NZ779734A - Delivery tray and packaging system for medical items - Google Patents
Delivery tray and packaging system for medical itemsInfo
- Publication number
- NZ779734A NZ779734A NZ779734A NZ77973421A NZ779734A NZ 779734 A NZ779734 A NZ 779734A NZ 779734 A NZ779734 A NZ 779734A NZ 77973421 A NZ77973421 A NZ 77973421A NZ 779734 A NZ779734 A NZ 779734A
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- tray
- vessel
- caps
- receiving spaces
- stack
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 41
- 230000002093 peripheral Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 11
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 210000000614 Ribs Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000690 Tyvek Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004775 Tyvek Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000036512 infertility Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008155 medical solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000737 periodic Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005020 pharmaceutical industry Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004023 plastic welding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001707 polybutylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained Effects 0.000 description 1
- 231100000803 sterility Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
Abstract
The invention relates to a delivery tray (20) for medical items (50), the tray (20) being provided with a plurality of receiving spaces (21) each intended to receive a single medical item (50); the lower face of the tray (20) has a plurality of caps, the caps being arranged and sized such that when the tray (20) is stacked on a second identical tray, the caps (25) of the tray (20) are able to close the receiving spaces of the second tray. The invention also relates to a packaging system (100) comprising: a vessel (10) having an opening, a bottom (10a) and a peripheral wall (10b); a stack formed by a plurality of trays (20); a porous lid (40) that is sealed on the upper edge of the peripheral wall (10b) of the vessel (10) to close it. The invention also relates to a packaging method in particular comprising a vacuumization step. the tray (20) is stacked on a second identical tray, the caps (25) of the tray (20) are able to close the receiving spaces of the second tray. The invention also relates to a packaging system (100) comprising: a vessel (10) having an opening, a bottom (10a) and a peripheral wall (10b); a stack formed by a plurality of trays (20); a porous lid (40) that is sealed on the upper edge of the peripheral wall (10b) of the vessel (10) to close it. The invention also relates to a packaging method in particular comprising a vacuumization step.
Description
DESCRIPTION
TITLE: DELIVERY TRAY AND PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL ITEMS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tray and a packaging system
for packaging, delivering and dispensing medical items. It also
relates to a method of packaging medical items. The invention
relates more specifically to the ing, with a view to their
distribution, of rs that are ed to close medical
vials.
TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stoppers of this kind are generally delivered in bulk and poured
into a vibrating bowl feeder, or simply placed in a tray, in
order to then be placed, by hand or automatically by a machine,
one by one on a vial in order to close it.
These delivery solutions are not adequate if the stoppers are
intended to close vials intended for medical use. In this case,
the stoppers and the vials must be free from any contamination,
in particular particulate contamination. However, if no
particular precaution is taken, the contact and friction between
the stoppers themselves or between the stoppers and the surfaces
of the tray or vibrating bowl feeder are liable to generate
particles which may then be found on the stoppers, and
uently in the vials. This can have very s
uences if the vial is used to contain a medical solution
intended to be withdrawn by a syringe, since the particles may
then be found in the syringe and then injected into the body of
a patient.
It is therefore important to have a solution for packaging and
delivering vial stoppers, and more generally medical items or
packaging items, that makes it possible to limit the generation
of particles.
nts EP2753550 and US10064787 disclose trays and packaging
systems that make it possible to individually store different
types of medical items (syringes, vials). These medical items
cannot contact each other, and thus the generation of particles
is d. 550 seeks, more specifically, to reduce the
contact e area between the medical items and the surface
of a tray in order to reduce the friction zones.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An aim of the invention is to provide a tray, a packaging system
and a packaging method that differ from and improve on said prior
BRIEF PTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve this aim, the object of the invention
provides a delivery tray for medical items, the tray comprising
a lower face and an upper face, the upper face having a plurality
of ing spaces each intended to receive a single medical
item.
According to the invention, the lower face of the tray has a
plurality of caps, the caps being arranged and dimensioned so
that, when the tray is stacked on a second identical tray, the
caps of the tray are able to close receiving spaces of the second
tray.
According to other advantageous and miting features of the
invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible
combination:
- each receiving space is delimited laterally by a partition
perpendicular to the upper face of the tray;
- each cap is delimited laterally by a wall dicular to
the lower face of the tray;
- the caps of the tray are respectively arranged in line
with the receiving spaces of said tray, referred to as
first tray, and are respectively dimensioned to close the
receiving spaces of a second identical tray and underlying
the first tray, by interlocking or by abutment of the
partitions of the receiving spaces of the second tray and
the facing walls of the caps of the first tray;
- the receiving spaces each have an inner surface, the inner
surface of the ing spaces being provided with at
least one lateral support element to support and limit the
lateral movements of the medical item in the receiving
space;
- each receiving space has a solid bottom, formed by the
upper face of the tray, and each cap has a solid ,
formed by the lower face of the tray;
- the caps are each provided with a vertical support element
to t and limit the vertical movement of a medical
item arranged in the receiving space of the second tray on
which the tray has been stacked;
- each receiving space has a ated bottom, and each cap
has a perforated bottom, due to the presence of an orifice
in the tray, centered on the bottom of each receiving
space, the orifice associated with a receiving space having
dimensions smaller than the dimensions of a medical item
that is intended to occupy said receiving space;
- an upper part of the receiving spaces is deformable.
According to another aspect, the object of the invention proposes
a packaging system for medical items comprising:
- a vessel having an opening, a bottom and a eral wall;
- a stack formed by a plurality of trays as described above, the
stack being placed in the vessel;
- a porous lid that is sealed on an upper edge of the peripheral
wall of the vessel to close it.
According to other advantageous and non-limiting features of the
invention, taken alone or in any technically le
ation:
- the packaging system further comprises a cover arranged on
the stack of trays to close the receiving spaces of a top
tray of the stack;
- the cover is a rigid plate provided on a lower face with
a plurality of caps capable of closing the receiving spaces
of the top tray of the stack;
- the cover is composed of a ity of strips provided
with caps capable of closing the receiving spaces of the
top tray of the stack;
- the strips and the caps are made of a flexible material;
- each strip comprises bending regions formed n each
- the receiving spaces of a top tray of the stack are closed
by unitary stoppers;
- the bottom of the vessel is provided with bosses configured
to fit into the caps of a bottom tray of the stack;
- the vessel is placed, under vacuum, in at least one
eable bag.
ing to yet another aspect, the object of the invention
provides a method of packaging medical items comprising the
following steps:
- providing a vessel having an opening, a bottom and a peripheral
wall;
- arranging a bottom tray as described above at the bottom of
the vessel;
- arranging at least one additional tray as described above to
form a stack of trays in the vessel, the caps of the additional
tray closing the receiving spaces of a directly ying tray;
- sealing a porous lid on an upper edge of the peripheral wall
of the vessel;
- placing the vessel in at least one impermeable bag, and placing
the bag under vacuum.
According to other advantageous and non-limiting features of the
invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible
combination:
- the lid is secured to the vessel by welding the lid to the
upper edge of the peripheral wall of the vessel;
- the packaging method comprises a step aimed at arranging
a cover on a top tray of the stack;
- the lid is also sealed to the cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Other features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention, which is provided with reference to the appended
drawings, in which:
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of packaging according to
the ion;
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 shows a delivery tray according to the invention;
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 shows the interactions of the stack of two trays
at a receiving space according to the invention;
[Fig. 4a]
[Fig. 4b]
[Fig. 4c] Fig. 4a, 4b and 4c tively show a cover according
to a first, second and third ment;
[Fig. 5]
[Fig. 6a]
[Fig. 6b] Fig. 5, 6a and 6b show two delivery trays, d,
according to the invention; the tray receiving spaces have a
solid bottom (Fig. 5) or a perforated bottom (Fig. 6a and 6b).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
General ption of the packaging system
As shown in Fig. 1, a packaging system 100 according to the
invention comprises a vessel 10, a stack formed by a plurality
of identical delivery trays 20, each provided with receiving
spaces 21, stacked on top of one another parallel to the
bottom 10a of the vessel 10, as well as a porous lid 40 placed
on the opening of the vessel 10 to close it. The packaging
system 100 can also se a cover 30 ed on the top
tray 20” of the stack. The vessel 10 containing the trays 20,
and closed by the porous lid 40, is intended to be placed in at
least one airtight bag (and generally two of these bags) in which
the air has been evacuated in order to place the entire assembly
under vacuum.
For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that, in the
remainder of this description, the term “top tray 20″” refers to
the tray 20 of the stack located furthest from the bottom 10a of
the vessel 10, and the term “bottom tray 20’” refers to the tray
located closest to the bottom 10a.
Each of the trays 20 accommodates a plurality of medical items 50
stored individually in one of the receiving spaces 21 of the
tray 20 without any t being possible between them. The
term “medical items 50” s any type of item for medical use
which must remain sterile and/or clean and free from any
particulate contamination. In the examples described and shown,
these are stoppers intended to close vials, but they could just
as easily be any other type of medical item, such as syringes
or vials. The shape and volume of the ing spaces 21 will
of course be adapted such that they can accommodate the medical
item 50 in question. As will become apparent in the remainder of
this description, stacking the trays 20 in the vessel 10 allows
the receiving spaces 21 to be closed and allows the medical
items 50 placed therein to be isolated in order to limit the
risk of particulate contamination.
It should be noted in this respect that l items 50 cannot
be placed in the top tray 20” of the stack. In this case, this
top tray 20” serves the sole purpose of closing the receiving
spaces of the tray of the stack that is directly below it. As
an alternative to this possibility, and as has already been
ned, provision can be made to arrange a cover 30 on the
top tray 20” of the stack in order to close the receiving spaces
thereof. This cover 30 can take various forms, which will be
presented in a later section of this description.
Description of the vessel
The vessel 10 is a hollow packaging t intended to receive
the trays 20 in which the medical items 50 are placed. The
vessel 10 ses an opening, a bottom 10a and a peripheral
wall 10b that delimits its general shape. The peripheral
wall 10b may be provided with a shoulder that allows the
vessel 10 to be handled, in particular by automatic equipment.
Advantageously, the vessel 10 has a parallelepipedal shape in
order to optimize the space required for storing a given number
of medical items 50. The dimensions of the vessel 10 are chosen
depending on the number of medical items 50 to be ed. These
dimensions may comply with a norm or a standard so as to
facilitate use on an industrial scale. The vessel 10 may be
formed from a plastics al, for example polypropylene,
amorphous polyethylene terephthalate or a styrenic polymer such
as polystyrene.
In the illustrated example, the bottom 10a of the vessel 10 is
provided with bosses 11 allowing the bottom tray 20’ to be wedged
and/or centered, for example by fitting these bosses on reliefs
arranged on the lower e of the tray 20’. These reliefs can
for example constitute caps, which will be described in detail
in a later section of the present disclosure. The bottom tray 20’
(as well as the entire stack of trays) is thus immobilized in
the vessel 10, the friction between the tray 20’ and the
vessel 10 is limited, and the generation of particles is thus
prevented.
The bottom 10a of the vessel 10 may optionally comprise altitude
adjustment pads (not shown) on which the bottom tray 20’ will
rest. These pads make it possible to adjust the height of the
stacks of trays 20 so that the top tray 20” (or the cover 30,
if present) is always flush with the level of the opening of the
vessel 10 and of the g lid 40, regardless of the unit
height of the trays 20; in fact, this unit height can vary
depending on the size of the medical items 50.
Description of the delivery trays
The stack of trays 20 of Fig. 1 is composed of a plurality of
trays, all identical to each other, and an e of which in
accordance with the invention is shown in Fig. 2. Each tray 20
ses an upper face 20a and a lower face 20b.
The upper face 20a is provided with a ity of receiving
spaces 21 each intended to receive a single medical item 50 in
order to prevent any contact between two of said items 50. The
receiving spaces 21 are lly arranged in rows on the upper
face of the tray 20. A tray receiving space 21 has a bottom 21a,
formed from the upper surface 20a of the tray 20, and an
opening 21b for inserting the element 50. Each receiving
space 21 is delimited laterally by a partition 22, perpendicular
to the upper face 20a of the tray 20, which defines its shape.
This can be any shape, for example circular, hexagonal or
rectangular, adjusted to the shape and/or to the size of the
medical items 50 that the receiving space 21 is intended to
accommodate. The partition 22 is solid, so as to laterally
e each of the medical items 50 when they are arranged in
the receiving spaces 21.
The inner surface of the partition 22, that is to say, the
surface oriented toward the inside of the ing space 21,
may be provided with at least one flexible lateral support
element 23, for example a flexible lug 23. This support
element 23 makes it possible to retain the medical item 50 in
the receiving space 21 and to limit its lateral nts. This
s the possibilities of friction between the medical
item 50 and the partition 22 as well as the risk of particle
generation. The flexible nature of the lateral support
elements 23 allows this receiving space 21 to be used for
different ions of items 50 and thus allows the differences
in dimensions to be taken into t which may exist even when
these items are all identical to one another.
Advantageously, the receiving spaces 21 are each provided with
at least one stop 24 to prevent extensive contact between the
medical item 50 and the bottom 21a of the receiving space 21.
This stop 24 allows the friction surface with the bottom to be
limited and reduces particle generation. The stop may be formed
by fine ribs delimited on the bottom 21a of the receiving
space 21, for example three of these ribs, or by periodic
supports, for example three of these supports.
The lower face 20b of the tray 20 has a ity of caps 25,
the number of caps in this ity typically being equal to
the number of receiving spaces 21 arranged on the upper face 20a
of the tray 20. The caps 25 are arranged on the lower face 20b
so as each to be in line with a receiving space 21. The caps 25
here are delimited by walls 26, similarly to the receiving
spaces 21, so as to have dimensions mentary to those of
the receiving spaces 21, so that when a first tray 20 is d
on a second tray, identical to the first tray 20, the caps 25
of the first tray 20 are able to close, for example by
interlocking, the receiving spaces of the second tray which they
ng (Fig. 1). It is also conceivable that the walls 26
defining the caps 25 are perfectly aligned with the
partitions 22 defining the receiving spaces 21 so that the
receiving spaces are closed by placing, edge against edge, the
walls 26 of a first tray 20 on the partitions 22 of a second
tray 20, directly under it in the stack: a receiving space 21 of
the second tray 20 is then closed by abutment of the partition 22
of said receiving space 21 and of the wall 26 of the cap 25,
facing it, of the first tray 20 arranged on the second tray 20
(Fig. 5). The wall 26 is solid, so as to laterally isolate each
of the medical items 50 when they are arranged in the receiving
spaces 21 closed by the caps 25 of the upper tray 20.
Each cap 25 is also defined by a bottom 25a, formed by the lower
face 20b of the associated tray 20.
As already mentioned, the caps 25 of the bottom tray 20’ of the
stack can also allow this tray to be assembled by fitting on the
bosses 11 of the bottom 10a of the vessel 10 (Fig. 1).
If the receiving spaces 21 are closed by g, the internal
dimensions of the cap 25 are advantageously greater than the
external dimensions of the receiving space 21 in order to locate
the possible friction region between the receiving spaces 21 and
the caps 25 on the outer surface of the partitions of the
receiving spaces 21, as is clearly e in Fig. 3. In other
words, the walls 26 of the caps 25 surround the partitions 22 of
the receiving spaces 21 from the outside and are in contact with
the outer surface of the partitions 22. This prevents particles
from being generated inside the receiving spaces 21 during any
friction of the walls 26 against the partitions 22.
Advantageously, slight lateral play will be provided, typically
between 0.1 and 1 mm, between the walls 26 defining the caps 25
and the partitions 22 defining the receiving spaces 21 in order
to prevent forcing the interlocking of the trays 20 during their
stacking, which could make subsequent access to the medical items
retained in a tray difficult.
According to a first variant, in ular illustrated in Fig. 1
and 5, each receiving space 21 has a solid bottom 21a, formed by
the upper face 20a of the tray 20, and each cap 25 has a solid
bottom 25a, formed by the lower face 20b of the tray 20. When
two trays 20 are stacked, the l items 50 (for example,
stoppers), arranged in the receiving spaces 21 of the underlying
tray 20, are completely isolated from each other and protected
from potential particulate contamination generated during
transport of the packaging system 100 or when the latter is
ing to a second t, illustrated in Fig. 6a and 6b,
each receiving space 21 has a perforated bottom 21a, and each
cap 25 also has a perforated bottom 25a, due to the presence of
an orifice 28 in the tray 20, centered on the bottom 21a of each
receiving space 21. The orifice 28 associated with a receiving
space 21 then has dimensions r than the dimensions of the
medical item 50 that is intended to occupy said receiving
space 21, so that the outer upper part of the l item 50
is able to close the orifice 28. The lower part of the l
item 50 in turn is in contact with the bottom 21a of the
receiving space 21.
This second variant is advantageous in that it limits the
quantity of material used to manufacture a tray 20. It is
particularly suitable in the case of a medical item 50 in the
form of a stopper 51 provided with a locking cap 52, as shown
in Fig. 6a and 6b. The stopper 51 is usually made of an
elastomeric al, having a head and a foot that is intended
(in use) to be inserted into the neck of a vial. The locking
cap 52 surrounds the stopper 51 and is intended (in use) to be
gripped under the flange of the vial, when the foot of the
stopper 51 is fully inserted into the neck: the locking cap 52
comprises retaining members able to be blocked under the collar
in order to secure the stopper 51 on the vial. The locking cap 52
also comprises means ensuring the maintenance of the stopper 51
in said cap 52 during storage and transport in the packaging
system 100. Non-limiting examples of medical items 50 of this
type can be found in documents EP2464577 or EP2464580.
The locking cap 52 of the medical item 50 may comprise a
capsule 52a forming the outer upper part of said l item 50.
As illustrated in Fig. 6a and 6b, it is this outer upper part 52a
that closes the orifice 28 and enables the medical items 50 of
the same column (that is to say, directly above each other, in
the stacked trays 20) to be isolated from each other.
In particular, the stopper 51 of the medical item 50, which
constitutes the most sensitive part in terms of ination,
is tely isolated in the receiving space 21 of a tray 20:
- by interlocking or abutment of the partition 22 of the
receiving space 21 of the tray 20 with the facing wall 26
of the cap 25 of an upper tray,
- due to the closure of the perforated bottom 25a of the
cap 25 of the upper tray by the outer upper part 52a of
the locking cap 52 of the medical item 50 arranged in the
receiving space 21 of the tray 20, and potentially,
- due to the e of the perforated bottom 21a of the
receiving space 21 by the outer upper part 52a of the
locking cap 52 of a medical item 50 arranged in a tray
underlying the tray 20.
In the particular case of the bottom tray 20’, the closest to
the bottom 10a of the vessel 10, the orifice 28 of the ated
bottom 21a of the receiving spaces 21 of said tray 20’ can be
closed off by providing additional caps or seals at the
bottom 10a of the vessel 10, or the orifices 28 can be left open.
According to a third variant, which mixes the first and second
aforementioned variants, only part (at least one) of the
receiving spaces 21 of a tray 20 may have a perforated
bottom 21a, the other part having a solid bottom 21a.
Returning to the general description, it is advantageously
possible to provide at least some of the caps 25 with a tray 20
of vertical support elements 27 (visible in Fig. 3 in the form
of a flexible tab 27), in order to in and limit the
vertical movement of the l items 50 arranged in the
receiving spaces of the underlying tray. This reduces any
friction associated with the movement of the l item 50
within the receiving space 21. Just like for the lateral support
elements 23, the flexible nature of the vertical support
elements 27 allows a receiving space 21 to be used for different
dimensions of items 50 and/or allows the variations in
dimensions of these items to be taken into account.
Advantageously, the upper part of the receiving spaces 21, that
is to say, the upper end of the partitions 22, is deformable.
In the example of Fig. 3, the upper end of the partitions 22 has
a pointed profile. The compressive forces exerted on the upper
end of the partitions 22 during the stacking of the trays 20
lead to their deformation by crushing, which makes it possible
to compensate for any defects in the ss of the trays 20.
This ensures that all the ing spaces of the trays are
properly closed, in particular during a subsequent vacuumization
step of the vessel.
The trays may be made of a cs material, for example
polypropylene or plastic mer or polybutylene
terephthalate (PBT).
Each tray 20 advantageously comprises a peripheral gripping
rim 20c, which may be located in the lateral extension of the
upper 20a and lower 20b faces, as illustrated in Fig. 1, 2 and 3.
Alternatively, as can be seen in Fig. 5, 6a and 6b, the
peripheral gripping rim 20c can be located in the lateral
extension of the upper end of the partitions 22 of the receiving
spaces 21.
Description of the cover
The term “cover” is used to denote any element placed in the
vessel 10, on the top tray 20″ of the stack, in order to close
the receiving spaces thereof. This therefore avoids leaving this
top tray 20” empty of any medical item 50, as has been mentioned
previously.
According to a first ment, illustrated by Fig. 4a, the
cover 30 may be a rigid plate 30 provided on its lower face with
a plurality of caps 32 able to close the receiving spaces 21 of
the bottom tray 20”, for example by interlocking. These caps 32
are therefore identical, in their shapes, dimensions and
arrangements on the lower face of the plate 30, to the caps 25
of the trays 20. The rigid plate 30 and the caps 32 may be formed
from the same material as that g the trays 20, and the
plate may have similar dimensions.
In a variant of this embodiment, the plate may be composed of a
plurality of individual strips 30′ intended to cover and
respectively close the rows of receiving spaces 21 of the top
tray 20″. These strips 30’ can be secured to the porous lid 40,
for example by welding, so that ng the lid 40 (when opening
the packaging system 100) naturally leads to g the
receiving spaces 21 of the top tray 20”. In this embodiment in
which the strips 30’ are rigid, they are preferably arranged
perpendicular to the direction of removal of the porous lid 40
in order to facilitate its removal.
According to a second embodiment, illustrated by Fig. 4b, the
cover 30 is composed of a flexible plate or of a plurality of
le strips 30’, the lower face of which is provided with a
cap 32 similar to those of the trays 20. Like in the first
embodiment, the strips 30’ are configured to close a row of
receiving spaces 21 of the top tray 20” of the stack. To impart
or improve the flexible nature of a strip 30′, the latter can
be formed by vely narrow bending regions 33,
interconnecting relatively wide support regions bearing the
caps 32.
The flexible strip 30’ and the caps 32 may be formed by a
flexible al, for example based on thermoplastic
mers.
This second embodiment is very particularly advantageous when
the flexible plate 30 or the strips 30’ are secured to the lid 40
that closes the vessel 10. The receiving spaces 21 of the top
tray 20” of the stack placed in this vessel are then opened when
this lid is d, and the medical items 50 stored in the
receiving spaces 21 of the top tray 20” are immediately
accessed. If the strips 30’ are flexible enough, they can be
arranged t any particular orientation with respect to the
opening direction of the lid 40.
According to a third embodiment, illustrated by Fig. 4c,
provision can also be made for the cover 30 to be implemented
by a plurality of unitary caps 30”, these caps being respectively
arranged on the receiving spaces of the top tray 20” in order
to close them. They can be soft or rigid caps.
ption of the lid
The porous lid 40 is intended to be sealed, for e by means
of plastic welding, on the upper edges of the wall 10b of the
vessel 10, once said vessel has been filled with the trays 20
carrying the medical items 50 and optionally the cover. The
porous lid is intended to keep the medical items 50 clean and
to prevent particles from entering the vessel 10. The air
porosity of the lid 50 makes it possible to extract the air from
the vessel during a subsequent vacuumization step. It may for
example be made of Tyvek®, a material commonly used in the
pharmaceutical industry.
When provision is made to place a cover 30 in the vessel on the
top tray 20” of the stack, as has already been mentioned with
reference to the two embodiments of this cover 30, the porous
lid can also be sealed, for example by welding, to this cover 30
simultaneously with its sealing on the upper edges of the
wall 10b of the vessel 10.
To allow this, the ts of the packaging system 100 are
dimensioned so that the exposed e of the cover 30
(whichever embodiment is chosen), when the latter is placed on
the top tray 20” of the stack of trays, is flush with the upper
edge of the wall of the vessel 10.
Description of the packaging method
In order to minimize contamination by particles and in order to
preserve the possible sterility of the medical items 50, the
various steps described below are preferably carried out in a
controlled nment.
A first tray 20’, the bottom tray 20’ of the stack, is arranged
on the bottom 10a of the vessel 10 so as to align and fit the
caps 25 of the lower face 21a of the first tray 21’ with the
bosses 11 of the bottom 10a of vessel 10 (if present). Medical
items 50 are then, or were previously, placed in the receiving
spaces 21 of the first tray 20’.
Then, a second tray 20 is arranged on the first tray 20’. The
caps 25 arranged on the lower face of the second tray close the
receiving spaces 21 of the first tray 20’. Medical items 50 are
ed in each receiving space 21 of the second tray 20 before
or after this operation. This is repeated as many times as there
are trays 20 to be placed in the vessel 10 and until the last
tray 20” is placed, forming the top tray 20” of the stack.
In the event that no cover 30 is provided, the last tray 20” is
kept empty, that is to say, without placing medical items in its
receiving spaces 21.
Otherwise, a cover 30 is placed on the upper face 21a of the top
tray 20” of the stack in order to close its receiving spaces 21,
in which the medical items have been placed beforehand. As has
already been mentioned, this cover can be formed by a plate
provided with caps, which is therefore arranged integrally on
the top tray 20”. It may alternatively be a plurality of flexible
or rigid strips 30’ bearing caps, and placed in rows on the top
tray 20” so as to close the receiving spaces 21, or else y
caps 30” arranged on each receiving space 21. Optionally, a
combination of these options can be used to close the receiving
spaces 21 of the top tray 20”.
The porous lid 40 is then arranged on the top tray 20” or on the
cover 30, then secured to the upper edges of the wall 10b of the
vessel 10, as well as possibly to the flexible plate 30 or to
the strips 30’ and/or unitary caps 30” when these are present.
In a following step, the vessel 10, the opening of which has
been closed by the porous lid 40, is placed in at least one
ht bag (and preferably two bags for safety reasons), and
the vacuumization is carried out in this bag before it is
hermetically sealed. The vacuumization of the assembly allows
the various ents of the assembly 100 to be d
vertically, and therefore allows each receiving space 21 to be
closed individually. Any defects in the flatness of the trays 20
and of the cover 30 are compensated for by the deformable nature
of the ions 22 of the receiving spaces 21 and by the
relative flexibility of the trays 20. The vacuumization also
makes it possible to horizontally block the s components
of the assembly 100 by deforming the peripheral wall 10b of the
vessel 10 in order to press it t the edge of the trays 20.
The vacuumization therefore makes it possible to limit the
friction between the various elements of the assembly 100 and
thus the generation of particles by friction by blocking the
vertical and horizontal movement of said ts.
Opening the packaging system
To open the ing system and access the medical items
packaged therein, the vessel 10 ning the stack of trays 20
is first of all taken out of the bag. The lid 40 is then removed
to expose the cover 30, when the latter is present. The cover 30
is extracted from the vessel, for example using a suction cup
when the latter is in the form of a rigid plate, to expose the
receiving spaces 21 of the top tray 20”. When it is in the form
of rigid or flexible strips sealed to the lid 30, opening this
lid naturally leads to removing the caps from the receiving
spaces 21, without any additional operation. The medical
items 50 can then be picked up individually or row by row,
manually and/or automatically by a machine. Once the top tray 20”
has been emptied of its medical items 50, the latter is also
removed to expose the receiving spaces 21 and the medical
items 50 of the underlying tray 20. These operations are
repeated until all the medical items 50 stored in the vessel 10
have been removed.
Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments
described and it is possible to add ts without departing
from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
Although a single type of receiving space delimited by partitions
has been described here, other shapes or configurations could be
envisaged. The receiving spaces can, for e, be ed in
cells to optimize the space in the vessel, the inner surface of
a partition of one receiving space forming the outer surface of
a partition of another receiving space. The receiving spaces
could equally well pond to a recess formed in a tray or
be a ation of recesses and partitions.
Finally, although here we have put forward a fitting of the caps
on the receiving spaces carried out from the outside to locate
the possible friction region on the outer surface of the
receiving spaces, it is of course possible to have the reverse.
In this case, the external dimensions of the cap 25 are smaller
than the internal dimensions of the receiving space 21 so that
the fitting of the cap 25 takes place from the inside.
Claims (20)
1. Delivery tray (20) for medical items (50), the tray (20) comprising a lower face (20b) and an upper face (20a), the upper face (20a) having a plurality of receiving spaces (21) each intended to receive a single medical item (50); the tray (20) being characterized in that the lower face (20b) of the tray (20) has a plurality of caps (25), the caps (25) being arranged and sized such that when the tray (20) is stacked on a second identical tray, the caps (25) of the tray (20) are able to close the receiving spaces (21) of the second tray.
2. Tray (20) according to the preceding claim, wherein: - each receiving space (21) is delimited laterally by a partition (22) dicular to the upper face (20a) of the tray (20), - each cap (25) is delimited laterally by a wall (26) perpendicular to the lower face (20b) of the tray (20), and - the caps (25) of the tray (20) are respectively arranged in line with the receiving spaces (21) of the tray (20) and are respectively sized to close the receiving spaces (21) of a second identical tray underlying said tray (20), by interlocking or nt of the partitions (22) of the receiving spaces (21) of the second tray and the walls (26) of the caps (25) of the tray (20) facing it.
3. Tray (20) according to one of the ing claims, wherein the receiving spaces (21) each have an inner surface, the inner surface of the receiving spaces (21) being provided with at least one l support t (23) to support and limit the lateral movements of the medical item (50) in the receiving space (21).
4. Tray (20) according to one of the preceding claim, wherein the caps (25) are each ed with a vertical support element (27) to support and limit the vertical movement of a medical item (50) arranged in the receiving space of the second tray on which the tray (20) has been stacked.
5. Tray (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each receiving space (21) has a solid bottom (21a), formed by the upper face (20a) of the tray (20), each cap (25) also having a solid bottom (25a), formed by the lower face (20b) of the tray (20).
6. Tray (20) according to one of claims 1 to 4, n at least one receiving space (21) has a perforated bottom (21a), due to the presence of an orifice (28) in the tray (20), centered on the bottom (21a) of the -at least one- receiving space (21), the orifice (28) having ions smaller than the dimensions of the medical item (50) that is ed to occupy said receiving space (21).
7. Tray (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper part of the receiving spaces (21) is deformable.
8. Packaging system (100) for medical items (50), comprising: - a vessel (10) having an opening, a bottom (10a) and a eral wall (10b); - a stack formed by a plurality of trays (20) according to one of the preceding claims, the stack being placed in the vessel (10); and - a porous lid (40) that is sealed on an upper edge of the peripheral wall (10b) of the vessel (10) to close it.
9. Packaging system (100) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a cover (30) arranged on the stack of trays to close the receiving spaces (21) of a top tray (20”) of the stack.
10. Packaging system (100) according to the preceding claim, n the cover (30) is a rigid plate provided on a lower face with a plurality of caps (32) capable of closing the receiving spaces (21) of the top tray (20”) of the stack.
11. Packaging system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the cover (30) is ed of a plurality of strips (30’) provided with caps (32) e of closing the receiving spaces (21) of the top tray (20”) of the stack.
12. Packaging system (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the strips (30’) and the caps (32) are formed by a flexible material.
13. Packaging system (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein each strip (30’) comprises bending regions (33) formed between each cap (32).
14. Packaging system (100) according to claim 8, wherein the ing spaces (21) of a top tray (20”) of the stack are closed by unitary stoppers (30”).
15. Packaging system (100) according to one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the bottom (10a) of the vessel (10) is provided with bosses (11) configured to fit into the caps (25) of a bottom tray (20’) of the stack.
16. Packaging system (100) according to one of claims 8 to 15, wherein the vessel (10) is placed, under vacuum, in at least one sealed bag.
17. Method of packaging medical items (50), characterized in that it ses the following steps: - providing a vessel (10) having an opening, a bottom (10a) and a peripheral wall (10b); - arranging a bottom tray (20’) ing to one of claims 1 to 7 at the bottom (10a) of the vessel (10); - arranging at least one additional tray according to one of claims 1 to 7 to form a stack of trays (20) in the vessel (10), the caps (25) of the additional tray closing the receiving spaces (21) of a directly underlying tray; - sealing a porous lid (40) on an upper edge of the peripheral wall (10b) of the vessel (10); - placing the vessel (10) in at least one impermeable bag, and placing the bag under vacuum.
18. ing method according to the preceding claim, wherein the lid (40) is rigidly connected to the vessel (10) by welding the lid (40) onto the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the vessel (10).
19. Packaging method according to one of the two preceding claims, sing a step aimed at arranging a cover (30) on a top tray (20”) of the stack.
20. Packaging method according to the preceding claim, wherein the lid (40) is also sealed to the cover (30).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FRFR2009215 | 2020-09-11 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ779734A true NZ779734A (en) |
Family
ID=
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