Holding device configured to support a plurality of medical containers such as syringes

Abstract

This holding device comprising a supporting plate, the supporting plate having an upper face, a lower face opposite the upper face, a plurality of openings arranged according to a predetermined pattern and each configured to receive a barrel of one of the medical containers, plurality of reinforcing ribs protruding from at least one of the upper and lower faces and extending between adjacent openings of the plurality of openings, and the plurality of reinforcing ribs comprises at least one oblique rib extending obliquely relative to a longitudinal direction of the supporting plate from one side to another side of the supporting plate and between two different pairs of adjacent peripheral openings.

Claims

1. A holding device configured to support a plurality of medical containers, said holding device comprising: a supporting plate, said supporting plate having an upper face, a lower face opposite said upper face, a thickness defined between the upper and lower faces, a plurality of openings arranged according to a predetermined pattern and each configured to receive a barrel of one of the medical containers; and a plurality of reinforcing ribs protruding from at least one of said upper and lower faces and extending between adjacent openings of said plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs comprises at least one oblique rib extending obliquely relative to a longitudinal direction of the supporting plate from one side to another side of the supporting plate and between two different pairs of adjacent peripheral openings, wherein the at least one oblique rib defines a thickness that is between 150% to 200% of the thickness of the supporting plate.

2. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one reinforcing rib extends at least from a row of peripheral openings to another row of peripheral openings.

3. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs comprises two central ribs intersecting each other substantially at the center of the supporting plate, thereby dividing the supporting plate in four quarters.

4. The holding device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs comprises at least one secondary rib extending parallel to one of said central ribs.

5. The holding device according claim 4, wherein said at least one secondary rib is orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the supporting plate.

6. The holding device according claim 4, wherein said at least one secondary rib is thinner than the central ribs.

7. The holding device according claim 4, wherein said at least one secondary rib is thinner than the at least one oblique rib.

8. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate comprises a peripheral edge protruding from one of said upper and lower faces and surrounding said plurality of openings.

9. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the reinforcing ribs has chamfered ends.

10. The holding device according to claim 1, further comprising, four oblique ribs, each extending in one of four quarters of the supporting plate.

11. An assembly configured to support a plurality of medical containers, the assembly comprising: a tub; and at least one holding device according to claim 1, the at least one holding device being contained inside the tub.

12. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate has a thickness between 1.3 mm to 1.5 mm.

13. The holding device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one oblique rib has a thickness between 2.3 mm to 2.6 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention and the advantages arising therefrom will clearly emerge from the detailed description that is given below with reference to the appended drawings as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a holding device according to an embodiment of the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a holding device according to an embodiment of the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of a holding device according to an embodiment of the invention, and

(5) FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a holding device according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) With reference to the figures is shown a holding device 1, or nest, according to an embodiment of the invention. The holding device 1 is configured to concurrently support a plurality of medical containers (not shown). The holding device 1 therefore serves as a nest for packaging, storing, transporting and handling on a filling line the medical containers. A nest is a plate provided with openings each configured to receive one medical containers and having a leaning surface so that the nest may rest on a shoulder inside a box-shaped housing or be handled by a filling machine.

(7) It should be noted that the medical containers may be syringes, such as pre-fillable syringes. The medical containers are intended, after filling, to contain a pharmaceutical composition such as a vaccine, a medicine or a therapeutic pharmaceutical composition.

(8) A medical container such as a syringe typically comprises an elongated barrel defining a reservoir for containing the pharmaceutical composition agent, a plunger stopper located inside the barrel, a plunger to move the plunger stopper inside the barrel and expel the pharmaceutical composition agent through a tip closed by a staked needle and/or needle shield at a distal end of the barrel, and a flange at a proximal end of the barrel. The flange provides a surface for positioning a user's fingers, generally the index and the middle fingers, while the plunger rod is activated with the thumb.

(9) The holding device 1 comprises a supporting plate 10 configured to concurrently support the plurality of medical containers. By supporting plate it is meant a substantially plane piece having a small thickness compared to the other dimensions such as length and width.

(10) The supporting plate 10 has an upper face 10a, a lower face 10b opposite the upper face 10a and a peripheral rim joining the upper and lower faces 10a, 10b.

(11) The supporting plate 10 is preferably rectangular and thus defines two longitudinal sides 12a and two transversal sides 12b.

(12) With reference to FIG. 1, the supporting plate 10 substantially extends in a plane XY that is orthogonal to a vertical direction Z. The longitudinal sides 12a extend along a longitudinal direction X orthogonal to the vertical direction Z and the transversal sides 12b extend along a transverse direction Y orthogonal to the longitudinal and vertical directions X, Z.

(13) With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the supporting plate 10 may comprise one or several leaning surfaces 13 configured to abut on a shoulder arranged inside a box-shaped housing. These leaning surfaces 13 also define handling portions of the supporting plate 10 so that the supporting plate 10 may be handled on the filling lines. The leaning surfaces 13 preferably extend on the lower face 10b. The leaning surfaces 13 also preferably extend in the transverse direction Y.

(14) The holding device 1 also comprises a plurality of openings 20, each of said openings 20 being configured to receive the barrel of one of the medical containers. The openings 20 are preferably circular so as to receive cylindrical barrels. As visible on FIGS. 3 and 4, the openings 20 are through-openings which extend through the plate-shaped structure 10 from the upper face 10a to the lower face 10b.

(15) The openings 20 are arranged according to a predetermined pattern such as parallel rows which for example may be seen as extending along the longitudinal direction X or the transverse direction Y or an oblique direction with regard to the longitudinal and transverse directions X, Y. As illustrated on the Figures, the openings 20 may be arranged in staggered rows, that is to say in quincux, so that the holding device 1 may receive as much medical containers as possible.

(16) The supporting plate 10 may comprise abutment surfaces 14 each configured to support the flange of one of the medical containers. Each abutment surface 14 preferably extends around one of the openings 20, and may be part of the upper or lower face 10a, 10b, preferably the upper face 10a as visible on FIG. 1, or which may be located at the distal end 40b of a chimney 40. The abutment surfaces 14 may have a circular shape.

(17) With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the holding device 1 may comprise a plurality of reinforcing ribs 30 configured to stiffen the supporting plate 10. The reinforcing ribs 30 protrude from one of the upper or lower face 10a, 10b, preferably the lower face 10b, and longitudinally extend between adjacent openings 20.

(18) The reinforcing ribs 30 extend between two adjacent longitudinal, transversal or oblique rows of openings 20. The reinforcing ribs 30 are parallel to said adjacent rows of openings 20. The reinforcing ribs 30 extend without intersecting the openings 20.

(19) The reinforcing ribs 30 may be shaped as walls protruding orthogonally to the supporting plate 10. As shown on FIGS. 2 and 4, the reinforcing ribs 30 longitudinally extend along a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction Z. The reinforcing ribs 30 may be straight, or may be wavy as will be described hereinafter. Anyway, the reinforcing ribs 30 longitudinally extend along a substantially straight line.

(20) It should be noted that the reinforcing ribs 30, preferably all the reinforcing ribs 30, extend from one side 12 to another side 12 of the supporting plate 10. More precisely, the reinforcing ribs 30 longitudinally extend at least from one peripheral row 21 to another peripheral row 21 of the plurality of openings 20. The peripheral rows 21 of openings 20 are formed by the outermost openings 22 of the plurality of openings 20. In the example shown on FIG. 3, the holding device 1 comprises four peripheral rows 21.

(21) The reinforcing ribs 30 have two opposite ends 33 which are preferably located at two different sides 12 of the supporting plate 10. For example, each end is located between two adjacent peripheral openings 22. It should be noted that the reinforcing ribs 30 extend continuously from one end to the other. As shown on FIG. 2, at least some reinforcing ribs 30 advantageously have chamfered ends. As a result, the height of these reinforcing ribs 30 decreases towards these ends.

(22) As can be seen on FIG. 2 or 4, the plurality of reinforcing ribs 30 may include primary reinforcing ribs 31 and secondary reinforcing ribs 32, the secondary reinforcing ribs 32 being advantageously thinner than the primary reinforcing ribs 31.

(23) The holding device 1 may comprise one or several central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b. These central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b cross each other substantially at the center of the supporting plate 10, as visible on FIG. 4. The central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b may have a wavy shape. Preferably, the central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b are perpendicular to each other.

(24) A first central reinforcing rib 310a extends from the middle of one of the transversal sides 12b to the middle of the opposite transversal side 12b, along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal sides 12a of the supporting plate 10.

(25) A second central reinforcing rib 310b extends from the middle of one of the longitudinal sides 12a to the middle of the opposite longitudinal side 12a, along a direction substantially parallel to the transversal sides 12b of the supporting plate 10.

(26) The holding device 1 may also comprise one or several oblique reinforcing ribs 310c which extend obliquely relative to the central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b. Preferably, the oblique reinforcing ribs 310c each extends from one of the longitudinal side 12a to one of the transversal sides 12b. Preferably, the oblique reinforcing ribs 310c are straight.

(27) In the example shown of FIGS. 2 and 4, the holding device 1 comprises four oblique reinforcing ribs 310c. The central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b divide the supporting plate in several areas, such as four quarters. In each of these areas extends one oblique reinforcing ribs 310c.

(28) In the embodiment illustrated on FIGS. 2 and 4, the oblique reinforcing ribs 310c have chamfered ends.

(29) The central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b and the oblique reinforcing ribs 310c form the primary reinforcing ribs 31. As mentioned above, the holding device 1 may further include at least one secondary reinforcing rib 32, for example two secondary reinforcing ribs 32 as illustrated on FIGS. 2 and 4. In a embodiment, the secondary reinforcing ribs 32 are advantageously parallel to one of the central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b, for example parallel to the second central reinforcing rib 310b. Preferably, the secondary reinforcing ribs 32 extend from a longitudinal side 12a of the supporting plate 10 to the opposite longitudinal side 12a. As a result, the secondary reinforcing ribs 32 increase the stiffness of the supporting plate 10 without requiring too much raw material. The secondary reinforcing ribs 32 may be wavy, such as the central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b. The secondary reinforcing ribs 32 may be arranged symmetrically relative to one of the to one of the central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b, for example parallel to the second central reinforcing rib 310b.

(30) Preferably, the thickness of the main reinforcing ribs 31 is comprised between 150% and 200% of the thickness of the second reinforcing ribs 32. The thickness of the reinforcing ribs is measured in a direction orthogonal to their longitudinal direction and parallel to the horizontal plane XY. It should also be noted that the primary reinforcing ribs 31 advantageously have a thickness that is between 150% to 200% of the thickness of the supporting plate 10. The thickness of the supporting plate 10 is the distance measured in the vertical direction Z between the upper and lower faces 10a, 10b. Still advantageously, the secondary reinforcing ribs 32 and the supporting plate 10 may have a similar thickness.

(31) For example, the plate-shaped structure 10 may have a thickness comprised between 1.3-1.5 mm, preferably 1.4 mm. The primary reinforcing ribs 31 may have a thickness comprised between 2.3-2.6 mm, for example a thickness of 2.5 mm for the central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b and a thickness of 2.4 mm for the oblique reinforcing ribs 310c. The secondary reinforcing ribs 32 may have a thickness comprised between 1.3-1.5 mm, preferably 1.4 mm.

(32) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding device 1 may comprise chimneys 42, formed by guiding tabs 40, which are configured to form a guiding conduit around each opening 20 in order to guide insertion of the barrel of the medical containers into each of these openings 20.

(33) The guiding tabs 40 protrude from one of the upper and lower faces 10a, 10b of the supporting plate 10, preferably from the lower face 10b. The guiding tabs 40 and the abutment surfaces 14 are arranged on opposite faces of the supporting plate 10.

(34) In a preferred embodiment, the guiding tabs 40 and the reinforcing ribs 30 preferably protrude from the same face of the supporting plate 10. In a preferred embodiment, the guiding tabs 40 protrude orthogonally to the supporting plate 10, along the vertical direction Z.

(35) The guiding tabs 40 extend around the openings 20 so that each opening is surrounded by at least two guiding tabs 40, for example four such as visible on FIG. 2. As shown on FIG. 2, each guiding tab 40 has a proximal end 40a which is secured to the supporting structure 10 and a distal end 40b opposite said proximal end 40a. The proximal end 40a extends along the periphery of one of the openings 20. The proximal end 40a and the distal end 40b may have an arcuate shape so that the guiding tabs 40 have a cylindrical shape.

(36) As visible on FIG. 2, the guiding tabs 40 of a same opening 20 are separated by slits 41. The slits 41 may advantageously extend along a direction orthogonal to the supporting plate 10. The slits 41 preferably extend from the proximal end 40a to the distal end 40b of the guiding tabs 40.

(37) In a preferred embodiment, the height of the reinforcing ribs 30 is equal to or lower than the height of the guiding tabs 40.

(38) With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, at least some of the reinforcing ribs 30, especially those which extend parallelly to the rows of openings 20, such as the central reinforcing ribs 310a, 310b, and/or the secondary reinforcing ribs 32, advantageously integrate one guiding tab 40 of the openings 20 between which they extend. As a result, one of the guiding tabs 40 of an opening 20 adjacent to a reinforcing rib 30 may be part of this reinforcing rib 30. These guiding tabs 40 are connected to each other so as to form the corresponding reinforcing rib 30. It should be noted that these guiding tabs 40 forming a reinforcing rib 30 are thicker than the other guiding tabs 40.

(39) The supporting plate 10 advantageously comprises a peripheral edge protruding from one of said upper and lower faces 10a, 10b, for example from the upper face 10a, and surrounding the plurality of openings 20. The peripheral edge and the reinforcing ribs 30 protrude from opposite faces of the supporting plate 10. It should however be noted that the peripheral edge and the reinforcing ribs 30 may protrude from the same face of the supporting plate 10. The peripheral edge advantageously protrude orthogonally to the supporting plate 10.

(40) The peripheral edge extend preferably continuously, i.e. without interruption, all around the supporting plate 10. As shown on the Figures, the peripheral edge may be running on from the peripheral rim.

(41) Preferably, the holding device 1 is made of a plastic material, such as polypropylene (PP). The supporting plate 10, the reinforcing ribs 30 and/or the guiding tabs 40, and/or the peripheral edge are preferably molded in a single piece.