# US 9,750,579 B2 · Package for an object and an assembly including such a package > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,579 B2 - Document ID: US9750579B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/997,630 - Filed: 2016-01-18 - Published: 2017-01-12 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-27 - Assignees: Selenium Medical - Applicants: Selenium Medical - Inventors: Oliver Richart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750579B2 ## CPC - 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 17/865: {Packages or dispensers for bone screws or threaded wires} - A61B 50/10: Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments - A61C 8/0087: {Means for sterile storage or manipulation of dental implants} - A61C 19/02: Protective casings, e.g. boxes for instruments; Bags {(A61C5/44 takes precedence)} - B65B 69/00: Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for - A61B 17/8872: {Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone (A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence)} - 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 2050/0054: {about the central longitudinal axis perpendicular to the lid plane} - A61B 2050/006: {perpendicular to the lid plane, e.g. by a downward movement} - A61C 8/0089: {Implanting tools or instruments} - A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours - A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials - A61L 2202/18: Aseptic storing means - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - 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) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract A package for an object such as a preferably-sterile medical component, includes: a support element provided with elements for coupling the object; a stopper that can be coupled to the support element in such a manner as to define a first chamber for containing the object, and such that a grip portion of the support element projects from the stopper; and a cover that can be coupled to the stopper in such a manner as to define a second chamber inside which the grip portion of the support element extends, and such that a portion of the stopper coupled to the support element projects from the cover. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A package for an object, said package comprising: a support element provided with means for coupling said object to said support element; a first hollow protective element, referred to as a stopper, is coupled to the support element of said object, such that the support element presents a portion, referred to as a grip portion, that projects from said stopper; said support element, alone or in co-operation with the stopper, defining a first chamber containing said object; and a second hollow protective element, referred to as a cover; wherein said cover is coupled to the stopper, so as to co-operate with said stopper to define a second chamber inside which said grip portion of the support element extends; wherein while the cover is coupled to the stopper, a portion, referred to as a grip portion, of the stopper projects from the cover; and wherein the support element comprises a stem-shaped portion having: a bottom portion; a top portion that is fitted with said means for coupling, said stem-shaped portion of the support element and said means for coupling being configured to hold the object suspended through said means for coupling, so that the object extends into the space left free between said means for coupling and the bottom portion of the stem-shaped portion of the support element and so that the length of said object remain visible. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein the stopper and the cover are each formed by a respective elongate hollow body that is open at one end and closed at the other end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the object to the support element comprise a deformable body, referred to as a valve, presenting an orifice, that is capable of passing, by deformation of said body, from a “retaining” configuration in which said orifice of the valve presents a shape and/or dimensions making it possible to clamp the object, to a “releasing” configuration in which said orifice presents a shape and/or dimensions making it possible to release said object relative to said orifice of the valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein said support and protective elements of the package are interfitted, with partial overlap, by friction and/or by screw-fastening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein said support element alone defines said first chamber containing said object, and said support element is formed of at least two parts that can be coupled and uncoupled relative to each other, so as to form said first chamber containing said object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein said support element co-operates with the stopper to define said first chamber containing said object, said support element defining an open cavity that is to be closed by said stopper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein said stopper, and optionally the cover, present(s) at least one predefined location for positioning at least one finger of a person. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein the support element and/or the stopper and/or the cover present(s) a portion, that is impermeable to bacteria but permeable to gas so as to enable said first chamber and/or said second chamber to be sterilized with gas. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein said object is a sterilized medical component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein said first hollow protective element is coupled to the support element of said object by interfitting with partial overlap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein said cover is coupled to the stopper by interfitting with partial overlap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The package according to claim 3, wherein said orifice of said deformable valve is oval shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The package according to claim 5, wherein said support element is formed of at least two parts that can be coupled and uncoupled relative to each other by interfitting with partial overlap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The package according to claim 8, wherein any one of the support element and/or the stopper and/or the cover present(s) a portion, formed by a membrane, that is impermeable to bacteria but permeable to gas. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The package according to claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the object to the support element present a configuration for holding the object captive in a given orientation of said object, and a configuration for releasing said object by pivoting it. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method of unpackaging an object contained in the package constructed in accordance with claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: a first person separating the cover from the stopper in such a manner as to uncover the support element; a second person distinct from said first person taking hold of the support element; and while viewing the length of said object while the object is coupled to the support element, separating said support element from the first hollow protective element, referred to as the stopper, while the stopper is being held by the first person. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said object contained in said package is a sterilized object. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) A method of unpackaging an object from the package constructed according to claim 5, said method comprising the steps of: a first person separating the cover from the stopper in such a manner as to uncover the support element; a second person distinct from said first person taking hold of the support element; putting said support element that closes the object on standby in a standby zone, while said object is waiting to be used; opening the first chamber defined by said support element in order to remove said object; and while viewing the length of said object while the object is coupled to the support element, separating said support element from the stopper while the stopper is being held by the first person. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said object contained in said package is a sterilized object. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An assembly comprising an object and the package according to claim 1, said package containing said object coupled to said support element, said object presenting an end for gripping; wherein said object is coupled to the support element in such a manner that its grip end is free and points away from the grip portion of the support element. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said object is a sterilized medical component. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said object presents an end gripable by an instrument.