The present invention relates to trays and in particular, but not exclusively, to trays suitable for presenting a plurality of syringes and phials of drugs in a convenient manner.

In some surgical procedures, it is necessary for a medical practitioner to inject several drugs into a patient in a particular sequence and at specific times, for example if a patient is undergoing major surgery under general anaesthetic. Although the practitioner (typically an anaesthetist) will have prepared a schedule of required injections in advance, typically the necessary syringes and phials are stored ready for use on a flat tray or in a sterile receiver dish or the like, which can make it more troublesome and time-consuming to ensure that the correct drug is matched with the correct syringe for injection at the appropriate time. It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a tray which allows syringes and phials to be positioned clearly with respect to one another, to facilitate correct selection of syringe and drug to be injected.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tray comprising a plurality of upwardly-open channel means for receipt of syringes and a recessed storage area, isolated from the channel means, for receipt of one or more drug containers. A series of syringes can be positioned in the first channel means and the appropriate phials of drugs positioned in the recessed storage area, to facilitate the selection of the correct syringe and drug.

The channel means may have an arcuate profile. Preferably, the channel means comprises a part-circular profile.

This facilitates the receipt of the cylindrical barrel of a conventional syringe.

Preferably, the part-circular profile is less than a semicircle. This ensures that the barrel of a syringe is not held in place and allows the syringe to be removed easily for use when required.

Preferably, a plurality of the channel means comprises a profile which is constant along its length.

One or more of the channel means may be inclined.

Preferably, the plurality of channel means are substantially identical.

Conveniently, the plurality of channel means are parallel to each other.

The recessed storage area is preferably located at one end of the plurality of channel means. Preferably, the recessed storage area extends across the entire width of the tray. The base of the recessed storage area may comprise an inclined portion. For example, there may be a portion which is inclined downwardly towards a location remote from the periphery of the recessed storage area. The base of the recessed storage area may comprise a plurality of inclined portions.

Preferably, a plurality of said channel means is interrupted by a first recess.

The provision of a recess allows the finger grips of a syringe to be accommodated and allows the barrel of the syringe to rest in the channel means.

Preferably, the first recess is located towards one end of the channel means.

In one embodiment, a first recess extends across a plurality of channel means, and more preferably, extends across all of the channel means.

The tray may also have a second recess at an end of a plurality of channel means, into which the channel means open.

Preferably, the second recess is located at an inner end of the channel means. A plurality of the channel means may open into the second recess and preferably, all of the channel means open into the second recess.

The second recess is conveniently located between the plurality of channel means and the recessed storage area. The tray may further comprise wall means between the recessed storage area and the or each second recess.

Preferably, one or more of the channel means is inclined towards the second recess.

Preferably, one or more of the channel means is inclined downwardly towards the second recess.

Preferably, one end of the plurality of said channel means extends to an edge of the tray.

The tray may be generally rectangular when viewed from above.

Preferably, the tray is formed from dried, moulded paper pulp. This allows the tray to be disposed of (e.g. in a macerator) after use and thereby reduces the likelihood of cross-contamination.

The present invention also provides a tray formed from dried, moulded paper pulp, comprising a plurality of parallel upwardly-open elongate channels, each for receipt of a syringe, and a recessed storage area, isolated from the elongate channels and located at one end thereof, for receipt of phials, ampoules or other drug containers. By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from one end and above of a syringe tray in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the syringe tray of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a tray 10 for positioning a plurality of hypodermic syringes 12 and phials or ampoules 14 containing liquids to be injected is in the form of a one-piece moulding of dried paper pulp material, such as that used in the manufacture of disposable bed pans, urine bottles and the like. The tray has a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from above.

The moulded tray has six identical first elongate channels 16 extending parallel to the long sides of the tray, adjacent channels being separated by a rib 18. Each channel 16 extends from one of the shorter edges of the tray for a length approximately two-thirds of the length of the longer sides of the tray and is part-circular in cross-section, but slightly less than semi-circular. The width of the channels 16 is chosen to receive the barrel 20 of the largest commonly-used syringe, and since the cross- sectional shape of the channels is slightly less than semicircular, a syringe 12 is to sit in a channel without being retained in it in a vertical sense. A first elongate recess 22 extends perpendicularly to, and intersects each of, the channels. The recess 22 is located towards one of the shorter sides of the tray 10, adjacent to the outer end of channels, and is deeper than the channels in order to accommodate the finger grips 24 of a syringe 12, which normally extend outwardly from the barrel 20.

A second elongate recess 26, wider than the first elongate recess 22, extends perpendicularly to each of the channels 16. The second recess 26 is located at the inner end of the channels 16, so that the channels 16 open into it. The second recess is deeper than the channels 16, approximately the same depth as the first elongate recess 22, and accommodates a needle (and any cover for the needle) connected to a syringe seated in the channels 16. As seen in Fig. 1 , the channels 16 slope downwardly towards the second recess 16.

On the opposite side of the second recess from the channels 16, a recessed storage area 30 is provided, for receipt of phials, ampoules and the like. The storage area 30 is isolated from the channels 16, namely the two do not communicate with each other. The storage area is rectangular in plain view and extends across the width of the tray. It is bordered by the second, shorter edge 32 of the tray, by the two portions of the larger, side edges adjacent to the shorter edge 32 and by a rib or wall 34 which separates the storage area 30 from the second recess 26. A continuous upstanding lip 36 (which includes the rib or wall 34) extends around the entire periphery of the storage area 30. The floor 38 of the storage area is located slightly below the level of the upper edge of the tray. However, as shown in Fig. 1 , the floor 38 is not horizontal when the tray 10 is placed on a horizontal surface, but instead the floor 38 slopes from each end adjacent to the respective long edge of the tray to a location mid-way between the ends of the storage area. Phials and ampoules placed in the storage area 30 will therefore tend to be displaced towards the central region of the storage area, away from the ends.

In use, a medical practitioner (such as an anaesthetist) prepares in advance the syringes 12 and phials 14 which will be required during a procedure. Each drug to be injected commonly requires a particular type or size of syringe, and so the practitioner can place the phials 14 of a drug in the storage area 30 and place the syringes 12 in the first channels 16.

As shown in Fig. 3, each syringe 12 is presented ready for use, with the barrel 20 of the syringes received in a respective one of the first channels 16, the finger grips 24 received in the first elongate recess 24 and the needle portions projecting, if necessary, into the second elongate recess 26. The phials 14 of the drugs to be injected are presented in the storage area 30. After each syringe 12 has been used, it can be replaced in the first channel 16 from which it was taken. This helps to keep a check on whether a particular drug has been injected during the procedure. After the procedure has been completed, the syringes can be disposed of in the usual manner (e.g. in a sharps box) and the tray can then be disposed of (e.g. in a macerator) or recycled as waste paper, as appropriate.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment.