Safety-blade dispensers for safely storing surgical blades prior to surgery and optionally for retrieving used surgical blades after surgery. In either case, the safety-blade dispenser is configured to store one or more surgical blades in an orientation that allows a user to simply and safely attach a surgical tool handle to the surgical blades (and optionally remove the handle from the surgical blades) without requiring the user to physically touch or manipulate the surgical blades by hand. The safety-blade dispensers disclosed herein may be used alone or in conjunction with a system and method of preventing wrong-site surgery.

Safety-blade dispensers for safely storing surgical blades prior to surgery and optionally for retrieving used surgical blades after surgery. In either case, the safety-blade dispenser is configured to store one or more surgical blades in an orientation that allows a user to simply and safely attach a surgical tool handle to the surgical blades (and optionally remove the handle from the surgical blades) without requiring the user to physically touch or manipulate the surgical blades by hand. The safety-blade dispensers disclosed herein may be used alone or in conjunction with a system and method of preventing wrong-site surgery.

An instrument cassette (100, 200, 300) for handling instruments comprises a body section (101, 201, 301) for holding the instruments and a radio frequency identifier (102, 202, 302) readable from a distance away from the instrument cassette (100, 200, 300). The radio frequency identifier (102, 202, 302) of the instrument cassette (100, 200, 300) facilitates tracing operations, such as for example disinfection, sterilization, reparation, and clinical use, directed to or carried out with a set of instruments handled with the aid of the instrument cassette (100, 200, 300). The instruments can be for example medical and/or dental hand instruments.

A packaging system and method for reducing or eliminating exposure of medical devices to whole-room disinfecting gases and vapors are disclosed. In some embodiments, the packaging system and method may comprise a diffusion inhibitor member configured as an open-ended bag. In some embodiments, the diffusion inhibitor member comprises polyethylene or polypropylene.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, packaging for a sterile syringe having a nominal size of less than 1 mL may include a flexible tray having a cavity for containing the syringe. The cavity may include an opening, one or more sidewalls, and a base. A lip may surround the opening, may extend radially outward from the cavity, and may define a periphery of the tray. A removable cover may have a periphery that is adhered to the lip, and the removable cover may be permeable to a gaseous sterilant, including one or more of vaporized hydrogen peroxide or ethylene oxide. A projection may be associated with the base of the cavity and may extend away from the base of the cavity in a direction opposite to the opening of the cavity.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, packaging for a sterile syringe having a nominal size of less than 1 mL may include a flexible tray having a cavity for containing the syringe. The cavity may include an opening, one or more sidewalls, and a base. A lip may surround the opening, may extend radially outward from the cavity, and may define a periphery of the tray. A removable cover may have a periphery that is adhered to the lip, and the removable cover may be permeable to a gaseous sterilant, including one or more of vaporized hydrogen peroxide or ethylene oxide. A projection may be associated with the base of the cavity and may extend away from the base of the cavity in a direction opposite to the opening of the cavity.

In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.

In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.

A sharps container includes a container portion and a closeable lid. The sharps container includes any suitable cross-sectional shape having at least one wall. The container portion is fabricated from a light translucent or transparent material, such that any suitable light may be shined through the at least one wall thereof. An upper perimeter of the container portion is treated, such that light will not shine through an upper twenty five percent of the container by volume. An opaque tape, an opaque paint, an opaque printing ink or any other suitable treatment is applied to an upper perimeter of the container portion to prevent light from passing through the container portion. At least one wall of the container is treated.

In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.