Caps for Catheter Packages

Abstract

A package 10 for a medical device such as an intermittent catheter has a case 12 which is closed at one end and open at the other end. A cap 14 is connected to the case by a hinge 16 to permit selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the case, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the case. A seal 18 is connected to one of the cap and case. The seal is engageable with the other of the cap and case when the cap is closed to form a barrier that maintains a sterile environment inside the package. The seal can be repeatedly made and broken whenever the user closes or opens the cap, respectively.

Claims

1. A medical device package, comprising: a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end; a cap; a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube; a tab extending from one of the cap and case with a hook on the tab; and a depression formed in the other of the cap and case where it can receive the tab, with a detent formed in the depression such that when the cap is placed in the closed position the tab fits into the depression and the hook engages the detent to releasably retain the cap in the closed position.

2. The medical device package of claim 1 wherein the tab is on the cap and the depression is formed in an outer surface of the case.

3. The medical device package of claim 1 further comprising a seal ring disposed on one of the cap and case and engageable with the other of the cap and case when the cap is in a closed position.

4. A medical device package, comprising: a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end, the other end of the tube extending to a ferrule which has an open end; a collar at least partially surrounding the ferrule with at least a portion of the collar separated from the ferrule to form a gap between the ferrule and the collar. a cap having a skirt which surrounds the ferrule to cover it when the cap is closed, with a portion of the skirt fitting within the gap when the cap is closed; a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said collar, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the ferrule, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the ferrule; and a tongue on the interior of the collar and a groove on the exterior of the the skirt, the tongue being engageable with the groove to retain the cap in the dosed position when the cap is dosed.

5. The medical device package of claim 4 further comprising a seal ring disposed on one of the cap and case and engageable with the other of the cap and case when the cap is in a dosed position.

6. A medical device package, comprising: a case having a hollow tube which is dosed at one end and open at the other end; a cap; a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a dosed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube; a first rail on the exterior of the cap and extending arcuately thereon; a second rail on the exterior of the case and extending arcuately thereon opposite the first rail; and a locking slide slidably engageable with the first and second rails, one of said rails having a gap which, when the locking slide is placed in alignment therewith, permits the cap to move between the open and closed positions.

7. The medical device of claim 6 wherein the gap is in the first rail.

8. A medical device package, comprising: a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end, the open end having first and second portions; a cap; a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube; a bell mounted on the interior of the cap, the cap and case being made of a relatively stiff material compared to that of the bell and, when the cap is closed the cap is engageable with the first portion of the case so as to resist side loads and the bell is engageable with the second portion of the case to seal the case.

9. The medical device of claim 8 wherein the bell is mounted to the cap by a post.

10. A medical device package, comprising: a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end; a cap having a soft shell supported by a frame that is made of a material that is relatively rigid compared to that of the shell; a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube.

11. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the frame has an annular ring and an axial spine with the soft shell of the cap attached to the annular ring and to the spine.

12. A medical device package, comprising: a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end; a cap having a skirt with an opening therein; a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube; and at least one latch finger mounted on the case and extending radially therefrom, the latch finger being releasably engageable with the skirt opening when the cap is in the closed position.

13. The medical device package of claim 12 further comprising a soft liner on the interior of the cap which engages the case when the cap is closed to seal the case.

14. The medical device package of claim 12 wherein said other end of the tube extends to a ferrule which has an open end, and further comprising a collar at least partially surrounding the ferrule with at least a portion of the collar separated from the ferrule to form a gap between the ferrule and the collar, the cap having a skirt which surrounds the ferrule to cover it when the cap is closed, with a portion of the skirt fitting within the gap when the cap is closed, and the latch finger is mounted on the ferrule.

15. A medical device package, comprising: a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end, the tube having a wall; a cover attached to the open end of the tube; and a thin-walled section at least partially surrounding the tube, the thin-walled section defining a frangible upper portion of the tube that can be broken away to permit access to the tube.

16. A medical device package, comprising: a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end; a cap having a detent thereon; a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a dosed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube; a locking arm pivotably connected to the case, the locking arm 162 being pivotable to engage the detent on the cap when the cap is dosed and thereby retain the cap in the dosed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the open or upper end portion of the catheter package of the present disclosure, with the cap in the fully open position.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 1, with the cap shown in a partially open position.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 1, with the cap in the fully closed position.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the package of the present disclosure, with the cap in the fully closed position.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the section of FIG. 7.

[0030] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the inside of the cap of the second embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the catheter package of the present disclosure, with the cap in the fully closed position.

[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 10 viewed from a different angle and with the locking slide moved to the open position.

[0033] FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but with the cap and locking slide in the fully open position.

[0034] FIG. 13 is a section taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 10.

[0035] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the catheter package of the present disclosure, with the cap in the partially open position.

[0036] FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but with the cap fully open.

[0037] FIG. 16 is a section taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

[0038] FIG. 17 is a longitudinal section of the package of FIG. 14, on an enlarged scale.

[0039] FIG. 16 is a section, similar to FIG. 16 but showing the cap partially open.

[0040] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the catheter package of the present disclosure, with the cap in a fully open position.

[0041] FIG. 20 is an exploded side elevation view of the package of FIG. 19.

[0042] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the catheter package of the present disclosure, with the cap in a partially open position.

[0043] FIG. 22 is a front elevation view of the package of FIG. 21 with the cap in the closed position.

[0044] FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the catheter package of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the catheter package of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0046] The present disclosure is directed to packages for medical devices such as intermittent urinary catheters. A first embodiment of such a package is shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1-5. The major components of the package include a case 12, a cap 14, a hinge 16 connecting the cap 14 and case 12. and a seal ring 18. The case is preferably molded from a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene, although other materials could be used. The case includes a hollow tubular wall 20. Only the open or upper end portion of the tubular wall is shown. The lower end is broken away. The tubular wall 20 terminates at its lower end at a transverse end wall (not shown) that closes the bottom of the tubular wall. The interior surface of the tubular wall may be generally cylindrical. The exterior surface of the tubular wall 20 may have either a cylindrical or rectangular cross-sectional shape or the cross-section could be otherwise. The upper end portion of the tubular wall 20 flares outwardly somewhat at a neck portion 22 to increase the diameter of the tube. The top of the neck 22 terminates at an open end of the tubular wall 20.

[0047] The hinge 16 as shown is a living hinge, but other hinge arrangements could be used. The hinge connects to the case 12 and the cap 14 to permit selectable movement of the cap between open and closed positions. The cap 14 is selectably movable between the open position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 and the closed position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The cap uncovers or covers the open end of the case in the open and closed positions, respectively.

[0048] The cap has a tab 24 extending from the bottom edge of the cap. There is an inwardly directed hook 26 on the bottom edge of the tab 24. A depression 28 is formed on the top of the case 12 and defines side edges 30. The depression is aligned with the tab 24 when the cap is closed. There is a detent 32 formed in the depression 28. When the cap is placed in the closed position the tab 24 fits into the depression 28 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The tab flexes to allow the hook 26 to slide past the detent 32 and engage the detent to retain the cap 14 in the closed position by releasably resisting vertical lifting forces on the cap. Since the closed tab 24 is also immediately adjacent the sides edges 32 defined by the depression 28, the tab also prevents lateral forces on the closed cap from dislodging the cap or impairing its seal. The seal is formed when the cap is closed by engagement of the bottom land of the cap with the upwardly protruding portion of the seal ring 18. This seal is dynamic in that it can be made and released multiple times as the cap is closed or opened.

[0049] A second embodiment of a package for medical devices such as intermittent urinary catheters is shown generally at 34 in FIGS. 6-9. The major components of the package once again include a case 36, a cap 38, a hinge 40 connecting the cap 38 and case 36, and a seal ring 42. As in the previous embodiment, the case 36 is a generally hollow plastic tube for receiving the catheter. The tube has a generally cylindrical wall closed at one end by a bottom wall (not shown). The opposite end of the cylindrical wall has a cylindrical ferrule 44 which is open at its end and defines a rim 46. At least partially surrounding the ferrule is a collar 48. At least a portion of the collar 48 (on the left side of FIGS. 7 and 8) is separated from the ferrule 44, leaving a gap 50 between the ferrule 44 and the collar 48. The cap 38 is attached by the U-shaped hinge 40 to the collar 48. The cap is selectably movable between open and closed positions in which the cap 38 uncovers or covers the open end of the ferrule 44, respectively. The cap may have a skirt 52 which surrounds the ferrule 44 to cover it completely when the cap is closed. Also, when the cap is closed a portion of the skirt 52 fits within the gap 50 and the skirt 52 engages the seal ring 42. A tongue 54 on the interior of the collar 48 is engageable with a groove 56 on the exterior of the cap's skirt 52 to retain the cap 38 in the closed position when the cap is pivoted onto the top of the case.

[0050] A third embodiment of a package for urinary catheters is shown generally at 58 in FIGS. 10-13. As in the previous embodiments the major components of the package include a case 60, a cap 62, a hinge 64 connecting the cap 62 and case 60, and a seal ring 66. The case 60 once again is a tube with a cylindrical wall closed at one end by a bottom wall (not shown). The opposite end of the tube's wall has a radial shoulder 68 with a ferrule 70 extending axially above the shoulder. The seal ring 66 rests on top of the shoulder 68. The bottom of the cap 62 has a sealing surface that engages the shoulder 68 and the seal ring 66 when the cap is closed. Just below the shoulder 68 there is an arcuate rail 72 on the exterior of the case. There is a retaining post 74 that extends above the shoulder 68 but is attached to the shoulder. Another rail 76 is located on the exterior of the cap at the cap's lower edge. The cap's rail 76 has a gap 78 in it that receives the retaining post 74 when the cap is closed. A movable, C-shaped locking slide 80 has hooks or fingers that are engageable with the rails 72 and 74. The locking slide is arcuately movable along the rails to alternately lock the closed cap and tube together or unlock the cap for opening. The locking slide is always engaged with the case rail 72. It is alternately engaged with either the cap rail 74 or the retaining post 74. When the slide 80 is moved so as to be opposite the gap 78 in the cap rail 76 the slide engages the retaining post 74 and releases the cap. Placing the slide opposite the gap 76 disengages the slide from the cap rail 74 to permit opening of the cap. Reclosing the cap places the gap 78 around the slide 80 and allows the slide to be moved laterally back into engagement with the cap rail 76, thereby locking the cap to the case.

[0051] A fourth embodiment of a package for urinary catheters is shown generally at 82 in FIGS. 14-18. As in the previous embodiments the major components of the package include a case 84, a cap 86, and a hinge 88 connecting the cap 86 and case 84. The case has a generally cylindrical wall closed at one end by a bottom wall (not shown). The opposite end of the cylindrical wall has a radial shoulder 90 with a ferrule 92 extending axially above the shoulder. There is an enlargement at the junction of the shoulder and ferrule. An outwardly-protruding, radial bead 94 is formed on the enlargement. The bead is engageable with a groove 95 in the interior of the cap when the cap is closed. The bead and cap are made of relatively stiff materials so as to resist side loads on the cap. The interior of the cap carries a dome-shaped bell 96 made of a softer material than the cap itself. The bell is connected to the cap by a post 98. The lower edge of the bell has a flange sized to engage the top of the ferrule 92 when the cap is closed to seal the case. The soft material of the bell affords a tight seal on the harder ferrule. Alternately, a seal ring 102 could be carried on the underside of the flange 100.

[0052] A fifth embodiment of a package for urinary catheters is shown generally at 104 in FIGS. 19-20. This package includes a case 106, a cap 108, and a hinge 110 connecting the cap 108 to the case 106. The case includes a hollow tubular wall 112. The tubular wall 112 terminates at its lower end at a transverse end wall 114 that closes the bottom of the tubular wall. The upper end portion of the tubular wall 112 flares outwardly somewhat at a neck portion 116 to increase the diameter of the tube. The top of the neck 116 terminates at an open end 117 of the tubular wall 112. The hinge 110 permits selectable movement of the cap 108 between open and closed positions. The cap has a soft shell 118 supported by a frame 120 made of a relatively rigid material. The frame has an annular ring 122 and an axial spine 124. The soft shell 118 of the cap 108 is attached to the annular ring 122 and the spine 124 and is made of a material that is softer than these parts of the frame 120.

[0053] A sixth embodiment of a package for urinary catheters is shown generally at 126 in FIGS. 21-22. The package has a case 128, a cap 130, a hinge 132 connecting the cap 130 and case 128, and a seal liner 134 in the interior of the cap. The case 128 is a generally hollow tube having a wall closed at one end by a bottom wall (not shown). The opposite end of the cylindrical wall is similar to that of FIGS. 6-9 in that it has a cylindrical ferrule 136 which is open at its end. At least partially surrounding the ferrule 136 is a collar 138. At least a portion of the collar 138 is separated from the ferrule 136, leaving a gap 140 between the ferrule 136 and the collar 138. The cap 130 is attached by the hinge 132 to the collar 138. The cap is selectably movable between open and closed positions in which the cap 130 uncovers or covers the open end of the ferrule 136, respectively. The soft liner 134 on the interior of the cap 130 engages the ferrule 136 when the cap is closed to seal the ferrule. Latch fingers 142 extend radially from the ferrule 136. The cap 130 may have a skirt which has an opening 144 for receiving the latch fingers 142 to releasably retain the cap in a closed position.

[0054] A seventh embodiment of a package for urinary catheters is shown generally at 146 in FIG. 23. Package 146 includes a case 148 with an open top that is sealed with a separate cover 150. The cover can be a foil layer or the like that is heat sealed or fixed to the case 148 by an adhesive. Toward the top end of the case there is a thin-walled portion 152 on at least three sides of the case. The thin-walled portion 152 has a reduced wall thickness compared to the rest of the case. This affords a weakened connection that allows the package to be opened by breaking through the molded-in, thin-walled section 152 of the case. Alternately, the package 146 can be opened by removing or piercing the cover 150.

[0055] An eighth embodiment of a package for urinary catheters is shown generally at 154 in FIG. 24. The package has a case 156, a cap 158, a hinge 160 connecting the cap 158 and case 156. The case has a generally tubular wall closed at one end by a bottom wall. The opposite end of the case is open and has the cap attached to it by the hinge 160. The cap 158 is selectably movable between open and dosed positions in which the cap uncovers or covers the open end of the case, respectively. A locking arm 162 is pivotably connected to the case 156. The locking arm 162 can pivot upwardly to engage a detent 164 on the cap 158 when the cap is dosed and thereby retain the cap in the dosed position.

[0056] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modification can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed herein.