Vacuum loss indication for flexible packaging

Abstract

A system for vacuum loss indication includes a rigid inner container, a flexible outer container, a sliding block, and a bias mechanism. The rigid inner container includes a receptacle with an open proximal end and a closed distal end. The flexible outer container surrounds the inner rigid container and includes a semi-transparent portion. The sliding block is within the receptacle and visible through the semi-transparent portion and includes a pressure indicator. The bias mechanism biases the sliding block to a first position under a first level of vacuum and a second position under a second level of vacuum. A first portion of the pressure indicator is visible through the semi-transparent portion in the first position and a second portion is visible through the semi-transparent portion in the second position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for vacuum loss indication, comprising:
 a rigid container;   a flexible container surrounding the rigid container to maintain a pressure; and   an indicator member between the rigid container and the flexible container that includes a first position when the pressure is at a first pressure and a second position when the pressure is at a second pressure greater than the first pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bias member that couples the indicator with the rigid container and biases the indicator member to the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator member includes a visible indicator that is hidden from view through a transparent portion of the flexible container in the first position and visible through the transparent portion in the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum sealed container disposed within a cavity of the rigid container. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle that receives the indicator member, wherein only an upper surface of the indicator member is visible through a transparent portion of the flexible container in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one side surface of the indicator member is visible through the transparent portion of the flexible container in the second position. 
     
     
         7 . A system for vacuum loss indication, comprising:
 a rigid inner container that includes a receptacle having an open proximal end and a closed distal end;   a flexible outer container surrounding the inner rigid container and including a semi-transparent portion;   a sliding block within the receptacle that is visible through the semi-transparent portion and includes a pressure indicator; and   a bias mechanism that biases the sliding block to a first position under a first level of vacuum and a second position under a second level of vacuum,   wherein a first portion of the pressure indicator is visible through the semi-transparent portion in the first position and a second portion is visible through the semi-transparent portion in the second position.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible outer container includes a vacuum pouch. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the bias mechanism includes a coil spring. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the rigid inner container further comprises a cavity containing medical device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the medical device includes a pre-packaged, vacuum-sealed container. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first portion includes a first color and the second portion includes a second color. 
     
     
         13 . A system for vacuum loss indication of a medical device container, comprising:
 a rigid inner container that includes a receptacle with a closed distal end and an open proximal end;   a cavity within the rigid container containing a medical device;   a flexible outer container that surrounds the rigid inner container and includes a transparent portion disposed adjacent the receptacle;   a sliding block disposed within the receptacle and including a first portion with a first color and a second portion with a second color; and   a spring that couples the sliding block to the distal end of the receptacle;   wherein the flexible outer container compresses the sliding block within the receptacle to obstruct visualization of the second portion when the flexible outer container includes a first pressure and the spring biases the sliding block to permit visualization of the second portion above the open proximal end when the flexible container includes a second pressure greater than the first pressure.