COLLECTIVE PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL DEVICES

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging system (100) for medical devices (10), comprising a tank, at least one support tray (20) disposed in the tank and configured to hold a plurality of medical devices (10). The support tray (20) is further provided with one or more magnetic elements (21, 22), intended to cooperate with a magnetic gripping tool on the side of an upper face (20a) of the support tray (20), and / or intended to cooperate with the plurality of medical devices (10) to hold them securely to the support tray (20) by magnetic attraction. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 2c

Description

Title of the invention: COLLECTIVE CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL DEVICES FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of medical device packaging and in particular a collective packaging system comprising a tank in which is disposed at least one tray supporting said medical devices, the tray being intended to be extracted from the tank, in order to take the devices for use or treatment, individually or collectively, in an industrial chain. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the context of the invention, a medical device may, in particular, consist of a vial intended to contain a pharmaceutical or chemical product, a cap intended to hermetically seal said vial or to fit onto it, a syringe, a vial filled with a pharmaceutical or chemical product and hermetically sealed, etc. All these medical devices need to be packaged, collectively, to ensure their storage, transport and distribution to various stakeholders in the supply chain from the initial manufacturer to the end user.

[0003] By way of example, documents EP2753550 and EP3450349 describe packaging systems, each comprising a tank and one (or more) support tray(s) for medical devices, arranged within the tank; when there are several, the support trays can potentially be stacked on top of each other. At least one sealing film closes the top opening of the tank, and the packaging system can also be hermetically sealed in at least one vacuum-sealed bag. When the medical devices need to be processed (for example, to be filled and closed, in the case of empty vials and their associated caps) or used (for withdrawing the pharmaceutical solution in the case of filled and closed vials), the packaging system is freed from the bag and the sealing film, and the support tray(s) are removed from the tank to allow access to the medical devices.This step of gripping the (at least one) support tray is usually carried out using suction cups.

[0004] Particularly in a pharmaceutical or chemical filling line, suction equipment can have the disadvantage of drawing in potential chemical, or even toxic, vapors released by the product being introduced into the bottles before they are sealed: there is therefore a risk that these vapors are then released in an uncontrolled manner at the outlet of said suction devices.

[0005] Furthermore, after the support tray is removed from the tank, medical devices, for example caps, must, in certain filling lines, be detached one by one from the support tray, and then each handled and positioned on a bottle filled with the pharmaceutical or chemical product. The medical devices are usually held in place with mechanical clips; removing them from these clips can generate particles, scratches, or significant deformation of the device. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. The invention relates to a group packaging system for medical devices, comprising at least one support tray holding said devices, arranged in a tank; the support tray is provided with one or more magnetic elements allowing it to be grasped by magnetism and / or the medical devices to be held by magnetism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention relates to a packaging system for medical devices, comprising a tank, at least one support tray disposed within the tank and configured to hold a plurality of medical devices. The packaging system is notable in that the support tray is equipped with a magnetic element or a plurality of magnetic elements.

[0008] According to other advantageous and non-limiting features of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination: - a magnetic element is a permanent magnet, in particular a neodymium-iron-boron NdFeB magnet or a ferrite magnet; - a magnetic element is formed by a ferromagnetic material, chosen in particular from iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys containing them, or a ferrimagnetic material, chosen in particular from garnet or spinel ferrites; - the support plate is made of a plastic material, and the magnetic elements are pieces glued onto one face of said support plate or forced into cavities made on one face of said support plate; - the support plate is made of a plastic material and the magnetic elements are parts encapsulated in the plastic material of said support plate; - the support platform is made of at least one plastic material loaded with

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[0016] magnetic particles, said particles constituting the magnetic elements; - the plurality of magnetic elements includes first magnetic elements, intended to cooperate with a magnetic gripping tool on the side of an upper face of the support plate; - the first magnetic elements are arranged around the periphery of the support plate; - the first magnetic elements are at least four in number and are uniformly distributed on the support plate; - the plurality of magnetic elements includes second magnetic elements, intended to cooperate with the plurality of medical devices to keep them attached to the support platform; - the packaging system includes the plurality of medical devices consisting of bottle closure caps, and the closure caps include magnetic elements and are arranged so that each magnetic element is opposite a second magnetic element; - each closure cap comprises an elastomer stopper intended to be inserted into a neck of a bottle after it has been filled with a pharmaceutical or chemical product, and a plastic locking cap surrounding the stopper and intended to lock under a collar of the bottle when the stopper is inserted into the neck, the magnetic element being integral with or incorporated in whole or in part into the stopper or the locking cap. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of the invention which follows with reference to the appended figures in which: [Fig. la] [Fig.lb] Figures 1a and 1b each present a conditioning system according to the invention; [Fig.2a] [Fig.2b] [Fig.2c] Figures 2a, 2b and 2c each show a support platform, in top view, of a conditioning system respectively according to a first, a second and a third embodiment of the invention; [Fig.3] Fig.3 shows a support platform, viewed from below, for a conditioning system according to the invention; [Fig. 4] Figure 4 shows a support tray for a packaging system according to the invention, said support tray holding medical devices type caps via mechanical clips;

[0017] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 shows a support platform, viewed from below, for a system of packaging according to the invention, said support tray holding medical devices of the cap type by magnetism;

[0018] [Fig.6] Fig.6 shows a closing cap (example of a medical device) in particular, adapted for magnetic retention on a support plate of a conditioning system according to the invention.

[0019] In the descriptive part, the same references on the figures may be used for components of the same type. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention relates to a group packaging system 100 for medical devices 10. As illustrated in [Fig. 1a] and [Fig. 1b], the system comprises a tank 30 having a bottom, a top opening, and a peripheral wall; it also comprises at least one support tray 20, disposed in the tank 30 and configured to hold a plurality of medical devices 10. The support tray 20 has an upper face 20a ([Fig. 2a], [Fig. 2b], [Fig. 2c]), intended to be oriented towards the opening of the tank 30 so as to be directly accessible by the user. The support tray 20 has a lower face 20b ([Fig. 3]), intended to be oriented towards the bottom of the tank 30.

[0021] The support plate 20 may include windows 29 designed to reduce the mass of said plate or provided for a specific function. It may also include shims 28 on its lower face 20b, intended to adjust the height of the support plate 20 in the tank 30 and the space between two consecutive stacked support plates 20 (when several plates 20 are stacked one on top of the other in the tank 30). Finally, the support plate 20 may include ribs 27, related to its manufacturing method (molding), and / or intended to stiffen the plate 20, on its upper face 20a and / or on its lower face 20b.

[0022] In the conditioning system 100 according to the invention, the support tray 20 is equipped with one or more magnetic elements. As will be detailed later, this or these magnetic element(s) may consist of: - one or more first magnetic element(s) 21 intended to cooperate with a magnetic gripping tool for manipulating the support plate 20 (first embodiment); - one or more second magnetic element(s) 22 intended to cooperate with the medical devices 10 to keep them attached to the support platform 20 (second embodiment); - or, simultaneously, in the first 21 and second 22 magnetic elements mentioned above (third embodiment).

[0023] Regardless of the embodiment considered, a magnetic element 21,22 of the support plate 20 can be of different natures.

[0024] According to a first variant, a magnetic element 21,22 is a permanent magnet, in particular a neodymium-iron-boron NdFeB magnet or a ferrite magnet.

[0025] According to a second variant, a magnetic element 21,22 is formed by a ferromagnetic material, chosen in particular from iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys containing them.

[0026] According to a third variant, a magnetic element 21,22 is formed by a ferrimagnetic material, chosen in particular from garnet or spinel ferrites.

[0027] In the packaging system 100 according to the invention, the support tray 20 is preferably made of a plastic material, chosen for example from polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polystyrene-type styrenics.

[0028] Different options for integrating the magnetic element(s) 21,22 into the support plate 20 can be implemented within the framework of the present invention.

[0029] According to a first option, the magnetic element(s) 21,22 can be pieces glued to a face 20a, 20b of the support plate 20 or inserted by force into cavities made on a face 20a,20b of said plate 20.

[0030] This is illustrated for example in [Fig.2c]: the support plate 20 has four cavities on its upper face 20a, in which four first magnetic elements 21 are fitted. It also has sixteen cavities on its upper face 20a, in which sixteen second magnetic elements 22 are fitted.

[0031] The shape of the magnetic elements 21,22 is illustrated as circular in the (x,y) plane; one could obviously consider any other shape, in particular oblong or polygonal.

[0032] According to a second option, the magnetic element(s) 21, 22 may be encapsulated, in whole or in part, within the plastic material of the support plate 20 during the molding stage of the latter. The magnetic elements 21, 22 may therefore open at the upper face 20a or the lower face 20b, or be completely embedded in the plastic material.

[0033] According to a third option, the support platform 20 can be made of at least one plastic material (for example chosen from those previously mentioned) loaded with magnetic particles, which particles constitute the magnetic elements 21, 22. The nature and quantity of the magnetic particles incorporated in the plastic material will be chosen so as to provide the magnetic properties required for gripping the platform 20 and / or for holding the medical devices 10.

[0034] In this third option, the magnetic elements 21,22 can be distributed uniformly over the entire extent of the support tray 20, since they correspond to the particles dispersed in the plastic material; they can then allow magnetic gripping and / or holding of the medical devices 10, at any location on the front face 20a or the rear face 20b of the support tray 20.

[0035] Alternatively, the plastic material loaded with magnetic particles can be used to manufacture only certain functional parts of the support plate 20, the rest of the plate 20 being formed from a conventional plastic material. First embodiment of the invention:

[0036] As mentioned previously, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the magnetic element or plurality of magnetic elements comprises one or more first magnetic element(s) 21, intended to cooperate with a magnetic gripping tool on the side of an upper face 20a of the support tray 20. This or these first magnetic element(s) 21 allow the tray 20 to be manipulated by magnetic attraction, in particular when the support tray 20 has to be extracted from the tank 30, to give access to the medical devices 10 (figures 1a, 1b).

[0037] Advantageously, to facilitate the gripping of the support tray 20, the first magnetic elements 21 are arranged on the periphery of the tray 20, in a border area away from the more central areas in which the medical devices 10 will preferentially be held (figures 2a, 2c).

[0038] To properly balance the support plate 20 during gripping, it is also advantageous to distribute the first magnetic elements 21 evenly over said plate 20: one, two, three, four, or even more magnetic elements 21 may be used. A single magnetic element can be formed by a thin metal sheet (mild steel, for example) covering at least a peripheral part of the support plate 20. In the examples in Figures 2a and 2c, there are four first magnetic elements 21, distributed symmetrically around the periphery of the support plate 20.

[0039] Of course, it is also possible to place the first magnetic element(s) 21 in a central region of the support platform 20; the distribution of the holding areas of the medical devices 10 is then adapted to take into account this occupied central region.

[0040] In the conditioning system 100 according to this first embodiment of the invention, the volume and magnetic properties of the first magnetic element(s) 21 are dimensioned so that the magnetic attraction between said element(s) 21 and a magnetic gripping tool is sufficient to lift the support tray 20 (loaded with the medical devices 10) out of the tank 30, and the transport, for example in an industrial chain to a processing station. A processing station can, for example, correspond to a medical device collection station 10, or to a collective closing station for pre-filled vials; in the latter case, the support platform 20 holding caps (the medical devices 10) is positioned vertically above the vials, each cap being opposite a vial, and can have a vertical support force applied to achieve the collective closing of all the vials.

[0041] The gripping tool can take different forms but includes at a minimum a plurality of ends equipped with a magnet or an electromagnet or formed of soft ferromagnetic material; these ends are adapted to come opposite the magnetic element(s) 21 of the support plate 20 to generate a magnetic attraction force.

[0042] In the case of an electromagnet, it is activated to extract, transport and possibly hold the support tray 20 out of the tank 30. It is then deactivated, in particular to place the support tray 20 on a processing station (as mentioned previously) or possibly to put it back in the tank 30 when the devices 10 have been used.

[0043] In the case of a simple magnet, it must be strong enough to allow the extraction and conveying of the support plate 20 without risk of falling, and weak enough to allow the support plate 20 to be released, for example by applying a mechanical force opposite to the magnetic attraction force.

[0044] The support platform 20 of the packaging system 100 according to this first embodiment avoids in particular the aspiration of potential chemical vapors, while allowing a reliable and practical gripping of the platform 20 in an industrial line for filling pharmaceutical bottles.

[0045] The magnetic gripping of the support plate 20 also has the advantage of a simple and space-saving solution, both with regard to the first magnetic element(s) 21 included in the plate 20 and with regard to the associated gripping tool.

[0046] In the first embodiment of the invention, the medical devices 10 are held against the support platform 20 by means of mechanical clips 23, arranged on the underside 20b of the platform 20, as illustrated in [Fig. 4]. The mechanical clips 23 are configured to grip an upper portion of the cap 10 (medical device). Pulling on the cap 10 releases it from the support platform 20.

[0047] Alternatively, the support platform 20 may have recesses on its upper face 20a in which the medical devices 10 are placed and retained simply by gravity or by flexible or elastic tabs provided on the walls of the housing or by mechanical clips (not shown). Second embodiment of the invention:

[0048] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the magnetic element or plurality of magnetic elements comprises one or more second magnetic element(s) 22, intended to cooperate with the plurality of medical devices 10 to keep them attached to the support platform 20.

[0049] The medical devices 10 are held against the support tray 20 by magnetic attraction. For this purpose, each medical device 10 comprises a magnetic element that cooperates with a second magnetic element 22 included in the support tray 20 (Figures 2b, 2c, 3, 5). This embodiment is particularly advantageous because it avoids the potential generation of particles due to mechanical clips 23; these clips usually have technical shapes that can become brittle, particularly following sterilization operations.

[0050] A packaging system 100 according to this second embodiment is particularly well suited when the medical devices 10 are bottle caps. The bottle caps 10 then comprise magnetic elements 14 ([Fig. 6]) and are arranged so that each magnetic element 14 is opposite a second magnetic element 22 ([Fig. 5]). The bottle caps 10 are thus held securely to the support tray 20 by a magnetic attraction force.

[0051] The second magnetic elements 22 and the magnetic members 14 are therefore chosen so as to cooperate in pairs to ensure that the caps 10 are held onto the plate 20 by magnetism. Their respective volume and magnetic properties are adjusted according to the shape and mass of the closure caps 10.

[0052] The dimensions of the support platform 20 and the arrangement of the secondary magnetic elements 22 can be chosen to hold a few medical devices 10 or several dozen devices 10. Preferably, there will be as many secondary magnetic elements 22 as there are medical devices 10 to be held. Alternatively, a single magnetic element 22, in the form of a sheet of a multipolar magnetic material, could provide a plurality of magnetic poles capable of cooperating with a plurality of medical devices 10 to hold them.

[0053] In an interesting embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 6], each closure cap 10 comprises an elastomer stopper 11 intended to be inserted into the neck of a bottle after it has been filled with a pharmaceutical or chemical product. It also comprises a locking cap 12 made of plastic surrounding the stopper 11 and intended to lock under a collar of the bottle when the stopper 11 is inserted into the neck. The plastic material constituting the locking cap 12 can by for example, it could be polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0054] The magnetic element 14 is integral with or integrated in whole or in part into the cap 11 or preferably into the locking cap 12.

[0055] The locking cap 12 of the cap 10 may include an outer body 12a (or ring) and a cage 12b (or wire cage), the latter being configured to fit and lock axially into the outer body 12a, while retaining freedom of rotation around the central axis (parallel to the z-axis).

[0056] In a temporary holding position of the cap 10 on a bottle, it is advantageous for flexible tabs, or other retaining element forming part of the cage 12b, to lock the cap 11 inside the cage 12b. Other flexible tabs can be provided in the cage 12b to bear against the collar of the bottle when the cap 10 is in the temporary holding position; in the final closed position, these other flexible tabs can lock under said collar of the bottle.

[0057] The locking cap 12 may also include a capsule 13 at its upper part; in particular, in the example of [Fig. 6], the capsule 13 is integral with the external body 12a. When the locking cap 12 is locked onto a bottle filled with a pharmaceutical or chemical product, this capsule 13 is intended to be irreversibly separated from the cap 10 to allow access to the stopper 11: this occurs when the product, contained in the permanently sealed bottle, needs to be withdrawn by the end user. Alternatively, the cap 10 may be breakable to allow the user to remove it completely, so as to access the stopper 11 and withdraw the product.

[0058] Of course, such a locking cap structure 12 is given by way of example, and other configurations could be implemented with the aim of keeping the cap 11 on the bottle while providing a means of access to the product stored in the bottle, for the end user.

[0059] The magnetic element 14 can take the form of a part assembled or integrated into the closure cap 10, or take the form of particles mixed with at least one plastic material composing said cap 10.

[0060] Advantageously, the magnetic element 14 is attached to the locking cap 12 by being placed on or integrated into said cap 12. Note that it could also be considered to place the second magnetic element 14 on or to integrate it into the cap 11; however, due to the direct proximity of the cap 11 to the pharmaceutical or chemical product contained in the bottle, it is easier in terms of health standards to associate this magnetic material with the locking cap 12.

[0061] When the locking cap 12 includes a capsule 13, the magnetic element 14 may be disposed on one face of the capsule 13 or integrated within it. The capsule 13 is usually made of a plastic material. The magnetic element 14 may be completely or partially overmolded (encapsulated) within the capsule 13 during the molding of the latter. Alternatively, the magnetic element 14 can be bonded to an upper or lower face of the capsule 13 (in the latter case, to be located between the capsule 13 and the outer body 12a of the locking cap 12), after the capsule 13 has been molded. Alternatively still, the magnetic element 14 can be press-fitted into a cavity, made during the molding process, on a face of the capsule 13. Depending on any of these three options, the magnetic element 14 can take any shape, provided that it is suitable for assembly on or in the capsule 13.Examples include disk, ring or other polygonal shapes in the (x,y) plane, the principal plane of capsule 13.

[0062] According to a fourth option, the capsule 13 can be formed of a plastic material charged with magnetic particles, these particles constituting the magnetic organ 14.

[0063] When the locking cap 12 does not include a capsule 13 (the outer body 12a is then closed in its upper part), the magnetic element 14 can be disposed on or integrated into the upper part of the outer body 12a, in the center or on the periphery, in any form, for example disk, ring or other polygonal shape in the (x,y) plane, or in the form of a plurality of magnetic particles dispersed in the plastic material of the outer body 12a.

[0064] In general, any one of the four aforementioned options may be applied to the association of the magnetic organ 14 with the external body 12a.

[0065] Note that the magnetic element 14 could also be integral with or integrated in whole or in part into the cage 12b, according to the same options as those described above.

[0066] In the second embodiment of the invention, the support platform 20 does not include the first magnetic element(s) 21. Its grasping and manipulation outside the tank 30 can be carried out via conventional suction cup systems or other mechanical systems. Third embodiment of the invention:

[0067] According to a third embodiment of the invention, the plurality of magnetic elements comprises both the first magnetic element(s) 21 described in the first embodiment, and the second magnetic element(s) 22 described in the second embodiment of the invention. A support plate 20 conforming to this third embodiment is illustrated in [Fig. 2c].

[0068] The technical descriptions and advantages stated previously in the first and second embodiments apply to the third embodiment and will therefore not be repeated here.

[0069] Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of implementation and examples described, and alternative embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. Packaging system (100) for medical devices (10), comprising a tank (30) and a plurality of support trays (20) stacked on top of each other and arranged in the tank (30), each support tray (20) being configured to hold a plurality of medical devices (10) consisting of closure caps for vials, the packaging system (100) being characterized in that the support tray (20) is provided with a magnetic element or a plurality of magnetic elements (21, 22), - the support tray (20) being formed of a plastic material, and the magnetic element(s) (21, 22) being one or more parts encapsulated in the plastic material of said support tray (20), or - the support tray (20) being formed of at least one plastic material loaded with magnetic particles, said particles constituting the element(s) magnetic(s) (21,22).

2. Packaging system (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein a magnetic element (21,22) is a permanent magnet, in particular a neodymium-iron-boron NdFeB magnet or a ferrite magnet.

3. Packaging system (100) according to claim 1, in which a magnetic element (21, 22) is formed by: - a ferromagnetic material, chosen in particular from iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys containing them, or - a ferrimagnetic material, chosen in particular from garnet or spinel ferrites.

4. Packaging system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of magnetic elements comprises first magnetic elements (21), intended to cooperate with a magnetic gripping tool on the side of an upper face (20a) of the support plate (20).

5. Packaging system (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the first magnetic elements (21) are arranged on the periphery of the support plate (20).

6. Packaging system (100) according to one of claims 4 and 5, in which the first magnetic elements (21) are at least four in number and are uniformly distributed on the support plate (20).

7. Packaging system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of magnetic elements comprises second magnetic elements (22), intended to cooperate with the plurality of medical devices (10) to keep them secured to the support plate (20).

8. Packaging system (100) according to the preceding claim, comprising the plurality of medical devices (10) constituted by closure caps for vials, and in which the closure caps (10) comprise magnetic members (14) and are arranged so that each magnetic member (14) is opposite a second magnetic element (22).

9. Packaging system (100) according to the preceding claim, in which each closure cap (10) comprises: - an elastomeric stopper (11) intended to be inserted into a neck of a bottle after it has been filled with a pharmaceutical or chemical product, - a plastic locking cap (12) surrounding the stopper (11) and intended to lock under a collar of the bottle when the stopper (11) is inserted into the neck, the magnetic member (14) being integral with or integrated in whole or in part in the stopper (11) or the locking cap (12).

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