STERILE PACKAGE WITH LIFTING STRAP

Abstract: A double sterile tray package (30) for storing articles in a sterilized condition and for enabling aseptic transfer of the inner tray (44) and articles contained therein into a sterile field includes a lifting strap (58) attached adjacent one side edge of the inner tray and having a free end disposed centrally of the top cover (54) of the inner tray in position to be exposed upon opening of the outer tray whereby the lifting strap may easily be grasped for lifting the inner tray without danger of contammination to the inner tray or to scrubbed personnel removing the inner tray.

Description: STERILE PACKAGE WITH LIFTING STRAP This invention relates to sterile packages for medical instruments, devices and supplies and more particularly to an improved double-sterile package which may be opened and the sterile contents removed without danger of contamination either of the contents or of personnel removing the contents in a sterile environment. Medical instruments, devices and supplies (hereinafter, articles) which are used in surgical and other medical procedures are normally sterilized and stored in sterile packages. Such packages are conven¬ tionally prepared and sterilized in advance and there- fore the packaging material must be sufficiently imper¬ vious to bacteria to enable the articles to be stored for substantial periods. At the same time, the packages must be capable of being opened quickly and easily without the aid of special instruments or tools and without risk of contamination of the contents or of the scrubbed personnel removing the contents in a sterile environment. Packages of sterilized articles are conven¬ tionally stored in non-sterile environments and there- fore the external surface of the packages are them¬ selves considered contaminated. Once the outer package wall is ruptured to expose the packaged article, care must be taken in removing the article to avoid contact with the ruptured edge of the package with the steri- lized article or the article will be considered conta¬ minated and unsafe for use. Similarly, when an article is removed by sterilized personnel, extreme care must be exercised to avoid contact between the hands and the ruptured edge or outer surface of the package. Double sterile tray designs are known which facilitate aseptic transfer of sterilized articles into a sterile field. Such known double-tray designs con¬ ventionally employ a sealed, sterilized inner tray or package within a second sealed sterile outer tray. When the outer tray is opened, the sealed inner tray and its contents are transferred aseptically to the sterile field. This is done either by the person opening the outer tray flipping the sealed inner tray and its contents into the sterile field or by scrubbed personnel lifting the inner tray and its contents from the opened outer tray. In practice, the latter method is most commonly employed, particularly with larger and bulkier items. Also, flipping or dumping the inner tray and contents from the opened outer tray presents risk of damage to the tray and its contents and also presents greater risk of contamination to the sterile field. In order to facilitate transferring the inner sterile package from an opened outer sterile tray, prior art double sterile tray designs have been formed with recesses or indentations in the periphery of the inner trays to provide "finger openings" or space for the scrubbed personnel to insert one or more fingers between the inner and outer trays to enable lifting of the inner tray. The location of these finger openings adjacent the peripheral wall of the outer tray still presents a problem, however, due to their proximity to the non-sterile opened edge portion of the outer tray and the risk of contamination to scrubbed personnel removing such sterile inner trays is high. While this risk could be reduced, but not entirely eliminated, by providing larger lifting openings in the periphery of the inner tray, this solution is not satisfactory both because an excessively large and therefore more expen¬ sive outer tray is required and because of the waste of valuable storage space. It is a primary object of the present inven¬ tion to provide an improved double sterile tray package which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art double sterile tray packages discussed above. Another object is to provide an improved double sterile tray package which facilitates removal of the inner tray from an opened outer tray without risk of contamination to the inner tray or to scrubbed personnel removing the inner tray. Another object is to provide such a double sterile tray package which provides maximum storage space within the package. Another object is to provide such an improved double sterile tray package which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is easy to use. In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, an important feature of the present invention resides in providing improved lifting means on the inner tray of a double sterile tray package. The lifting means is readily accessible, when the outer tray is opened, at a central location on the exposed top surface of the inner tray and is adapted to facilitate the lifting of one edge portion of the inner tray clear of the outer tray where it may readily be grasped by scrubbed personnel for transfer to a sterile field. The lifting means preferably is in the form of an elongated flexible lifting strap having one end securely attached adjacent the side of the inner tray to be lifted, with the remaining portion of the strap extending over and resting on the removable top cover of the inner tray in position to be readily accessible when the top cover of the outer tray is removed. Preferably, the lifting strap is made from a relatively thin material such as a high strength paper which will lay flat on the top cover and remain in position during handling of the sealed double sterile tray package as during sterilization, storage and the like. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description contained hereinbelow, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art double sterile tray package shown with the top cover of the outer tray removed and illustrating the inner tray being removed; Figure 2 is a top plan view of a prior art double sterile tray package showing an alternate means for facilitating removal of the inner tray; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a double sterile tray package according to the present invention and showing the top cover sheet of the outer tray partially removed to provide access to the inner tray; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the double sterile tray package of Figure 3 and showing the inner tray being removed; Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a lifting strap suitable for attachment to and lifting of the sealed inner tray of a double sterile tray package. Referring now to the drawings in detail, prior art double sterile tray packages are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Such packages, designated generally by the the reference numeral 10, conventionally employ a unitary, molded outer tray 12 having a bottom wall, not shown, and upwardly extending sidewalls 14 terminating in an out-turned flange 16 at the open top of the tray. Trays 12 are illustrated as being generally rectangular in cross section, this configuration being the most commonly used configuration in the commer¬ cially available double sterile packages. A second or inner tray, designated generally by the reference numeral 18, is nested within outer tray 12, with tray 18 being dimensioned to fit completely within tray 12. A cover sheet 20 extends over and closes inner tray 18, with the cover sheet 20 being sealed to the out-turned flange at the top of tray 18 by an adhesive material which, while forming a bacteriologiσally impervious seal, also permits the cover sheet 20 to be peeled off in a manner known in the art. A similar cover sheet, not shown, extends over and seals flange 16 on outer tray 12 when sterile articles are stored in the double sterile tray package. Normally, either the cover sheets 20 or the body of the trays will be formed of a material which is to some extent gas permeable but bacteriologiσally impermeable whereby articles packaged and sealed in the double sterile tray package may be sterilized in a known manner without rupturing the peelable adhesive seal. When an article packaged in a double sterile tray package is desired in a sterile field, the sealed package may be transported by non-sterile personnel to a transfer area adjacent the sterile field. The outer tray is then opened by peeling off the outer cover sheet 20, taking care not to contact any portion of the inner sealed tray. In the prior art package illus¬ trated in Figures 1 and 2, one or more recesses, gen- erally referred to as finger holes, are provided in the top flange and sidewall portions of the inner tray. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, two finger holes 22, 24 are provided one at each of two diagonally opposed corners of the inner tray, to permit scrubbed personnel to insert one or more fingers between the inner wall of the open outer tray and the sealed inner tray to lift the inner tray. However, as is readily seen from Figure 1, this arrangement inherently requires the scrubbed personnel removing the inner tray to anipu- late one or both hands in close proximity to the conta¬ minated peripheral edge of the open outer tray. Thus, while the finger holes 22, 24 theoretically provide means for removal of the inner tray without contami¬ nating either the inner tray or the scrubbed personnel removing it, extreme care must be exercised to avoid contamination and the resulting unnecessary delay and waste of material including sterile gloves and sometimes even the contents of the inner sterile tray. Also, it should be apparent that the relief portions or finger holes 22, 24 must extend into the enclosure of the inner tray since it is necessary to provide a continuous flange for sealing and maintaining the sterile atmosphere inside the package. This, of course, necessarily reduces the space available within the inner tray for packaging of articles. in the prior art double sterile tray shown in Figure 2, the finger holes, 26, 28 for lifting the inner tray are formed centrally in opposed sidewall portions of the inner tray. This arrangement may pro¬ vide easier tilting and lifting of the inner tray, but the location of the openings in the central portion of the sidewalls can provide greater interference with articles to be packaged. Referring now to Figures 3 - 6, a double sterile tray package 30 according to the present in- vention will be described. Package 30 comprises an outer tray 32 having a bottom wall 34 and integrally formed upwardly extending sidewalls 36 and end walls 38, with the side and end walls terminating at the open top of the tray in an out-turned flange 40. A peelable cover sheet 42 normally extends over the open top of tray 32 and is adhered to the upwardly directed surface of flange 40 to provide the sealed sterile closure for the package. Tray 32 may be substantially identical to tray 12 described above with respect to the prior art double sterile tray packages. Package 30 also includes an inner tray 44, also preferably integrally formed from a single sheet of material to include a bottom wall 46, upwardly ex¬ tending sidewalls 48 and end walls 50 and an out-turned top flange 52. A second peelable cover sheet 54 extends over the open top of tray 44 and is adhered to the upwardly directed surface of flange 52 to seal the package. Tray 44 preferably has a shape substantially identical to but slightly less than outer tray 32 so that the sealed inner tray will fit closely within the outer tray. In accordance with the present invention, aseptic removal of the inner tray 44 from the opened outer tray 32 is facilitated by an elongated lifting strap 58 provided on the inner tray. Strap 58 prefer¬ ably has one end portion 60 secured, as by a suitable adhesive, not shown, to the outer surface of one up¬ wardly directed wall, for example, an end wall 50 of the inner tray and to the downwardly directed surface of the out-turned flange 52. The other end portion 64 of strap 58 extends around the edge of flange 52 and lies flat on the outer top surface of cover 54. The strap 58 is preferably of a length to terminate at a point near the center of cover sheet 54. Lifting strap 58 is formed from a suitable material such as a high strength paper (including spun- bonded polyolefin fiber webs, such as those sold by Ξ. I. duPont de Nemours & Co. under the name Tyvek®) , fabric or sheet plastic which is sufficiently flexible to be manipulated with the hand without tearing, but which has sufficient stability to normally lie flat and stay in the desired location at the central portion of the inner package top cover during normal handling of the sealed package 30. Lifting strap 58 is preferably formed separ¬ ately and attached to the inner tray at the time of packaging the article to be sterilized. To this end, the attachment end portion 60 of strap 58 may have a suitable adhesive material applied to one surface, with the adhesive coating protected by a suitable peelable cover sheet (not shown) in a manner well known. A score-line 62 is preferably formed between the adhe¬ sively coated attachment portion 60 and the lifting portion 64 so that, when the lifting strap is adhered to the inner package, the score-line will assure that the lifting handle portion 64 lies flat along the top surface of cover sheet 54. In use of the double sterile package of the present invention, the adhesively coated portion 60 of lifting strap 58 is secured to the sealed inner tray on the side which is to be first removed from the outer tray by the scrubbed personnel. Strap 58 is attached so that score-line 62 coincides with the edge of the inner tray flange, thereby allowing the lifting portion 64 to lie flat on the top of the inner tray before the inner tray is inserted into the outer tray and sealed by cover sheet 42. By using a lifting strap material of sufficient dimensional stability, the lifting strap will stay in this position during subsequent handling such as in sterilization, shipping, storage and the like. When the top cover 42 of outer tray 32 is removed by non-sterile personnel, the inner tray is presented to the scrubbed personnel for aseptic transfer. Lifting portion 64 of strap 58 is conveniently located in the center of the sterile field at the point furthest from the non-sterile sealed perimeter of the outer tray and can be easily grasped without danger of contamination to the scrubbed personnel. 3y pulling upward on the strap by one hand as illustrated in Figure 4, the side of the inner tray to which the strap is attached is lifted clear of the outer tray and is readily accessible for removal by the other hand. Thus, the present invention provides an extremely simple yet reliable means for removal of the inner tray in a double sterile tray package without danger of contamination to scrubbed personnel. Further, the lifting means does not in any way inter¬ fere with other packaging features and requires no additional packaging space. The lifting strap is easy to apply and is inexpensive to use. It should be apparent that various modifi¬ cations to the double sterile tray package could be made. For example, the lifting strap could be integrally formed with the peelable cover sheet on the inner tray 54. Also, while the package is described with respect to double trays, it is believed apparent that other package configurations might be employed such as a single outer tray with an unwrapped inner package having the lifting strap centrally located. Aσcord- ingly, while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described, it is believed apparent that the invention is not so limited and it is therefore intended to include all embodiments which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED; 1. A double sterile tray package for storing articles in a sterilized condition and for enabling aseptic transfer of the inner tray and articles con- tained therein into a sterilized field, the package comprising an outer tray having a bottom wall and up- wardly extending sidewalls terminating in an open top, an inner tray received within said outer tray and having a bottom wall and upwardly extending side- walls terminating in top edge portions defining an open top, a first removable cover sheet extending over and sealing said open top of said inner tray, a second removable cover sheet extending over and sealing said open top of said outer tray when the sealed inner tray is positioned therein, the second removable cover sheet extending in generally contiguous overlying relation to said first cover sheet, and elongated lifting strap means having one end portion secured to said inner tray and a free end portion extending in overlying relation to said first removable cover sheet and terminating at a point spaced inwardly from said top edge portions of the sidewalls of said inner tray, whereby said free end portion of said lifting strap is exposed by removal of said second cover sheet from said outer tray to enable the lifting strap to be grasped by scrubbed personnel to lift said inner tray to a position to be grasped by the hand to aseptically remove the sealed inner tray and contents from the opened outer tray. 2. The double sterile tray package defined in claim 1 wherein said lifting strap comprises a length of a flexible material having one end secured to the outer sidewall surface of said inner tray, said free end portion extending around the peripheral edge of said flange defining the open top of said inner tray, and lying in contact with the outer surface of said first cover sheet. 3. The double sterile tray package defined in claim 2 wherein said strap further comprises a score- line extending transversely of said length of flexible material, said score-line being disposed along the top edge portion of said sidewall defining the open top of the inner tray whereby the free end portion of said strap may be folded to lie in said contacting relation with the outer surface of said first cover sheet. 4. The double sterile tray package defined in claim 3 wherein said strap is adhesively bonded to the outer surface of said inner tray sidewall. 5. The double sterile tray package defined in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls of said inner tray terminate in an out-turned flange extending around the open top periphery of said inner tray, and wherein said one end of said lifting 3trap is secured to said inner tray adjacent said flange. 6. The double sterile tray package defined in claim 5 wherein said lifting strap comprises a length of flexible material having one end adhesively bonded to an outer surface of one sidewall portion of said inner tray, said strap extending around said flange and lying on said first cover sheet. 7. The double sterile tray package defined in claim 6 wherein said strap further comprises a score- line extending transversely of said length of flexible material, said score-line being disposed adjacent the outer peripheral edge of said flange. 8. The double-sterile tray package defined in Claim 1 wherein said free portion of said lifting strap is located so that a lifting portion of said strap is located at the greatest possible distance from said sidewalls of said outer tray after said second cover sheet has been removed. 9. A double sterile tray package comprising a sealed inner tray for containing articles to be packaged, a sealed outer tray containing said inner tray, said outer tray including a removable top cover sheet, and an elongated flexible lifting strap having one end portion secured to said inner tray and a free portion disposed in position to be exposed upon removal of said top cover sheet to thereby facilitate lifting and aseptiσally removing said inner tray from said outer tray.

Inventors: STEPPE DENNIS L, STEPPE, DENNIS, L.
Applicants: COOPERVISION INC, COOPERVISION, INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B65D77
IPC codes: B65D77