Apparatus for packaging an in particular flat medical product

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging an in particular flat medical product between two oppositely situated flexible material webs. The apparatus comprises a laser sealing unit (30), comprising a laser (31), - a first pressure roller (20), which comprises a first roller portion (21), a second roller portion (22) and a third roller portion (23), wherein the third roller portion (23) is permeable to the laser beam of the laser sealing unit (30) and is located between the first roller portion (21) and the second roller portion (22), and wherein the first pressure roller (20) is mounted by means of roller journals in the first roller portion (21) and in the second roller portion (22) for rotation about an axis, and wherein the third roller portion (23) is at least as long as a part of an intended sealing seam is wide, - a second pressure roller (40) which is designed to convey the material webs and the product (A) together with the first pressure roller (20), wherein the portion of the material webs (11, 12) lying between the first pressure roller (20) and the second pressure roller (40) defines a sealing region (50) for creating the intended sealing seam, wherein the laser sealing unit (30) is positioned such that the laser beam of the laser sealing unit (30) penetrates the third roller portion (23) and in the sealing region (50) is incident on at least one of the flexible material webs (11, 12), and wherein the laser sealing unit (30) is designed to heat a heat-activatable adhesive applied to at least one surface of at least one of the flexible material webs (11, 12), or to heat a material of at least one of the flexible material webs (11, 12) at least partially in the sealing region (50).

Description

[0001] Ref. 93240833-II-WO-PCT-03 / 26 / 2025

[0002] Title: Device for packaging a medical product, especially one with a flat surface

[0003] Description

[0004] The present invention relates to a method and a device for packaging a medical product, in particular one with a flat shape.

[0005] In the medical field, there are various types of wound dressings. These medical products are usually individually packaged in envelope-like containers.

[0006] The individual packaging of medical products is achieved by enclosing each product between two overlapping sheets of flexible material, with the edges of the sheets typically bonded together with adhesive. A thermally activated adhesive is commonly used because it ensures a stable seal between the sheets, protecting the products from external influences. Thanks to this thermally activated adhesive, the packaging cannot be resealed once opened, thus ensuring compliance with health and hygiene standards for the marketing of plasters or similar products. The packaging can consist of two sheets of paper, one sheet of paper and one sheet of plastic, or two sheets of plastic. The plastic material can be, for example, transparent, such as polyethylene.Metallized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or an aluminum composite material is also frequently used as the web material. Packaging for medical products often consists of a web section with an outer surface printed with product information and a web section made of transparent plastic material. Typically, the thermally activated adhesive is applied to the inner surface of one of the paper webs. For example, there may be an adhesive layer on the inside. Optionally, the adhesive layer can take the form of a sealing seam, so that the adhesive is only present in the area intended for sealing. The web material coated with the thermally activated adhesive can be a layered material that is already coated with an adhesive.

[0007] In prior art devices and methods, the packaging of medical products between two flexible web sections is achieved by advancing a continuous array of medical products along a machine direction at a distance from one another. Two continuous flexible webs, one of which is coated with a layer of thermally activated adhesive, overlap each other. The sealing process forms a continuous composite web consisting of the two flexible webs and the continuous array of medical products enclosed between them. The packages are closed by compressing the continuous composite web using a first and second pair of rollers, possibly heated.Typically, the first pair of rollers performs two continuous longitudinal seals between the two flexible films, and the second pair of rollers performs seals perpendicular to the flow direction of the composite web. The direction in which the web-like material passes through the packaging device is referred to as the flow direction. Fixation between the two flexible material webs is achieved by activating the thermally activated adhesive while the flexible material webs are compressed along the compression lines.

[0008] The two material webs can also be fixed together by welding them, while the flexible webs are compressed along the compression lines. Welding permanently bonds the two material webs using heat, without the need for an additional material such as a thermally activated adhesive.

[0009] The packaging is then obtained from the continuous composite web by making suitable cuts perpendicular to the flow direction, typically between the transverse seams between each product pair.

[0010] The seal between the two flexible material layers must meet precise quality requirements specified by the paving stone manufacturers. The quality specifications are as follows:

[0011] - Visually: The seal must be complete, and there must be a clear transition of the adhesive material from one web section to the opposite one, or the two material webs must be sufficiently fused together. The seal must also be complete and clean, without contamination or visible damage; the color of the packaging webs must not change as a result of the sealing process, and the packaging webs must not be noticeably deformed by the sealing process.

[0012] - with regard to the sealing of the seal seam: The peeling force must be within a precisely quantified range, and when opening the packaging, the peeling force must not fluctuate outside specified thresholds between individual areas or between different packages.

[0013] - From the perspective of sealing the seam and complying with hygienic and sanitary standards: The packaging must be sealed in such a way that the product is in an environment where no external contaminants can penetrate the packaging, and that it is also ensured that no substances leak from the inside of the packaging (a leak test is carried out by introducing a colored liquid into the packaging and monitoring for any leakage). Often, the packaging acts as a sterile barrier system, protecting the product from invading pathogens. Especially if the product is sterilized in the sealed packaging after manufacturing, the integrity of the seal is of paramount importance to guarantee sterility.

[0014] One of the main problems with prior art equipment and methods is that the current maximum speed of packaging machines is in the range of 50-60 m / min. This speed limitation is due to the fact that, as the speed of the packaging machine increases, the pressure rollers are no longer able to supply sufficient energy to the flexible webs to ensure the correct transfer of the adhesive material from one web to another, or the bonding of the two webs, because the contact time between the pressure rollers and the webs decreases proportionally. In this context, increasing the web speed of the packaging machine beyond 50-60 m / min would jeopardize the required quality standards.

[0015] The objective technical task is therefore to provide a method and a device that allow reliable sealing of the packaging of a flat-shaped medical product, especially at high web speeds.

[0016] The problem is solved by a device for packaging a medical product, particularly one with a flat surface, between two opposing flexible material webs. The device comprises a laser sealing unit, including a laser, as well as a first and a second pressure roller. The first pressure roller comprises a first and a second roller section, as well as a third roller section, wherein the third roller section is transparent to the laser beam of the laser sealing unit and is arranged between the first and second roller sections. The first pressure roller is rotatably mounted about an axis by means of roller journals in the first and second roller sections. The axis corresponds to the geometric axis of the first pressure roller. The third roller section has a length at least a portion of the width of a planned sealing seam.The second pressure roller is designed to guide the material webs and the product along with the first pressure roller. The section of the material webs located between the first and second pressure rollers defines a sealing area for creating the intended seal. The laser sealing unit is positioned such that its laser beam penetrates the third roller section and strikes at least one of the flexible material webs within the sealing area. The laser sealing unit is designed to heat a thermally activated adhesive, applied to at least one surface of at least one of the flexible material webs, or a material component of at least one of the flexible material webs, at least partially within the sealing area.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a method for packaging a medical product, in particular one with a flat surface, according to claim 8 and a system according to claim 7.

[0018] The sealing seam is formed by all the connection points between two material web sections that enclose a medical product. The intended sealing seam corresponds to the positions on the material webs that are subsequently to be joined by the sealing seam. The sealing seam is created by gluing or welding the two material webs together.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the sealing seam completely encloses the medical product and thus serves as a sterile barrier.

[0020] The sealing seam can comprise two longitudinal seams parallel to the direction of flow. It can also include transverse seams that connect the two longitudinal seams to form a closed seal. A transverse seam is defined as any part of the sealing seam that does not run substantially parallel to the direction of flow. For example, the transverse seam can run perpendicular to the direction of flow. Alternatively, the transverse seam can consist of two lines extending from the longitudinal seams that converge at a single point. The transverse seam can also have a rounded shape.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sealing seam of the packaging of a medical product consists of a first and a second longitudinal seam and transverse seams arranged between them, thus creating a closed shape. The two longitudinal seams and the transverse seams preferably form a rectangle. It is also possible for the sealing seam to be designed such that two or more medical products can be sealed side by side perpendicular to the direction of flow.

[0022] The use of two rollers ensures reliable material feed and guidance, even at high speeds. In the sealing area, the transparent roller section allows the material webs to be heated and compressed simultaneously. This eliminates the cooling phase between heating the material web or a thermally activated adhesive and the compression of the webs, which occurs in conventional systems. As a result, the energy input to the packaging material is minimized, preventing unwanted deformation and tearing of the material webs.

[0023] The material webs are made of a flexible material. This material is preferably paper or plastic. For example, the plastic is PET, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyethylene (PE). The thermally activated adhesive is preferably applied to at least one surface of the material webs. The thermally activated adhesive can be applied to the material web in a brushed manner; in particular, a flexible material web coated in this way can have an adhesive content of 14%. In an alternative embodiment, the thermally activated adhesive is applied to the surface of one of the material webs in a grid pattern. The grid-coated material web preferably has an adhesive content of 9%. The use of the grid pattern leaves gas-permeable areas free between the adhesive areas. This embodiment is therefore preferable for sterilization with ethylene oxide.The laser beam heats a designated sealing seam on this adhesive coating, thus bringing it into an adhesive state. The thermally activated adhesive can therefore be heated precisely at the designated sealing seam, preventing the medical product from unintentionally adhering to the packaging.

[0024] In one embodiment, the surface of a material web is coated with the thermally activated adhesive only at those points corresponding to the intended sealing seam. Preferably, the entire surface is coated. One or both of the material webs may have a coating of thermally activated adhesive.

[0025] In the case of welding the two material webs, at least one of the material webs must comprise a thermoplastic. Preferably, this is PE, PP, PET, or PA. Likewise, at least one of the two material webs can be a composite material comprising a thermoplastic. Preferably, the two material webs have a layer comprising a thermoplastic on their surface facing the other material web. In one embodiment, such a composite material can comprise a lacquer, kraft paper, aluminum foil, a PE peel film, and adhesives for bonding the layers. Corresponding composite materials are described, for example, in DIN EN ISO 2286-2 and DIN EN ISO 534.

[0026] The weight per square meter of a paper material is typically between 40 g / m². 2 and 100 g / m² 2If the paper is coated with a grid pattern of thermally activated adhesive, the material web typically has a weight of 60 g / m². 2 up to 120 g / m² 2 .

[0027] The weight per square meter of a composite material is typically between 60 g / m². 2 and 120 g / m² 2 , preferably between 80 g / m² 2 and 110 g / m² 2 and especially preferably between 90 g / m² 2 and 105 g / m² 2 .

[0028] In one embodiment, the medical products have a maximum height of 15 mm, preferably 5 mm, and particularly preferably 2 mm. The height of the medical product is defined as its maximum dimension perpendicular to the material web. In a preferred embodiment, the planar medical products are wound dressings.

[0029] Before reaching the packaging device for a medical product, the material web, and consequently any adhesive, is at a temperature below its melting point. This temperature is typically around 23°C. Therefore, the material webs and / or the adhesive are heated within the packaging device. Using a laser in the laser sealing unit allows for faster energy transfer than with heated sealing roller pairs.

[0030] If the material web does not include a thermally activatable adhesive, the laser sealing unit is designed to heat the intended sealing seams of the material webs to a temperature of 100°C to 220°C, preferably 110°C to 180°C, in particular 120°C to 160°C.

[0031] If the material web includes a thermally activatable adhesive, the laser sealing unit is designed to heat the thermally activatable adhesive, which is applied to the surface of at least one of the material webs, to 80°C to 160°C, preferably 90°C to 150°C, in particular 100°C to 140°C.

[0032] Preferably, the laser sealing unit is designed to introduce a quantity of heat of 0.01 to 30, preferably 0.1 to 20, in particular 1 to 15 into the material web or the thermally activatable adhesive.

[0033] The first pressure roller and the second pressure roller are used to apply the pressure necessary for sealing to the material webs and / or the heated thermally activated adhesive in the sealing area.

[0034] The first pressure roller comprises the first roller section, the second roller section, and the third roller section. The first and second roller sections are preferably made of steel. The first pressure roller is rotatably mounted about its geometric axis by means of roller journals that are attached to the first and second roller sections. The roller journals are preferably located only in the first and second roller sections and do not project into the third roller section.

[0035] The third roller section of the first pressure roller is transparent to the laser beam of the laser sealing unit. Preferably, the third roller section consists of glass, ceramic, plastic, borosilicate glass, quartz glass, sapphire, or calcium fluoride.

[0036] The third roller section has a length at least equal to the width of a portion of the intended sealing seam. Preferably, the length of the third roller section corresponds to at least the width of the material web. The sealing area corresponds to the area located between the first and second pressure rollers, allowing the laser beam of the laser sealing unit to heat the thermally activated adhesive or at least one of the material webs through the first pressure roller. The sealing area is therefore preferably arranged between the second pressure roller and the third roller section of the first pressure roller.

[0037] The first and third roller sections, as well as the second and third roller sections, can be connected by mechanical connections. These mechanical connections can include elastic intermediate elements, for example made of silicone or rubber, to compensate for thermal or mechanical stresses. The roller sections can also be clamped together or bonded using epoxy-based or UV-curing adhesives. Alternatively, the rollers can be connected by a shrink-fit or press-fit connection. The first and second roller sections are heated and expand. The transparent third roller section is inserted into an expanded connector. Upon cooling, the connector shrinks and clamps the second roller section in such a way that it is immobilized relative to the first and / or third roller section.In the process for packaging the medical product, the first pressure roller contacts one of the material webs in the sealing area. The laser beam of the laser sealing unit penetrates the first pressure roller in the third roller section and strikes the material web at at least one sealing point in the sealing area. Preferably, the laser beam is guided through the geometric axis of the first pressure roller, such that the laser beam strikes the first pressure roller perpendicular to a first tangential plane and exits the third roller section of the first pressure roller perpendicular to a second tangential plane.

[0038] Advantageously, the third roller section, which is at least partially transparent to the laser, allows the laser beam to be guided perpendicular to the material web. This focuses the laser beam at the point of impact, resulting in maximum energy transfer. Simultaneously, the beam can be guided without complex deflections.

[0039] In one possible embodiment, the first pressure roller and / or the second pressure roller has compression areas on its outer surface with a closed shape, designed to compress the material webs around the respective medical product.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the second pressure roller has compression areas on its outer surface with a closed shape, designed to compress the material webs around the respective medical product. These compression areas preferably have bulges in the shape of the intended sealing seam. The compression areas can be shaped such that the protruding compression areas follow the entire intended sealing seam or a portion thereof. The intended sealing seam preferably follows the circumference of the packaging.

[0041] The aforementioned compression areas can be heated by means of electrical resistances, so that they are surrounded by unheated areas.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the second pressure roller comprises one or more projecting compression areas made of soft material. The one or more projecting compression areas of the second pressure roller preferably consist of an elastomer, such as silicone.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the second pressure roller consists at least partially of a compressible material designed to flexibly adapt to the contour of the product. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because the second pressure roller can adapt to the shape of the medical product, thus exerting uniform pressure on the material webs along the intended sealing seam, even if the product has an irregular surface. This ensures a reliable seal without damaging the medical product.

[0044] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second pressure roller is designed as an elastomer roller, preferably as a silicone roller, or alternatively as a silicone foam roller, or as a sandwich structure. If the roller has a sandwich structure, the core can comprise polyurethane foam or silicone foam, and the outer skin can be made of silicone elastomer.

[0045] Elastomeric rollers, particularly silicone rollers, are commonly used in the production of wound dressings and are characterized by their easy availability, durability, and temperature stability. A silicone roller typically has a Shore A hardness of 20 to 80, measured according to ASTM D2240. Due to its elastic design, a silicone roller is compressible to a limited extent and can adapt to different product thicknesses.

[0046] A silicone foam roller preferably has a Shore 00 hardness, measured according to ASTM D2240, in the range of 10 to 70, particularly 20 to 60. The silicone foam is especially preferably closed-cell, which prevents the penetration of liquids and provides hygienic advantages. The silicone foam is elastically deformable and adapts to unevenness of the counter surface during operation.

[0047] The sandwich construction mentioned above comprises a core of polyurethane or silicone foam and an outer skin made of a silicone elastomer with a hardness of 40 to 60 Shore A. This design combines the advantages of a soft, compressible core structure with an abrasion-resistant outer surface. The elastic properties of the core ensure uniform pressure distribution across the entire seal, while the silicone elastomer outer skin guarantees high wear resistance. This combination of softness and abrasion resistance makes the sandwich construction particularly suitable for high web speeds of 100 to 250 m / min. Furthermore, the elastic properties of these materials prevent damage to sensitive medical products during the sealing process.According to a further embodiment, the second pressure roller is designed as a sandwich structure with a core of PUR foam or silicone foam and an outer skin of silicone elastomer, and includes a heatable component, in particular a heatable layer. The heatable layer can be configured to introduce additional heat energy into the material webs to support the activation of the thermally activated adhesive or to promote the welding of the material webs. This enables improved sealing quality, especially at higher web speeds, since the combination of laser energy and the heatable layer of the second pressure roller ensures optimized energy input into the intended seal.Another advantage of the heated layer is that it supports constant sealing conditions, since a temperature equilibrium with the environment is easier to maintain with a heated roller than with a passive roller that is only heated by process waste heat.

[0048] Furthermore, the device can include a pair of auxiliary rollers. Advantageously, these are designed to bring the material webs together around the product at an acute angle before they enter the sealing area. The pair of auxiliary rollers is arranged upstream of the sealing area.

[0049] The device preferably comprises a pair of transport rollers configured to convey the composite web of flexible material webs and the continuous arrangement of medical products enclosed between the two flexible continuous material webs downstream from the sealing area after the sealing process. The composite web is then preferably guided past the at least one cutting unit. The cutting unit cuts the material webs so that the medical products are individually packaged. In a further preferred embodiment, the individually packaged medical products are sterilized by a sterilization unit and / or packed in a transport carton.

[0050] The invention further relates to a system for packaging a medical product, in particular one with a flat surface. The system comprises a first device according to the invention and a second device according to the invention. The two flexible material webs are first guided past the first device and then past the second device in a downstream direction. The first device comprises a first laser sealing unit, a first pressure roller of the first device, and a second pressure roller of the first device. The second device comprises a second laser sealing unit, a first pressure roller of the second device, and a second pressure roller of the second device.

[0051] The first and second laser sealing units each comprise a laser configured to heat a thermally activatable adhesive applied to at least one surface of at least one of the flexible material webs, or to at least partially heat one of the material webs, in order to fuse them together. Alternatively, instead of two lasers, the laser beam of a single laser can be split into two partial beams to function simultaneously as the laser of the first laser sealing unit and as the laser of the second laser sealing unit. The flexible material webs are initially at least partially sealed in a first sealing area located between the second pressure roller of the first device and the first pressure roller of the first device.Subsequently, the two material webs are at least partially sealed in a second sealing area located between the second pressure roller and the first pressure roller of the second device. Preferably, different portions of the intended seal are sealed in the first and second sealing areas.

[0052] For example, the first device creates a longitudinal seam. The longitudinal seam is the portion of the seal that runs essentially parallel to the current direction. Two flexible material webs and a product are provided. At least one of the material webs can have a thermally activated adhesive. The product is enclosed between the two opposing flexible material webs. For example, the portion of the intended seal that runs essentially parallel to the current direction is heated by the first laser sealing unit. The two material webs are pressed together by the first and second pressure rollers of the first device, particularly along this intended longitudinal seam, to enclose the products between the material webs. The second pressure roller of the first device preferably has indentations in the shape of the intended longitudinal seam.The enclosed product is then supplied to the second device. The second device then creates, for example, a transverse seam. Preferably, the parts of the intended seal that have not yet been sealed are heated by the laser of the second laser sealing unit. The two material webs are then pressed together by the first and second pressure rollers of the second device, particularly along this intended transverse seam. The second pressure roller of the second device preferably has indentations in the shape of the intended transverse seam. The seal is completed by the second sealing step of the second device, so that the seal preferably has a closed shape.

[0053] Alternatively, the first device can seal the transverse seam and the second device can perform the sealing of the longitudinal seam.

[0054] Similarly, sections of the intended sealing seam that require a higher energy input for a secure sterile barrier can be resealed using the second device.

[0055] The use of a system comprising at least two devices according to the invention, each sealing the longitudinal or transverse seams, has the advantage that the system can be easily adapted to different packaging sizes. This can be achieved by adjusting the second pressure roller, and in particular the spacing of the protrusions, and / or by controlling the angular velocity of the first and second pressure rollers.

[0056] The invention also relates to a method for packaging a medical product, in particular one with a flat surface. The method comprises the following steps:

[0057] a. Providing two flexible material webs and a product, b. Enclosing the product between the two opposing flexible material webs

[0058] c. And passing the material webs and the enclosed flexible product past a laser sealing unit of a device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6,

[0059] wherein the section of material webs lying between the first pressure roller and the second pressure roller defines a sealing area for producing a intended seal seam,

[0060] d. Heating at least part of a planned sealing seam in the sealing area using at least the laser sealing unit.

[0061] In a first embodiment, at least one of the flexible material webs has a thermally activatable adhesive on its surface, which faces the other material web.

[0062] In a second embodiment, at least one of the flexible material webs consists of a material that bonds with the second flexible material web when heated. This material can be a thermoplastic or a composite material comprising a thermoplastic. This method transfers the laser energy to the material web and / or the thermally activated adhesive more quickly than conventional methods, where the adhesive and / or the material web is heated by a heating unit integrated into a pair of pressure rollers. Therefore, with the present method, it is possible and advantageous for the flexible material webs to be guided at a web speed of 150 m / min to 250 m / min, particularly 180 m / min to 210 m / min.

[0063] The material web facing the first pressure roller is at least partially transparent to the laser beam of the laser sealing unit.

[0064] The laser beam can be directed to the third roller section using suitable optical elements, such as mirrors. This allows for a more flexible arrangement of the laser.

[0065] If none of the material webs includes a thermally activated adhesive, the laser sealing unit is designed to heat the intended sealing seams of the material webs to a temperature of 100°C to 220°C, preferably 110°C to 180°C, and particularly 120°C to 160°C. Briefly reaching a temperature at least 10°C above the melting temperature of the material web is particularly advantageous.

[0066] If the material web includes a thermally activatable adhesive, the laser sealing unit is designed to heat the thermally activatable adhesive, which is applied to the surface of at least one of the material webs, to 80°C to 160°C, preferably 90°C to 150°C, and particularly 100°C to 140°C. A temperature up to 5°C above the melting temperature of the thermally activatable adhesive is particularly advantageous.

[0067]

[0068]

[0069]

[0070] In particular, a heat quantity of 0.01 to 30, preferably 0.1 to 20 mm mm mm is required.

[0071]

[0072] , in particular 1-^ to 15 into the material web or the thermally activatable mm mnr mnr

[0073] Adhesive applied.

[0074] The laser power used is primarily adjusted to the weight per square meter of the material webs and, if present, to the weight per square meter of the thermally activated adhesive. Furthermore, the laser power used depends, among other things, on the specific heat capacity of the material webs and the thermally activated adhesive.

[0075] Preferably, the laser power can be tailored to the contour of the intended seal. Particularly preferably, the laser power is tailored to the propagation of the intended seal perpendicular to the current direction swept by the laser beam. In this case, the laser power can be increased if the intended seal is wider perpendicular to the current direction; that is, the laser power must reach its maximum value when the intended seal covers the entire width of the material web. The laser power is lower than this maximum value if the area to be heated of the intended seal does not cover the entire width of the material web. Preferably, the laser beam is widened when a portion of the contour with a greater width is swept, and particularly preferably, the laser power is increased so that the area power is constant over the entire intended seal.

[0076] For a single package, the laser power can therefore initially be increased when the laser beam hits the first intended transverse seam. The laser power is then reduced to heat the two intended longitudinal seams, and subsequently increased again to irradiate the second intended transverse seam of the package.

[0077] In one embodiment, the laser sealing unit can comprise two lasers. Alternatively, instead of two lasers, the laser beam of a single laser can be split into two or more partial beams.

[0078] The material webs are preferably brought together at an angle of up to 90°, with the angle preferably being at most 60°, and in particular at most 30°.

[0079] Care must be taken to ensure that the material web carrying the medical products is essentially perpendicular to gravity so that the medical products do not slip during the sealing process and remain within the area enclosed by the intended seal.

[0080] Figure 1: Schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention

[0081] Figure 2: Schematic representation of the first pressure roller

[0082] Figure 3: Schematic representation of a system consisting of two devices according to the invention

[0083] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the device for packaging a flat medical product. The medical products A to be packaged can be, for example, wound dressings.

[0084] The device 100 comprises a laser 31 as a laser sealing unit 30. The thermally activatable adhesive, which is applied to the surface of a first flexible material web 11, is heated along a designated sealing seam by means of the laser 31. The surface of the first material web 11, which carries the thermally activatable adhesive, faces the second material web 12. The second material web 12 carries the wound dressings A to be packaged. The first material web 11 is held at an angle of approximately...

[0085] The 30° material is joined with a second material strip 12 in the sealing area 50 (dashed rectangle). The wound dressings A are enclosed between the flexible material strips 11 and 12.

[0086] Between the second pressure roller 40, whose surface has indentations in the form of the intended sealing seam, and the first pressure roller 20, the two material webs 11, 12 are pressed together in the sealing area 50 at the intended sealing seam, where the adhesive is heated. The first pressure roller 20 is movably mounted about its geometric axis by means of roller journals. The first pressure roller 20 includes a third roller section 23, which is transparent to the laser beam, so that the laser beam can penetrate the first pressure roller 20 in this third roller section 23. The laser beam strikes the first material web 11 in the sealing area 50. The first material web 11 is made of plastic and is also transparent to the laser beam, so that it strikes the thermally activated adhesive essentially without energy loss.

[0087] Since the laser beam of laser 31 allows the energy to be selectively transferred to the material web 11 and in particular to the thermally activatable adhesive, more reliable sealing of the wound dressings is achieved at web speeds of 200 m / min.

[0088] The width of the third roller section 23 corresponds at least to the width of the material webs 11, 12, and the third roller section 23 rests against the material web 11 in the sealing area 50 across the entire width of the intended sealing seam. For sealing a intended transverse seam, the laser beam is expanded. The laser 31 is pulsed so that the laser beam heats the thermally activatable adhesive only at the intended transverse seam. For sealing a intended longitudinal seam, the laser beam is split into two laser beams. The laser 31 is pulsed so that the laser beam heats the thermally activatable adhesive only at the intended longitudinal seam.

[0089] Alternatively, the surface of the first material web 11 may not have a thermally activatable adhesive, in which case the first material web is joined to the second material web exclusively by welding. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the first pressure roller 20.

[0090] The first pressure roller 20 comprises a first roller section 21 and a second roller section 22. These two roller sections are made of steel. They have recesses 211, 221 at both open ends for receiving a roller journal each. The recesses 211, 221 extend along the geometric axis of the first pressure roller 20. The length of the recesses 211, 221 is less than the length of the first or second roller section 21, 22.

[0091] The third roller section 23 is arranged between the first and second roller sections 21, 22. The third roller section 23 is designed to be transparent to the laser light from the laser sealing unit 30. The material of the third roller section 23 is glass.

[0092] Figure 3 shows a top view of a system consisting of two devices 100a, 100b according to the invention for packaging a medical product A. The two flexible material webs 11, 12 are first guided past the first device 100a in a downstream direction and then past the second device 100b. The first device 100a creates the transverse seam of the seal and the second device 100b creates the longitudinal seam of the seal.

[0093] The first device 100a comprises a first laser sealing unit, a first pressure roller of the first device, and a second pressure roller of the first device, and the second device 100b comprises a second laser sealing unit, a first pressure roller of the second device, and a second pressure roller of the second device. The first laser sealing unit comprises a first laser, and the second laser sealing unit comprises a second laser. The components of the devices are not shown here.

[0094] The flexible material webs 11, 12 are first sealed along the intended transverse seam in a first sealing area 50a, which is arranged between the first pressure roller of the first device and the second pressure roller of the first device. In sealing area 50a, the laser beam of the first laser sealing unit strikes the first material web 11 in a first area 25a. The first area 25a extends essentially along a line perpendicular to the flow direction across the entire width of the material webs. The first laser is pulsed, so that a transverse seam Q is generated by irradiating the first material web in the first area 25a.

[0095] Subsequently, in a second sealing area 50b, which is arranged between the first and second pressure rollers of the second device, the two material webs 11 and 12 are sealed along the intended longitudinal seam. In sealing area 50b, the laser beam of the second laser sealing unit strikes the first material web 11 in a second area 25b and creates the longitudinal seam L. The second area 25b consists of two points of impact, each of which can be assigned to one of the two longitudinal seams L. For this purpose, the laser beam of the second laser is split.

Claims

Claims 1. Device (100) for packaging a medical product (A), in particular a planar product, between two opposing flexible material webs (11, 12) comprising: a laser sealing unit (30) comprising a laser (31), a first pressure roller (20) comprising a first roller section (21) and a second roller section (22), and a third roller section (23), wherein the third roller section (23) is permeable to the laser beam of the laser sealing unit (30) and is arranged between the first roller section (21) and the second roller section (22), and wherein the first pressure roller (20) is rotatably mounted about an axis by means of roller journals in the first roller section (21) and in the second roller section (22), and wherein the third roller section (23) has at least the length of the width of a part of a planned sealing seam, a second pressure roller (40) designed to guide the material webs and the product (A) together with the first pressure roller (20), wherein the section of the material webs (11,12) lying between the first pressure roller (20) and the second pressure roller (40) defines a sealing area (50) for producing the intended seal seam, wherein the laser sealing unit (30) is arranged such that the laser beam of the laser sealing unit (30) penetrates the third roller section (23) and hits at least one of the flexible material webs (11,12) in the sealing area (50), and wherein the laser sealing unit (30) is configured to heat at least partially in the sealing area (50) a thermally activatable adhesive applied to at least one surface of at least one of the flexible material webs (11, 12) or a material of at least one of the flexible material webs (11, 12).

2. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure roller (20) and / or the second pressure roller (40) comprises one or more projecting compression areas.

3. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second pressure roller (40) consists at least partially of a compressible material designed to flexibly adapt to a contour of the product (A).

4. Device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the second pressure roller (40) - as an elastomer roller, preferably as a silicone roller, - as a silicone foam roller, or - as a roller with a sandwich construction with a core of PUR foam or silicone foam and an outer skin of silicone elastomer is trained.

5. Device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the second pressure roller (40) is designed as a sandwich structure with a core of PUR foam or silicone foam and an outer skin of silicone elastomer and wherein the second pressure roller (4) comprises a heatable portion, in particular a heatable layer.

6. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (100) comprises a pair of transport rollers configured to convey the material webs (11, 12) and the product (A) from the sealing area (50) after the sealing process.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the roller journals do not extend into the third roller section (23).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first roller section (21) and the second roller section (22) are made of steel and / or wherein the third roller section (23) is made of glass.

9. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the laser beam of the laser (31) is designed to deliver at least an energy of 0.01 mm to 30 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 20 mm, in particular 1 mm to 15 mm to be transferred to the intended sealing seam.

10. System comprising a first device (100a) and a second device (100b) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two flexible material webs (11, 12) are first guided past the first device (100a) and then past the second device (100b) in a downstream direction.

11. Method for packaging a medical product (A), in particular one with a flat surface, comprising the steps of: a. providing two flexible material webs (11, 12) and a product (A), b. enclosing the product (A) between the two opposing flexible material webs (11, 12), c. And passing the material webs (11, 12) and the enclosed flexible product (A) past a laser sealing unit (30) of a device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the section of the material webs (11,12) lying between the first pressure roller (20) and the second pressure roller (40) defines a sealing area (50) for producing a intended sealing seam, d. Heating at least part of a planned sealing seam in the sealing area (50) using at least the laser sealing unit (30), wherein preferably at least the material web (11,12) facing the laser beam of the laser sealing unit (30) is at least partially transparent to the laser beam.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the flexible material webs (11, 12) are moved in the direction of the current at a speed of 150 m / min to 250 m / min, preferably 180 m / min to 210 m / min.

13. Method according to at least one of claims 11 or 12, wherein at least one of the flexible material webs (11, 12) has a thermally activatable adhesive on the surface facing the other material web.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the material webs (11,12) are heated to a temperature of 100°C to 220°C, preferably 110°C to 180°C, in particular 120°C to 160°C.

15. Method according to one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the material webs (11, 12) are heated to a temperature of 80°C to 160°C, preferably 90°C to 150°C, in particular 100°C to 140°C.

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