US2542957A - Composite package - Google Patents

Description

Feb. Z0, 1951 c. c. ADAMS COMPOSITE PACKAGE Filed oct. 8, 1948 R O T N E V N ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 20, 1 951 COlVIPOSITE PACKAGE K Charles C. Adams, New York, N. Y., assigner to Davis & Geck, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 8, 1948, Serial No. 53,440

. 1 Claim.

* 1 The present invention relates to a composite package which shall include a sterile surgical article such as a suture or the like.

The principal object of the invention .is the provision of such a package which is convenient to handle both from the standpoint of the surgeon and his nurse assistants, which insures the maintenance of sterility of the surgical articles contained therein, which has a minimum of manufacturing diiliculties including cost, and which is so constructed as to minimize damage and breakage if accidentally dropped.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a composite package in which the surgical articles such as sutures are placed in more or less rigid containers, the containers placed within an inner, substantially transparent envelope with a quantity of sterilizing fluid, the inner envelope then sealed, placed within a` similar outer envelope with more sterilizing fluid and the outer envelope sealed.

It is to be understood, of course, that the irnmediate container for the surgical article and the envelopes are sufficiently resistant `to the sterilizing fluid used, such as ethyl alcohol and the like, to prevent leakage or evaporation.

Throughout the specification and claim where the Word transparent is used, it is to be understood that this term means either transparent or translucent to such an extent that any indicia included on or Within the surgical-article-container will be visible through the walls of the outer envelope.

Any of the polyethylene plastics is admirably suited for this purpose as they have the property of reasonable transparency, flexibility, toughness, are resistant to most sterilizing fluids including ethyl alcohol, can readily be made in seamless, tubular shapes which may then be cut to desired lengths and the ends heat-sealed with or without folding, or any of the well known plastic cements may be used to assist in this operation.

The invention contemplates that the amount of sterilizing liquid placed in the inner envelope and in the outer envelope will be less than the possible capacity of each envelope. It is also contemplated that at least some air space may remain above the liquid level in the envelopes so that there will be no tendency for the envelopes to balloon and thus accidentally rupture in case a series of such packages are placed together or put under some pressure as by handling.

It has been found that such a package has the unexpected property of resisting rupture and aimrcling maximum protection to the surgicaly the description proceeds and with reference to the following drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a composite pack- Vage of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a method of assembly. i

Referring now with partcularity to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a well known type of suture container is shown at l which comprises a length of glass tubing sealed at each end, within which has been placed a length of suture material 2 and which also carries indicia 3 which may indicate the length. grade, size, manufacturers name, etc. The tube l may or may not contain a quantity of sterilizing liquid 4 as iswell known. v

In the preferred form, one or more of these suture tubes are placed in a flexible, substantially transparent, sterilizing liquid-resistant-envelope 5 of a polyethylene plastic or the like. Such envelope can conveniently be made from a length of seamless tubing to minimize rupture. Also within the inner envelope 5 is placed a quantity of sterilizing liquid 6 of a volume less than the possible inner volume of the envelope. The envelope is then partially collapsed so as to remove at least a portion of the air above the liquid level therein and either heat-sealed or sealed with any of the well known plastic cements which is also insoluble in the sterilizing liquid used. In most cases, the sterilizing liquid used throughout the package may be any of the well known substances such as ethyl alcohol or the like.

The inner envelope 5 carrying the suture containers is then placed in an outer envelope l similar in all respects to the inner envelope 5 except slightly larger to accommodate the inner envelope and its contents. Additional sterilizing liquid 8 is then placed in the outer envelope and the envelope sealed as before. It is preferable that there be a reasonable amount of space between one sealed end of the inner envelope and the corresponding sealed end of the outer envelope to enable the nurse or doctor to cut the edge portion of the outer envelope without damaging the inner one.

`In use, the circulating nurse (unsterileg 3 chooses a package of sutures appropriate for the occasion, that is, as to size, grade, color and number of sutures contained in the package, and with her scissors or other instrument cuts ofi the top edge being careful not to mutilate the inner envelope. Holding onto the uncut edge of the outer envelope 1 she permits thexinner envelope. and the contained liquid to either fall upon a sterile `towel from which it can be removed' by the sterile nurse Who usually Wears rubber gloves:A or to move the inner envelope out of theouter. one.

outside. VShey then` cuts the end. portionr of the inner envelope 5, selects'. the-suturetube desi-red and', removes the suture.- :forv thev doctor'l in'J the usual manner such asby breakingthe tube I-t is to loe-noted; tha-tthe` only thing unsterileA about the entire composite package is the outside. ofthe outery envelope sof that as. the inner envelope; thev suturecontainers and the sutures are sequentially removed; they: are in.. ai completely sterile condition both inside and out, and no: opportunity for contaminationfexists.

Attention. isralsor` calleclf-to thef'actz'that as. both envelopesare substantially transparent, the nurse iss readily able to: read. the'v indicia on or Within the suture container so that she may readilychoose: the type of. suture requirecf 'lhevfact that'. therefi's sterilizing" liquid in: both the inner andf outerenvelope's.: also'. insultes quick and" readydetection' as tev Whether or'notthere. is a leak` of that-liquid which mightlead-"to infection and the package refiected.

It is also of considerable advantage tobeableto make available to the doctor' a pluralityl of sutures in one composite package Without theE Y necessity of handling more thanone package.

- the.- outsideof. the. tube.

It has been found that such a composite pack age is of particular advantage in that not only does the fact that the two envelopes are flexible help to prevent breakage of the glass or other rigidfinnermost container for the sutures if the package is accidentally dropped but theV presenceV et less than the total capacity of liquidin each envelope causes a surge'L when the package is dropped and this materially assists in avoiding accidental breakage and rupture.

.Asmost hospitals have a glass or a metal container convenient and iilled with a sterilizing liquidi. any individual; suture tubes which remain unusedfatitheend of the operation may be readily droppedi'thereinto to maintain the sterility of Thus those tubes and their contained sutures are still available for the next: operation as spares.

While the invention has been described with particular referencer to specific embodiments; it

is turbe:- understoodr that it is. not to be limited. thereto, but isto be construed broadly andare:-v

stricted solely by the' scope: of the appended claim.

I claim: Y

A package comprisingan.oute1,.sealed trans-- 1-arent` exibl: envelope containing aV sterilizingr liquids. and an innen; sea-led', transparent flexible envelope;y said inner envelope'.` containing a. steri' lizing liquidiA auch af. sea-lede; container, said Yccm'-v tainer having therein. a: suture.- the'liqui'd` in each;

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