Packaging systems for implantable devices and related methods
Inventors
Holbrooks, Ashley • Pinto, Fabio • Gutelius, Patrick N. • Kulakowski, Derek R. • Helstern, Gary • Farrington, Richard I. • Triunfo, John
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12485037-B2
Publication Date
2025-12-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A tray for securing an implantable device to a carrier member includes a slot configured to retain the carrier member and a receptacle adjacent the slot. The carrier member surrounds a shaft of the implantable device. The receptacle has a first width at a proximal end of the receptacle to receive first and second arms of the implantable device in an initial state in which the first and second arms extend substantially perpendicularly from the shaft. The receptacle has a second width at a distal end of the receptacle for receiving the first and second arms of the implantable device in a collapsed state in which the first and second arms are folded against the shaft such that the carrier member can be slid over the first and second arms to retain the first and second arms. The second width is less than the first width.
Core Innovation
The packaging system prepares an implantable device, specifically an intrauterine device, for deployment using a tray and an inserter device. The tray releasably couples to both the implantable device and the inserter device. The inserter device comprises an insertion tube configured to enclose at least a portion of the implantable device and a handle with a slider button that controls tube movement, cooperating with the tray to couple the implantable device.
The system addresses the difficulty of manually folding and holding intrauterine device arms during loading. Sliding the inserter device along the tray causes a pair of arms of the implantable device to fold toward its shaft before releasably coupling the device to the inserter device. Tray slots, receptacles, retention features, and protective covers secure and support components during transport and device preparation.
Claims Coverage
The claims identify two independent claims covering two inventive features directed to a system and a method.
Tray and inserter device system
The system comprises a tray configured to releasably couple to an implantable device and an inserter device configured to deploy the implantable device. The inserter device comprises an insertion tube configured to enclose at least a portion of the implantable device and a handle with a slider button configured to control movement of the tube, wherein the inserter device releasably couples to the tray and cooperates with the tray to releasably couple the implantable device to the inserter device.
Tray-guided preparation method
The method comprises accessing a tray releasably coupled to an implantable device and an inserter device, sliding the inserter device along the tray to cause a pair of arms of the implantable device to fold toward its shaft, and releasably coupling the implantable device to the inserter device.
The claims cover a tray and inserter system for releasably coupling and deploying an implantable device, alongside a tray-guided preparation method that folds the arms of the device toward the shaft prior to coupling.
Stated Advantages
The arrangements address the difficulty of manually folding and holding small intrauterine device arms during loading.
Tray slots, receptacles, retention features, and optional protective covers support and secure components during loading and transport.
Documented Applications
Handling, preparing, and deploying an implantable device, particularly an intrauterine device, using a tray and inserter device.
Deploying an implantable device with an inserter device, including implantation sequences.
Interested in licensing this patent?