IP Library Granted Patent US 12668393
Granted Patent B2
US 12668393 · App. 18/464,577 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Device, set and method for removing a sterile object from a foil bag

Inventors: Juergen Leidig (Frankenhardt, DE); Alexander Ekkart (Crailsheim, DE); Florian Weber (Crailsheim, DE); Reiner Staeudle (Rot am See, DE)
Assignee: Syntegon Technology GmbH
B65B69/0008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668393
App. No.
18/464,577
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device ( 10 ) for removing a sterile object ( 12 ) from a foil bag ( 14 ) includes a needle unit ( 16 ) with a hollow needle ( 18 ) for piercing the foil bag ( 14 ), a gas connection ( 20 ) arranged on the needle unit ( 16 ) for introducing gas via the hollow needle ( 18 ) into the foil bag ( 14 ), a holding device ( 22 ) for holding the foil bag ( 14 ), a cutting device ( 24 ) for cutting open the foil bag ( 14 ), and a removal device ( 26 ) for removing the object ( 12 ) from the cut open foil bag ( 14 ). The holding device ( 22 ) has at least one holding unit ( 28 ), which is formed in a planar manner on the holding device ( 22 ) and is mounted movably, for contacting the foil bag ( 14 ).

Claims (32)

1 . A device ( 10 ) for removing a sterile object ( 12 ) from a foil bag ( 14 ), the device comprising:

a needle unit ( 16 ) with a hollow needle ( 18 ) for piercing the foil bag ( 14 ),

a gas connection ( 20 ) arranged on the needle unit ( 16 ) for introducing gas via the hollow needle ( 18 ) into the foil bag ( 14 ),

a holding device ( 22 ) for holding the foil bag ( 14 )

a cutting device ( 24 ) for cutting open the foil bag ( 14 ), and

a removal device ( 26 ) for removing the object ( 12 ) from the cut open foil bag ( 14 ),

wherein the holding device ( 22 ) has at least one holding unit ( 28 ), which is formed on the holding device ( 22 ) in a planar manner and is movably mounted, for contacting the foil bag ( 14 ), and

wherein the holding unit ( 28 ) is oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity and is configured to press the upper region of the foil bag ( 14 ) in relation to the direction of gravity into a flat shape.

2 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the holding unit ( 28 ) is a metal sheet.

3 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the holding device ( 22 ) has at least one piercing device ( 34 ) with a piercing needle ( 36 ) for piercing the foil bag ( 14 ) and for discharging from the foil bag ( 14 ) the gas introduced into the foil bag ( 14 ) by the needle ( 18 ).

4 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the piercing needle ( 36 ) comprises at least one external groove ( 38 ) for discharging from the foil bag ( 14 ) the gas introduced by the needle ( 18 ) into the foil bag ( 14 ).

5 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the holding device ( 22 ) comprises at least one suction unit ( 40 ) for sucking and/or holding the foil bag ( 14 ).

6 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the needle unit ( 16 ) comprises a filter device ( 42 ) for filtering the gas introduced into the foil bag ( 14 ) by the needle ( 18 ), the filter device ( 42 ) being arranged inside the needle ( 18 ) and/or inside the gas connection ( 20 ).

7 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the device ( 10 ) comprises a movement device ( 44 ), the movement device ( 44 ) being configured to move the needle unit ( 16 ) and/or the needle ( 18 ) for piercing the needle ( 18 ) into the foil bag ( 14 ) and for withdrawing the needle ( 18 ) from the foil bag ( 14 ).

8 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the device ( 10 ) has a fixing device ( 46 ) for fixing a lateral region ( 50 ) of the foil bag ( 14 ) with respect to a direction of gravity ( 30 ).

9 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the fixing device ( 46 ) comprises at least two clamping elements ( 49 ) which are configured to fix the foil bag ( 14 ) in a clamping manner.

10 . A set ( 52 ) comprising a device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 and at least one object ( 12 ), which is surrounded by a foil bag ( 14 ), wherein the object ( 12 ) has at least one indentation ( 56 ), the device ( 10 ) and/or the object ( 12 ) being configured in such a way that the needle ( 18 ) for piercing the foil bag ( 14 ) is inserted at least partially into the indentation ( 56 ) of the object ( 12 ).

11 . The set ( 52 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the holding unit ( 28 ) projects beyond the object ( 12 ) on at least one side of the object ( 12 ).

12 . A method for removing a sterile object ( 12 ) from a foil bag ( 14 ), comprising the steps:

providing the object ( 12 ) arranged in the foil bag ( 14 );

piercing the foil bag ( 14 ) by a hollow needle ( 18 );

introducing gas via the needle ( 18 ) into the foil bag ( 14 );

holding the foil bag ( 14 ) by a holding device ( 22 ), the holding device ( 22 ) having at least one holding unit ( 28 ), which is formed on the holding device ( 22 ) in a planar, in particular flat, manner and is movably mounted, for contacting the foil bag ( 14 ) and wherein the holding unit ( 28 ) is oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity and is configured to press the upper region of the foil bag ( 14 ) in relation to the direction of gravity into a flat shape;

contacting the foil bag ( 14 ) by the holding unit ( 28 );

after contacting the foil bag ( 14 ) by the holding unit ( 28 ), further introducing gas via the needle ( 18 ) into the foil bag ( 14 ) so that the foil bag is further inflated and moves the holding unit ( 28 ).

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the method comprises the step of: while introducing gas via the needle ( 18 ) into the foil bag ( 14 ), piercing the foil bag ( 14 ) to discharge the gas introduced by the needle ( 18 ) into the foil bag ( 14 ) from the foil bag ( 14 ).

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the method comprises the steps of: cutting open the foil bag ( 14 ) inflated by the needle ( 18 ) and held by the holding device ( 22 ); and removing the object ( 12 ) from the foil bag ( 14 ).

15 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the sterile object is a tub.

16 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising disposing of the empty and cut open foil bag ( 14 ).

17 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one piercing device ( 34 ) pierces the foil bag ( 14 ) in an upper region ( 32 ) of the foil bag with respect to a direction of gravity ( 30 ).

18 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 5 wherein the at least one suction unit ( 40 ) includes a suction cup.

19 . The device ( 10 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the lateral region ( 50 ) of the foil bag ( 14 ) has a flap.