METHOD FOR PROTECTING TUBING

Abstract

A method for protecting tubing protruding from a container, in particular a bottle, containing a pharmaceutical fluid. The method includes providing the container filled with the pharmaceutical fluid, from which the tubing protrudes, and providing a layer of foam and/or a body of foam surrounding the tubing, preferably in its entirety, with a shell such that the layer of foam and/or body of foam is interposed between the tubing and the shell. A body of the container remains outside of the shell, attaching the shell to the container, and freezing the container and the shell surrounding the tubing.

Claims

1. A method for protecting tubing protruding from a container, in particular a bottle, containing a pharmaceutical fluid comprising: providing the container filled with the pharmaceutical fluid, from which the tubing protrudes, providing a layer of foam and/or a body of foam, surrounding the tubing, preferably in its entirety, with a shell such that the layer of foam and/or body of foam is interposed between the tubing and the shell, while a body of the container remains outside of the shell, attaching the shell to the container, and freezing the container and the shell surrounding the tubing.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method steps of surrounding the tubing with the shell and attaching the shell to the container are performed simultaneously by closing the shell around the tubing and a collar of the container such that the shell is attached to the container via a positive lock and/or a friction lock between the shell and the collar.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises transporting and/or storing the container and the shell surrounding the tubing, thawing the container and the shell surrounding the tubing, removing the shell as well as the layer of foam and/or body of foam, and removing contents of the container.

4. A protection device for tubing protruding from a container, in particular a bottle, containing a pharmaceutical fluid, the protection device comprising a shell which forms a chamber for surrounding the tubing as well as a layer of foam and/or a body of foam, wherein the protection device comprises an attachment element for attaching the shell to the container, in such a way that the tubing can be arranged, preferably entirely, inside the shell.

5. The protection device according to claim 4, wherein the shell comprises two parts which are connected by a hinge, in particular an integral hinge, such that the shell can be opened and closed.

6. The protection device according to claim 5, wherein the two parts are essentially shaped as half shells.

7. The protection device according to claim 5, wherein the attachment element comprises two attachment element parts, one of which is arranged on each of the two parts of the shell, preferably such that closing the shell simultaneously puts the attachment element into a closed position.

8. The protection device according to claim 4, wherein the attachment element comprises at least one engagement element configured to engage at least one recess and/or at least one protrusion of the container, the at least one recess and/or the at least one protrusion preferably being arranged on a collar of an opening of the container.

9. The protection device according to claim 4, wherein the shell is of substantially cylindrical base shape, the attachment element is arranged at a first base area of the substantially cylindrical base shape, and a second base area of the substantially cylindrical base shape is closed off.

10. The protection device according to claim 4, wherein a layer of foam and/or a body of foam is arranged in the shell.

11. An arrangement comprising: a container, in particular a bottle, containing a pharmaceutical fluid, tubing protruding from the container, the protection device according to claim 4 surrounding the tubing and attached to the container, and a layer of foam and/or a body of foam interposed between the tubing and the shell, wherein the arrangement is preferably present in a frozen state.

12. A usage of a protection device in the method according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Further details and advantages are apparent from the figures and the accompanying figure description. The figures show:

[0047] FIG. 1 an embodiment of a protection device according to the invention in an open configuration,

[0048] FIG. 2 the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a body of foam arranged inside,

[0049] FIG. 3 the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration,

[0050] FIG. 4 the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration furnished with a seal,

[0051] FIGS. 5 to 8 four depictions of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 visualising the method according to the invention, and

[0052] FIGS. 9 and 10 two figures showing another embodiment of the protection device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the protection device 1 according to the invention in an opened state. It comprises a shell 5 which is divided in two parts 10 in the form of half shells.

[0054] The shell is of substantially cylindrical base shape each of the two parts 10 forming half of the substantially cylindrical base shape.

[0055] The two parts 10 of the shell 5 are connected to each other via the integral hinge 11 through which an operator can close the shell 5 (the closed position is depicted in FIG. 3).

[0056] The attachment element 9, which will be described further below, is arranged at a first base area of the substantially cylindrical base shape. A second base area of the substantially cylindrical base shape (at the top in the depiction of FIG. 1) is closed off when in the closed configuration (see FIG. 3).

[0057] Additionally, a constriction 17 of the shell 5 is present roughly halfway between the first base area and the second base area along the substantially cylindrical base shape.

[0058] When the shell 5 is closed, the inside (generally indicated with reference numeral 8) forms a chamber in which the layer of foam 4 and/or the body of foam as well as the tubing 2 can be placed. FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with two bodies of foam 4 arranged inside each of the two parts 10.

[0059] The attachment element 9 comprises engagement elements 12 in the form of recesses 13 which engage with protrusions 14 on the collar 7 of the container (see FIG. 5). Not all of the engagement elements 12 are furnished with reference numerals to avoid overburdening of the depiction.

[0060] The attachment element 9 is divided into two attachment element parts 12 which are located on each of the two parts 10 of the shell 5. It is evident that closing of the shell 5 will also close the attachment element 9 in order to bring the attachment element 9 into engagement with the collar 7 (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7).

[0061] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 there are several closing elements 16 which serve to keep the shell in the closed position. Again, not all closing elements have been furnished with reference numerals.

[0062] It can also be seen in FIG. 3 that the substantially cylindrical base shape of the shell 5 is closed off at the top (second base area of the substantially cylindrical base shape).

[0063] FIG. 3 also shows the closing elements 16 in the closed configuration.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows the protection device 1 furnished with a seal 18, in this exemplary embodiment comprising a wire reaching around the constriction and a tab.

[0065] Accordingly, the constriction serves two purposes. Firstly, it acts as a guide for the seal, and secondly it tightens the layer of foam and/or body of foam 4 inside the shell 5 further immobilising the tubing 2 (see. FIG. 6).

[0066] FIGS. 5 to 8 show how the protection device 1 is used for protecting the tubing 2 attached to the container 3, which is in this case a bottle. At first, the container 3, the shell 5, and two bodies of foam 4 are provided (FIG. 5). Evidently, also a single body of foam 4 or one or more layers of foam could be used.

[0067] The container 3 comprises a body 6 and a collar 7 on which a protrusion 14 is arranged (in this case a single protrusion 14, but the embodiment of the invention can also be used with containers 3 comprising any number of protrusions 14 or recesses 13). At the top of the collar 7 the tubing 2 is attached.

[0068] According to the invention, the tubing 2 is placed inside the shell 5 together with the layer of foam 4 and/or body of foam (FIG. 6).

[0069] As is apparent, the layer of foam 4 and/or body of foam is interposed between the shell 5 and the tubing 2, preferably such that the layer of foam and/or body of foam 4 completely surrounds the tubing 2 (at least around a rough longitudinal axis of the tubing, but preferably also at the top end portion of the tubing).

[0070] The tubing 2 in this example comprises three silicone tubes which protrude from the container 3. The tubing 2 can also comprise one or more sterile connectors and other assorted accessories.

[0071] Now closing the shell 5 results in the protrusions 14 engaging with recesses 13 such that the protection device 1 is attached to the container 3 and cannot be easily separated from the same (this is depicted in FIG. 7).

[0072] Of course, the locations of the protrusions 13 and the recesses 14 could be interchanged, and the attachment of the shell 5 to the container 3 could analogously be effected in this way.

[0073] Once the shell 5 is closed (FIG. 7) the tubing 2 is safely protected inside the layer of foam 4 and/or body of foam as well as the shell 5, while the body 6 of the container 3 is kept free, i.e. outside of the shell. In this way the tubing 2 is effectively and easily protected without adding to the bulk of the container 2 itself.

[0074] FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the protection device 1 according to the invention in an open and a closed configuration respectively, with analogous functional elements as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1.