Container with Improved Medical Device Nest Support and Deformation Resistance

A packaging system for storing a plurality of medical components, the packaging system comprising:

• one or more nests each configured to retain a plurality of medical components, each of the one or more nests comprising:
• a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• and
• a plurality of chimneys formed on the support plate and configured to retain the plurality of medical components therein, each of the plurality of chimneys defining an opening in the support plate and comprising a cylindrical wall extending down from the bottom surface of the support plate, the cylindrical wall having a top edge joined to the support plate and a bottom edge;
• a tub comprising:
• a bottom wall;
• a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and including an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls comprises a stepped wall including a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion, with a ledge formed between the lower wall portion and the upper wall portion, the ledge comprising a horizontal ledge in parallel with the bottom wall;
• a top flange formed about a top edge of the plurality of sidewalls;
• and
• one or more support members extending up from the bottom wall, each of the one or more support members having a top surface that is vertically aligned with or vertically below the ledges of the plurality of sidewalls, with the one or more support members positioned to support a bottommost nest of the one or more nests when placed within the tub;
• and
• a sealing cover applied over the tub and joined to the top flange.

A tub for holding one or more nests each configured to retain a plurality of medical components, the tub comprising:

• a bottom wall;
• a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and including an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls comprises a stepped wall including a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion, with a horizontal oriented nest ledge formed between the lower wall portion and the upper wall portion, the nest ledge configured to support a bottom-most nest of the one or more nests;
• and
• a top flange formed about a top edge of the plurality of sidewalls, with the top flange defining an upper opening of the tub;
• wherein the upper wall portion on each of the plurality of sidewalls comprises a stiffening belt formed on the inner wall surface thereof, the stiffening belt configured to resist an inward bowing of the respective sidewall.

A tub for holding one or more nests each configured to retain a plurality of medical components, the tub comprising:

• a bottom wall;
• a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and including an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls comprises a stepped wall including a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion, with a horizontal oriented nest ledge formed between the lower wall portion and the upper wall portion, the nest ledge configured to support a bottom-most nest of the one or more nests;
• and
• a top flange formed about a top edge of the plurality of sidewalls, with the top flange defining an upper opening of the tub;
• wherein the top flange comprises a vertically oriented lip formed about the outer edge thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, back toward the bottom wall, wherein the top flange and vertically oriented lip increase a rigidity of the plurality of sidewalls, such that the plurality of sidewalls are resistant to an inward bowing thereof.

A tub for holding one or more nests each configured to retain a plurality of medical components, the tub comprising:

• a bottom wall;
• a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and including an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls comprises a stepped wall including a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion, with a horizontal oriented nest ledge formed between the lower wall portion and the upper wall portion, the nest ledge configured to support a bottom-most nest of the one or more nests;
• and
• a top flange formed about a top edge of the plurality of sidewalls, with the top flange defining an upper opening of the tub;
• wherein a thickness of each of the plurality of sidewalls is greater than a thickness of the bottom wall, such that the plurality of sidewalls resist an inward bowing.