GB2127777A - Multicompartment packages - Google Patents

Abstract

A sterilisable package (10) comprises two compartments (14) and (15), one containing items, such as for medical treatment, and the other serving for disposal of said items after use. The items may be packaged in a multicompartment bag before placement in said one compartment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packages This invention concerns packages particularly but not exclusively for medical use.

According to this invention there is provided a package comprising two compartments, one compartment for containing items and the other for disposal of used items.

The package is preferably of double pocket pouch type construction with or without side gussets. The pockets may be of the same or different sizes.

The items for one pocket may be contained in their own bag or pouch which may be sterile.

Such bag or pouch may have a plurality of pockets of the same or of different sizes.

The package of the invention may have means for attachment thereof to, for example, items of furniture, such as tables and trolleys. The attachment means may be an adhesive strip having a peel off backing.

The package of the invention may be constructed from any suitable, preferably sterilisable, sheet material, such as sterilisable papers, laminates and any other material suitable for sterilising processes for Steam EOG Gamma Irradiation and Formaldehyde Sterilisation processes. The packages may be formed by gluing and/or heat sealing layers of said sheet materials edge to edge so that the layers may be peeled apart although that is not necessary. For heating sealing and to permit peeling part of layers the sheet materials may be coated with suitable lacquers and/or adhesives.

The item bag or pouch for one of the package compartments may be constructed in the same way and from the same materials as described above.

The packages and item bag or pouch may be produced on any suitable machine simultaneously or individually. Preferably the materials used are also printable for the purpose of advertising, listing of contents, instructions to users etc. The printing may be done on the aforesaid machine or as a separate process.

Filling of the packages can be done supply inducting or by the users thereof. Closing of the packages may be by standard heat sealing.

It is envisaged that the packages will be useful in hospitals and other medical treatment areas replacing existing system of procedure pack tray and sterile field wrapping. The package can provide a simple and more efficient sterile container and disposal facility.

The multipocket item bag or pouch in one compartment of the package of the invention may be a sterile field organiser containing in adjacent pockets items to be used in sequence in medical treatment. Used items can be disposed of in the other compartment.

Although described mainly for medical use the packages of the invention may be put to any other use requiring item carrying and disposal facilities.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a package; Figure 2 is a further view of the package of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a multipouch bag for insertion in the package of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing, a generally rectangular package 10 has outer walls 1 1 and an inner dividing wall 12 heat sealed together at or near their edges as shown by band 13. The walls 1 1 and 12 are of plastics or paper or laminates thereof.

The wall 12 divides the package into compartments 14 and 15. Compartment 14 is for holding a multiple pouch bag 16, (Figure 3) and compartment 15 is for receiving used items from the bag 16.

The bag 1 6 comprises a generally rectangular backing sheet 17 usually of paper, having heat sealed thereto at its edges as shown by bands 19, 20 and 21 a sheet of material 18 of less depth.

Pouches 24 are formed between the sheets 17 and 18 by heat sealing of the sheets together along bands 25.

The extra depth of sheet 17 compared with sheet 18 is so that sheet 1 7 can be folded over.

The bag 1 6 will usually be rolled up for fitting into compartment 1 5 of the package 10.

The package 10 has on sheet 1 1 thereof a self adhesive pad 22 which will usually be covered by a protective non-sticking layer.

It will be appreciated that the configuration of packages of the invention may differ from that illustrated in several respects without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

Claims

1. A package comprising two compartments, one compartment for containing items and the other for disposal of used items.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1 of double pocket pouch type construction with or without side gussets.

3. A package as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pockets are o'f the same size.

4. A package as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the items for one pocket are contained in their own bag or pouch.

5. A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein said bag or pouch has pockets of the same or of different sizes.

6. A package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 having means for attachment to a surface.

7. A package as claimed in claim 6 wherein said attachments is an adhesive strip.

8. A package as claimed in claim 7 wherein said adhesive strip has a peel off backing.

9. A package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 constructed from sterilisable sheet material.

10. A package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.