Folded Protective Cover for Vacuum-Sealed Medical Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical device packaging, particularly for implants with rough surfaces, faces issues such as film particle detachment during handling and vacuum sealing, leading to potential contamination and damage, and rigid holders that can break or form creases.

Innovation Solution

A flexible, pocket-shaped protective cover made from a single, foldable flat blank with predefined fold lines, forming a sterile barrier that prevents film particle detachment and withstands vacuum sealing forces, ensuring easy handling and minimal wrinkling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a rigid holder or product protection package is used to protect medical devices with rough surfaces, then film particle detachment is prevented, but the package can break or bend due to vacuum sealing forces and causes numerous creases on the sterile bag

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilm particle detachmentVSAvoidresistance to vacuum sealing forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a flexible protective cover made from a flat blank that is folded along predefined fold lines to form a pocket shape. This flexible structure prevents film particle detachment while accommodating vacuum sealing forces without breaking or bending, and minimizes crease formation on the sterile bag.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If a rigid product protection package is used, then product protection is improved, but handling becomes more difficult and creases form on the sterile packaging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct protectionVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible protective cover provides adequate product protection while being easier to handle than rigid packages. The folded flat blank design allows for simple insertion and removal of medical devices without the complexity of rigid structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If vacuum sealing is applied to protect sterility, then contamination is prevented, but film particles detach from the packaging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidfilm particle contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible protective cover acts as an intermediate layer between the medical device and the vacuum-sealed sterile packaging. It prevents direct contact between the rough medical device surface and the packaging film, thereby preventing film particle detachment while maintaining sterility through vacuum sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4465917B1Packaging for a medical product

Publication Date: 2026.03.04 AESCULAP AG

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AI summary

The present invention discloses a packaging for or of a medical product (M), including a secondary packaging (15) forming a sterile barrier and also defining a sealed or sealable receptacle for the medical product (M), and a product storage space and/or holder for contact-free storage of the product inside the secondary packaging. The product storage space and/or holder is in the form of a preferably pocket-like protective cover (1) for receiving the medical product (M) and for interspacing the secondary packaging and the product, the protective cover being made of a single, flexible flat blank that is produced by folding along at least one predefined hinged-fold line (4).