US5960956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage container
Assignee: St Jude Medical LLC
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Filing: 1997-02-19
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Granted: 1999-10-05
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Expires: 2017-02-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention involves containers and associated methods for the storage of devices in a moist environment without immersing the device in liquid. The containers have a moisture source that has a liquid supply isolated from a main chamber holding the device. The moisture source is in vapor communication with the main chamber to maintain a high relative humidity. The containers are conducive to storing the device in a sterile environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Danney J. Langanki
- 👤 Katherine S. Tweden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/04; A61L2/06; A61L2/07; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/14; A01N1/146; A01N1/16; A45; A45C; A45C11/00; A45C11/005; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0095; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61L2/16; A61L2/18; A61L2/26; B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/18; B65D81/22; A61B; A61B50/00; A61B2050/002; A61B2050/005; A61B2050/0062; A61B2050/0064; A61B50/30; A61B2050/3005; A61L2/08; A61L2/081; A61L2/082; A61L2/087; A61L2/12; A61L2/20; A61L2/204; A61L2/208; A61L2103/00; A61L2103/05; A61L2202/00; A61L2202/10; A61L2202/18; A61L2202/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A moist storage container comprising: a) a main chamber having an interior that is sealed from the ambient atmosphere; b) a moisture source in vapor communication with said interior of said main chamber, said moisture source comprising a supply of liquid in isolation from said interior of said main chamber; and c) a medical device within said interior of said main chamber, said medical device being isolated from said supply of liquid, and said medical device being selected from the group consisting of prostheses, catheters, skin grafts, burn dressings, wound dressings and contact lenses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A moist storage container comprising: a) a main chamber having an interior that is sealed from the ambient atmosphere; b) a moisture source in vapor communication with said interior of said main chamber, said moisture source comprising a supply of liquid in isolation from said interior of said main chamber; and c) a medical device within said interior of said main chamber, said medical device being isolated from said supply of liquid, and said medical device being selected from the group consisting of prostheses, catheters, skin grafts, burn dressings, wound dressings and contact lenses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said main chamber has a sealable lip near an opening into said interior of said main chamber and said container further comprises a cover that forms a seal with said lip of said main chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said moisture source comprises a secondary chamber with passages that provide said vapor communication and further comprises an absorbent material that permits the vaporization of liquid but generally can maintain said supply of liquid within itself.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The moist storage container of claim 1, wherein said medical device is kept in a sterile environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The moist storage container of claim 1, further comprising a gas sterilant within said interior of said main chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The moist storage container of claim 1, further comprising a volatile sterilant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The moist storage container of claim 6, where said volatile sterilant is located within said moisture source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The moist storage container of claim 1, wherein said medical device comprises a moisture requiring material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The moist storage container of claim 8, wherein said moisture requiring material comprises a tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The moist storage container of claim 8, wherein said moisture requiring material comprises a hydrogel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The moisture storage container of claim 1, wherein said medical device comprises a moisture sensitive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The moisture storage container of claim 11, wherein said medical device comprises a liquid scavenger in contact with said moisture sensitive material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The moist storage container of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a heart valve prosthesis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The moist storage container of claim 1 wherein the medical device comprises a prosthesis.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of storing a medical device in a moist environment within a storage container, where said storage container comprises: a) a main chamber having an interior sealable from the ambient atmosphere, said medical device being within said interior of said main chamber; b) a moisture source in vapor communication with said interior of said main chamber, said moisture source comprising a supply of liquid isolated from said interior of said main chamber and from said medical device, the method comprising sealing said medical device in the interior volume of said main chamber, and said medical device being selected from the group consisting of prostheses, catheters, skin grafts, burn dressings, wound dressings and contact lenses.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of storing a medical device in a moist environment within a storage container, where said storage container comprises: a) a main chamber having an interior sealable from the ambient atmosphere, said medical device being within said interior of said main chamber; b) a moisture source in vapor communication with said interior of said main chamber, said moisture source comprising a supply of liquid isolated from said interior of said main chamber and from said medical device, the method comprising sealing said medical device in the interior volume of said main chamber, and said medical device being selected from the group consisting of prostheses, catheters, skin grafts, burn dressings, wound dressings and contact lenses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said medical device comprises tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said storage container comprises a chemical sterilant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said chemical sterilant is a volatile liquid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said chemical sterilant is a gas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of subjecting said storage container holding said medical device to radiation to produce a sterile environment for said medical device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the medical device comprises a heart valve prosthesis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the medical device comprises a prosthesis.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
A storage container comprising: a) a main chamber having an interior that is sealed from the ambient atmosphere; b) a moisture source in vapor communication with said interior of said main chamber, said moisture source comprising a supply of liquid in isolation from said interior of said main chamber; and c) a medical device within said interior of said main chamber, said medical device being isolated from said supply of liquid and said medical device being in a sterile environment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
80 words
A storage container comprising: a) a main chamber having an interior that is sealed from the ambient atmosphere; b) a moisture source in vapor communication with said interior of said main chamber, said moisture source comprising a supply of liquid in isolation from said interior of said main chamber; and c) a medical device within said interior of said main chamber, said medical device being isolated from said supply of liquid and said medical device being in a sterile environment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-04 | 2011-04-05 | 2011-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |