Medical Device Packaging Assembly with Folded Support Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dimensionally unstable packaging for medical devices leads to movement and potential damage during transport, increasing costs and complexity due to the need for additional protective components like foams or cushioning materials.

Innovation Solution

A packaging assembly that includes at least two pouches with a support member, where the pouches are secured relative to each other by folding, eliminating the need for additional attachment methods like adhesives or taping, and providing dimensional stability to reduce the requirement for extra cushioning materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional protective components like foams or cushioning materials are used to prevent pouch movement and damage, then the medical device is better protected during transport, but packaging costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of medical deviceVSAvoidpackaging system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch and protective support structure are merged into a single integrated component. The pouch includes integrated support members that provide structural stability and prevent movement without requiring separate foam or cushioning materials, thereby reducing packaging complexity while maintaining device protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a sterile barrier, provides structural support, prevents device movement, and eliminates the need for separate protective components. This multi-functionality reduces both complexity and cost while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If additional protective components like foams or cushioning materials are used to prevent pouch movement and damage, then the medical device is better protected during transport, but packaging costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of medical deviceVSAvoidpackaging material quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The protective support function is combined into the pouch structure itself through integrated support members, eliminating the need for separate foam or cushioning materials. This reduces the total quantity of packaging materials while maintaining adequate protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective support function is extracted from separate cushioning materials and integrated directly into the pouch structure. This eliminates unnecessary material layers and reduces overall packaging material quantity while preserving the protection function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If pouches are vacuumed to reduce movement of the medical device inside, then device stability is improved, but the pouches may still move within secondary packaging and require additional protective components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice stability inside pouchVSAvoidpackaging system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch and protective support structure are merged into a single integrated component. The pouch includes integrated support members that provide structural stability and prevent movement without requiring separate foam or cushioning materials, thereby reducing packaging complexity while maintaining device protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Device complexity

If the pouches are made dimensionally stable without additional components, then packaging complexity is reduced, but the pouches may buckle or crumple during handling and insertion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging system complexityVSAvoidease of pouch insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch and protective support structure are merged into a single integrated component. The pouch includes integrated support members that provide structural stability and prevent movement without requiring separate foam or cushioning materials, thereby reducing packaging complexity while maintaining device protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3357444B1Packaging assembly
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 SYNTHES GMBH
  • EP3357444B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1E
  • EP3357444B1 patent drawingFigure 1F~1H
  • EP3357444B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

A packaging assembly for a medical device (100; 200) comprises at least one pouch (101, 201; 103; 203), such as a first pouch and a second pouch, sealed so as to provide a sterile barrier between the environment and the medical device (100; 200) received in the first pouch (101; 201), which in turn is received in the second pouch (103; 203). The packaging assembly further comprises at least one support member (102; 202), wherein, in an assembled configuration, at least the first pouch (101; 201) and the support member (102; 202) are secured against movement relative to each other by at least one of the first and second pouches (101, 103; 201, 203) being folded around the support member (102; 202). The at least one of the first and second pouches (101, 103; 201, 203) is folded around the support member (102; 202) such that at least the first pouch (101; 201) and the support member (102; 202) are secured against movement relative to each other, either before or after inserting the first pouch (101; 201) with the medical device (100; 200) into the second pouch (103; 203). The support member (102; 202) may hold the packaging assembly within a secondary packaging (118; 218), which corresponds in size and shape to the packaging assembly.