Packaging system

• US 6,991,096 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gottlieb, Rebecca, Swanson, Aaron, Branch, Kevin, Reghabi, Bahar
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/331,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20040060260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 206/210, 206/363, 206/364, 206/365, 206/366, 206/438, 206/570, 206/571
• US Class Current: 206/210
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0065 Peelable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3005 containing a preservative liquid, e.g. an antiseptic liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 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 Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/206 Ethylene oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/002 Packages specially adapted therefor combined with means for introducing catheters, e.g. dispensers, A61M25/0113; catheter kit packages for surgical articles A61B50/30
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/22 Immersing contents in protective liquids

Abstract

A packaging system for hydrating sterile devices without comprising the integrity of the sterilization. The packaging system may include an enclosure for enclosing a device requiring hydration, a container containing a hydrate, a base located within the interior of the enclosure and an activating member located within the interior of the enclosure. The container and the device may be located within a receptacle. The receptacle may rest on the base and the activating member may be affixed on top of the receptacle. A force may be exerted on an exterior portion of the enclosure such that the activating member pushes on the receptacle and crushes or ruptures the container. The hydrate located within the container is then released to the device, thereby hydrating the device without breaking the seal of the enclosure. The sterilized environment is therefore maintained and the device is hydrated.

Claims

1. A packaging system for hydrating at least one selected portion of a device, the packaging system comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing at least one selected portion of a device, the at least one selected portion of the device requiring hydration;

a container containing a hydrate;

a receptacle within the enclosure and having an interior; and

wherein the container is operable to release the hydrate;

wherein the container and the at least one selected portion of the device located within the interior of the receptacle are arranged relative to each other in a manner such that upon the release of the hydrate from the container, the hydrate travels by gravity toward the at least one selected portion of the device; and

wherein the arrangement of the container and the at least one selected portion of the device exposes the at least one selected portion of the device to the hydrate while inhibiting exposure of other portions of the device to the hydrate.

2. The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising an activating member located within the interior of the enclosure for exerting a force on the container to release the hydrate to the at least one selected portion of the device.

4. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein the activating member is located on top of the receptacle.

5. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein the force is applied to an external portion of the enclosure and is transferred to the container via the activating member.

6. The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising a covering surrounding the container.

9. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the container is an ampule.

10. The packaging system of claim 1,

wherein the at least one selected portion of the device resides in a first interior portion of the receptacle;

wherein the container resides in a second interior portion of the receptacle; and

wherein, upon release from the container, the hydrate flows from the second interior portion of the receptacle to the first interior portion of the receptacle through a channel.

11. The packaging system of claim 1,

wherein the portion of the device resides in a first interior portion of the receptacle;

wherein the container resides in a second interior portion of the receptacle; and

wherein, upon release from the container, the hydrate flows from the second interior portion of the receptacle to the first interior portion of the receptacle through a valve.

12. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the container is a bladder.

13. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the container is a sponge.

14. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the hydrate is a fluid.

15. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the hydrate is a gel.

16. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the hydrate is a sterilant.

21. The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir located in the interior of the receptacle, the reservoir having an interior, wherein the interior of the reservoir is separated from the other portions of the device.

22. The packaging system of claim 21, wherein hydrate released from the container accumulates by gravity in the interior of the reservoir.

3. A packaging system for hydrating a device, the packaging system comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing the device requiring hydration;

a container containing a hydrate, the container located within the packaging system adjacent to the device, wherein the container is operable to release the hydrate to the device;

a receptacle disposed within the enclosure;

an activating member located within the interior of the enclosure for exerting a force on the container to release the hydrate to the device; and

a base having an inclined surface disposed within the enclosure,

wherein the container and the device are located within an interior portion of the receptacle; and

wherein the receptacle is disposed on the inclined surface of the base.

7. The packaging system for hydrating a device, the packaging system comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing the device requiring hydration;

a container containing a hydrate, the container located within the packaging system adjacent to the device;

a receptacle disposed within the enclosure; and

a covering surrounding the container;

wherein the container is operable to release the hydrate to the device;

wherein the container and the device are located within an interior portion of the receptacle; and

wherein the covering is a mesh.

8. The packaging system of claim 7, wherein the mesh is nylon.

17. A packaging system for bringing first and second elements located in a package into contact with each other, the packaging system comprising:

a container containing a first element;

a receptacle having an interior; and

an enclosure for enclosing the receptacle, the enclosure having an interior;

wherein the container is operable to release the first element;

wherein the container and at least one selected portion of a second element are arranged relative to each other within the interior of the receptacle in a manner such that upon the release of the first element from the container, the first element travels by gravity toward the at least one selected portion of the second element; and

wherein the arrangement of the container and the at least one selected portion of the second element exposes the at least one selected portion of the second element to the first element while inhibiting exposure to the first element of other portions of the second element.

23. The packaging system of claim 17, further comprising a reservoir located in the interior of the receptacle, the reservoir having an interior, wherein the interior of the reservoir is separated from the other portions of the second element.

24. The packaging system of claim 23, wherein the first element released from the container travels by gravity to the interior of the reservoir.

18. A packaging system for bringing elements located in a package into contact with each other, the packaging system comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing a first element;

a container containing a second element, the container located within the package adjacent to the first element;

a receptacle disposed within the enclosure; and

a base having an inclined surface located within the enclosure;

wherein the container is operable to release the second element to the first element;

wherein the container and the first element are located within an interior portion of the receptacle; and

wherein the receptacle is supported on the inclined surface of the base.

19. A packaging system for bringing elements located in a package into contact with each other, the packaging system comprising:

an enclosure for enclosing a first element;

a container containing a second element, the container located within the package adjacent to the first element; and

a receptacle for capturing the second element upon release of the second element from the container;

wherein the container and the enclosure are arranged relative to each other such that upon release of the second element from the container, the second element travels by gravity to and contacts the first element while the first element is enclosed within the enclosure, and

wherein the receptacle is arranged relative to contain the second element after the second element has come into contact with the first element.

20. The packaging system of claim 19, further comprising:

an activating member for causing the container to release the second element to the first element.

25. A packaging system for hydrating an end portion of a catheter at which a hydratable element is disposed, the end portion of the catheter extending less than the entire length of the catheter adjacent to a distal end of the catheter, the packaging system comprising:

a container containing a hydrate;

a receptacle having an interior for receiving the container and the end portion of a catheter while the rest of the catheter is disposed outside of the receptacle; and

an enclosure for enclosing the receptacle, the enclosure having an interior;

wherein the container is operable to release the hydrate to the end portion of the catheter when the end portion of the catheter is received within the receptacle; and

wherein, the container is arranged relative to the receptacle such that upon the release of the hydrate from the container, the hydrate travels toward the end portion of the catheter, contacts the end portion of the catheter and is inhibited from contacting other portions of the catheter when the end portion of the catheter is received within the receptacle.