GB2271344A

GB2271344A - Packaging for tubular products

Info

Publication number: GB2271344A
Application number: GB9320419A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reto Artusi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-07
Filing date: 1993-10-04
Publication date: 1994-04-13
Also published as: GB9320419D0; AT403879B; ATA186293A; CH687145A5; DE4333073A1; DE9213509U1

Abstract

Packaging for tubular products which are not to be kinked, in particular for medical products such as balloon-type catheters, comprises a dish (2) with a channel system (3) adapted to receive a tubular product (1). The channel system has at least one fixing point (10) at which a channel with a predetermined radius is interrupted by a channel member with a different external radius. A tubular product (1) can thereby be reliably retained in the channel system (3) of the dish (2) by being engaged at the fixing point(s) by the channel members. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: PACKAGING FOR TUBULAR PRODUCTS The invention relates to packaging for tubular products which are not to be kinked, in particular for medical products such as balloon-type catheters.

For the transportation of tubular products there are often provided deep-drawn dishes in which these tubular products are located. The present case is concerned, in particular, with the storage of tubular products which should not be kinked and are to be stored hygienically.

These include many products but particular reference is made to medical products which also have to be kept in a hygienic and sterile manner. Reference is made to balloon-type catheters merely by way of example in this case. A balloon-type catheter of this type consists of a connecting element, a flexible tube-like conduit and an outlet member. This outlet member is brought through a vein into the heart and is inflated there to support the heart walls.

It will be appreciated that a balloon-type catheter of this type must not be touched and is not to be kinked or clamped after production. Furthermore, it has to be inserted, under hygienically perfect conditions, into packaging which is then sealed.

Problems arise, in particular, in the handling of the dish as, in many cases, the tubular product does not remain in the corresponding channel system. Therefore it is generally clamped by foam strips. However, this is neither hygienically nor economically worthwhile as the packaging then demands additional time.

The present invention aims to secure a tubular product of the above-mentioned type in a dish without additional aids so that manual contact is not necessary either.

Accordingly, the present invention provides packaging for tubular products which are not to be kinked, in particular for medical products such as balloon-type catheters, said packaging comprising a dish with a channel system adapted to receive a tubular product, wherein the channel system has at least one fixing point at which a channel with a predetermined external radius is interrupted by a channel member with a different external radius.

Owing to this channel member with a different external radius, the tubular product is secured by friction.

Preferably, the external radius of the channel member is smaller than the external radius of the channel. In other words, bulges are produced in the channel system in which the tubular product is held by friction. In a further significant improvement of the invention, an overhang which reduces the internal width of the channel member is arranged inside the channel member. The tubular product is thus prevented from sliding from the channel member.

The overhang is preferably shaped in an internal wall of the channel member and is at a distance from the external wall which is smaller than the width of the channel bottom. As mentioned above, the internal width of the channel member is thus reduced in an upper region whereas this channel member has the same width as the remainder of the channel in the channel system toward the channel bottom.

The internal wall of the channel member at its vertex is preferably at a distance from an imaginary extension of the external wall of the channel which corresponds at least to the diameter of the tubular product. The tubular product is thus inserted without being kinked or clamped in any way. After the overhang has been exceeded, this tubular product slides deeper toward the channel bottom. It is then held here even when the dish is rotated.

The production time is considerably reduced by the securing of the tubular product in the dish as no additional foam has to be inserted into the channel system for holding purposes. The entire packaging process takes place in a much more hygienic manner.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a packaging according to the invention for a balloon-type catheter; Figure 2 is a plan view of an enlarged detail of the packaging shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, a packaging according to the invention for a balloon-type catheter 1 has a deep-drawn dish 2 in which a channel system 3 for guiding and securing the balloon-type catheter 1 is shaped. After introduction of the balloon-type catheter 1 into the dish 2, the dish 2 is sealed by a film not shown in detail.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of channels 3 which are to allow for different shapes and lengths of catheters is indicated. Single channels, a few channels or all channels are used accordingly.

Connecting nipples 4 of a balloon-type catheter are inserted into separate bubbles 5 in the dish 2, as is an outlet member 6 in a separate recess 7.

The connecting nipples 4 are followed by a rigid length of conduit 8 which can be clamped at a respective throttle point 9. This is followed by the catheter part which is to be neither kinked nor squeezed.

To secure this catheter part at several points within the channel system 3, fixing points 10 of a particular design are provided. In the region of the fixing points 10, a channel 3a with an external radius Rx is interrupted by a channel member 11 with an external radius Ra, the external radius Ra being substantially smaller than the external radius Rx of the channel 3a.

The channel member 11 also has an overhang 12 in the region of the fixing point 10. As a result of this overhang 12, a distance a between an internal wall 13 on the channel edge 14 and an external wall 15 is smaller than a width b of a channel bottom 16. However, the distance a is invariably greater than the diameter DK of the balloon-type catheter 1.

The position of a centrepoint M round which the channel member 11 rotates with its external radius Ra and its internal radius Ri is calculated according to the formula: M = Rx - Ri - (DK + f) The factor (DK + f) corresponds to the distance between the internal wall 13 at the vertex of the channel member 11 and an imaginary continuation of the external radius Rx of the channel 3a within the channel member 11.

The fact f merely means that balloon-type catheters 1 with a diameter DK which is thicker in the region round f can also be received. The present dish is therefore applicable to all balloon-type catheters having a diameter within a range of (DK + f).

Claims

1. Packaging for tubular products which are not to be kinked, in particular for medical products such as balloon-type catheters, said packaging comprising a dish with a channel system adapted to receive a tubular product, wherein the channel system has at least one fixing point at which a channel with a predetermined external radius is interrupted by a channel member with a different external radius.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the external radius of the channel member is smaller than the external radius of the channel.

3. Packaging according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an overhang is arranged inside the channel member.

4. Packaging according to claim 3, wherein the overhang is shaped into an internal wall of the channel member and is at a distance from the external wall which is smaller than the width of the channel bottom.

5. Packaging according to claim 4, wherein the internal wall of the channel member at its vertex is at a distance from an imaginary extension of the external wall of the channel which corresponds at least to the diameter of the tubular product.

6. Packaging for tubular products substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.