# US 10,245,212 B2 · Vial holder devices, methods and systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,212 B2 - Document ID: US10245212B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/975,161 - Filed: 2015-12-18 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-18 - Assignees: Orbit Biomedical Limited - Applicants: Orbit Biomedical Limited - Inventors: Chaley Larson; Kostadinka Lilova; Mike Cannamela; William Cagney; Gordon Kosovan; Elaine Hughes; Maria Ficchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245212B2 ## CPC - A61J 1/16: Holders for containers - A61B 50/20: Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02) - A61B 50/30: Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40) - A61B 90/90: Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags - B65B 3/003: {Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like} - B65B 3/006: {Related operations, e.g. scoring ampoules} - B65D 23/0885: {Rigid shells for receiving the bottle or part of it (B65D23/0842, B65D81/3876, B65D85/302 take precedence)} - B65D 25/205: {Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; (cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence)} - B65D 77/0446: {the inner and outer containers being rigid or semi-rigid and the outer container being of polygonal cross-section not formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks (B65D81/3825 takes precedence)} - A61B 90/96: using barcodes - A61J 2205/30: Printed labels - B65B 2220/16: Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A packaging apparatus is provided for holding a sterile product. In one aspect, a secondary packaging holder is configured with a base and a receiving portion to receive and irreversibly hold a primary packaging holder. The secondary packaging holder can have a substantially planar wall configured to affix an identifying label thereto. The secondary packaging holder can be configured to snap fit to a neck of the primary packaging holder to hold the primary packaging holder such that a portion of the primary packaging holder is exposed outside of the secondary packaging holder based on a height relationship between the secondary packaging holder and the primary packaging holder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A packaging apparatus for holding a sterile product comprising: (a) a primary packaging holder configured to hold a sterile product therein, wherein the primary packaging holder includes: (i) a body including a bottom surface, (ii) a neck having a smaller cross-sectional area than the body, and (iii) a top end having a larger cross-sectional area than the neck; (b) a secondary packaging holder having configured to hold the primary packaging holder, wherein the secondary packaging holder includes: (i) a base at a first end disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the primary packaging holder, and (ii) a receiving portion at an opposing second end, wherein the receiving portion includes first and second arc-shaped regions configured to securely retain the neck of the primary packaging holder therebetween, wherein the first and second arc shaped regions are configured to move relative to each other; wherein the top end of the primary packaging holder is exposed outside of the secondary packaging holder based on a height relationship between the secondary packaging holder and the primary packaging holder; (c) a tertiary packaging holder configured to hold the secondary packaging holder, wherein the tertiary packaging holder includes: (i) a base at a first end, (ii) first and second substantially planar opposing walls extending from the base of the tertiary packaging holder, wherein the first and second substantially planar opposing walls have an exterior surface; and (d) an identifying label attached to the exterior surface of the first and second substantially planar opposing walls. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second arc-shaped regions of the secondary packaging holder are configured to snap fit together to securely and irreversibly hold the primary packaging holder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The packaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: first and second opposing walls that extend between the base and the receiving portion, and first and second opposing lips that each extend from sides of the base different from the first and second substantially planar opposing walls. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The packaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second opposing lips outline an aperture along a longitudinal axis of the lip. ### Claim 5 A packaging system for housing a sterile product comprising: (a) a primary packaging holder configured to hold a sterile product therein, wherein the primary packaging holder includes: (i) a body including a bottom surface, (ii) a neck having a smaller cross-sectional area than the body, and (iii) a top end having a larger cross-sectional area than the neck; (b) a secondary packaging holder configured to hold the primary packaging holder, wherein the secondary packaging holder includes: (i) a primary packaging holder receiving portion at a first end, wherein the primary packaging holder receiving portion is configured to securely hold the neck of the primary packaging holder, (ii) a base at a second end configured to receive the bottom surface of the primary packaging holder, and (iii) first and second opposing walls extending between the base and the primary packaging holder receiving portion; and (c) a tertiary packaging holder configured to hold the secondary packaging holder, wherein the tertiary packaging holder includes: (i) a base at a first end configured to receive the base of the secondary packaging holder, (ii) a secondary packaging holder receiving portion at an opposing end, wherein the secondary packaging holder receiving portion is configured to receive and securely and irreversibly hold the secondary packaging holder, (iii) first and second substantially planar opposing walls extending from the first end of the tertiary packaging holder to a second end of the tertiary packaging holder, wherein the first and second substantially planar opposing walls have an exterior surface configured to affix an identifying label thereto, and (iv) first and second opposing walls extending between the first and second substantially planar opposing walls, wherein the first opposing wall of the tertiary packaging holder outlines a first aperture in a middle section of the first opposing wall of the tertiary packaging holder, and wherein spacings in between the first and second opposing walls of the secondary packaging holder are configured to overlap with the first aperture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The packaging system of claim 5, wherein the primary packaging holder receiving portion has a region with at least a portion of an interior surface having an arc-shape that is configured to receive and hold the neck of the primary packaging holder having a substantially cylindrical shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The packaging system of claim 5, wherein the first and second opposing walls of the secondary packaging holder include first and second substantially planar opposing walls that extend from the first end to the second end of the secondary packaging holder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The packaging system of claim 7, wherein the base of the tertiary packaging holder is rectangular and wherein the first and second substantially planar opposing walls extend from the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The packaging system of claim 8, wherein: an interior surface of the first and second substantially planar walls of the tertiary packaging holder contact an exterior surface of the secondary packaging holder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The packaging system of claim 9, wherein: the first and second substantially planar opposing walls of the tertiary packaging holder extend from respective sides of the base of the tertiary packaging holder to the secondary packaging holder receiving portion, and the first and second substantially planar opposing walls of the secondary packaging holder extend from the respective sides such that interior surfaces of the first and second substantially planar walls of the tertiary packaging holder contact exterior surfaces of the first and second substantially planar walls of the secondary packaging holder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The packaging system of claim 10, wherein the first and second opposing walls of the tertiary packaging holder include first and second non-planar walls of the tertiary packaging holder extend from other respective sides of the base to the secondary packaging holder receiving portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The packaging system of claim 11, wherein: each of the non-planar walls of the tertiary packaging holder outlines an aperture in a middle section of the non-planar wall, and spacings in between the first and second planar opposing walls of the secondary packaging holder overlap with the apertures when the secondary packaging holder is securely and irreversible held. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The packaging system of claim 12, wherein the apertures allow for direct access to at least a portion of a side of the primary packaging holder when the primary packaging holder is securely and irreversibly held in the secondary packaging holder and tertiary packaging holder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The packaging system of claim 12, wherein the spacings of the secondary packaging holder extend from the primary packaging holder receiving portion to a lip on the base of the secondary packaging holder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The packaging system of claim 12, wherein the base of the secondary packaging holder along each spacing includes a lip that borders the base of the secondary packaging holder in between the substantially planar walls and that extends towards the first end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The packaging system of claim 15, wherein the lips of the secondary packaging holder are configured to contact an interior surface of substantially arc-shaped walls of the tertiary packaging holder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The packaging system of claim 5, wherein the primary packaging holder is a necked cylinder, and wherein the secondary packaging holder has shoulders configured to irreversibly snap fit at the neck of the primary packaging holder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The packaging system of claim 5, wherein: the primary packaging holder includes a sealable port configured to enclose an interior space of the primary packaging holder when sealed; and the secondary and tertiary packaging holders permit direct access to the interior space via the port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 5) The packaging system of claim 5, wherein the tertiary packaging holder has an external profile configured to permit close packing of a plurality of tertiary packaging holders in at least two dimensions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 5) The packaging system of claim 5, wherein the primary packaging holder is a vial. ### Claim 21 (depends on 5) The packaging system of claim 5, wherein the second opposing wall of the tertiary packaging holder outlines a second aperture in a middle section of the second opposing wall of the tertiary packaging holder, and wherein spacings in between the first and second opposing walls of the secondary packaging holder are configured to overlap with the second aperture. ### Claim 22 (depends on 5) The packaging system of claim 5, wherein the primary packaging holder receiving portion includes at least first and second arc-shaped regions configured to securely retain the neck of the primary packaging holder therebetween, wherein the first and second arc shaped regions are configured to move relative to each other. ### Claim 23 A packaging system configured to house a primary packaging holder containing a sterile product, the packaging system comprising: (a) a secondary packaging holder configured to hold the primary packaging holder, wherein the secondary packaging holder includes: (i) a primary packaging holder receiving portion at a first end, wherein the primary packaging holder receiving portion is configured to securely hold the primary packaging holder, (ii) a base at a second end, and (iii) first and second opposing walls extending between the base and the primary packaging holder receiving portion; and (b) a tertiary packaging holder configured to hold the secondary packaging holder, wherein the tertiary packaging holder includes: (i) a base at a first end configured to receive the base of the secondary packaging holder, (ii) a secondary packaging holder receiving portion at an opposing end, wherein the secondary packaging holder receiving portion is configured to receive and securely hold the secondary packaging holder, (iii) first and second substantially planar opposing walls extending from the first end of the tertiary packaging holder to the second end of the tertiary packaging holder, wherein the first and second substantially planar opposing walls have an exterior surface configured to affix an identifying label thereto, and (iv) first and second opposing walls extending between the first and second substantially planar opposing walls, wherein the first opposing wall of the tertiary packaging holder outlines a first aperture in a middle section of the first opposing wall of the tertiary packaging holder, and wherein spacings in between the first and second opposing walls of the secondary packaging holder are configured to overlap with the first aperture. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The packaging system of claim 23, wherein the second opposing wall of the tertiary packaging holder outlines a second aperture in a middle section of the second opposing wall of the tertiary packaging holder, and wherein spacings in between the first and second opposing walls of the secondary packaging holder are configured to overlap with the second aperture. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The packaging system of claim 23, wherein the primary packaging holder receiving portion includes at least first and second arc-shaped regions configured to securely retain the neck of the primary packaging holder therebetween, wherein the first and second arc shaped regions are configured to move relative to each other. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The packaging system of claim 23, wherein the base of the tertiary packaging holder is rectangular and wherein the substantially planar wall extends from at least one side of the base. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The packaging system of claim 23, wherein the apertures allow for direct access to at least a portion of a side of the primary packaging holder when the primary packaging holder is securely and irreversibly held in the secondary packaging holder and tertiary packaging holder. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The packaging system of claim 23, wherein the spacings of the secondary packaging holder extend from the primary packaging holder receiving portion to a lip on the base. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The packaging system of claim 23, wherein the base of the secondary packaging holder includes an aperture extending completely therethrough.