Packaging tray for medical devices, particularly for caps intended to seal pharmaceutical vials

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging tray (10) for medical devices (100), having a honeycomb structure (1), which: - defines a plurality of hollow, hexagonal compartments (2), each compartment being delimited by side walls (3), with any two adjacent compartments (2) always sharing a common side wall, - comprises a flat contour (4) giving the tray a rectangular shape. Each compartment (2) intended to hold a medical device (100) has at least two flexible tabs (31, 32), each flexible tab being either formed entirely within a side wall (3) delimiting said compartment (2), or formed between two side walls (3) delimiting said compartment (2). Each flexible tab (31, 32) includes a free end designed to bear against the medical device (100) to hold it immobile within the compartment (2). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 1b

Description

Title of the invention: Packaging tray for medical devices, in particular for caps intended to seal vials for pharmaceutical use. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of packaging for medical devices. It relates in particular to a packaging tray adapted for holding, storing and / or transporting caps, stoppers, bottles or syringes, for pharmaceutical use.

[0002] TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is common practice for caps, intended to seal vials after they have been filled with a medical product, to be held together by a packaging tray for storage, transport, and handling before use. This group packaging prevents these caps, which are considered medical devices, from being contaminated or damaged by contact and friction between them.

[0004] Document EP3505458 proposes this type of packaging. Caps held by hooking systems on the underside of a packaging tray can be stored, transported and then collectively assembled on bottles, which can also be held by a suitable packaging tray.

[0005] Document EP3967624 also proposes a packaging tray for medical caps. Several trays can be stacked one on top of the other and work together to enclose the caps in a compartment. In use, the caps in the top tray can be individually removed to close each bottle; when the top tray is empty, it can be removed from the stack to provide access to the caps in the bottom tray.

[0006] For economic and environmental reasons, it remains necessary to further limit the amount of plastic required to manufacture these packaging trays. The flatness, strength, stackability, and reliability of the trays in holding caps (or medical devices in general) are nonetheless essential criteria to ensure.

[0007] SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention proposes a packaging tray for medical devices, in particular caps intended for sealing pharmaceutical vials, whose structure makes it possible to limit the amount of material used while guaranteeing the expected mechanical properties.

[0009] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention relates to a packaging tray for medical devices, having a honeycomb structure extending along a principal plane, the honeycomb structure:

[0011] - defining a plurality of hollow compartments of hexagonal shape, each compartment being delimited by lateral walls normal to the main plane, two adjacent compartments always having a lateral wall in common,

[0012] - comprising a flat contour providing the conditioning tray with a shape rectangular, the flat outline extending parallel to the main plane.

[0013] The conditioning tray is remarkable in that:

[0014] - each compartment intended to house a medical device has at least two flexible tabs, each flexible tab being either formed entirely within a side wall delimiting said compartment, or formed between two side walls delimiting said compartment,

[0015] - each flexible tab includes a free end intended to bear against the medical device to keep it immobile in the compartment.

[0016] According to advantageous and non-limiting features of the invention, which may be taken individually or in any technically feasible combination: • each compartment intended to house a medical device has a stop extending parallel to the main plane, in continuity with a lower surface of the honeycomb structure; • each compartment has a stop consisting of three bars attached to three lateral walls of said compartment, and having free ends pointing towards a central axis of the compartment; • each compartment has a stop consisting of at least three bars attached to three lateral walls of said compartment, and meeting vertically at a central axis of the compartment; • a side wall only carries a flexible tab from a given compartment; • the -at least- two flexible tabs of a compartment are formed respectively in two opposite side walls delimiting said compartment or respectively in two non-adjacent side walls delimiting said compartment; • Each compartment intended to hold a medical device has a spacer formed by a local thickening of a side wall delimiting said device compartment, said wall being a wall different from the two walls in which the flexible tabs are formed; • the free end of a flexible tab includes a bump intended to be in contact with the medical device when it is in the compartment; • each compartment has three flexible tabs, each formed between two side walls delimiting said compartment; • the packaging tray is injection molded or produced by 3D printing from polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate; • the thickness of the side walls is less than 2mm; • Medical devices can be of the type caps, stoppers, bottles or syringes; • the packaging tray further includes cap-type medical devices, arranged in compartments, each cap comprising an outer cylindrical body, a cage locked in the outer body, a cap held in the cage, and a top capsule closing one face of the outer body, the other face of the outer body being open, and each cap being entirely contained in a compartment; • the capsule of each cap is in contact with the flexible tabs of a compartment, the capsule being arranged on the side of a lower surface of the honeycomb structure; • only the outer body of each cap is in contact with the flexible tabs of a compartment, the cap being positioned on the side of a top surface of the honeycomb structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0018] [Fig. la]

[0019] [Fig.lb]

[0020] [Fig.le] Fig.la, Fig.lb and Fig.le present packaging trays according to the invention, in perspective;

[0021] [Fig.2] Fig.2 shows an example of a bottle cap for use pharmaceutical, a plurality of such caps being capable of being packaged in a packaging tray according to the invention, in particular those shown in figures 1a, 1b and 1e;

[0022] [Fig.3a]

[0023] [Fig.3b] Figures [Fig.3a] and [Fig.3b] present two embodiments of the platform packaging conforming to the present invention; [Fig.3b] includes a variant without stop (i) and a variant with stop (ii);

[0024] [Fig.4a]

[0025] [Fig.4b]

[0026] [Fig.4c] Fig.4a, Fig.4b and Fig.4c show plates of packaging according to the present invention, viewed from below, i.e. from the side of the lower surface of the honeycomb structure;

[0027] [Fig.5a]

[0028] [Fig. 5b] Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b present a "head" placement configuration at the top of a cap in a packaging tray according to the invention;

[0029] [Fig.6a]

[0030] [Fig. 6b] Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b present a "head" placement configuration at the bottom of a cap in a packaging tray according to the invention.

[0031] In the descriptive part, the same references on the figures may be used for elements of the same type. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The present invention relates to a packaging tray 10 for medical devices, in particular for caps 100, especially for pharmaceutical use. Examples of empty trays 10 (i.e., not holding caps 100) are illustrated in Figures 1a, 1b and 1e; an example of a cap 100 is also shown in these figures.

[0033] A cap 100, in the context of the invention, preferably comprises a cylindrical body, which houses an elastomer stopper 104 intended to seal the opening F3 of the neck F2 of a bottle F after it has been filled; the bottle F is usually formed of a cylindrical body F4 and a collar Fl defining the end of the neck F2 ([Fig.2]).

[0034] The cap 100 has a closed upper part and is designed to securely stopper and seal the bottle F filled, for example, with a pharmaceutical product. Advantageously, the cap 100 is formed of an outer body 101, an upper cap 102, a cage 103, and the stopper 104 having a head 104a and a foot 104b, as, for example, described in documents EP2464577 or FR3098504.

[0035] Although the description focuses particularly on caps 100 as medical devices, the invention also extends to packaging trays for caps 104, vials F, or syringes, for which only The dimensions of the trays 10 and the compartments 2 must be adjusted to the type of medical device.

[0036] The conditioning tray 10 has a honeycomb structure 1 extending along a principal plane (x,y) ([Fig.1a], [Fig.1b], [Fig.1e]). The honeycomb structure 1 defines a plurality of hollow, hexagonal compartments 2. Each compartment is delimited by lateral walls 3, normal to the principal plane (x,y). Two adjacent compartments 2 always share a lateral wall 3.

[0037] The honeycomb structure 1 includes a planar contour 4 giving the conditioning tray 10 a rectangular shape. The planar contour 4 extends parallel to the principal plane (x,y), continuous with an upper surface la of the honeycomb structure 1, or slightly raised along the z-axis, relative to this upper surface la.

[0038] The caps (or in general, medical devices) 100 are intended to be inserted into the upper face 10a side of the tray 10.

[0039] The upper surface la of the packaging tray 10 is preferably oriented upwards when said tray is used to package a plurality of caps 100. In particular, such a tray 10 can be placed in a storage container, which is usually sealed with a film (for example, a TYVEK® sheet) to prevent any contamination of the caps 100 during storage and transport. Several trays 10 can be stacked in the same storage container. The lower surface 1b (surface opposite the upper surface la) of a tray 10 in the upper position is then in contact with the upper surface la of another tray 10 arranged below it.

[0040] It is nevertheless possible to use the packaging tray 10, alone or stacked, with the upper face 1a facing downwards. Naturally, the upper surface 1a of a tray 10 in the upper position is then in contact with the lower surface 1b of another tray 10 placed below.

[0041] Each compartment 2 is intended to hold a cap 100 and has at least two flexible tabs 31, 32, 31', 32', 33' which cooperate to hold said cap 100 in the compartment 2. Each flexible tab 31, 32, 31', 32', 33' includes a free end 32b, intended to bear against the cap 100 to hold it immobile in the compartment 2.

[0042] According to a first embodiment, each flexible tab 31, 32 is formed integrally within a side wall 3 delimiting the compartment 2 ([Fig. 3a]). Advantageously, the flexible tab 31, 32 consists of a relatively central portion of the side wall 3, separated from the rest of the wall by grooves extending along the z-axis, normal to the principal plane (x,y), from the lower surface 1b of the honeycomb structure 1, up to a determined height of the wall 3. This height will define the level of flexibility of the tongue 31,32 along an axis perpendicular to the side wall 3. Each tongue 31,32 is therefore fixedly linked to the side wall 3, on the side of the upper face la of the honeycomb structure 1, and free on the side of the lower face 1b.

[0043] By way of example, in the case of a side wall 3 having a total height of 17mm, the determined height, over which the grooves extend, can go up to 15.5mm, i.e. up to about 90% of the total height.

[0044] Advantageously, the free end 32b of a flexible tab 31,32 includes a boss intended to be in contact with the cap 100 when the latter is in compartment 2, and to participate in keeping said cap 100 in compartment 2.

[0045] According to a second embodiment, each flexible tab 31', 32', 33' is formed between two lateral walls 3 delimiting said compartment 2 ([Fig. 3b]). Said two lateral walls 3 are then connected only by an upper section 6 (on the side of the upper surface 1a), from which extends a flexible tab 31', 32', 33'. The tab 31', 32', 33' extends towards the lower surface 1b and advantageously, substantially towards the interior of the compartment 2. It can typically form an angle of between a few degrees and a few tens of degrees with the z-axis.

[0046] Advantageously, three flexible tabs 31' originate from the same upper section 6, which is connected to three lateral walls 3 respectively of three adjacent compartments 2; each of the three tabs 31' extends into a different compartment and will participate in maintaining a cap 100 in said compartment 2.

[0047] The free end of a flexible tab 31',32',33' may include a boss intended to be in contact with the cap 100 when the latter is in compartment 2.

[0048] The packaging tray 10 according to the invention has rigidity, due to its honeycomb structure, ensuring that it remains flat and allows for easy and efficient stacking of a plurality of trays 10. The side walls 3 arranged according to the honeycomb structure 1, as well as the flat contour 4, can be very thin, advantageously with a thickness of 2 mm or less, 1 mm, or even 0.8 mm. The thinness of the material constituting the packaging tray 10, as well as its highly perforated design, significantly limits the volume of material used in its manufacture. An eco-friendly material can also be chosen to further reduce the environmental impact, such as polypropylene. Alternatively, the packaging tray 10 can be made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0049] The packaging tray 10 also ensures the protection of the cap 100, as the latter is isolated from the other caps by being held in a compartment 2. The side walls 3 provide separation between the caps 100 held in two adjacent compartments 2. The total thickness of the tray 10, along a z-axis normal to the principal (x,y) plane of the tray 10, is substantially greater than the height of the cap 100; typically, their difference is on the order of 0.1 to 2 mm. For example, for caps 100 approximately 15 mm high, the total thickness of the tray 10 can be approximately 17 mm.

[0050] The number of stackable 10 trays in a storage container is thus greatly optimized, and consequently, the capacity of said container is improved.

[0051] The packaging tray 10 is advantageously produced by a known technique of injection molding, or 3D printing.

[0052] Advantageously, each compartment 2 intended to accommodate a cap 100 has at least one stop 5 extending parallel to the main plane (x,y), in continuity with the lower surface 1b of the honeycomb structure 1 ([Fig. aa], [Fig. 1e], [Fig. 3b] (ii)), in other words, the stop 5 is integral (on the side of the lower surface 1b) with at least one lateral wall 3 delimiting a compartment 2.

[0053] This stop 5 can take any shape. Preferably, to limit the amount of material, the stop 5 does not completely close the lower face of each compartment 2; note that the lower face of a compartment 2 corresponds to the hexagonal face extending in the (x,y) plane on the side of the lower surface 1b of the honeycomb structure 1.

[0054] According to a first variant, the stop 5 is composed of at least three bars meeting vertically at a central axis of compartment 2 ([Fig.la], [Fig.4a]).

[0055] According to a second variant, the stop 5 is formed of at least two (for example three, four, five or six) bars having free ends pointing towards a central axis of the compartment 2 ([Fig.1e], [Fig.4c], [Fig.3b] (ii)).

[0056] By way of example, the bars forming the stop 5, whether joined or disjoint, can have a width between 1.5 and 3mm (in the (x,y) plane) and a radial length (in the (x,y) plane) between 3 and 8mm, for compartments having a lateral dimension (in the x,y plane) of the order of 17mm.

[0057] In the first embodiment, in which each flexible tab 31, 32, 31', 32', 33' is formed integrally within a side wall 3, said side wall 3 preferably carries only one flexible tab 31, 32 intended to bear against a cap 100 in a given compartment 2. In other words, the side wall 3 does not carry two flexible tabs, one for a given compartment and the other for an adjacent compartment.

[0058] Still in the first embodiment, advantageously, the -at least- two flexible tabs 31,32 of a compartment 2 are formed respectively in two opposite side walls 3 delimiting said compartment 2 or respectively in two non-adjacent side walls 3 delimiting said compartment 2. According to another variant, three flexible tabs 31,32 are carried by three side walls 3 of the compartment 2; typically one tab 31,32 is provided on one of two walls 3.

[0059] In the second embodiment, the examples in [Fig.3b] propose a configuration with three flexible tabs 31',32',33' in each compartment 2 to ensure the retention of the cap 10.

[0060] According to the first or second embodiment, when each compartment 2 intended to accommodate a cap 100 has two flexible tabs 31,32, it further includes a wedge 6 formed by local overthickness of a lateral wall 3 delimiting said compartment 2; said wall 3 is then a different wall from the two walls 3 in which the flexible tabs 31,32 are formed.

[0061] Advantageously, the side walls 3 which do not fulfill an additional function, i.e. free from flexible tongue 31,32 or wedge 6, can be perforated, so as to further promote the saving of material.

[0062] An important advantage of the conditioning tray 10 according to the invention is also that it can accept the caps 100 "upright" ([Fig.5a]) or "downright" ([Fig.6a]).

[0063] Recall that each cap 100 preferably comprises an outer body 101 of cylindrical shape, a cage 103 locked into the outer body 101, a cap 104 held in the cage 103, and an upper cap 102 closing one face of the outer body 101, the other face of the outer body 101 being open. As mentioned previously, when a cap 100 is inserted into a compartment 2 (on the side of the upper surface 1a), it is entirely contained within it, that is to say, it does not protrude beyond the total thickness of the tray 10.

[0064] In the context of this invention, "upside down" means that the upper capsule 102 of the cap 100 is positioned on the side of the upper surface 1a of the honeycomb structure 1, as illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b. When the upper capsule 102 of the cap 100 is positioned on the side of the lower surface 1b, its position is said to be "upside down" (Figures 6a, 6b). The tray 10 allows the caps 100 to be stored in either of these positions.

[0065] In the "head down" position, the upper capsule 102 of each cap 100 is in contact with the flexible tabs 31,32, 31',32',33' of a compartment 2.

[0066] In particular, as can be seen in [Fig. 6a], the boss of the flexible tabs 31, 32 fits into a recess present in the transition region between The upper capsule 102 and the external body 101. During loading of the tray 10, the caps 100 are brought to the side of the upper surface la of the tray 10 and inserted into the compartments 2 "upside down": as the upper capsule 102 passes between the bosses, the flexible tabs 31, 32 spread slightly apart and return to their original position once the capsule 102 has passed them, fitting into the aforementioned recess. The presence of a stop 5 in each compartment 2 on the side of the lower surface la of the honeycomb structure 1 helps to secure the vertical movement (along the z-axis) of the caps 100 in the compartments, but is not essential.

[0067] In the "head up" position, only the outer body 101 of each cap 100 is in contact with the flexible tabs 31,32, 31',32',33' of a compartment 2 ([Fig.5a]).

[0068] In particular, the boss of the flexible tabs 31, 32 bears against the external body 101. When loading the tray 10, the caps 100 are brought to the side of the upper surface la of the tray 10 and inserted into the compartments 2 "head up": when the external body 101 reaches the bosses, the flexible tabs 31, 32 spread apart slightly, applying a holding force against said body 101 and allowing the cap 100 to remain in the compartment 2. Although not essential, the presence of a stop 5 in each compartment 2 on the side of the lower surface la of the honeycomb structure 1 is advantageous here for securing the vertical movement (along the z-axis) of the caps 100 in the compartments 2.

[0069] As illustrated in Figures 5b and 6b, the stacking of packaging trays 10 according to the invention provides a very compact assembly that increases the capacity of standard storage containers. It can be advantageous (as illustrated) for the side walls 3 connected to the planar contour 4 (in other words, the peripheral side walls) to be slightly higher than the other (non-peripheral) walls 3. This difference in height between the peripheral side walls connected to the planar contour 4 and the central side walls 3 (more numerous), which define the height of the upper surface i, significantly lightens the tray 10 because less material is used; the height difference typically ranges from 1 mm to a few millimeters (for example, 3 mm or 3.5 mm) in the aforementioned tray examples.

[0070] Let us recall that the total height of the plate 10 is greater than the height of the caps 100 so that the latter are never in contact with a superimposed plate 10.

[0071] The packaging tray 10 is shown in the figures with one hundred compartments 2 for holding caps 100. Its lateral dimensions can be on the order of a few tens of cm (for example, on the order of 22.5cm by 17.4cm). Of course, these dimensional examples are not limiting, and one can consider trays 10 according to the present invention equipped with 9, 16 or even 48 compartments 2 for caps 100, with dimensions adapted to the number of compartments and to the size of said caps 100.

[0072] As mentioned at the beginning of the description, the packaging tray 10 can also be used to hold other types of medical devices such as caps 104, vials F, or syringes. It will then be necessary to adapt the lateral and thickness dimensions of the tray 10 and the compartments 2 to allow each device to be entirely contained within a compartment 2 and for the flexible tabs to bear against the device to hold it in place.

[0073] 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

Demands

1. Packaging tray (10) for medical devices (100, 104, F), having a honeycomb structure (1) extending along a principal plane (x, y), the honeycomb structure (1): - defining a plurality of hollow hexagonal compartments (2), each compartment (2) being delimited by lateral walls (3) normal to the principal plane (x, y), two adjacent compartments (2) always having a lateral wall (3) in common, - comprising a planar contour (4) giving the packaging tray (10) a rectangular shape, the planar contour (4) extending parallel to the principal plane (x, y), the packaging tray (10) being characterized in that: - each compartment (2) intended to hold a medical device (100, 104, F) has at least two flexible tabs (31, 32, 31', 32', 33'), each flexible tab (31,32,31',32',33') being either formed entirely within a lateral wall (3) delimiting said compartment (2),formed between two lateral walls (3) delimiting said compartment (2), - each flexible tab (31,32,31',32',33') includes a free end intended to bear against the medical device (100,104,F) to hold it immobile in the compartment (2).

2. Packaging tray (10) according to claim 1, in which each compartment (2) intended to accommodate a medical device (100,104,F) has a stop (5) extending parallel to the main plane (x,y), in continuity with a lower surface (1b) of the honeycomb structure (1).

3. Packaging tray (10) according to claim 2, in which each compartment (2) has a stop (5) composed of three bars attached to three side walls (3) of said compartment (2), and having free ends pointing towards a central axis of the compartment (2).

4. Packaging tray (10) according to claim 2, in which each compartment (2) has a stop (5) composed of at least three bars attached to three side walls (3) of said compartment (2), and meeting at the vertical axis of the compartment (2).

5. Packaging tray (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a side wall (3) carries only a flexible tab (31,32) of a given compartment (2).

6. Packaging tray (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the -at least- two flexible tabs (31,32) of a compartment (2) are formed respectively in two opposing side walls (3) delimiting said compartment (2) or respectively in two non-adjacent side walls (3) delimiting said compartment (2).

7. Packaging tray (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each compartment (2) intended to accommodate a medical device (100,104,F) has a wedge (6) formed by local overthickness of a side wall (3) delimiting said compartment (2), said wall (3) being a wall different from the two walls (3) in which the flexible tabs (31,32) are formed.

8. Packaging tray (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the free end (32b) of a flexible tab (31,32) includes a boss intended to be in contact with the medical device (100,104,F) when the latter is in the compartment (2).

9. Packaging tray (10) according to claim 1, in which each compartment (2) has three flexible tabs (31',32',33'), each formed between two side walls (3) delimiting said compartment (2).

10. Packaging tray (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, injection molded or produced by 3D printing from polypropylene or butylene terephthalate.

11. Packaging tray (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the side walls is less than 2mm.

12. Packaging tray (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising cap-type medical devices (100), arranged in compartments (2), and in which: - each cap (100) comprises an outer body of cylindrical shape, a cage locked in the outer body, a stopper held in the cage, and an upper capsule closing one face of the outer body, the other face of the outer body being open, - each cap (100) is entirely contained in a compartment (2).

13. Packaging tray (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the capsule (102) of each cap (100) is in contact with the flexible tabs (31,32, 31',32',33') of a compartment (2), the capsule being disposed on the side of a lower surface (1b) of the honeycomb structure (1).

14. Packaging tray (10) according to claim 12, wherein only the outer body of each cap (100) is in contact with the flexible tabs (31,32, 31',32',33') of a compartment (2), the cap (102) being disposed on the side of an upper surface (la) of the honeycomb structure (1).

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