摘要 |
An automatically opening medical device package that includes upper and lower flexible sheet portions, each having distal and proximal ends and first and second peripheral edges. These flexible sheet portions are adapted to be detachably sealed together along their peripheral edges, thereby providing for the enclosure of a medical device. Also included is a collar attached to the distal ends such that a relative movement of the collar and the proximal ends, that decreases a distance therebetween, causes the flexible sheet portions to pull apart, opening the package. A method of manufacturing an automatically opening medical device package containing a medical device includes positioning a medical device on an upper surface of a flexible sheet of material that also has a lower surface, and first and second ends. Upper and lower collar precursors are attached to the lower surfaces of the first and second ends, respectively. The flexible sheet of material is subsequently folded end-over-end about the medical device, thereby forming upper and lower flexible sheet portions (each with distal and proximal ends) that enclose the medical device. The flexible sheet portions are then detachably sealed together. The collar precursors are rolled-back across the flexible sheet portions, operatively aligned, and sealed together to form a collar that is attached to the distal ends such that a relative movement of the collar and the proximal ends, that decreases a distance therebetween, results in a pulling apart of the flexible sheet portions, thereby exposing at least a portion of the medical device. |