Patent ID: 7963396
Filing Date: 2011-06-21
Classification: A61M,B65B,B65D

Abstract:
1. A vacuum packaging system for transporting a plurality of medical containers comprising: a plurality of medical containers, each medical container including a head side and a base side; a tray that receives and supports the medical containers, the tray including opposing first and second sidewalls, opposing front and rear walls and a bottom floor, the walls extending generally perpendicularly from the bottom floor of the tray to a top edge thereof; a nesting plate removably mountable in the tray, the nesting plate including a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of generally cylindrical sleeves, each of the plurality of sleeves receiving one of the plurality of medical containers; a support surface within the tray extending generally parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance above the bottom floor of the tray, the support surface including a lip extending inwardly from a portion of each of the sidewalls, the front wall and the rear wall and a plurality of spaced-apart support members extending generally perpendicularly from the bottom floor of the tray, a top surface of each support member and a top surface of the lip being generally co-planar such that both the top surface of the lip and the top surface of each support member directly receive and support the bottom surface of the nesting plate; wherein each support member includes an enclosed first end forming a portion of the support surface and an open second end proximate the bottom floor of the tray such that each support member is generally hollow; and an air impervious flexible film defining an internal cavity, the air impervious flexible film completely surrounding the tray and the medical containers, the internal cavity being evacuated to and maintained at a predetermined vacuum level below atmospheric pressure.