Cassette and delivery system

• US 20020076357A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Quoss, Edward V., Wu, Su-Syin, Hahs, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,101,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation

Abstract

A cassette is received within a sleeve having an open end. Specially folded flaps at the open end are applied to center the cassette in the sleeve and to reduce a width of the open end of the sleeve.

Claims

1. A cassette assembly for delivering a substance, the assembly comprising:

a cassette having at least one cell therein containing a quantity of the substance, and the cassette further comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side and a first end;

a protective sleeve containing the cassette, the sleeve comprising;

a first side, a second side opposite the first side and a first end;

a first tab at the first end which extends inwardly from the first side toward the second side and abutting the cassette'"'"'s first side;

a second tab at the first end which extends inwardly from the second side toward the first side and abutting the cassette'"'"'s second side; and

wherein the cassette has a first lateral dimension between its first side and its second side which is smaller than a second lateral dimension between the sleeve first side and the sleeve second side.

2. A cassette assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

the cassette further comprises a first face between its first side and its second side;

the sleeve further comprises a first edge at its first end between its first side and its second side;

the sleeve further comprises a retaining member connected to the sleeve by a hinge at the sleeve first edge and abutting the cassette first face; and

wherein the first tab and the second tab extend inwardly from respective first and second lateral edges of the retaining member.

3. A cassette assembly according to claim 2 wherein the first tab further comprises at least one flap folded inwardly toward the sleeve first side and the second tab further comprises at least one flap folded inwardly toward the sleeve second side.

4. A cassette assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is formed of absorbent stock, whereby a small quantity of the substance on the cassette can be absorbed into the stock.

5. A cassette assembly according to claim 4 wherein the stock is cardboard.

6. A cassette assembly according to claim 5 wherein the stock is a coated cardboard.

7. A cassette assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising an indicator strip on the sleeve for indicating the presence of substance thereon.

8. A cassette assembly according to claim 7 having identifying indicia on the cassette and an aperture through the sleeve in registry with the indicia whereby the indicia can be read through the aperture.

9. A method for supplying a cassette encased in a sleeve for a machine, the machine having an opening sized to accommodate cassettes having a first fixed dimension between first and second sides thereof and to accommodate sleeves containing the cassettes having a second fixed dimension between first and second sides thereof, the difference between the second and the first dimensions being substantially greater than twice the thickness of the sleeve, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the cassette with the first dimension between the first and second sides thereof;

providing the sleeve with the second dimension between the first and second sides thereof;

folding a first tab inwardly from the sleeve first side and a second tab inwardly from the sleeve second side to create a space equaling the first fixed dimension between the first tab and the second tab; and

containing the cassette within the sleeve between the first tab and the second tab.

10. A method according to claim 9 and further comprising the steps of folding a retaining member inwardly of the sleeve from a first edge thereof, and abutting a surface on the cassette with the retaining member to hold the cassette within the sleeve.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first and second tabs are folded from adjacent a first end of the sleeve.

12. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of centering the cassette in the sleeve between the first and second sides of the sleeve.

13. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of folding at least one flap on the first tab inwardly toward the sleeve first side and folding at least one flap on the second tab inwardly toward the sleeve second side.