Patent Description:
For convenience, the invention will often be described below in relation to a wrap for an object to be wrapped being a single use tray. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to a particular object.

At present, single use trays containing dressings and/ or other items are provided to users wrapped in a sterilization wrap and sealed in a plastic film after sterilizing. The user removes the plastic film, unwraps the sterilization wrap and uses it as an aseptic surface beneath the tray.

For single use trays and similar objects, the wrap usually has dimensions of up to about <NUM> metre by <NUM> metre. For a small tray, the dimensions are usually about <NUM> x <NUM>. The material used in such small wraps is usually a very lightweight plastic, having a weight of up to <NUM> gsm and preferably about <NUM> gsm.

The wrap is regarded as aseptic provided the proper procedure has been followed for unwrapping.

So that the wrap can be unfolded to provide an aseptic surface, at present the wrap is folded around the contents with at least one corner protruding.

Users such as nurses, clinicians and doctors are trained to open such a wrap by carefully pulling out the protruding corner, lying that part of the wrap flat (if possible), locating the next corner, carefully pulling it out and lying the wrap part flat, and repeating these actions until the contents are fully unwrapped. At this stage, the object is located on the wrap and ready for use once the user dons gloves.

During the unwrapping process, a user must take care not to touch the inside of the wrap. The user unfolds the wrap slowly in order to ensure that the user does not accidentally touch the aseptic field. In some cases, one or more corners of the wrap are not readily accessible and the user must locate each such corner, tease it away from the package and take hold of it without compromising asepsis.

As a result, significant time can be spent on properly unfolding a sterile wrapped object or the user will routinely compromise asepsis by accidentally touching the inside of the wrap.

In another example, document <CIT> describes a wrapping material equipped with at least one catch affixed to an external surface of a sheet with a predetermined size.

<CIT> describes a flexible multi-panel sterilisation assembly for sterilising surgical products, the barrier panel comprising side tabs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wrap which, at least in some embodiments, enables an object to be unwrapped much more efficiently that previously possible while maintaining asepsis of the object and the aseptic field of the wrap.

The invention is defined in the independent claims and other embodiments are listed in the dependent claims.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a wrap for wrapping an object to be sterilised, the wrap having four edges bound by a periphery, with a first edge on one side of the periphery and a second edge on a side of the periphery opposite to the first side, wherein the wrap has at least a first tab forming part of the periphery of the first edge and at least a second tab forming part of the periphery of the second edge, the first tab being diagonally opposite from the second tab.

The invention also includes a method of wrapping an object to be sterilised using the wrap of the invention, the method including the steps of:.

Optionally, a step may be added between step (b) and step (c), namely:
(b1) folding the wrap towards the object at an optional fold line a small distance inboard of the first fold.

Step (b1) may be taken when the object is small and may be repeated as many times as necessary. Preferably, the or each optional fold line is of a similar distance to that between the first fold line and the first edge. An example of such a distance is <NUM> to <NUM>.

The invention also provides a method of unwrapping the wrapped object, the method including the steps of:.

The wrap of the invention is preferably rectilinear and of a relatively small size, being up to about <NUM> metre x <NUM> metre in dimensions. A preferred size is about <NUM> x <NUM>.

The material of the wrap is preferably the same type of lightweight plastic currently in use for wrapping small disposable objects such as trays, of up to <NUM> gsm.

The wrap if rectilinear may have square corners, but preferably the corners are rounded.

The first tab is located diagonally opposite the second tab. In an especially-preferred embodiment, there are two tabs at the first edge and two tabs at the second edge, the tabs at the first edge being spaced apart and located opposite the tabs at the second edge.

Each tab may be of any suitable shape. In a preferred embodiment, each tab has parallel sides and a rounded end.

The tabs may be integral with the wrap or may be added to the wrap in any suitable way, including using adhesive or spot welding.

The wrap preferably has a length and width which is at least four times the length and width of the object. For example, if the object measures about <NUM> x <NUM>, the wrap (excluding tabs) is a minimum of <NUM> x <NUM>. This enables the object to be wrapped in several layers, as illustrated in the examples shown in the drawings.

In the method of the invention, the object to be wrapped is preferably positioned on the wrap according to the size of the object. If, for example, the object is small, it is preferably positioned about midway between the edges of the wrap which do not have any tabs, but closer to second tabbed edge, such as inboard of the second edge by about the length of the object plus about <NUM>.

If the object is larger, it is preferably positioned on the wrap about midway between the first and second edges, but closer to an edge of the wrap which does not have any tabs, such as inboard of the untabbed edge by about the width of the object plus about <NUM>.

Step (f) of the folding method may be repeated three times or more. The folded wrap may be secured by a sticker if desired.

The folded object, after sterilisation, may be sealed in plastic film.

The wrap and method of the invention may be better understood from the following nonlimiting description of preferred embodiments. In the drawings:.

Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.

Referring first to <FIG>, wrap <NUM> has a periphery consisting of first edge <NUM>, second edge <NUM>, third edge <NUM> and fourth edge <NUM>. There are two tabs, <NUM> and <NUM>, on the first edge <NUM> and two tabs <NUM> and <NUM> on the second edge <NUM>, which is opposite to the first edge <NUM>. Tab <NUM> is opposite tab <NUM>, while tab <NUM> is opposite tab <NUM>.

Wrap <NUM> has a generally square shape (excluding tabs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>). In this embodiment, wrap <NUM> has rounded corners <NUM>. It is to be appreciated that wrap <NUM> may have square corners instead.

In this embodiment, wrap <NUM> is a single sheet made of a lightweight plastic material, weighing approximately <NUM> gsm and measuring about <NUM> by <NUM>.

Plastic disposable tray <NUM> is placed on the wrap <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Tray <NUM> may bear dressings, disposable forceps and the like but these are not shown. Tray <NUM> is located approximately halfway between first edge <NUM> and second edge <NUM>. Tray <NUM> is also located about one tray length <NUM> inboard of third edge <NUM>.

In this embodiment, tray <NUM> is regarded as large and is <NUM> long and <NUM> wide. Tray <NUM> is placed on wrap <NUM> approximately centrally between first edge <NUM> and second edge <NUM>. Tray <NUM> is inboard of edge <NUM> by about the width W of tray <NUM>.

<FIG> shows first fold line <NUM>, which is a small distance (between about <NUM> and <NUM>) inboard of first edge <NUM>. Wrap <NUM> is folded under, in the direction of arrow <NUM>, at first fold line <NUM>, so that tabs <NUM> and <NUM> are under wrap <NUM>, and the fold is flattened.

The result is shown in <FIG>. Wrap <NUM> is then folded at second fold line <NUM>, towards tray <NUM>, in the direction of arrow <NUM>. Second fold line <NUM> is located so that after folding tray <NUM> will be only just covered by wrap <NUM>.

The result is shown in <FIG>. Tabs <NUM> and <NUM> are now visible. Wrap <NUM> is then folded at third fold line <NUM>, which is a small distance (between about <NUM> and <NUM>) inboard of second edge <NUM> towards tray <NUM>, in the direction of arrow <NUM>, so that tabs <NUM> and <NUM> are under wrap <NUM>. The fold is flattened.

The result is shown in <FIG>. Wrap <NUM> is then folded at fourth fold line <NUM>, towards tray <NUM>, in the direction of arrow <NUM>. Fourth fold line <NUM> is located so that after folding tray <NUM> is further covered by wrap <NUM>.

The result is shown in <FIG>. Tabs <NUM> and <NUM> are now visible. In this embodiment, the distance between third fold line <NUM> and second fold line <NUM> should be about <NUM> to <NUM>. The distance between fourth fold line <NUM> and the extremity of tabs <NUM> and <NUM> should also be about <NUM> to <NUM>. Each of fold lines <NUM> and <NUM> should be adjusted to this range if needed, to assist in preserving the sterile field of the wrap.

<FIG> shows the location of first perpendicular fold line <NUM>, which is substantially perpendicular to the first to fourth fold lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Wrap <NUM> is folded at fold line <NUM>, in the direction of arrow <NUM>.

The result is shown in <FIG>, which also shows the location of second perpendicular fold line <NUM>. Wrap <NUM> is folded at fold line <NUM>, in the direction of arrow <NUM>.

The result is shown in <FIG>, which also shows the location of third perpendicular fold line <NUM>. Wrap <NUM> is folded at fold line <NUM>, in the direction of arrow <NUM>.

Tray <NUM> is now wrapped as shown in <FIG>. A sticker <NUM> is placed across fold line <NUM> to hold tray <NUM> in the wrapped state.

Tray <NUM> wrapped by wrap <NUM> is then sterilised and contained within a plastic film, and stored until ready for use.

To use, the plastic film and the sticker <NUM> are removed or torn. To open wrap <NUM> and expose tray <NUM>, the user reverses the steps shown in <FIG>, until wrap <NUM> is in the configuration shown in <FIG>. The user then takes hold of each of tabs <NUM> and <NUM> and pulls them away from tray <NUM>. Wrap <NUM> is now in the configuration shown in <FIG>.

Next, the user takes hold of tabs <NUM> and <NUM> and pulls them away from tray <NUM>. Tray <NUM> is now unwrapped, as shown in <FIG>.

Because wrap <NUM> can be unwrapped using designated tabs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, avoiding difficulty or confusion in locating corners as in prior art wraps, and because unwrapping can be carried out more rapidly, the wrap <NUM> represents an improvement over prior art wraps.

In the second embodiment in <FIG>, the wrap is the same as that in the first embodiment and the same labels are used to denote the same features. The method of wrapping is modified in that it includes the optional folding step (b1).

In the second embodiment, tray <NUM> is regarded as small and is <NUM> long and <NUM> wide. As shown in <FIG>, tray <NUM> is placed on wrap <NUM> approximately centrally between edge <NUM> and edge <NUM>. Tray <NUM> is inboard of second edge <NUM> by about the length L of tray <NUM> plus about <NUM> (indicated by arrow A).

The result is shown in <FIG>, in which optional fold line <NUM> is indicated. Wrap <NUM> is then folded under, along fold line <NUM>, as indicated by arrow <NUM>. The distance between fold line <NUM> and fold line <NUM> is about <NUM> to <NUM>.

The result is shown in <FIG>, in which second optional fold line <NUM> is indicated. Wrap <NUM> is then folded under, along fold line <NUM>, as indicated by arrow <NUM>. The distance between fold line <NUM> and fold line <NUM> is about <NUM> to <NUM>.

<FIG> shows wrap <NUM> after folding along fold line <NUM> and indicating the location of second fold line <NUM>. Wrap <NUM> is folded about second fold line <NUM>, towards tray <NUM>, in the direction of arrow <NUM>. Second fold line <NUM> is located so that after folding tray <NUM> will be only just covered by wrap <NUM>.

The result is shown in <FIG>. Tabs <NUM> and <NUM> are now visible. Wrap <NUM> is then folded at third fold line <NUM>, which is a small distance (between about <NUM> and <NUM>) inboard of second edge <NUM>, towards tray <NUM>, in the direction of arrow <NUM>, so that tabs <NUM> and <NUM> are under wrap <NUM>. The fold is flattened.

The result is shown in <FIG>. Tabs <NUM> and <NUM> are now visible. In this embodiment, the distance between third fold line <NUM> and second fold line <NUM> should be about <NUM> to <NUM>. The extremity of tabs <NUM> and <NUM> is about level with fourth fold line <NUM>.

<FIG> also shows the location of first perpendicular fold lines <NUM>, which are substantially perpendicular to the first to fourth fold lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Wrap <NUM> is folded at fold lines <NUM>, in the direction of arrows <NUM>.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the embodiments described are not limiting on the scope of the invention and that modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A wrap (<NUM>) for wrapping an object (<NUM>,<NUM>) to be sterilised, the wrap (<NUM>) having four edges (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) bound by a periphery, with a first edge (<NUM>) on one side of the periphery and a second edge (<NUM>) on a side of the periphery opposite to the first side (<NUM>), wherein:
- the wrap (<NUM>) has at least a first tab (<NUM>) forming part of the periphery of the first edge (<NUM>) and at least a second tab (<NUM>) forming part of the periphery of the second edge (<NUM>); and
- the first tab (<NUM>) is diagonally opposite the second tab (<NUM>).