Caps for Catheter Packages

Abstract

A package 10 for a medical device such as an intermittent catheter has a case 12 which is closed at one end and open at the other end. A cap 14 is connected to the case by a hinge 16 to permit selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the case, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the case. A seal 18 is connected to one of the cap and case. The seal is engageable with the other of the cap and case when the cap is closed to form a barrier that maintains a sterile environment inside the package. The seal can be repeatedly made and broken whenever the user closes or opens the cap, respectively.

1 . A medical device package, comprising:
 a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end;   a cap;   a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube;   a tab extending from one of the cap and case with a hook on the tab; and   a depression formed in the other of the cap and case where it can receive the tab, with a detent formed in the depression such that when the cap is placed in the closed position the tab fits into the depression and the hook engages the detent to releasably retain the cap in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device package of  claim 1  wherein the tab is on the cap and the depression is formed in an outer surface of the case. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device package of  claim 1  further comprising a seal ring disposed on one of the cap and case and engageable with the other of the cap and case when the cap is in a closed position. 
     
     
         4 . A medical device package, comprising:
 a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end, the other end of the tube extending to a ferrule which has an open end;   a collar at least partially surrounding the ferrule with at least a portion of the collar separated from the ferrule to form a gap between the ferrule and the collar.   a cap having a skirt which surrounds the ferrule to cover it when the cap is closed, with a portion of the skirt fitting within the gap when the cap is closed;   a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said collar, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the ferrule, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the ferrule; and   a tongue on the interior of the collar and a groove on the exterior of the the skirt, the tongue being engageable with the groove to retain the cap in the dosed position when the cap is dosed.   
     
     
         5 . The medical device package of  claim 4  further comprising a seal ring disposed on one of the cap and case and engageable with the other of the cap and case when the cap is in a dosed position. 
     
     
         6 . A medical device package, comprising:
 a case having a hollow tube which is dosed at one end and open at the other end;   a cap;   a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a dosed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube;   a first rail on the exterior of the cap and extending arcuately thereon;   a second rail on the exterior of the case and extending arcuately thereon opposite the first rail; and   a locking slide slidably engageable with the first and second rails, one of said rails having a gap which, when the locking slide is placed in alignment therewith, permits the cap to move between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 6  wherein the gap is in the first rail. 
     
     
         8 . A medical device package, comprising:
 a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end, the open end having first and second portions;   a cap;   a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube;   a bell mounted on the interior of the cap, the cap and case being made of a relatively stiff material compared to that of the bell and, when the cap is closed the cap is engageable with the first portion of the case so as to resist side loads and the bell is engageable with the second portion of the case to seal the case.   
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 8  wherein the bell is mounted to the cap by a post. 
     
     
         10 . A medical device package, comprising:
 a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end;   a cap having a soft shell supported by a frame that is made of a material that is relatively rigid compared to that of the shell;   a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube.   
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 10  wherein the frame has an annular ring and an axial spine with the soft shell of the cap attached to the annular ring and to the spine. 
     
     
         12 . A medical device package, comprising:
 a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end;   a cap having a skirt with an opening therein;   a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a closed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube; and   at least one latch finger mounted on the case and extending radially therefrom, the latch finger being releasably engageable with the skirt opening when the cap is in the closed position.   
     
     
         13 . The medical device package of  claim 12  further comprising a soft liner on the interior of the cap which engages the case when the cap is closed to seal the case. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device package of  claim 12  wherein said other end of the tube extends to a ferrule which has an open end, and further comprising a collar at least partially surrounding the ferrule with at least a portion of the collar separated from the ferrule to form a gap between the ferrule and the collar, the cap having a skirt which surrounds the ferrule to cover it when the cap is closed, with a portion of the skirt fitting within the gap when the cap is closed, and the latch finger is mounted on the ferrule. 
     
     
         15 . A medical device package, comprising:
 a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end, the tube having a wall;   a cover attached to the open end of the tube; and   a thin-walled section at least partially surrounding the tube, the thin-walled section defining a frangible upper portion of the tube that can be broken away to permit access to the tube.   
     
     
         16 . A medical device package, comprising:
 a case having a hollow tube which is closed at one end and open at the other end;   a cap having a detent thereon;   a hinge having one end connected to the cap and a second end connected to said other end of the hollow tube, the hinge permitting selectable movement of the cap between an open position, wherein access is provided to the open end of the hollow tube, and a dosed position, wherein the cap prevents access to the open end of the hollow tube;   a locking arm pivotably connected to the case, the locking arm  162  being pivotable to engage the detent on the cap when the cap is dosed and thereby retain the cap in the dosed position.