Packaging system for medical components

Abstract

An integrated package suited to the packaging of medical devices and surgical equipment including devices and equipment used in heart by-pass surgery has a container and a snap-fit lid. The container and the lid have topographies suitable to conform to the medical components in the container and hold them securely. The lid has first and second grooves which engage a projection on the container and permit the lid to be used in a shipping orientation and a disposal orientation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A medical package for shipping medical components and for disposing of the medical components contaminated with medical waste after use comprising: 
 a container having a bottom surface and sidewalls forming an opening; and    a lid configured to attach to the container to cover the opening in a first orientation when the medical components are enclosed in the container during shipment and in a second orientation different from the first orientation when the used medical components contaminated with medical waste are enclosed in the container during disposal.    
     
     
         2 . The medial package of  claim 1  wherein a first volume is enclosed within the container when the lid is in the first orientation and wherein a second volume is enclosed within the container when the lid is in the second orientation, the second volume being greater than the first volume.  
     
     
         3 . The medical package of  claim 1  wherein the lid forms a seal about the opening in the container when in the second orientation such that fluid medical waste can be contained in the container.  
     
     
         4 . A method of disposing of used medical components comprising: 
 supplying a packaging system for shipment of the medical components, the packaging system comprising a container having an interior surface and an opening, and a lid configured to attach to the container in a manner that covers the opening in one of a shipping orientation and a disposal orientation which is different from the shipping orientation;    placing the used medical components in the container in which they were shipped; and    covering the container with the lid attached in the disposal orientation.    
     
     
         5 . A method of packaging medical components from shipping to disposal comprising: 
 providing a packaging system including a container having an interior surface and an opening, and a lid configured to be oriented with respect to the container in a first position when shipping medical components and in a second position, different from the first position, when disposing of the medical components;    enclosing the medical components in the container with the lid positioned in the first position;    removing the medical components from the container;    using the medical components in a medical procedure; and    placing the used medical components in the container with the lid positioned in the second position.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein placing the medical components in the container with the lid in the first position forms a first enclosed volume within the container and placing the used medical components in the container with the lid in the second position forms a second enclosed volume within the container, the second volume being greater than the first volume.  
     
     
         7 . A method of packaging medical components from shipping to disposal comprising: 
 providing a packaging system including a container having an interior surface and an opening, and a lid configured to cover the opening, the lid being shaped to cover the opening in a shipping position enclosing a first volume within the container and a disposal position enclosing a second volume within the container, the second volume being greater than the first volume;    enclosing the medical components within the container with the lid in the shipping position;    removing the medical products from the container;    using the medical components in a medical procedure; and    enclosing the used medical components within the container with the lid in the disposal position.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the shipping position is different from the disposal position.