Sterile packaging systems for medical devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10004567-B2
Application number	US-201615266904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2016
Priority date	Sep 15, 2016
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A package for a medical device includes a folder having bottom and top panels, the bottom panel including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and at least one medical device securing element. The top panel has a leading edge, and a trailing edge joined with the trailing edge of the bottom panel. The folder has an unfolded configuration in which the leading edges of the top and bottom panels face in opposite directions, and a folded configuration in which the top panel is folded over the bottom panel so that the leading edges of the top and bottom panels face in the same direction and are aligned with one another. The folder is insertable into a sealable pouch having a seal with a first leg whereby the leading edges of the folder are abutted against the first leg of the seal of the pouch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A package for a medical device comprising:
a folder having a bottom panel and a top panel;
said bottom panel including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and at least one medical device securing element;
said top panel including a leading edge, and a trailing edge joined with said trailing edge of said bottom panel to define a folding line extending between said top and bottom panels, wherein said top panel has first and second lateral edges that extend along a length of said top panel from said leading edge of said top panel to said trailing edge of said top panel, and wherein said top panel has a first stress relieving slit that extends inwardly from said first lateral edge toward a center of said top panel, and a second stress relieving slit that extends inwardly from said second lateral edge toward the center of said top panel, and wherein said first and second stress relieving slits are aligned with one another along the length of said top panel, and wherein said folder has an unfolded configuration in which said leading edges of said top and bottom panels face in opposite directions, and a folded configuration in which said top panel is folded over said bottom panel at said folding line and said leading edges of said top and bottom panels face in the same direction and are aligned with one another.

2. The package as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said bottom panel has first and second lateral edges that extend along a length of said bottom panel from said leading edge of said bottom panel to said trailing edge of said bottom panel, and wherein said bottom panel has a first stress relieving slit that extends inwardly from said first lateral edge toward a center of said bottom panel, and a second stress relieving slit that extends inwardly from said second lateral edge toward the center of said bottom panel, and wherein said first and second stress relieving slits of said bottom panel are aligned with one another along the length of said bottom panel.

3. The package as claimed in claim 2 , wherein when said folder is in the folded configuration, said first stress relieving slit of said top panel is aligned with said first stress relieving slit of said bottom panel and said second stress relieving slit of said top panel is aligned with said second stress relieving slit of said bottom panel.

4. The package as claimed in claim 3 , wherein at least one of said stress relieving slits has an aperture at an inner end thereof.

5. The package as claimed in claim 3 , wherein at least one of said stress relieving slits has an elliptical or ovoid shape, and wherein at least one of said stress relieving slits is rounded at one of said lateral edges.

6. The package as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a three-dimensional medical device secured on said bottom panel of said folder, wherein said top panel covers said three-dimensional medical device when said folder is in the folded configuration.

7. The package as claimed in claim 6 , said bottom panel comprising said at least one medical device securing element secures said three-dimensional medical device to said bottom panel, wherein said at least one medical device securing element is connected with said bottom panel via a fold line that enables said at least one medical device securing element to be folded flat over said bottom panel or extended away from said bottom panel for engaging said three-dimensional medical device.

8. The package as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising a pouch including two sheets of material that are joined together by a seal having a first leg that extends adjacent a leading end and second and third legs that extend adjacent first and second lateral sides of said pouch, wherein said first leg of said seal has a shape that matches the shape of said leading edges of said top and bottom panels of said folder.

9. The package as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first leg of said seal and said leading edges of said top and bottom panels have chevron shapes that match one another, wherein said folder is disposed in said pouch with the chevron shaped edges of said top and bottom panels abutting against said chevron shaped first leg of said seal of said pouch, and with said first lateral edges of said top and bottom panels abutting against said second leg of said seal and said second lateral edges of said top and bottom panels abutting against said third leg of said seal.

10. The package as claimed in claim 9 , said seal further comprising a fourth leg extending between said second and third legs of said seal and adjacent a trailing end of said pouch for sealing said folder and said three-dimensional medical device within said pouch.

11. The package as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said trailing end of said sealed pouch that includes said fourth leg of said seal is folded under said folder to define a pouch fold, and wherein said pouch fold abuts against said trailing edges of said top and bottom panels.

12. The package as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:
a carton having a leading end and a trailing end;
a plurality of said sealed pouches disposed within said carton, wherein each said sealed pouch has said pouch fold that is adjacent the leading end of said carton and said chevron shaped first leg of said seal that is positioned adjacent the trailing end of said carton.

13. The package as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said pouch comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a foil polyester laminate, a foil nylon laminate, and heat sealable laminates.

14. The package as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said folder comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of durable materials, smooth materials, paperboard, cardboard, and high density polyethylene (HDPE).

15. A package for a medical device comprising:
a sealed pouch having two sheets of material that are joined together by a seal having a first leg that extends adjacent a leading end of said pouch, second and third legs that extend adjacent first and second lateral sides of said pouch, and a fourth leg that extends adjacent a trailing end of said pouch;
a folder containing a medical device, said folder comprising a bottom panel and a top panel;
said bottom panel including a leading edge and a trailing edge,
said top panel including a leading edge, and a trailing edge joined with said trailing edge of said bottom panel to define a folding line extending between said top and bottom panels, wherein said top panel has first and second lateral edges that extend from said leading edge of said top panel to said trailing edge of said top panel, a first stress relieving slit that extends inwardly from said first lateral edge toward a center of said top panel, and a second stress relieving slit that extends inwardly from said second lateral edge toward the center of said top panel, wherein said top panel is folded over said bottom panel at said folding line so that said leading edges of said top and bottom panels face in the same direction and are aligned with one another, and wherein said folder is disposed in said sealed pouch with said leading edges of said top and bottom panels of said folder abutting against said first leg of said seal of said sealed pouch.

16. The package as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said first leg of said seal has a chevron shape, and wherein said leading edges of said top and bottom panels have chevron shapes that match the chevron shape of said first leg of said seal.

17. The package as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said bottom panel has first and second lateral edges that extend fr

Assignees

• Ethicon Inc

Inventors

• Dacey Denise Marie
• Fan Xiaole
• Patriarca Jared James
• Karow Meredith Mchugh

Classifications

• A61B50/30 Primary

  Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40) · CPC title

• A61B50/20

  Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02) · CPC title

• A61B2050/0056

  about a lateral axis in the lid plane · CPC title

• B65D81/02

  specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage {(containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10)} · CPC title

• A61B2050/314

  Flexible bags or pouches · CPC title