GB1583760A

GB1583760A - Pouches

Info

Publication number: GB1583760A
Application number: GB49106/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SMITH BROS Ltd
Current assignee: SMITH BROS Ltd
Priority date: 1977-11-21
Filing date: 1977-11-21
Publication date: 1981-02-04

Description

(54) POUCHES (71) We, SMITH BROTHERS (WHITEHAVEN) LIMITED, a British Company of North Shore, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 7XY, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to pouches, in particular to a package comprising a strip of pouches for carrying a plurality of surgical instruments, medical items, fine tools or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide sterilizable pouches for surgical instruments or the like in which the instruments can be laid out in a visible, easily accessible, easily checkable sterile array. The realization of this object will materially improve the efficiency of surgical operating theatre staff.

According to the present invention there is provided a multi-pouch package for storing articles in sterile conditions comprising a strip of side-by-side pouches each having an open end and a closed end, the pouches being defined by first and second opposed elongate flexible webs sealed together by a single continuous non-rupturable main seal parallel to a longer edge of the strip and a plurality of rupturable seals extending transversely across the strip from the main seal.

The invention will be described merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a plurality of side-by-side pouches, Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged sections, not to scale, taken along lines Il-Il and 111-111 respectively in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the pouches of Figure 1, and, Figure 5 is an enlarged section, not to scale, taken along line V-V in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a portion of an endless strip 9 of side-by-side pouches 10, each having an open end and a closed end, formed between an endless base web of paper 11 and an endless flexible web 12 of laminated plastics by an endless linear heat seal 13, forming the closed ends of the pouches, and a plurality of linear heat seals 14 extending part of the way across web 12 from, and normal to, heat seal 13.

The paper web 11 is a paper made according to Department of Health and Social Security Specification No. TSS/S/330006, to which the reader is referred for fuller details, and is characterized in that it is substantially impermeable to pathogenic organisms, is sterilizable by steam in an autoclave, and has a surface finish which does not shed fluff or fibres during normal use. These are essential requirements for paper intended for sterile wrapping of surgical and medical equipment and instrument.

Other characteristics of a paper made according to TSS/S/330006 are: (a) when determined by the method of British Standard 3137 the bursting strength shall be not less than 245 KN/m2; (b) when determined by the method of British Standard 2922, with an immersion time of 10 minutes, the wet bursting strength shall be not less than 38 KNim2; (c) when determined by the method of British Standard 4415 the breaking load shall be not less than 66 N/15 mm width in the machine direction and not less than 33 N/15 mm width in the cross direction; (d) when determined by the method of British Standard 2922, with an immersion time of one minute, the wet breaking load shall be not less than 13.2 N/15 mm width in the machine direction and not less than 6.6 N/15 mm width in the cross direction, (e) when determined by the method of British Standard 4468 using a single-tear tester, the tear strength in each direction shall be not less than 600 mN.

It will be understood that the above quantitative characteristics may be varied in accordance with changes in the Department of Health and Social Security regulations.

The laminated plastics web 12 comprises an inner layer 15 of 50 microns polypropylene and an outer layer 16 of 12.5 microns "Melinex" polyester. "Melinex" is a Registered Trade Mark of l.C.I. Ltd. The "Melinex" polyester has the effect of stabilizing the polypropylene, giving it rigidity and minimizing shrinkage and distortion during heat sealing processes.

Heat seal 13, as shown in Figure 3 in cross section, is relatively wide and continuous across its width. Heat seals 14, on the other hand, as shown in Figure 2 in cross-section, are each composed of a number of parallel narrow seal lines 14a. Both seal 13 and seals 14 are applied by heat sealing the polypropylene web to the paper web by applying heat and pressure through the paper at a preferred temperature of 280 C and a pressure of 801bs per square inch, although temperatures in the range 250"-350 OC and pressures in the range 75-100lbs per square inch may be used if required.

The sealing temperature and pressure generate in heat seal 13 the characteristic that it is relatively non-rupturable, having a strength of 250-300 gms or more per inch, by virtue of its continuous relatively wide width.

Heat seals 14, on the other hand, because they consist of a number of narrow seal lines, each have a much lower overall strength of not more than 150 gms per inch, and so each may be readily broken by unpeeling web 12 from paper web 11. Hence, by rupturing a seal 14 between two adjacent pouches, the pouches may be combined to accommodate a larger article than could be inserted into one pouch.

It is found that if paper according to the aforesaid Specification is used for web 11, virtually no loose fibres are produced when seals 14 are peeled. It will be understood that this is very advantageous when the pouches are used for packaging surgical instruments.

As will be seen from Figures 1 and 3, web 12 is narrower than web 11, with the nonrupturable heat seal 13 adjacent a longitudinal edge of the strip 9. Consequently, a portion of web 11 may be folded over the open ends of the pouches to provide a retaining means for articles in the pouches.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the strip of pouches wherein a perforated line of weakness 17 is provided across the strip between each pair of narrow seals 14a defining each seal 14 and extending across the nonrupturable seal 13, thus enabling individual pouches to be torn off the strip. To retain adequate sealing it may be necessary to provide more than one pair of narrow seals 14a to define each seal 14. Perforated lines of weakness may alternatively be formed across the strip in other locations to suit individual requirements.

Alternative configurations of the seals 13, 14 are possible. For example, seal 13 may be located in the middle of strip 9, with seals 14 on either side, thus providing two end-toend rows of side-by-side open-ended pouches with the web 11 extending on both sides beyond the open ends of the side-by-side pouches, to provide a retaining means for articles in pouches by a fold over of web 11 on either side.

Seals 14 need not necessarily be normal, or substantially normal, to seal 13; they may be angled obliquely. However, in such a case difficulty may be experienced in rolling up a strip 9 of such angled pouches if they contain articles.

The strip of pouches provided by paper web 11 and laminated polypropylene web 12 described above is believed to be admirably suitable for surgical purposes because one is enabled to insert instruments into the pouches, enlarging the pouches if necessary by rupturing seals 14, sterilize the strip of pouches and instruments in situ by, e.g. steam autoclaving, gas sterilization, gamma sterilization or other means, and then display the instruments within the pouches in sterile array for use. It is possible to see at a glance that all the required instruments are present in their pouches, and, if after use the instruments are replaced in their pouches, a rapid check can be made to see whether any are mislaid.

Other materials are available for webs 11 and 12 whilst remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, web 11 may be a plastics film, or metallised foil or web 12 may be of paper, transparent cellulosic film, plastics film other than polypropylene laminate or a metallised foil.

The seals 13, 14 may alternatively be produced by applying the sealing tool through the polypropylene to the paper.

The seals 13, 14 may be produced by means other than heat seals; for example seals 14 may be provided by a releasable adhesive whilst seal 13 may be provided by an adhesive bond of a more permanent nature.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A multi-pouch package for storing articles in sterile conditions comprising a strip of side-by-side pouches each having an open end and a closed end, the pouches being defined by first and second opposed elongate flexible webs sealed together by a single continuous non-rupturable main seal parallel to a longer edge of the strip and a plurality of rupturable seals extending transversely across the strip from the main seal.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first web is wider than the second web and extends beyond the open ends of the pouches whereby the first web may be folded over the open ends of the pouches to retain the articles therein.

3. A package as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the main seal is adjacent a longer edge of the strip.

4. A package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rupturable seals and the non-rupturable seal are provided by heat seals.

5. A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein each rupturable seal comprises parallel spaced

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. cross section, is relatively wide and continuous across its width. Heat seals 14, on the other hand, as shown in Figure 2 in cross-section, are each composed of a number of parallel narrow seal lines 14a. Both seal 13 and seals 14 are applied by heat sealing the polypropylene web to the paper web by applying heat and pressure through the paper at a preferred temperature of 280 C and a pressure of 801bs per square inch, although temperatures in the range 250"-350 OC and pressures in the range 75-100lbs per square inch may be used if required. The sealing temperature and pressure generate in heat seal 13 the characteristic that it is relatively non-rupturable, having a strength of 250-300 gms or more per inch, by virtue of its continuous relatively wide width. Heat seals 14, on the other hand, because they consist of a number of narrow seal lines, each have a much lower overall strength of not more than 150 gms per inch, and so each may be readily broken by unpeeling web 12 from paper web 11. Hence, by rupturing a seal 14 between two adjacent pouches, the pouches may be combined to accommodate a larger article than could be inserted into one pouch. It is found that if paper according to the aforesaid Specification is used for web 11, virtually no loose fibres are produced when seals 14 are peeled. It will be understood that this is very advantageous when the pouches are used for packaging surgical instruments. As will be seen from Figures 1 and 3, web 12 is narrower than web 11, with the nonrupturable heat seal 13 adjacent a longitudinal edge of the strip 9. Consequently, a portion of web 11 may be folded over the open ends of the pouches to provide a retaining means for articles in the pouches. Referring to Figures 4 and 5 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the strip of pouches wherein a perforated line of weakness 17 is provided across the strip between each pair of narrow seals 14a defining each seal 14 and extending across the nonrupturable seal 13, thus enabling individual pouches to be torn off the strip. To retain adequate sealing it may be necessary to provide more than one pair of narrow seals 14a to define each seal 14. Perforated lines of weakness may alternatively be formed across the strip in other locations to suit individual requirements. Alternative configurations of the seals 13, 14 are possible. For example, seal 13 may be located in the middle of strip 9, with seals 14 on either side, thus providing two end-toend rows of side-by-side open-ended pouches with the web 11 extending on both sides beyond the open ends of the side-by-side pouches, to provide a retaining means for articles in pouches by a fold over of web 11 on either side. Seals 14 need not necessarily be normal, or substantially normal, to seal 13; they may be angled obliquely. However, in such a case difficulty may be experienced in rolling up a strip 9 of such angled pouches if they contain articles. The strip of pouches provided by paper web 11 and laminated polypropylene web 12 described above is believed to be admirably suitable for surgical purposes because one is enabled to insert instruments into the pouches, enlarging the pouches if necessary by rupturing seals 14, sterilize the strip of pouches and instruments in situ by, e.g. steam autoclaving, gas sterilization, gamma sterilization or other means, and then display the instruments within the pouches in sterile array for use. It is possible to see at a glance that all the required instruments are present in their pouches, and, if after use the instruments are replaced in their pouches, a rapid check can be made to see whether any are mislaid. Other materials are available for webs 11 and 12 whilst remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, web 11 may be a plastics film, or metallised foil or web 12 may be of paper, transparent cellulosic film, plastics film other than polypropylene laminate or a metallised foil. The seals 13, 14 may alternatively be produced by applying the sealing tool through the polypropylene to the paper. The seals 13, 14 may be produced by means other than heat seals; for example seals 14 may be provided by a releasable adhesive whilst seal 13 may be provided by an adhesive bond of a more permanent nature. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A multi-pouch package for storing articles in sterile conditions comprising a strip of side-by-side pouches each having an open end and a closed end, the pouches being defined by first and second opposed elongate flexible webs sealed together by a single continuous non-rupturable main seal parallel to a longer edge of the strip and a plurality of rupturable seals extending transversely across the strip from the main seal.

narrow seal lines.

6. A package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the strength of the main nonrupturable seal is at least 250 gms per inch and the strength of each rupturable seal is not more than 150 gms per inch.

7. A package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a line of weakness is provided across the strip whereby a pouch may be detachable from the strip.

8. A package as claimed in claim 7 as dependent on claim 5 wherein the line of weakness lies between two adjacent narrow seal lines.

9. A package as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the line of weakness is provided by perforations.

10. A package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first web is made of flufffree paper substantially impermeable to pathogenic organisms and sterilizable by steam in an autoclave, and the second web is made of transparent plastics material.

11. A package as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second web includes polypropylene, the polypropylene facing the first web.

12. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the second web is a laminate of polypropylene and a dimensional stabiliser.

13. A package as claimed in claim 12 wherein the dimensional stabiliser is a polyester.

14. A strip of side-by-side pouches substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1,2 and 3, or Figures 4 and 5, of the accompanying drawings.