Medical test device package, packaging system and method of packaging a medical test device

Abstract

A lateral test flow cassette and method of packaging lateral flow test strips includes providing an elongated first web comprising a thermo-formable material, thermoforming a plurality of recesses in the elongated first web at spaced intervals along the elongated first web, providing a supply of lateral flow test strips and providing an elongated second web, retaining lateral flow test strips within the recesses of the elongated first web by attaching the second web to the first web, and cutting the attached together first web and second web to separate the thus retained lateral flow test strips into packages. The second elongated web may comprise a thermo-formable material, with the method further including thermoforming features in the elongated second web at spaced intervals, such as recesses.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of packaging lateral flow test strips, said method comprising:
 providing an elongated first web, wherein the elongated first web comprises thermo-formable material;   thermoforming a plurality of recesses in the elongated first web, wherein the recesses are at spaced intervals along the elongated first web;   providing a supply of lateral flow test strips;   providing an elongated second web;   retaining lateral flow test strips within the recesses of the elongated first web by attaching the second web to the first web; and   cutting the attached together first web and second web to separate the thus retained lateral flow test strips into packages.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said thermoforming a plurality of recesses in the first web comprises forming receptacles for receiving the lateral flow test strips, and wherein said method further comprises placing lateral flow test strips in the recesses of the elongated first web prior to said retaining lateral flow test strips within the recesses of the elongated first web. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated second web comprises thermo-formable material, and wherein said method further comprises:
 thermoforming features in the second web at spaced intervals along the elongated second web wherein the features comprise thermoformed features; and   positioning at least a portion of the second web at the first web such that thermoformed features of the second web are disposed at recesses of the first web.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising cutting sections of the second web prior to said positioning at least a portion of the second web at the first web, wherein each section of the second web comprises a plurality of thermoformed features for engagement with a plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the thermoformed features comprise recesses, and wherein said retaining lateral flow test strips within the recesses of the elongated first web by attaching the second web to the first web comprises securing the second web to the first web with recesses of the second web disposed at recesses of the first web. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising feeding the elongated first web in a feed direction and placing the lateral flow test strips in the recesses of the elongated first web while the elongated first web is fed in the feed direction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the elongated first web is wound on a reel and wherein the method comprises unwinding the reel while feeding the elongated first web in the feed direction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said thermoforming the plurality of recesses in the elongated first web occurs prior to winding the elongated first web on the reel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing lateral flow test strips on the elongated second web at spaced intervals and placing the first web on the second web with recesses of the first web disposed about the lateral flow test strips on the second web. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individually packaged lateral flow test strips comprise lateral flow test cassettes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated first web and elongated second web each include lateral edges, and wherein said method further comprises forming a plurality of apertures adjacent at least one edge of the first web and/or the second web, wherein the apertures are used for feeding the first web and/or second web. 
     
     
         12 . A test strip packing system comprising:
 a supply of a pre-formed thermo-formable web formed from a planar thermo-formable web, said pre-formed thermo-formable web having a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of thermoformed recesses formed therein and connected by said thermo-formable web, said thermoformed recesses being spaced at a first spacing along said longitudinal axis and being sized for receiving strips of lateral flow tape therein;   a feeder apparatus to feed said thermo-formable web in a feed direction;   a supply of strips of lateral flow tape;   a pick and place apparatus to pick and place strips from said supply of strips in said thermoformed recesses of said thermo-formable web while said thermo-formable web is fed in said feed direction; and   a seal apparatus to seal the strips in the recesses.   
     
     
         13 . The test strip packing system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a reel to feed said supply of pre-formed thermo-formable web. 
     
     
         14 . The test strip packing system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a thermoforming apparatus and a reel having a supply of a planar thermo-formable web, said reel feeding said planar thermo-formable web into said thermoforming apparatus to thereby form said recesses to form said supply of pre-formed thermo-formable web. 
     
     
         15 . The test strip packing system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a supply of a backing web and a feeder apparatus to feed said backing web over said strips after said strips are placed in said recesses, and said seal apparatus sealing said backing web with said pre-formed thermo-formable web to thereby seal the strips in said recesses. 
     
     
         16 . The test strip packing system according to  claim 15 , wherein said backing web comprises a planar web with an adhesive layer, said adhesive layer sealing said strips in said recesses of said pre-formed thermo-formable web. 
     
     
         17 . The test strip packing system according to  claim 12 , wherein said pre-formed thermo-formable web comprises a first pre-formed thermo-formable web, and said backing web comprises a second pre-formed thermo-formable web having a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of thermoformed recesses formed therein and connected by said second pre-formed thermo-formable web, and said thermoformed recesses in said second pre-formed thermo-formable web being spaced at a second spacing along said longitudinal axis of said second pre-formed thermo-formable web, and wherein said second spacing is equal to said first spacing. 
     
     
         18 . The test strip packing system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a cutting apparatus to cut between each strip after being sealed in a respective recess to form individually packaged strips. 
     
     
         19 . The test strip packing system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a pick and place apparatus to pick and place a section of the second pre-formed thermo-formable web onto the first pre-formed thermo-formable web, further comprising a cutting apparatus to cut the section of the second pre-formed thermo-formable web prior to placing the section of the section of the second pre-formed thermo-formable web onto the first pre-formed thermo-formable web. 
     
     
         20 . The test strip packing system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a supply of treated web for forming said strips of lateral flow tape and a cutting apparatus to cut said treated web into said strips of lateral flow tape. 
     
     
         21 . A test strip package comprising:
 a lateral flow test strip;   a thermoformable web including a recess formed therein, said lateral flow test strip positioned in said recess; and   a backing web joined with said thermoformable web to enclose and seal said lateral flow test strip between said webs to thereby form said package.   
     
     
         22 . The test strip package according to  claim 21 , wherein said thermoformable web comprises a first thermoformable web, and said backing web comprises a second thermoformable web, and wherein said second thermoformable web includes a recess, said lateral flow test strip positioned between said recesses of said first and second thermoformable webs.