Sterilization wraps and methods for sterilizing articles

Abstract

There is provided an improved sterilization wrap and a method for using the improved sterilization wrap to sterilize an article. The wrap is made of at least one sheet, and preferably two sheets, of sterilization material and in some embodiments, includes an additional sheet which may be made of an absorbent material. The sheet of absorbent material may have a smaller perimeter than at least one sheet of sterilization material. One side of at least one sheet of sterilization material includes a central portion. The absorbent material may be attached to the central portion of at least one sheet of sterilization material. The article to be sterilized is placed on the sterilization wrap and is then wrapped. The absorbent material provides sterility protection for the article in addition to the at least one sheet of sterilization material and also wicks moisture away from the article after sterilization has taken place. A visual indicator may be provided to indicate whether or not the article has been exposed to adequate sterilization conditions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to sterilization wrap. More particularly, it relates to sterilization wrap utilizing two layers or sheets of material. [0002] Reusable medical instruments must be sterilized prior to each use. Normally, these instruments are exposed to a sterilant to achieve sterilization. As used herein, the term steriliant is meant to refer to the sterilization effectors that are conventionally utilized with sterilization wrap, sterilization techniques, including but not limited to steam, ethylene-oxide, plasma, or the like. In order for the instruments to remain sterile after the sterilization procedure, the instruments must be wrapped in a material called sterilization wrap prior to the sterilization procedure. [0003] The most common type of sterilization wrap is a three-ply laminate consisting of a layer of melt blown polypropylene sandwiched between two layers of spun bond polypropylene. The wrap includes bond points all across the face...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] It is another object of this invention to provide a sterilization wrap made with two layers of material which is easy to use.

[0012] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a sterilization wrap which is less costly to manufacture than conventional sterilization wrap.

[0015] In accordance with one form of this invention, there is provided a sterilization wrap for wrapping an article to be sterilized. At least one sheet, and preferably two sheets, of sterilization material and a sheet of absorbent material are provided. The sheet of absorbent material is bonded to a sheet of sterilization material. The sheet of absorbent material is adapted to receive the article to be sterilized. The sheet of absorbent material (a) provides sterility protection for the article in addition to the sheet of sterilization material, and (b) wicks moisture away from the article after sterilization has taken place. The sheet of absorbent material may be made of cellulose or other absorbent matter which is capable of being formed into a sheet or layer. Preferably, the sheet of absorbent material is smaller than the sheet of sterilization material. Also, preferably, one side of the sheet of sterilization material has a central portion and the sheet of absorbent material is bonded to the central portion of the sheet of sterilization material. The sheet of sterilization material may be a different color from the sheet of absorbent material so that the user may readily differentiate between the two sheets and thus distinguish where to place the article being packaged. Also, preferably, the sheet of absorbent material is thicker or heavier than the sheet of sterilization material. In addition, a chemical visual indicator which changes color in the presence of a sterilant, such as steam, may be attached to either sheet near the article to be sterilized to indicate whether or not the article has been exposed to adequate sterilization conditions.

Problems solved by technology

The wrapping of surgical instruments with two separate sheets of sterilization wrap obviously is labor intensive in that the clinician must first place the instruments on one sheet of sterilization material and wrap the instruments, and then place the wrapped package on another sheet of sterilization material and again wrap the package containing the instruments.

With two of the edges being unbonded, it is possible that the sheets become misaligned so that if a sharp object penetrates both sheets, the resulting holes in each sheet could also become misaligned, thus reducing ones ability to determine whether or not there is a hole through both sheets.

However, both the One Step® product and the Simul-Wrap® product have certain drawbacks.

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