Patent attributes
The present invention relates to a kit and an assembly for the storage and transportation of medical equipment including endoscopes, as well as a method for storing and transporting endoscopes. In particular, the present invention relates to a support tray (1) for endoscopes, a barrier sheet (264, 764, 864, 967 and 978) and a kit for the transportation of endoscopes comprising a support tray and barrier sheet. A kit for the transportation and storage of an endoscope comprises a rigid support tray and barrier means. The rigid support tray comprises a base plate (2, 102, 902) having opposing first and second sides; a plurality of guide walls (4, 104, 904) projecting from the first side of the base plate, the guide walls arranged to define areas for placement of parts of said endoscope on the first side of the base plate; a plurality of support members (10, 110, 910) extending from the second side of the base plate, the support members being arranged such that when two trays are stacked on top of each other, the arrangement of the support members is such that, in a first orientation the two base plates are separated by a first distance and in a second orientation the two base plates are separated by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and retaining members (931) extending from an edge region of the support tray. The barrier means comprises a flexible sheet including a liner portion (276, 767, 967) for providing, in use, a barrier layer between the support tray and said endoscope, the flexible sheet including retaining means for engagement with the retaining members (941, 945) of the support tray to retain the sheet in contact with the tray.
