Apparatus and method for packaging elongate surgical devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A package for an elongate surgical device, comprising:
- an elongate tube having walls defining a lumen between a first end and a second end of the tube;
the tube being formed into a coiled configuration with a first coiled portion disposed adjacent to a second coiled portion; and
a weld bonding the first coiled portion to the second coiled portion in a fixed relationship;
the weld being of sufficient strength to prevent peeling the first coiled portion from the second coiled portion to maintain the coil configuration of the tube.
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Abstract
A package for an elongate surgical device, such as a catheter, includes an elongate tube formed into a coil configuration with a first coil portion disposed adjacent to a second coil portion. A thermal weld bonds the coil portions in a fixed relationship and with a strength sufficient to prevent peeling the first coil portion from the second coil portion. The surgical device can then be loaded into the tube, pouched and sterilized for ultimate distribution. In an associated method, the tube is coiled on a turntable and moved relative to heating stations where the thermal bonds can be formed.
71 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A package for an elongate surgical device, comprising:
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an elongate tube having walls defining a lumen between a first end and a second end of the tube;
the tube being formed into a coiled configuration with a first coiled portion disposed adjacent to a second coiled portion; and
a weld bonding the first coiled portion to the second coiled portion in a fixed relationship;
the weld being of sufficient strength to prevent peeling the first coiled portion from the second coiled portion to maintain the coil configuration of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for packaging an elongate surgical device having an outside diameter, comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate tube having a tube wall with an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the device;
coiling the tube to move a first tube portion into an adjacent relationship with a second tube portion; and
bonding the tube walls of the adjacent tube portion without occluding the tube to form a fixed relationship between the first tube portion and the adjacent second tube portion, and to maintain the tube in a coiled configuration. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for making a package for an elongate surgical device, comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate tube having walls defining a lumen between a first end and a second end of the tube;
attaching the first end of the tube to a fixture having at least one heating station and a turntable rotatable relative to the heating station;
rotating the turntable to form the tube into at least one coil having adjacent coiled portions; and
bonding the adjacent coiled portions as they rotate by the heat station. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification