Abstract:
A tray and means for connecting multiple devices and components of an electronic medical devices prior to delivery to patients. The tray allows patient monitoring systems to be pre-assembled and made patient-ready. Patients with compromised health can easily unpack and set up the monitoring system. The tray also allows for the devices and components to be easily repacked for return shipping. The ease of patient setup and use of the medical devices thereby improves patient compliance with the monitoring regimen.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/356,167, filed Jun. 29, 2016, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to medical diagnostic devices, and more particularly to shipping and storage trays for delivery of medical device systems to end users. 
         [0003]    Remote patient monitoring involves the use of medical devices that record and transmit patient vital signs to a central monitoring station. The devices that record or capture the vital signs usually consist of a weight scale, pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor, peak flow meter and blood glucose monitor. The data from the recording devices is transmitted to a communication device that sends the data to the central station. The recording devices transmit data to the communication device, either wirelessly or via physical wired connections. 
         [0004]    Current monitoring systems are typically supplied as a master pack of multiple individual devices. The devices are produced by a number of different companies and individually packaged for distribution and sale. The individual device package also contains accessory components such as power cords, adapter plugs, connecting cables and instruction booklets. The accessory components are often individually packaged within the unit device package. The individually packaged devices that comprise the monitoring system are packed into a shipping box for distribution to the end user. 
         [0005]    At the destination, the various individual devices are unpacked to prepare for assembly of the monitoring system. The accessory components are also unpacked. In addition to multiple device components, there are numerous packaging components and instruction sheets. Each device is assembled and connected to a power source as required. The monitoring devices are connected to the communication device to complete the system assembly and initial set up. 
         [0006]    After the devices are unpacked, it is not clear to the patient or untrained caregiver as to how to interconnect the devices and components. Set-up instructions are complicated. Assembly is too complicated for untrained individuals and therefore, it is typically required that a trained technician travel to the point of use to interconnect the devices and complete the initial set up. 
         [0007]    Additionally, if the devices are slated for subsequent return at the end of the monitoring period, repacking is not practical due to the large number of device and packaging components. 
         [0008]    As can be seen, there is a need for a system and method for assisting patients and caregivers in configuring a patient monitoring system for use in the home healthcare setting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a tray according to aspects of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the tray shown in an unfolded condition. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a tray according to aspects of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 3 , shown in an unfolded condition. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0015]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for packaging a medical monitoring system  26  in a configured condition for delivery to a patient or caregiver. As seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , the present invention includes a tray  10  that may be used to arrange the medical devices  26  and secure them for shipping in a preconfigured condition. 
         [0016]    The tray  10  can include handles  16  to aid in the easy removal of the assembled tray  10  from the shipping box. The devices  26  are arranged in a manner that is efficient both for shipping and carrying in a pre-configured, patient-ready condition, ready for use by the patient without the need to interconnect the plurality of medical devices  26  before use. Devices  26  that have a physical and/or a wired connection are pre-connected and secured to one of a plurality of placement positions within the tray  10 , such as via a securing means  24 , such as a strap, twist tie, or the like, to prevent movement during shipping that could damage the devices  26  and interfere with the physical or wired connections of the devices  26 . 
         [0017]    The tray  10  and method allows the untrained patient to remove the medical monitoring system  26  from the shipping box and easily connect to a power source and place the medical monitoring system  26  in use. The power source connection may be a common electrical plug that is configured to be inserted into a house electrical outlet, which is familiar to the patient. Each tray  10  may be custom designed for individual monitoring requirements and associated devices  26 . As seen in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , aspects of the invention can be accomplished by a single tray  10  or multiple trays  28 ,  54 ,  58 ,  56  containing different devices  26 . 
         [0018]    The tray  10  provides the means to assemble a ready-to-use medical monitoring system  26  prior to shipping to the patient. The component devices  26  are organized on the tray  10  for ease of use by the patient. Some devices  26  may be fastened to the tray  10  with straps or ties to prevent excessive movement during shipping. The assembled tray  10  is easily removed from the shipping box by the patient. The patient can easily locate the main power cord and plug it into a familiar conventional wall outlet. Instructions are simple and easy to follow. According to the present invention, a specialist is no longer required to be on-site with the patient to perform initial set up. 
         [0019]    The tray  10  allows patient monitoring devices to be unpacked from manufacturer&#39;s containers and pre-assembled to make the system patient-ready. Patients with compromised health can easily unpack and set up the medical monitoring system. The tray  10  also allows for the medical monitoring system to be easily repacked for return shipping, such as when it is no longer needed for the patient&#39;s condition or for scheduled maintenance and calibration. 
         [0020]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 1 , a tray  10  allows pre-assembly of the medical monitoring system devices and components. The tray  10  may include a left and a right sidewall  14  that are integrally formed to the tray  10  and provide rigidity and containment of the devices  26  and components  26 . The left and right sidewalls  14  may be formed along a score line  22 . 
         [0021]    The tray  10  includes a plurality of cut outs  18 ,  20  that are used to hold a device in place during shipping. The cut outs  18 ,  20  are adapted to receive a securing device  24 , which may be straps or cable ties threaded through the cutouts  18 ,  20  to fasten devices  26  securely to the tray  10 . 
         [0022]    The tray  10  may include one or more lifting tabs  16  extending from the tray  10  sidewalls  14  to make it easy for the patient to remove the tray  10  from the shipping box. Preferably the tray  10  has a front opening  15  that allows the devices to remain in the tray  10  while the devices  26  are being used. The tray  10  may also be provided with a plurality of rubber feet attached to a bottom surface of the tray  10 , preferably at the corners of the tray  10  to prevent the tray  10  from sliding when the device touch screen, or other controls may be operated by the user. 
         [0023]    The tray  10  could be formed as a thermoformed tray  10 , an assembled tray  10 , or as shown in reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , formed from a die-cut sheet of cardboard, plastics or metal. The tray  10  could also be molded from polymer materials such as by thermoforming, injection molding or other molding processes. The tray  10  could also be assembled from multiple materials, such as polyethylene foam pieces glued to a paperboard sheet or other suitable material. In the case of a die-cut sheet, the tray  10  sides  14  may be positioned to about 90 degrees relative to the tray  10  bottom and secured in that position by an aft sidewall  12 , also formed along score line  22  to provide rigidity to the tray  10  and the left and the right sidewalls  14 . The aft sidewall  12  and the left and the right sidewalls may be joined by a suitable adhesive or a configuration of interlocking tabs. The rigidity of the tray  10  provides stability of the medical monitoring system  26  when the tray  10  is lifted out of the box or off a table. 
         [0024]    The lifting tabs  16  on the sidewalls  24  of the tray  10  are used to grasp the tray  10  and lift it out of a shipping box. The outside dimensions of the tray  10  may be sized to fit snugly within a standard sized shipping box, which does not allow space for grasping both the inside and outside of the tray  10  wall  14  while in the shipping box to lift the tray  10  out of the box. The tabs  16  contribute to the ease of removing the tray  10  from the shipping box. 
         [0025]    The open front  15  of the tray  10  allows a main communication device to be used while permitting the devices  26  to remain in the tray  10 . The main communication device may, for example, include a touch screen device or may have buttons to operate or control the device  26 . The open front  15  provides easy access to the controls of the main monitoring device  26 . The rubber feet on the bottom of the tray  10  provide resistance to sliding when the tray  10  is placed on a table and the touch screen is activated or controls are pushed. 
         [0026]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 , an alternative embodiment of a tray  28  is shown. The tray has a left and a right upstanding sidewall  30 , an aft sidewall  34 , and a front sidewall  36 , surrounding an interior bottom panel surface  50 . An aft end of the tray  28  is configured with a housing  40  having an interior cavity and a notched access  46  in a top and an interior face of the housing  40 . The notched access  46  allows pre-connected cables associated with the device  26  to be stored in a protected location. The notched access  46  allows limited side to side and end to end movement of a pre-connected device  26  such that the attached cable connector cannot contact the sides of the notched access  46  of the housing  40  to prevent damage to the device  26  during shipping. The notched access  46  may be of a plurality of different shapes. The sidewalls  30 ,  34 ,  36  are formed along a corresponding score line  44  for the respective panel. The front  36  and the aft  34  sidewalls may be formed as a double walled construction by an additional fold along score line  34 , and  36 , respectively. Similarly, the bottom may be formed as a double wall construction by having an exterior bottom panel  38 . 
         [0027]    The left and right  30 , forward  36  and aft  34  sidewalls are configured as extensions of the exterior bottom panel  38 . A plurality of tabs  32  may extend from the aft  34  and forward  36  sidewalls for joining with the left and the right sidewalls  30 . A tab  48  may remain attached to the tray  28  or removed to extend the notched access  46  on the top of the housing  40 . The housing  40  may be configured to be an open top cavity with the front panel of the housing  40  and notched access  46  remaining. The tray  28  may be assembled from a plurality of components. 
         [0028]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 5 , the invention can also include using multiple trays  10 . Components  26  or devices could be placed in separate trays  10  while being shipped in a connected condition. The trays  10  could also be stackable in or out of the shipping box. This approach would require less table space in the patient&#39;s home. 
         [0029]    Additionally, the invention could be used in other than medical patient monitoring applications. It could be used where other devices are currently supplied and require unpacking, assembly and connection prior to use. 
         [0030]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.