Low cost medical needle container and manufacturing methods therefor

Packaging for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging comprising:

• a tube having:
• a first closed end;
• a second closed end;
• and
• a circumferential region disposed between the first and second closed ends for opening the package to allow removal of the medical needle;
• wherein the tube is formed of a single piece of material;
• the single piece of material breaks at the circumferential region to allow removal of the medical needle;
• and
• the weakened area is disposed only on an interior of the tube.

Packaging for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging comprising:

• a tube having:
• a first closed end;
• a second closed end;
• and
• a circumferential region disposed between the first and second closed ends for opening the package to allow removal of the medical needle;
• and
• an insertion depth stop feature for limiting an insertion depth of the medical needle into the packaging;
• wherein the tube is formed of a single piece of material;
• the single piece of material breaks at the circumferential region to allow removal of the medical needle;
• and
• the insertion depth stop feature comprises one of:
• the first closed end that interferes with an inner shield covering the patient end of the medical needle;
• or
• an at least partial circumferential protrusion disposed on an interior of the tube for engaging an outer flange on the hub of the medical needle.

Packaging for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging comprising:

• a tube having:
• a first closed end;
• a second closed end;
• and
• a circumferential region disposed between the first and second closed ends for opening the package to allow removal of the medical needle
• wherein the tube is formed of a single piece of material;
• the single piece of material breaks at the circumferential region to allow removal of the medical needle;
• and
• the material comprises spiral-wrapped paper.

A method of packaging a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the method comprising:

• forming a substantially cylindrical tube;
• sealing a first end of the tube;
• inserting the entire medical needle through a second end of the tube opposite to the first end;
• and
• subsequent to the inserting, sealing the second end of the tube;
• wherein forming the tube comprises:
• coating a first side of a paper with a plastic layer;
• adding texture to the plastic layer with a pressure roller;
• and
• spirally adhering the paper to itself with the plastic layer on an interior of the tube.

A method of packaging a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the method comprising:

• forming a substantially cylindrical tube;
• sealing a first end of the tube;
• inserting the distal end of the medical needle into the sealed first end of the tube;
• and
• sealing a second end of the tube opposite to the first end;
• wherein forming the tube comprises co-extruding paper and plastic layers of the tube.