EP0076062A2 — Blood product storage bag

Claim 1

Independent Claim 89 words

An "easy-open" container of flexible material for use in blood component storage, characterised by a body (10) having frangible seams (20) therein meeting at an apex (22) of the body, and a closure seam (24) sealing the body (10) and intersecting the apex (22), the container construction serving to direct an applied opening force to the apex (22) whereby in use the closure seam (24) may be ruptured at the apex and the body (10) torn along the frangible seams (20) to separate the body (10) from its contents.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 89 words

An "easy-open" container of flexible material for use in blood component storage, characterised by a body (10) having frangible seams (20) therein meeting at an apex (22) of the body, and a closure seam (24) sealing the body (10) and intersecting the apex (22), the container construction serving to direct an applied opening force to the apex (22) whereby in use the closure seam (24) may be ruptured at the apex and the body (10) torn along the frangible seams (20) to separate the body (10) from its contents.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

A container according to claim 1, characterised by portions (26 or 30) of the body (10) being located laterally of the apex (22) and providing means to be gripped for applying the opening force to the closure seam at the apex of the frangible seams.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised by ribs (28) extending from the closure seam (24) and diverging away from the apex (22) to define unfilled areas (30) of the body (10) which may be gripped to apply the rupturing force to the closure seam (24) at the apex of the frangible seams (20).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

A container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that portions (26) of the flexible material lie laterally of the apex (22) on the side of the closure seam (24) opposite the frangible seams (20) and are formed to direct the rupture force to the apex (22) when the lateral portions (26) are pulled apart.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

A container according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the closure seam (24) is essentially along a straight line.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

A container according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the closure seam (24) is of V-shape converging at the apex (22).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

A container according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the closure seam (24) is notched (at 34) in a direction toward said apex (22) to concentrate opening stress thereat.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

A container according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the body (10) is formed from sheet and the seams (20, 24) therein are formed by heat sealing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

A container according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the body (10) is formed by blow molding.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

A container according to any of claims 1 to 9, made from plastics material which is capable of remaining flexible at temperatures of -25°C to -80°C.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 45 words

A container according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised by having removable material (40, 42) to one side of the closure seam (24) opposite the frangible seams (20) to strengthen the container and render the closure seam (24) unlikely to be ruptured prematurely.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 107 words

A container of flexible material for using in blood component storage, characterised by a body (10) having frangible seams (20) therein joined at an apex (22) and a closure seam (24) of V-shape configuration sealing the body (10) and transversely intersecting the apex (22), the said closure seam defining a V-shape removable portion (40) of body material on the side of the closure seam which is opposite the frangible seams (20) whereby the closure seam (24) may be ruptured at the apex (22) and the body (10) torn open along the frangible seams (20) to separate it from its contents after the V-shape body material is removed.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 107 words

A container of flexible material for using in blood component storage, characterised by a body (10) having frangible seams (20) therein joined at an apex (22) and a closure seam (24) of V-shape configuration sealing the body (10) and transversely intersecting the apex (22), the said closure seam defining a V-shape removable portion (40) of body material on the side of the closure seam which is opposite the frangible seams (20) whereby the closure seam (24) may be ruptured at the apex (22) and the body (10) torn open along the frangible seams (20) to separate it from its contents after the V-shape body material is removed.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

A container according to claim 12, characterised by lines of weakness (46) separating the removable portion (40) from the remainder of the body (10).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 61 words

A container according to claim 12 or claim 13, characterised in that ribs (28a, 28b) extend from the closure seam (24) and diverge in directions away from the apex (22) to define unfilled areas (30) of the body which may be gripped to apply a rupturing force to the closure seam (24) at the apex (22) of the frangible seam (20).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

A container according to claim 14 characterised in that the ribs (28a, 28b) are aligned linear extensions of the V-shape closure seam (24).

Blood product storage bag

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