Packaging facilitating sterile connections
Packaging may be designed to allow for the forced connection of separate parts without breaching the sterile barrier of the packaging. A component holder housed within sterile packaging may hold device parts such that the device parts can shipped and stored separated and can be pushed together to create a sterile connection between the parts while the parts are housed within the packaging.
1 . Packaging to facilitate a sterile connection, the packaging comprising:
an outer pouch;
a lid configured to seal the outer pouch and create a sterile interior; and
a component holder housed within the outer pouch, wherein the component holder comprises:
a board that extends longitudinally;
a first set of arms extending from the board that holds a first device part;
a second set of arms extending from the board that holds an unconnected second device part with a gap disposed between the first device part and the second device part; and
a buckling point configured to yield in a predetermined location to linearly move the first set of arms and the second set of arms closer together when forces greater than a predetermined force act upon the component holder,
wherein the component holder is configured to permit linear movement to eliminate the gap and connect the first device part to the second device part while the outer pouch remains sealed by the lid.
2 . The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the component holder is configured to maintain an orientation of the first device part and the second device part.
3 . The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the buckling point comprises a thinned section of the board of the component holder located between the first set of arms and the second set of arms.
4 . The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the first set of arms and the second set of arms removably hold the first device part and the second device part.
5 . The packaging of claim 4 , wherein the first set of arms and the second set of arms each comprise a set of two rounded arms that extend from the board.
6 . The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a planar piece of flexible material.
7 . The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the lid is comprised of a flexible material such that the lid is peelable from the outer pouch.
8 . The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the board is affixed to the lid.
9 . The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the outer pouch is comprised of a transparent or semi-transparent material.
10 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the transparent or semi-transparent material is capable of being deformed.
11 . Packaging to facilitate a sterile connection, the packaging comprising:
an outer pouch;
a lid configured to seal the outer pouch and create a sterile interior; and
a component holder housed within the outer pouch, wherein the component holder comprises:
a board that extends longitudinally;
a first set of arms extending from the board that holds a first device part;
a second set of arms extending from the board that holds an unconnected second device part with a gap disposed between the first device part and the second device part; and
a sliding portion configured to slide a first section of the board relative to a second section of the board, bringing the first set of arms and the second set of arms linearly closer together when forces greater than a predetermined force act upon the component holder to eliminate the gap and connect the first device part to the second device part while the outer pouch remains sealed by the lid.
12 . The packaging of claim 11 , wherein the sliding portion comprises the first section of the board and the second section of the board at least partially overlapping, and wherein the sliding portion is located between the first set of arms and the second set of arms.
13 . A method of creating a sterile connection between two or more parts using the packaging of claim 1 , the method comprising:
gripping the sealed outer pouch containing the first device part and the second device part held in stationary positions within the sealed outer pouch by the component holder;
pushing the first device part and the second device part linearly towards one another within the sealed outer pouch;
deforming the component holder at the buckling point; and
creating the connection between the first device part and the second device part to create a connected part.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising peeling the lid off of the sealed outer pouch to retrieve the component holder.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising removing the connected part from the component holder.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the deforming the component holder comprises buckling the longitudinal board of the component holder at the buckling point.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the deforming the component holder comprises sliding a first piece of the longitudinal board of the component holder over a second piece of the longitudinal board of the component holder at a designed location.