Sterilization packaging systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10682194-B2
Application number	US-201615771531-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2016
Priority date	Oct 30, 2015
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

Sterilization packaging systems with features for sealing a volume against an ingress of contaminants are provided. Such features include a frame including a plurality of vertical members and a plurality of horizontal members, each vertical member and horizontal member having an inner side and an outer side; a sterilization wrap, a first portion of the sterilization wrap positioned adjacent the inner side of each vertical member and each horizontal member to define a volume and an opening to access the volume; and a lid for sealing the volume against an ingress of contaminants. Additionally, a sterility gauge for signaling whether the volume is sealed against contaminants also may be provided. Exemplary sterilization packaging systems may include other features as well.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sterilization packaging system, comprising:
a frame defining a vertical direction, the frame including a plurality of vertical members extending along the vertical direction and a plurality of horizontal members extending perpendicular to the vertical direction, each vertical member and horizontal member having an inner side and an outer side;
a sterilization wrap, a first portion of the sterilization wrap positioned adjacent the inner side of each vertical member and each horizontal member to define a volume and an opening to access the volume; and
a lid for sealing the volume against an ingress of contaminants,
wherein the sterilization wrap is disposed between the lid and the frame,
wherein the lid comprises a lip defined along a perimeter of the lid, the lid further comprising a flange adjacent the lip, the flange defining a recess, and
wherein a gasket is positioned in the recess to seal the volume from contaminants.

2. The sterilization packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the vertical members and the horizontal members define a plurality of windows, the sterilization wrap visible through the windows.

3. The sterilization packaging system of claim 1 , wherein a second portion of the sterilization wrap is positioned across the opening to cover the opening.

4. The sterilization packaging system of claim 3 , wherein the lid is positioned in contact with the second portion of the sterilization wrap to seal the volume.

5. The sterilization packaging system of claim 3 , wherein the sterilization wrap is folded over to define the second portion of the sterilization wrap, and wherein when the sterilization wrap is folded, a fold is defined between the second portion and the first portion of the sterilization wrap.

6. The sterilization packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is inflatable.

7. The sterilization packaging system of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the sterilization wrap is disposed between the gasket and a flange of the frame.

8. The sterilization packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a lip defined along a perimeter of the lid, the lip defining a depression configured such that a second sterilization packaging system may be stacked on top of the lid.

9. The sterilization packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a plurality of ribs.

10. The sterilization packaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a sterility gauge for signaling whether the volume is sealed against contaminants.

11. The sterilization packaging system of claim 10 , wherein the sterility gauge comprises a binary visual signal.

12. The sterilization packaging system of claim 1 , wherein the lid is positioned adjacent a top portion of the frame to seal the volume against contaminants.

13. The sterilization packaging system of any of claim 12 , wherein the lid has a shape complementary to a shape defined by the top portion of the frame.

14. A sterilization packaging system, comprising:
a frame defining a vertical direction, the frame including a plurality of vertical members extending along the vertical direction and a plurality of horizontal members extending perpendicular to the vertical direction, each vertical member and horizontal member having an inner side and an outer side;
a sterilization wrap, a first portion of the sterilization wrap positioned adjacent the inner side of each vertical member and each horizontal member to define a volume and an opening to access the volume;
a lid comprising an inflatable gasket for sealing the volume against an ingress of contaminants; and
a sterility gauge for signaling whether the volume is sealed against contaminants, the sterility gauge positioned on the lid.

15. The sterilization packaging system of claim 14 , wherein the sterility gauge comprises a binary visual signal.

16. The sterilization packaging system of claim 14 , wherein a second portion of the sterilization wrap is positioned across the opening to cover the opening.

17. The sterilization packaging system of claim 16 , wherein the lid is positioned in contact with the second portion of the sterilization wrap to seal the volume.

18. A sterilization packaging system, comprising:
a frame defining a vertical direction, the frame including a plurality of vertical members extending along the vertical direction and a plurality of horizontal members extending perpendicular to the vertical direction, each vertical member and horizontal member having an inner side and an outer side;
a sterilization wrap including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion defining a volume;
a lid comprising a lip defined along a perimeter of the lid and a flange adjacent the lip, the flange defining a recess; and
a gasket positioned in the recess to seal the volume against an ingress of contaminants,
wherein the first portion of the sterilization wrap is positioned adjacent the inner side of each vertical member and each horizontal member to define the volume and an opening to access the volume,
wherein the second portion of the sterilization wrap is configured to be positioned across the opening to cover the opening, and
wherein the lid is configured to be positioned in contact with the second portion of the sterilization wrap to seal the volume.

19. The sterilization packaging system of claim 15 , wherein the binary visual signal is two outputs, and wherein a first output of the two outputs is a first color and a second output of the two outputs is a second color.

20. The sterilization packaging system of claim 14 , wherein the lid comprises a flange defining a recess, and wherein the inflatable gasket is positioned in the recess.

Assignees

• O & M Halyard Inc

Inventors

• Houde Ajay Y
• Hurdle Joseph D
• Cesa Joseph A
• Farmer Michelle N
• Potnis Prasad Shrikishna

Classifications

• A61L2103/15

  Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps · CPC title

• A61L2/07 Primary

  Steam · CPC title

• A61L2/208

  Hydrogen peroxide · CPC title

• B65D21/0219

  the closure presenting projecting peripheral elements receiving or surrounding the bottom or peripheral elements projecting from the bottom of a superimposed container (B65D21/0222 and B65D21/0223 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B50/33 Primary

  Trays · CPC title