# US 10,478,381 B2 · Minimization of air ingress in solution containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,381 B2 - Document ID: US10478381B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/792,744 - Filed: 2015-07-07 - Published: 2016-01-14 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-08 - Assignees: Fenwal, Inc. - Applicants: Fenwal, Inc. - Inventors: Craig Sandford; Daryl Calhoun; Robert Payton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478381B2 ## CPC - A61J 1/16: Holders for containers - A61J 1/14: Details; Accessories therefor (A61J7/00 takes precedence; openers B65D, B67B7/00) - A61M 1/0277: {Frames constraining or supporting bags, e.g. during freezing} - 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 - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A medical solution packaging assembly comprising a medical solution container that houses a medical solution comprising a semi-permeable material including one or more surface that is at least partially permeable to air molecules and has low permeability to vapor molecules of the medical solution, wherein the medical solution container is configured to inflate beyond its original volume. The assembly further comprising a packaging comprising one or more surface within which the solution container resides; a compressing mechanism configured to apply external force onto at least one surface of the medical solution container or limit the volume to which the medical solution container inflates, wherein a volume of air ingress from an external environment of the medical solution container is less than that which would occur without the compressing mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical solution packaging assembly comprising: a medical solution container that houses a medical solution, the medical solution container comprising a semi-permeable material including one or more surface that is at least partially permeable to air molecules and has low permeability to vapor molecules of the medical solution, wherein the medical solution container is configured to inflate beyond its original volume; and a compressing mechanism having a single and sole concentrated point of application configured to apply external force onto at least one surface of the medical solution container or limit the volume to which the medical solution container inflates, wherein a volume of air ingress from an external environment of the medical solution container is less than that which would occur without the compressing mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a packaging having one or more surface within which the medical solution container resides, and wherein the compressing mechanism includes at least one insert disposed between the medical solution container and a surface of the packaging. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the external force applied by the compressing mechanism onto the medical solution container results in a pressure value in the range of 10 to 57 torr. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 2, wherein the insert includes a protrusion defining the single and sole concentrated point of application that contacts the medical solution container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a packaging having one or more surface within which the medical solution container resides, and wherein multiple tiers of medical solution containers are disposed within the packaging. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 5, wherein the medical solution containers are in a staggered orientation and one or more insert is disposed between two medical solution containers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the external force applied by the compressing mechanism onto the medical solution container results in a pressure value in the range of 10 to 57 torr. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the medical solution container comprises at least one of anticoagulant, saline, blood product additive solution, enteral solution, and parenteral solution used for apheresis or infusion procedures. ### Claim 9 A method of packaging an infusible medical solution container for apheresis or infusion products comprising: providing packaging for transport or storage of an infusible medical solution container, wherein the packaging includes a plurality of walls and an inner open space for receiving at least one infusible medical solution container; and providing a compressing mechanism having a single and sole concentrated point of application that is configured to apply force onto the at least one infusible medical solution container when placed in the inner open space with the infusible medical solution container, wherein air ingress from the exterior to the interior of the medical solution container is at least partially restricted by the force applied by the compressing mechanism. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the compressing mechanism includes a protrusion defining the single and sole concentrated point of application configured to apply force onto the infusible medical solution container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the force applied by the compressing mechanism onto the medical solution container is in the range of 10 to 57 torr. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein multiple tiers of medical solution containers are disposed within the inner open space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the medical solution containers are in a staggered orientation and at least one compressing mechanism disposed between two of the medical solution containers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the infusible medical solution container comprises at least one of anticoagulant, saline, blood product additive solution, enteral solution and parenteral solution. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the medical solution container is positioned between an aligned pair of contact surface areas of the compressing mechanism. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 5, wherein the compressing mechanism includes opposing surfaces, and each of said opposing surfaces includes a protrusion that contacts a different one of two of said medical solution containers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 16, wherein the protrusions of the opposing surfaces of the compressing mechanism are misaligned. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The medical solution packaging assembly of claim 5, wherein each medical solution container is at least partially positioned within a kit defining a groove, and each medical solution container is oriented so as to fit into the groove of an adjacent kit.