DEVICE, SET AND METHOD FOR REMOVING A STERILE OBJECT FROM A FOIL BAG

Abstract

A device (10) for removing a sterile object (12) from a foil bag (14) includes a needle unit (16) with a hollow needle (18) for piercing the foil bag (14), a gas connection (20) arranged on the needle unit (16) for introducing gas via the hollow needle (18) into the foil bag (14), a holding device (22) for holding the foil bag (14), a cutting device (24) for cutting open the foil bag (14), and a removal device (26) for removing the object (12) from the cut open foil bag (14). The holding device (22) has at least one holding unit (28), which is formed in a planar manner on the holding device (22) and is mounted movably, for contacting the foil bag (14).

Claims

1. A device (10) for removing a sterile object (12) from a foil bag (14), the device comprising: a needle unit (16) with a hollow needle (18) for piercing the foil bag (14), a gas connection (20) arranged on the needle unit (16) for introducing gas via the hollow needle (18) into the foil bag (14), a holding device (22) for holding the foil bag (14) a cutting device (24) for cutting open the foil bag (14), and a removal device (26) for removing the object (12) from the cut open foil bag (14), wherein the holding device (22) has at least one holding unit (28), which is formed on the holding device (22) in a planar manner and is movably mounted, for contacting the foil bag (14).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit (28) is a metal sheet.

3. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit (28) is oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity (30) and is configured for contacting an upper region (32) of the foil bag (14) with respect to a direction of gravity (30).

4. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holding device (22) has at least one piercing device (34) with a piercing needle (36) for piercing the foil bag (14) and for discharging from the foil bag (14) the gas introduced into the foil bag (14) by the needle (18).

5. The device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the piercing needle (36) comprises at least one external groove (38) for discharging from the foil bag (14) the gas introduced by the needle (18) into the foil bag (14).

6. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holding device (22) comprises at least one suction unit (40) for sucking and/or holding the foil bag (14).

7. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the needle unit (16) comprises a filter device (42) for filtering the gas introduced into the foil bag (14) by the needle (18), the filter device (42) being arranged inside the needle (18) and/or inside the gas connection (20).

8. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the device (10) comprises a movement device (44), the movement device (44) being configured to move the needle unit (16) and/or the needle (18) for piercing the needle (18) into the foil bag (14) and for withdrawing the needle (18) from the foil bag (14).

9. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the device (10) has a fixing device (46) for fixing a lateral region (50) of the foil bag (14) with respect to a direction of gravity (30).

10. The device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the fixing device (46) comprises at least two clamping elements (49) which are configured to fix the foil bag (14) in a clamping manner.

11. A set (52) comprising a device (10) according to claim 1 and at least one object (12), which is surrounded by a foil bag (14), wherein the object (12) has at least one indentation (56), the device (10) and/or the object (12) being configured in such a way that the needle (18) for piercing the foil bag (14) is inserted at least partially into the indentation (56) of the object (12).

12. The set (52) according to claim 11, wherein the holding unit (28) projects beyond the object (12) on at least one side of the object (12).

13. A method for removing a sterile object (12) from a foil bag (14), comprising the steps: providing the object (12) arranged in the foil bag (14); piercing the foil bag (14) by a hollow needle (18); introducing gas via the needle (18) into the foil bag (14); holding the foil bag (14) by a holding device (22), the holding device (22) having at least one holding unit (28), which is formed on the holding device (22) in a planar, in particular flat, manner and is movably mounted, for contacting the foil bag (14) contacting the foil bag (14) by the holding unit (28); after contacting the foil bag (14) by the holding unit (28), further introducing gas via the needle (18) into the foil bag (14) so that the foil bag is further inflated and moves the holding unit (28).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises the step of: while introducing gas via the needle (18) into the foil bag (14), piercing the foil bag (14) to discharge the gas introduced by the needle (18) into the foil bag (14) from the foil bag (14).

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises the steps of: cutting open the foil bag (14) inflated by the needle (18) and held by the holding device (22); and removing the object (12) from the foil bag (14).

16. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sterile object is a tub.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising disposing of the empty and cut open foil bag (14).

18. The device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one piercing device (34) pierces the foil bag (14) in an upper region (32) of the foil bag with respect to a direction of gravity (30).

19. The device (10) according to claim 6 wherein the at least one suction unit (40) includes a suction cup.

20. The device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the lateral region (50) of the foil bag (14) has a flap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Further features, details and advantages of the invention are apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of an embodiment example based on the drawings. Showing:

[0055] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a device;

[0056] FIG. 2 a section of a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 and

[0057] FIG. 3 a section of a side view of the device from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] In the following description and in the figures, the corresponding components and elements have the same reference signs. For the sake of clarity, not all reference signs are shown in all figures.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device 10 and FIG. 2 shows a section of a perspective view of the device 10 of FIG. 1.

[0060] The device 10 is configured for removing a sterile object 12 from a foil bag 14.

[0061] In the present case, the object 12 is a tub, i.e., a tub-shaped object 12. The object 12 has four indentations 56 on its wall 54 oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity 30. The indentations 56 extend from the wall 54 into the interior of the object 12. The indentations 56 extend along the direction of gravity 30, upwardly in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0062] The device 10 has a needle unit 16 with a hollow needle 18. The needle unit 16 and/or the needle 18 are configured for piercing the foil bag 14.

[0063] The device 10 has a movement device 44 for this purpose. By means of the movement device 44, the needle unit 16 with the needle 18 can be moved back and forth along the direction of gravity 30. Thus, the needle unit 16 with the needle 18 for piercing the foil bag 14 can be moved against the direction of gravity 30, in FIGS. 1 and 2 upwards.

[0064] In doing so, the needle 18 is inserted into one of the four indentations 56 of the object 12. In other words, the needle 18 is engaged into one of the four indentations 54 of the object 12.

[0065] To withdraw the needle 18 from the foil bag 14, the needle unit 16 with the needle 18 can be moved in the direction of gravity 30, downward in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0066] The device 10 includes a gas connection 20 disposed on the needle unit 16. By means of the gas connection 20, gas can be introduced into the foil bag 14 by the needle 18 when the latter has pierced the foil bag 14.

[0067] A filter device 42 is arranged on the needle unit 16. The filter device 42 can be used to remove possible impurities from the gas introduced into the foil bag 14.

[0068] The device 10 has a holding device 22 for holding the foil bag 14. The holding device 22 has a flat, planar and movably mounted holding unit 28. The holding unit 28 is oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity 30.

[0069] The holding unit 28 has a square shape and is configured in the form of a metal sheet. The holding unit 28 is configured to be movable along the direction of gravity 30. The holding unit 28 is pretensioned in the direction of gravity 30 by means of four helical springs 29.

[0070] During inflation of the foil bag 14, the holding unit 28 contacts the upper region 32 of the foil bag 14 with respect to the direction of gravity 30, thereby forcing the upper region 32 of the foil bag 14 into a flat shape.

[0071] In the present case, the holding device 22 has a plurality of suction units 40 configured to suck and hold the foil bag 14 at its upper region 32.

[0072] The device 10 includes a cutting device 24 for cutting open the foil bag 14.

[0073] The device 10 includes a removal device 26 for removing the object 12 from the cut open foil bag 14.

[0074] The cutting device 24 and the removal device 26 are only schematically indicated in FIG. 1.

[0075] The device 10 comprises a fixing device 46. The fixing device 46 is configured to fix a lateral region 50 of the foil bag 14 with respect to the direction of gravity 30. For this purpose, the fixing device 46 has two clamping elements 49. The two clamping elements 49 are configured to clamp a flap 48 of the foil bag 14, which is arranged in the lateral region 50 of the foil bag 14.

[0076] Presently, the device 10 and the object 12 constitute a set 52.

[0077] FIG. 3 shows a section of a side view of the device 10 of FIG. 1.

[0078] In the present case, the holding device 22 has a piercing device 34 with a piercing needle 36 for piercing the foil bag 14.

[0079] The holding unit 28 has an opening 37 for passing the piercing needle 36 through the holding unit 28. Thus, when the holding unit 28 is moved upward (against the direction of gravity 30), the piercing needle 36 passes through the holding unit 28 through the opening 37.

[0080] The piercing needle 36 has an external groove 38 on its outer side. The external groove 38 is elongated and extends along the longitudinal direction of the piercing needle 36. Both the piercing needle 36 and the external groove 38 thus extend along the direction of gravity 30.

[0081] Removal of the object 12 from the foil bag 14 by means of the device 10 functions as follows:

[0082] The object 12 packaged in the foil bag 14 is positioned in the device 10. The needle unit 16 together with the needle 18 are moved from the bottom to the top (i.e. against the direction of gravity 30) by means of the movement unit 44 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The needle 18 is thus inserted into the indentation 56 of the object 12. The foil bag 14, which spans the indentations 56, is thereby pierced.

[0083] During and/or after piercing, gas is introduced into the foil bag 14 via the gas connection 20 via the needle 18. The gas is filtered by means of the filter device 42 before it is introduced into the foil bag 14 via the needle 18.

[0084] The foil bag 14 is inflated by the introduced gas. In the process, the upper region 32 of the foil bag 14 hits the holding unit 28 and pushes it upwards against the pretension of the four spiral springs 29 (i.e. against the direction of gravity 30).

[0085] This forces the upper region 32 of the foil bag 14 into a flat shape corresponding to the holding unit 28. Due to the now flat shape of the upper region 32, the suction units 40 of the holding device 22 can better engage with the upper region 32 of the foil bag 14 and better suck or hold it.

[0086] Further introduction of the gas through the needle 18 further inflates the foil bag 14. The upper region 32 of the foil bag 14 pushes the holding unit 28 further upwards (against the direction of gravity 30).

[0087] If the foil bag 14 is inflated beyond a desired level, the foil bag 14 pushes the holding unit 28 with its upper region 32 over the piercing needle 36. In doing so, the holding unit 28 with the opening 37 is moved over the piercing needle 36 so that the piercing needle 36 protrudes downwards (in the direction of gravity 30) from the opening 37. Here, the foil bag 14 is pierced in its upper region 32 by means of the piercing needle 36 protruding from the opening 37.

[0088] The gas can now escape from the foil bag 14 through the puncture point of the piercing needle 36. The escape of the gas is facilitated by the external groove 38. This can ensure that the foil bag 14 is not inflated beyond a desired level and thus always maintains a desired shape, particularly in its upper region 32.

[0089] The foil bag 14 is held in its upper region 32 by means of the suction units 40 of the holding device 22.

[0090] Since the desired shape of the foil bag 14 is maintained, the cutting of the foil bag 14 by means of the cutting device 24, as well as the fixing of the foil bag 14 by means of the fixing device 46, and the holding of the foil bag 14 by means of the holding device 22 are facilitated.

[0091] After the foil bag 14 has been inflated to the desired shape, the foil bag 14 is fixed in place by means of the fixing device 46. For this purpose, the flap 48 of the foil bag 14 is fixed in a clamping manner by means of the two clamping elements 49. This stretches the region between the flap 48 and the upper region 32 of the foil bag 14, so that the foil bag 14 can be cut open particularly well in this stretched region by means of the cutting device 24.

[0092] After the foil bag 14 has been cut open, the object 12 is removed from the foil bag 14 by means of the removal device 26. For this purpose, the removal device 26 has several suction elements 27. The removal device 26 moves the suction elements 27 into the cut open foil bag 14. The suction elements 27 engage a wall of the object 12 and suck themselves thereon. This fixes the object 12 to the removal device 26 or its suction elements 27. Subsequently, the suction elements 27 and thus the object 12 are moved out of the cut open foil bag 14.

[0093] Prior to the removal of the object 12 from the foil bag 14 and after the foil bag 14 has been cut open, the needle 18 is removed from the indentation 56 of the object 12 by the movement device 44 moving the needle unit 16 together with the needle 18 downwards (in the direction of gravity 30). Otherwise, the needle 18 arranged in the indentation 56 would hinder removal of the object 12.

[0094] The cut open and empty foil bag 14 can be disposed of after the removal of the object 12. This can be implemented, for example, by means of the fixing device 46, which transports the fixed, cut open and empty foil bag 14 to a disposal location. For this purpose, the fixing device 46 can be configured to be correspondingly movable.