GB2090574A - Packaging of a sterile article - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging, e.g. for a needle (5) to be stored under sterile conditions, comprises a mounting (1) having a first portion (4) on which the needle (5) is mounted and a second portion (2) integral with or connected to the first portion (4) by which the whole mounting (1) is to be held in the user's hand for insertion into and removal from a packet and after removal from the packet during transference of the needle (5) to a needle holder. The whole mounting (1) together with the needle (5) is sealed in the packet and sterilised, for example, by gamma radiation. The mounting (1) carries an indicator (8) responsive to sterilization of the needle and mounting within the packet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packaging of a sterile article The invention relates to the packaging of a sterile article and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with the packaging of a sterile needle. The needle for which the packaging provided by this invention is particularly intended is a needle of the kind to be used for the removal of hairs by electrolysis but could be used for the packaging of other sterile needles, such as surgical or hypodermic syring needles, or for the packaging of any other sterile article which is to be removed from a sealed container or packet and placed in a holder prior to use without the user having to touch the needle or other article.

Hitherto sterilised electrolysis needles have been placed in a container such as a box and removed from the box by hand or by using tweezers or forceps and then placed in a holder immediately prior to use. This is unhygienic and could result in a needle being contaminated and so cause infection of the skin of a patient. An object of the invention is to provide packaging in which a needle is individually packed and sterilised, conveniently by gamma radiation, and from which the needle can be withdrawn, immediately prior to use, and placed in a holder without the user having to touch the needle either by his hand or indirectly by using tweezers or forceps.

According to the invention, packaging for a needle or other article (hereinafter called a "needle") to be stored under sterile conditions comprises an outer container; a mounting having a first portion on which the needle is mounted prior to sterilisation and by which the needle is to be transferred to a holder therefor and a second portion integral with or connected to the first portion by which the whole mounting is to be held in the user's hand for insertion into and removal from the container and after removal from the container for transference to the holder, whereby the whole mounting together with the needle is sealed in the container and sterilised, and the mounting together with the needle is withdrawable from the container after opening the latter to enable the needle to be placed in the holder and the mounting removed from the needle, without the user having to touch the needle.

Conveniently, the container is a flat packet and the mounting comprises a piece of card or like stiff sheet (hereinafter called "card") which is slidable into and out of an openable edge of the packet, an inner end portion of the mounting with respect to the container being said first portion and having a pair of spaced apart slits therein defining between them a band of said card which can be displaced away from the plane of the remainder of said first portion to enable the needle to be inserted transversely of the band and to be gripped lightly between the band and adjacent parts of the remainder of said first portion.

Preferably said first portion of the piece of card is folded to lie flat against an integral portion of said card, constituting said second portion thereof, said second portion being longer and wider than said first portion and also having a width greater than the length of the needle, whereby when the first portion is folded flat against said second portion and the mounting together with the needle has been inserted into the packet and the latter has been sealed, the second portion will protect the needle from damage and, after the packet has been opened, the user can withdraw the mounting from the packet through the opened edge thereof by gripping the mounting by said second portion thereof, the first portion being foldable away from the plane of said second portion after the withdrawal of the mounting from the packet to enable the needle to be inserted into and secured by the holder and the mounting then to be separated from the needle.

By way of example, one embodiment of the packaging for a sterile needle in accordance with the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 shows a sealed packet containing the mounting on which the needle is mounted, and Figure 2 shows the mounting after its removal from the packet and folded open ready to present the needle to a holder therefor.

The mounting comprises a piece of card or like sheet material comprising two integral portions and 2. The portion 1, the aforesaid first portion, is foldable flat against the portion 2, the aforesaid second portion, about a hinge formed by a scored line indicated at 3 in Figure 2. The portion 2 is substantially rectangular in shape and has a width which is greater than the length of the needle to be mounted on the portion 1. The portion 1 is shorter in length and narrower in width than the portion 2 so that when the portion 1 is folded flat against the portion 2, as shown in Figure 1, there is a substantial area of the portion 2 which is visible and thus can carry printed information such as the name and description of the needle or other article carried on the mounting.An end part 4 of the portion 1 remote from the hinge 3 has a width which is smaller than the length of the needle 5 and is cut with two parallel slits 6 which define between them a narrow band 7. To insert the needle 5 into the mounting, the band 7 is slightly bent away from the plane of the part 4 of the portion 1 and the needle 5 is inserted transversely of the end part 4 so that it is held between the band 7 and the remainder of the end part 4, as shown in the drawings. The portion 1 of the mounting is marked with a "dot" 8 of an indicator which changes colour under the application of gamma radiation.

The packaging also comprises a flat packet or envelope 9, shown in Figure 1. This is of transparent material to enable the mounting to be visible therethrough and is also permeable to gamma radiation. The packet 9 is sealable around the mounting and can be torn or pulled open along or adjacent an edge at 10 to permit the mounting 1, 2 with the needle 5 to be withdrawn from the packet.

The packaging is assembled by inserting the needle 5 between the band 7 and the remainder of the portion 4 as already described and as shown in the drawings. Then the portion 1 is folded together with the needle 5 to lie against the portion 2 and is inserted into the packet 9. This is sealed and the packet and its contents are sterilised by exposure to gamma radiation. The indicator dot 8 changes colour to show that sterilisation has been effected.

When the needle is required for use, the packet is opened along the edge 10 and the mounting is carefully withdrawn by the user by holding the portion 2 without touching the needle 5. The mounting is then opened flat, as shown in Figure 2 and the user, still holding the mounting by the portion 2 inserts the needle into its holder and when the needle has to be secured therein, the mounting is lifted upwardly, with reference to Figure 2, thereby leaving the needle secured in its holder. Thus the needle is removed from the packet and the mounting without the user touching the needle.

The card used for the mounting is fairly stiff and thus, as the portion 2 is wider than the length of the needle, it forms a stiff backing in the packet 9 and so protects the needle, which may be extremely fine, from damage.

The shape of the mounting, as shown in the Figures, is by way of example only. The portions 1 and 2 may be of any shape provided the end part 4 of the portion 1 is narrower than the length of the needle and the portion 2 extends beyond the portion 1 in length and width when the portion 1 is folded onto the portion 2 in the position shown in Figure 1.

As stated hereinbefore, the packaging can be used for sterile articles other than needles.

Although the packaging described is sterilised by gamma radiation, other methods of sterilising may be employed.

Claims (6)

1. Packaging for a needle or other article (herein called a "needle") to be stored under sterile conditions, the packaging comprising an outer container; a mounting having a first portion on which the needle is mounted prior to sterilisation and by which the needle is to be transferred to a holder therefor and a second portion integral with or connected to the first portion by which the whole mounting is to be held in the user's hand for insertion into and removal from the container and after removal from the container for transference to the holder, whereby the whole mounting together with the needle is sealed in the container and sterilised, and the mounting together with the needle is withdrawable from the container after opening the latter to enable the needle to be placed in the holder and the mounting removed from the needle, without the user having to touch the needle.

2. Packaging as claimed in Claim 1 in which the container is a flat packet and the mounting comprises a piece of card or like stiff sheet (herein called "card") which is slidable into and out of an openable edge of the packet, an inner end portion of the mounting with respect to the container being said first portion and having a pair of spaced apart slits therein defining between them a band of said card which can be displaced away from the plane of the remainder of said first portion to enable the needle to be inserted transversely of the band and to be gripped lightly between the band and adjacent parts of the remainder of said first portion.

3. Packaging as claimed in Claim 2 in which said first portion of the piece of card is folded to lie flat against an integral portion of said card, constituting said second portion thereof, said second portion being longer and wider than said first portion and also having a width greater than the length of the needle, whereby when the first portion is folded flat against said second portion and the mounting together with the needle has been inserted into the packet and the latter has been sealed, the second portion will protect the needle from damage and, after the packet has been opened, the user can withdraw the mounting from the packet through the opened edge thereof by gripping the mounting by said second portion thereof, the first portion being foldable away from the plane of said second portion after the withdrawal of the mounting from the packet to enable the needle to be inserted into and secured by the holder and the mounting then to be separated from the needle.

4. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim in which the mounting carries an indicator to indicate that the needle has been sterilised and at least part of the container is transparent and the indicator is visible through said transparent container or said transparent part thereof.

5. Packaging as claimed in Claim 4 in which the indicator changes colour under gamma or other radiation to be used to effect sterilisation and the container is made of a material permeable to said radiation, whereby sterilisation can be effected after the needle and its mounting have been placed in the container, and the container has been sealed, the colour change of the indicator being visible through the transparent container or said transparent part thereof and thereby indicating than sterilisation has been effected.

6. Packaging for a sterile needle substantially as described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings.