Sterile fluid collection tube package

Abstract

Various technologies presented herein relate to sterile transport, storage and operation of fluid collection tubes. A plurality of sterile sample tube packages are presented, wherein each package comprises a tray (having a recessed cavity formed therein), one or more fluid collection tubes and a cover. Each cavity includes at least one compartment, wherein a collection tube can be respectively stored in each compartment. The tray and cover can be formed from medically sterile materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sterile fluid collection tube package, comprising:
 a fluid collection tube having a first end and a second end;   a thermoformed tray formed from a first sterile material, wherein the thermoformed tray includes a flange having an upper surface and a central region, wherein the central region defines a cavity surrounded by the flange, wherein the cavity comprises:
 a recessed portion comprising a base wall and a sidewall, wherein the base wall is recessed with respect to the upper surface of the flange, wherein the sidewall joins the base wall to the flange; and 
 a first support recess and a second support recess, wherein the first support recess and the second support recess are aligned along a common axis, wherein the first support recess and the second support recess are located at opposing portions of the recessed portion to form a compartment, wherein the first support recess is located at a first junction between the flange and the sidewall, wherein the second support recess is located at a second junction between the flange and the sidewall, wherein the fluid collection tube is located in the cavity, wherein the first end of the fluid collection tube is located in the first support recess and the second end of the fluid collection tube is located in the second support recess; and 
   a seal system formed from a second sterile material configured to seal the cavity and the fluid collection tube located therein in a sterile environment.   
     
     
         2 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , wherein the seal system comprises a medical grade bag. 
     
     
         3 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , wherein the seal system comprises a cover attached to the upper surface of the flange, wherein the cover is sized to cover an entirety of the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 3 , further comprising a releasable adhesive, wherein the cover is attached to the upper surface of the flange by the releasable adhesive, and the releasable adhesive facilitates removal of the cover from the thermoformed tray 
     
     
         5 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , wherein the sterile material is one of a synthetic resin, a sterile foam, polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyester. 
     
     
         6 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoformed tray is formed from a sheet of the sterile thermoplastic, the sheet having a thickness in a range between 4 mm and 8 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , wherein the second sterile material is different from the first sterile material. 
     
     
         8 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , wherein the second sterile material comprises at least one of paper, reinforced paper, synthetic reinforced paper, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PET-G), amorphous PET (A-PET), recycled PET (rPET), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), high density PE, polypropylene (PP), metal foil, TYVEK, TYVEK 2FS, BAREX, or TRITON. 
     
     
         9 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , wherein the base wall has a rectangular shape, wherein a plurality of sidewalls connect the base wall to the flange, wherein the sidewall is in the plurality of sidewalls. 
     
     
         10 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , further comprising a third support recess and a fourth support recess, wherein the third support recess and the fourth support recess are aligned along a second common axis, wherein the third support recess and the fourth support recess are located at opposing portions of the recessed portion to form a second compartment, wherein the third support recess is located at a third junction between the flange and the sidewall, wherein the fourth support recess is located at a fourth junction between the flange and the sidewall, wherein a second fluid collection tube is located in the second cavity, wherein a first end of the second fluid collection tube is located in the third support recess and a second end of the second fluid collection tube is located in the fourth support recess. 
     
     
         11 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 10 , wherein the third support recess is adjacent the first support recess and the fourth support recess is adjacent the second support recess, wherein a first separating wall separates the first support recess and the third support recess, wherein a second separating wall separates the second support recess and the fourth support recess. 
     
     
         12 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid collection tube is a blood collection tube. 
     
     
         13 . A package configured to retain at least one sample tube, the package comprising:
 a tray comprising a flange surrounding a recessed portion, wherein the tray is formed from a sterile thermoplastic, the recessed portion of the tray comprising:
 a recessed portion comprising a base wall and a sidewall, wherein the base wall is recessed with respect to the upper surface of the flange, wherein the sidewall joins the base wall to the flange; 
 a first compartment, wherein the first compartment is configured to receive a first fluid collection tube, the first compartment comprising a first support recess and a second support recess, the first support recess has a first length and the second support recess has a second length, wherein the first length and the second length are aligned along a first common axis and are respectively located at opposing portions of the recessed portion, 
 wherein the first support recess comprises a second base wall extending along the first length of the first support recess, wherein the second base wall is recessed with respect to the upper surface of the flange and the second base wall is offset with respect to the base wall of the recessed portion, wherein a second sidewall joins the second base wall to the flange, 
 wherein the second support recess comprises a third base wall extending along the second length of the second support recess, wherein the third base wall is recessed with respect to upper surface of the flange and the third base wall is offset with respect to the base wall of the recessed portion, wherein a third sidewall joins the third base wall to the flange. 
   
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the second base wall or the third base wall is concavo-convex with respect to a plane formed by the flange. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein the sterile thermoplastic is one of a synthetic resin, a sterile foam, a polyurethane film, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyester. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 13 , further comprising a sealing system formed from a second sterile material configured to seal the recessed portion in a sterile environment. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the second sterile material comprises at least one of paper, a reinforced paper, a synthetic reinforced paper, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PET-G), amorphous PET (A-PET), recycled PET (rPET), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), high density PE, polypropylene (PP), metal foil, TYVEK, TYVEK 2FS, BAREX, or TRITON. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 13 , further comprising a second compartment, wherein the second compartment is configured to receive a second sample tube, the second compartment comprising a third support recess and a fourth support recess, the third support recess has a third length and the fourth support recess has a fourth length, wherein the third length and the fourth length are aligned along a first common axis and are respectively located at opposing portions of the recessed portion, wherein the third support recess comprises a third base wall extending along the third length of the third support recess, wherein the third base wall is recessed with respect to the upper surface of the flange and the third base wall is raised with respect to the base wall of the recessed portion, wherein a fourth sidewall joins the third base wall to the flange,
 wherein the fourth support recess comprises a fourth base wall extending along the fourth length of the fourth support recess, wherein the fourth base wall is recessed with respect to upper surface of the flange and the fourth base wall is raised with respect to the base wall of the recessed portion, wherein a fifth sidewall joins the fourth base wall to the flange.   
     
     
         19 . A sterile fluid collection tube package, comprising:
 a first fluid collection tube having a first end and a second end;   a second fluid collection tube having a third end and a fourth end;   a thermoformed tray formed from a first sterile material, wherein the thermoformed tray includes a flange having an upper surface and a central region, wherein the central region defines a cavity surrounded by the flange, wherein the cavity comprises:
 a recessed portion comprising a base wall and a sidewall, wherein the base wall is recessed with respect to the upper surface of the flange, wherein the sidewall joins the base wall to the flange; 
 a first compartment, wherein the first compartment is configured to receive the first fluid collection tube, the first compartment comprising a first support recess and a second support recess, the first support recess has a first length and the second support recess has a second length, wherein the first length and the second length are aligned along a first common axis and are respectively located at opposing portions of the recessed portion, wherein the first support recess is located at a first junction between the flange and the sidewall, wherein the second support recess is located at a second junction between the flange and the sidewall, wherein the fluid collection tube is located in the cavity, wherein the first end of the fluid collection tube is located in the first support recess and the second end of the fluid collection tube is located in the second support recess; 
 a second compartment, wherein the second compartment is configured to receive the second fluid collection tube, the second compartment comprising a third support recess and a fourth support recess, the third support recess has a third length and the fourth support recess has a fourth length, wherein the third length and the fourth length are aligned along a second common axis and are respectively located at opposing portions of the recessed portion, wherein the third support recess is located at a third junction between the flange and the sidewall, wherein the fourth support recess is located at a fourth junction between the flange and the sidewall, wherein the fluid collection tube is located in the cavity, wherein the third end of the fluid collection tube is located in the third support recess and the fourth end of the fluid collection tube is located in the second support recess; and 
 a seal system formed from a second sterile material configured to seal the cavity and the fluid collection tube located therein in a sterile environment. 
   
     
     
         20 . The sterile fluid collection tube package of  claim 19 , wherein the third support recess is adjacent the first support recess and the fourth support recess is adjacent the second support recess, wherein a first separating wall separates the first support recess and the third support recess, wherein a second separating wall separates the second support recess and the fourth support recess.