Packing and sterilizing a pen in a kit

Abstract

Sterile packaging of pens for use in a medical environment may include labels packaged along with a pen in a pen and label (PAL) kit. The present invention also relates to methods of packaging a pen and/or the PAL kit. In particular, the method of packaging includes the steps of placing a writing instrument into packaging configured to be sealed such that the writing instrument is contained in a sealed portion of the packaging, sealing the package, and sterilizing the writing instrument and the package using gamma sterilization such that all portions of the writing instrument are sterilized.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to sterilized medical packaging. In particular, the present invention relates to packaging a sterilized writing instrument, such as a pen, and labels, which may be contained in a pen and label kit (PAL) kit.[0002]One problem often encountered in modern medicine relates to the need to identify and correctly label medical devices and products in a sterile fashion. Such medical devices and products may include therapeutic agents, (i.e., saline infused with a medicine), tissue samples, blood samples, used medical implements, and other medically related devices and products. The use of a sterile pen in such environments can prevent infection that might otherwise occur due to handling of a non-sterile implement. Because pens are routinely used by medical personnel, the risk of unintended exposure to dangerous agents resulting from the use of a non-sterile pen has been identified as problematic in the medical field.[0003]Simila...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Embodiments of the present invention relate to packaging a writing instruments, such as a pen, including the steps of placing the writing instrument into packaging configured to be sealed such that the writing instrument is contained in a sealed portion of the packaging, sealing the package, and sterilizing the writing instrument and the package using gamma sterilization such that all portions of the writing instrument are sterilized. Gamma sterilization is effective at sterilizing all components of the PAL kit, including the interior of any pen cap or lid and even the ink inside of a pen. Similarly, gamma irradiating labels ensures that the labels, including any adhesive layer, are sterilized throughout.

Problems solved by technology

One problem often encountered in modern medicine relates to the need to identify and correctly label medical devices and products in a sterile fashion.

Because pens are routinely used by medical personnel, the risk of unintended exposure to dangerous agents resulting from the use of a non-sterile pen has been identified as problematic in the medical field.

In some instances, touching a seemingly innocuous label that is not sterile may put patients at risk of infection.

Such risks may be overlooked by the medical professionals because of the common use of such labels and because such labels must be used to correctly identify certain objects and materials.

These traditional methods of sterilization may cause problems when used in attempts to sterilize a pen and labels, as the heat may melt the pen and the label adhesive, chemical dipping may damage the pen and labels, and ultrasonic treatment may not be as effective as other processes in killing all dangerous agents.

After a certain period of time, the chamber recycles and pulls the EtO out and replaces it with clean air, as EtO gas is harmful to breathe.

EtO sterilization usually requires about a day to prepare for a cycle, a day to run through the sterilizer, and about a week to wait for sterilization confirmation using a Petri dish sample test, making the EtO sterilization somewhat time consuming and expensive.

Another problem with sterilizing pens using EtO sterilization is that drawing a vacuum in a volume containing a pen may cause the pen to leak, creating a mess.

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