Sterilizable flexible pouch package

Abstract

A sterilizable flexible pouch package includes a non-woven barrier web, a perforated plastic intermediate web, and an imperforate plastic upper web. Line heat seals bonding the webs from a cavity into which a sterilizing fluid may enter after passing through the barrier and intermediate webs. The line heat seal bonding the upper and intermediate webs is of the delamination failure type. An access opening is provided for insertion of an object to be sterilized into the cavity after which the access opening is sealed, enclosing the object in the cavity. After sterilizing, the package is opened by peeling apart the upper web from the intermediate web which causes a delamination failure of the line heat seal. Preferred materials enable steam sterilization at temperature of 270° F.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a sterilizable flexible pouch package, to a method of using the pouch, and to apparatus which facilitates use of the pouch. More particularly, the invention relates to such pouches which are fluid-sterilizable and preferably sterilizable with steam at high temperatures of up to 270.degree. F. and which are reliably openable, by peeling, after such sterilization. Still more particularly, the invention relates to such packages which are sufficiently large and robust to permit such sterilization of heavy objects, such as a tray bearing medical devices or instruments.DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART[0002] Various medical instruments and supplies are subjected, prior to use in hospitals, to sterilization treatments such as, for example, sterilization with a sterilizing fluid such as steam, ethylene oxide gas, or hydrogen peroxide plasma, radiation sterilization, and dry-heating sterilization. Ordinarily, the first step in sterilization is to package or wrap the...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, sterile technique does not allow a hand or object to contact a sterile item.

CSR wrap, however, is prone to fluid strike-through and exhibits tearing with extended use.

Accordingly, cloth wrap practice is time consuming and expensive.

Although non-woven CSR wraps offer both improved fluid resistance and improved bacterial barrier migration over their cloth counterparts, sterilization practices that use these non-woven materials are still labor intensive and costly.

While the steel tray system offers excellent sterility maintenance, it is not an attractive practice for many hospitals because the containers are extremely expensive.

Although to a lesser degree than the steel counterpart, plastic self-contained sterilization trays are also expensive.

Moreover, sterilization trays have considerable mass which gives rise to a problem of sterilant condensate which arises with this method of sterilization.

However, as mentioned above, these applications have been limited to sterilization of small or lightweight objects that are easily packaged.

Kraft paper, both coated and uncoated, is used in such packages for both steam and gas sterilization but is not well suited for heavy objects.

Moreover, opening a sealed paper package gives rise to the

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