Medical device cases – 7 important considerations when sourcing

If you supply handheld equipment to medical and healthcare providers, you are likely already aware of the importance of medical device cases.

Medical device cases are typically lightweight plastic cases with foam inserts. They protect small equipment and handheld devices during storage and transportation. Besides protection, they can also help organise equipment and feature important information and instructions. They are commonly used to protect diagnostic, therapeutic, monitoring, and surgical devices.

This guide details the seven vital points to consider when sourcing medical device cases. It covers:

• The types of handheld medical devices that require protection.
• The various ways in which cases and foam can prevent damage.
• How to source the right case for your equipment.
• Additional benefits to end users.

Handheld medical devices come in various types, designed for different purposes and applications.

Common equipment includes devices for diagnosing medical conditions, continuous or intermittent monitoring of vital signs and other health parameters, or therapeutic devices for delivering treatments or therapies directly to patients.

As such, handheld medical devices typically requiring a case include handheld ultrasound scanners, portable ECG monitors, nebulisers, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units for pain management, handheld glucose meters for diabetes management and many more.

Specialist surgical equipment may also require protection offered by plastic carry cases.

There are several reasons why it is vital to protect medical devices.

Firstly, medical devices can often significantly improve a patient’s quality of life. However, this could be negatively affected if a medical device is damaged and not available for use.

More seriously, damaged equipment could potentially result in loss of life if, for example, monitoring equipment was broken, which meant important information about a patient’s health was missed or unavailable.

Besides the risks to health (and potentially life), damaged medical devices are typically expensive to replace. Their specialist nature may also make it difficult to quickly and easily source a direct replacement.

Finally, medical professionals may lose time and have to reschedule appointments if specific equipment is damaged or unavailable.

By far the most common type of medical equipment cases are the lightweight plastic options. This includes cases by Hofbauer, WAG, Rose Plastic and Maxado.

Often referred to as carry cases, they protect from dust, moisture, splashes and debris. Combined with foam inserts, they can also protect from physical damage caused by impact, mishandling or vibration.

However, some applications may require heavier-duty, fully waterproof cases. These are particularly popular for medical equipment taken outside (for example, by first responders) or where moisture can cause significant damage to the device.

Finally, there are some applications where a bespoke Correx box is suitable. Although they provide less physical protection than plastic cases, they are made in custom sizes and designs and are ideal for clean room use (as users can sterilise them).

So, with several different medical device cases and similar medical packaging to choose from, how do you decide which is the most suitable for your product and application? These seven vital considerations can help guide you toward the best option:

• The amount of protection required.
• ESD sensitivity.
• Ease of handling.
• Organisation.
• Instructions and branding requirements.
• Lifespan.
• Costs.

How delicate your equipment is can help determine which type of medical device case to use.

Most handheld items are relatively robust, meaning lightweight plastic cases provide adequate protection. However, for particularly delicate items or those that are highly calibrated, a more durable case, such as a Peli or Explorer case, may be more suitable.

Likewise, if your equipment could become damaged by moisture or is likely to be used or left outside, you should strongly consider waterproof cases.

It is also worth thinking about how end users will handle your case. If they are constantly being transported, loaded into vehicles, and so on, they will likely need to be more durable than if they are kept at a single location.

Regardless, it is almost always worth incorporating foam inserts into your case, as they can prevent different items within the case from colliding and damaging each other. And for more fragile equipment, precise levels of cushioning from shock can be calculated, virtually eliminating the potential for damage.