of the instrument holders 3 and retaining caps 4. Each instrument holder 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, ..., can have four studs 14 per occupied modular space by it or a single stud disposed in the vicinity of each of their angles, depending on their size.

The instrument holders 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, ..., thus produced can be fixed, in a removable manner, on the useful surface of the plate 7, by plugging their studs 14 into the inter-pLots spaces 15 of said surface. useful. For example, there is shown by a fictitious circle, the inter-stud spaces 15 in which the studs 14 of the instrument holder module 3 can engage, by friction, in FIG. 7, each stud or hollow stud 14 being tightened , in this position, by friction and elasticity, between four studs 13.

The side walls of the instrument holders 3 are provided with holes 16 opening into the interior of said instrument holders and which, when the latter are positioned on the useful surface 10 of the tray 7, are placed in correspondence and alignment with the orifices 12 external lateral walls of the edge 9 of said plate, these holes ensuring perfect permeability to ultrasound and sterilization fluids, while playing a role of sieve When the type of content of the module requires it.

For the same purpose, holes 17 opening into the cylindrical blocks 14 are formed in the bottom 18 of the instrument holders.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D have shown different examples of occupation of the receiving tray 1. It can be seen that the practitioner can choose to place his Long instruments parallel to the small side of the tray (FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2D), or para l Lely to the long side of said plate (Figure 2C), which remains oriented so as to be facing the operator in the direction of its length. This possibility of changing the orientation of the axes of long instruments modifies manual entry and leaves a freedom of choice of taken to the operator.

The cover plate 2 comprises a plurality of retaining caps 4 or blocking counterparts which, according to the invention, are dimensioned and shaped according to the dimensions, conformation and destination of the instrument holders 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d , which they are called upon to cover.

The modular retaining cap 4 shown in FIG. 23 is produced in the form of a cup identical to the instrument holder 3 which it covers.

FIG. 24 illustrates two possible arrangements of the retaining caps intended for blocking the cutters. Next The left part of the figure, the retaining cap has a flexible lining 20 (plastic foam) ensuring tolerance for slight differences in height of the instruments positioned on the instrument holder. According to the right part of the figure, the retaining cap comprises a rigid conical centering stop 21. The retaining cap shown in FIG. 25 consists of a simple plate.

The retaining cap 4 illustrated in FIGS. 18, 19 and 22 is constituted by a bar provided with support lips 25 divided into strips and provided with an elastic deformation capacity. In this case also, the retaining caps have an elongated shape and occupy an area corresponding to one or more halves of the base module.

These various modular retaining caps 4 are provided with cylindrical hollow studs or nipples 19 oriented towards the outside and identical to the studs 14 of the instrument holders 3, as regards their height, their diameter and their distribution.

It is understood that the modular retaining caps 4a, 4b, 4c, etc., thus produced can be fixed, in a removable manner, on the useful surface of the plate 8, by friction engagement of their pLots 19 in the interplot spaces 15 of said useful surface.

The cover walls or bottom 26 of the retaining caps 4 are provided with holes 22 opening into the cylindrical blocks 19.

The plates 7 and 8 are shaped and arranged to allow: their assembly in the closed position and their separation in the open position, quickly and easily; or Their superposition, so as to constitute a stable stack.

Figures 27 to 32 illustrate a very interesting arrangement of the angles of the plates to allow their assembly or stacking.

Each angle of the peripheral edge 9 of the plates 7, 8 is thinned. This thinned corner portion 23 is arranged opposite the useful surface 10 of the plate 7, 8, and its internal surface 23a is located in the plane of the internal surface 9a of the border. In other words, each thinned corner portion 23 is arranged in the plane of the free edge of the border 9. In this way, when the receiving plate 1 and the cover plate 2 are closed one over the other, their thinned corners 23 are pressed against each other (Figure 31).

The thinned corners 23 are provided with at least one hole such as, for example, a circular central hole 24. The corner holes 24 allow:

- Either the engagement of a quick locking plug 5 (Figures 31 and 32); or the engagement of the post 6a of an interlocking piece 6 (Figures 29 and 30). The quick locking plugs 5 allow the two shelves to be easily and quickly assembled 1 and 2 constituting a cassette tray according to the invention. These quick locking plugs include, for example, a central body 5a and two flexible lateral branches 5b slightly spaced from said central body and provided, Laterally, with a lug 5c disposed in their intermediate part. A helical spring 5d is arranged around the rear part of the body 5a, this spring bearing, by means of one of its ends, against a circular shoulder 5e which has the said rear part. This spring also allows tolerance as to the thickness of the instruments housed in the cassette tray when the latter occupy a volume slightly larger than the space reserved for them inside said cassette tray.

This spring could be replaced by any equivalent elastic system or device.

The front portions of the flexible branches 5b comprise, laterally, a slope 5f having the effect of automatically bringing said branches closer when the plug 5 is engaged and pushed into the holes 24 aligned with two thinned angles 23 of two plates (7, 8) closed l 'one on the other, the branches then deviating as soon as the pins 5c have crossed the passage formed by the two successive holes. On the other hand, the flexible branches 5b also have, from and above the locking pins 5c, a slope 5g facilitating the retraction of the locking plug, under the action of the spring 5d, after having pinched said flexible branches, when it is desired to separate the plates 1 and 2.

The plates 7 and 8 could be otherwise shaped or arranged to allow them to be assembled and separated easily and quickly, while retaining the basic principle of two strictly identical plates. For example, they could be provided with asymmetrical hinges or ball systems molded in one piece with said plates or attached to them after molding.

The interlocking parts 6 or removable corner counterparts have the shape of the depression resulting from the prediction of the thinned angles 23 of the plates 7, 8.

This interlocking part comprises, at its top, a tenon 6a whose diameter is barely less than the diameter of the holes 24 and whose height is slightly greater than the thickness of the thinned angles 23 of the plates 7, 8.

On the other hand, the bottom of the interlocking parts 6 comprises a cavity 6b dimensioned to receive the free end of the lug 6a of an identical underlying interlocking part.

These interlocking pieces 6 allow the centering and nesting of a plurality of receiving trays 1 stacked on top of each other, thereby ensuring the stability of the stack.

In addition, this interlocking part can be produced with different colors, so as to allow rapid identification coding, by color, of the contents of the trays.

Claims

1. - Modular tray for the operative dental procedure, characterized in that it comprises a tray (1) whose receiving surface (10) is dimensioned and arranged to receive a plurality of removable modular instrument holders (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, ...) whose surface or horizontal section corresponds to a square basic module (M) or to a multiple of this module.

2. - modular tray for the operative dental procedure, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of removable instrument holders (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, ...) whose horizontal surface or section corresponds to a square basic module (M) or to a multiple of this module.

5 3. - Modular tray for the operative dental procedure, according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a cover (2) is associated with said tray (1) with which it constitutes a cassette tray, and in that the cover surface o ⁽ 10 ⁾ of this cover is dimensioned and arranged to receive a plurality of removable modular retaining caps (4) whose surface or horizontal section corresponds to a square basic module or to a multiple of this module square base Which 5 corresponds to the surface or horizontal section of the square base module (M) of the instrument holders (3).

4. - Modular tray for the operative dental procedure, according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of removable modular retaining caps 0 (4) whose surface or horizontal section corresponds to a square base module or to a multiple of this square base module which corresponds to the surface or horizontal section of the square base module (M) of the instrument holders ⁽ 3 ⁾ .

5. - Modular cassette tray for the operative dental procedure, according to claim 4, characterized in that each removable modular retaining cap (4) has a surface or horizontal section corresponding to the surface or horizontal section of the removable modular instrument holder (3 ^{) with} which it is associated.

6. - Modular cassette tray for the operative dental procedure according to claim 5, characterized in that each removable modular retaining cap (4) is shaped according to the type of instrument (s) that the removable modular instrument holder ( 3) which is associated with it, is called to receive r.

7. - modular cassette tray according to claim 3, characterized in that the pLateau itself or tray for receiving the instrument holders (3) and the cover for the removable fixing of the retaining caps (4), are constituted by rigorously identical plates (7, 8).

8. - Modular tray according to one of claims 3 or 7, characterized in that The plates (7, 8) are shaped and arranged to allow their rapid assembly in the closed position.

9. - Modular plate according to any one of claims 1, 3, 7 or 8, characterized in that the plates (7, 8) are shaped and arranged so as to allow their stable stacking.

10. - Modular tray according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the internal face of the useful surface (10) of the actual tray (7, 8) and the rear faces of the instrument holders (3) and / or retaining caps ⁽ 4 ⁾ are provided with complementary means (13, 14, 19) to allow the removable fixing of said instrument holders (3) and / or said retaining caps (4) on said useful surface (10 ).

11. - modular tray according to claim 10, characterized in that the internal face of the useful surface (10) of the plate itself (7, 8) is provided with a plurality of cylindrical studs (13) rising towards L interior, from said surface, and in that the rear faces of the instrument holders (3) and / or the rear faces of the retaining caps ⁽ 4) are provided with cylindrical pots (14, 19) having a diameter allowing their friction engagement in the intei-pLots spaces (15) of said useful surface.

12. - Modular plate according to claim 11, characterized in that the cylindrical studs (13) of the plates (7, 8) are hollow and arranged ^" -coaxia Lement to circular orifices (11) that has the useful surface (10) said plates.

13. - Modular tray according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the cylindrical pads (14, 19) of the instrument holders (3) and / or retaining caps (4) are hollow, and in that holes (17) opening into said cylindrical blocks (14, 19) are formed in the bottom (18, 36) of said instrument holders (3) and / or said retaining caps (4).

14. - Modular tray according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the tray itself comprises a projecting peripheral border (9) and a central useful surface (10) delimited by this border, characterized in that said border is provided Lateral orifices (12), preferably circular, opening inside.

15. - Modular tray according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the walls

Lateral instrument holders (3) are provided with holes (16) opening into the interior of said instrument holders.

16. - modular tray according to one of claims 8 or 9, the pLateau itself comprises a projecting peripheral border (9) and a central useful surface (10) delimited by this border, characterized in that said peripheral border (9 ) of the actual tray (7, 8) has thinned corners, the thinned corner portions (23) being arranged in the plane of the free edge (9a) of said edge and comprising at least one hole (24).

17. - Modular cassette tray according to Claims 8 and 16, characterized in that it comprises locking plugs (5) comprising a central body (5a) and two flexible lateral branches (5b) slightly spaced from said central body and provided , laterally, of a lug (5c) disposed in their intermediate part, the anterior portions of said flexible branches (5b) having laterally a slope (5f) ensuring their automatic approximation when said locking pins (5) are engaged and pushed into the aligned holes (24) of two tapered angles (23) of two plates (7, 8) closed against each other in the closed position.

18. - modular cassette tray according to claim 17, characterized in that the locking plugs (5) comprise a helical spring (5d) disposed around the rear portion of their central body and bearing against a shoulder (5e) that has said rear portion, and in that the flexible arms (5b) have, from and above their locking lug (5c), a slope (5g) facilitating the retraction of said locking plugs under the action of said spring (5d).

19. - Modular tray according to Claims 9 and 16, characterized in that it comprises interlocking parts (6) or removable corner counterparts comprising, on the one hand, at their top, a tenon (6a ) whose diameter is barely less than the diameter of the corner holes (24) and whose height is slightly greater than the thickness of the thinned angles (23) of the plates (7, 8) and, on the other hand, in its bottom, a cavity (6b) dimensioned to receive the upper portion of the post (6a) of an identical underlying interlocking piece.