Blocking device

Abstract

An assembly (100) for wetting a medical device ( 101 ) is provided. The assembly ( 100 ) comprises a compartment ( 120 ) for the fluid medium and a package ( 110 ) for a medical device ( 101 ). The fluid medium in the compartment ( 120 ) may be used for wetting a hydrophilic coating disposed at an outer surface of the medical device ( 101. The compartment ( 120 ) comprises an outlet ( 140 ) and the package ( 110 ) comprises an inlet ( 130 ) for the fluid medium. Prior to use, when the assembly ( 100 ) is in a storage-position, a gap between the outlet ( 140 ) and inlet ( 130 ) may be present. The outlet ( 140 ) and inlet ( 130 ) may both be closed by a barrier film ( 160 ) preventing contamination of the outlet ( 140 ) and inlet ( 130 ) prior to use. When the assembly ( 100 ) is to be used, the barrier film ( 160 ) is removed thereby opening the outlet ( 140 ) and inlet ( 130 ). The removal of the barrier film ( 160 ) may be connected to the opening of the package ( 110 ) such that the package ( 110 ) is opened as the barrier film ( 160 ) is removed. A blocking device ( 170 ) for closing the gap between the outlet ( 140 ) and inlet ( 130 ) at least in the use-position, is provided.

1 . An assembly for wetting a medical device that comprises a compartment for a fluid medium and a package for containing the medical device,
 where the package and the compartment are separate elements which are joined together;   where an outlet from the compartment and an inlet to the package are covered by a barrier film in a storage-position, where the barrier film in a use-position is removed from the outlet and inlet thereby allowing fluid communication between the outlet and the inlet;   where the assembly comprises a blocking device for closing a gap between the outlet and the inlet at least in a use-position.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical device contained in the package is at least partly provided with a hydrophilic coating. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a urinary catheter. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking device comprises an inlet flange and an outlet flange. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein one of the inlet flange and the outlet flange comprise an upper part and a lower part. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the inlet flange and outlet flange comprise an annular flange defining an upper part and a lower part. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 6 , where one of the inlet flange and the outlet flange is thicker at the lower part than at the upper part. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the barrier film comprises two lengths of film. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the thicker flange at the top is approximately half the thickness of the flange at the lower part. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the thicker part of the flange comprises an adhesive layer at the side facing the opposite flange. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the flange comprising different thicknesses is the inlet flange. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking device comprises a resilient element, which in the storage-position is kept compressed by the barrier film, and in the use-position is released to close the lower part of a gap between the outlet and the inlet. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the resilient element is a foam element. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the resilient element is a rubber-gasket. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the resilient element is contained between an outlet flange and an inlet flange held together by a snap element. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the resilient element is an annular element. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the resilient element is placed at the inlet flange. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking device comprises an outlet flange and an inlet flange, and where one of the flanges comprises at least one protrusion at the lower part to cooperate with a resilient element interposed between the flanges. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the outlet flange and the inlet flange are annular elements surrounding the outlet and inlet respectively. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the protrusion is constituted as a ring element. 
     
     
         21 . An assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein one of the flanges comprise more than one protrusion at least below the outlet and inlet. 
     
     
         22 . An assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the barrier film extends beyond the lower protrusion(s). 
     
     
         23 . An assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein a covering part of the barrier film is loosely attached to the outlet. 
     
     
         24 . An assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the flange comprising the protrusion(s) is placed at the inlet. 
     
     
         25 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking device comprises an outlet part and an inlet part attached to each other such that they are pre-stressed to close a gap between them. 
     
     
         26 . An assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein rim parts at two opposite sides of the outlet part and the inlet part are permanently attached to each other and a gap is formed between the outlet part and the inlet part, the gap of which is held open by the barrier film that extends through the gap. 
     
     
         27 . An assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the outlet part and the inlet part each comprise a hole surrounded by ridges, and where the ridges at the inlet part fit within the ridges at the outlet part. 
     
     
         28 . An assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the outlet part and inlet part are made of a material with low visco-elastic properties. 
     
     
         29 . An assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the material is PEEK. 
     
     
         30 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking device comprises ends of the barrier film that are permanently attached to the compartment and the package below the outlet and inlet respectively, at least one downwardly extending pulling part, and where covering parts of the barrier film are parts of the barrier film between the pulling part and the permanently attached ends. 
     
     
         31 . An assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein the blocking device further comprises an outlet part and an inlet part that is disposed at least below the outlet and inlet, and where the ends of the barrier film are permanently attached to the outlet part and the inlet part respectively. 
     
     
         32 . An assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the outlet part and the inlet part each comprise a hole aligned with the outlet and inlet respectively such that the outlet part and the inlet part are disposed surrounding the outlet and inlet. 
     
     
         33 . An assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein the blocking device further comprises a delaying release liner at the outlet. 
     
     
         34 . An assembly according to  claim 33 , wherein the delaying release liner is loosely attached to the outlet and permanently attached to the barrier film. 
     
     
         35 . An assembly according to  claim 33 , wherein the delaying release liner comprises three parts folded together. 
     
     
         36 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a pulling part of the barrier film at the outlet comprises an extension, and where this pulling part is adhered to the pulling part of the barrier film at the inlet above the extension. 
     
     
         37 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the package comprises an opening foil covering the opening into the package, and where this opening foil is adapted for removal with the barrier film. 
     
     
         38 . An assembly according to  claim 37 , wherein the opening foil comprises a pulling part for pulling at the foil and a covering part for covering the opening. 
     
     
         39 . An assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein the pulling part of the opening foil is attached to the barrier film. 
     
     
         40 . An assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein the pulling part of the opening foil is disposed around a reel element, and where the reel element is connected to the barrier film. 
     
     
         41 . A method of wetting a medical device stored in an assembly comprising
 a compartment for the fluid medium   a package for the medical device including an inlet to the package,   a barrier film that comprises pulling part(s) and covering part(s) covering an outlet from the compartment   where the assembly further comprises a blocking device,   the method comprises pulling at the pulling part(s) of the barrier film thereby removing the covering part(s) from the outlet and inlet and allowing the fluid medium stored in the compartment to exit the compartment,   where the blocking device is adapted to close the gap between the compartment and the package such that the fluid medium will enter through the inlet into the package.   
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the package is opened as the barrier film is removed.