Steam Sterilization Packaging with Permeable Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging for steam sterilization of surgical instruments is limited by fragility, high cost, and capacity constraints, particularly for larger items, as it often uses fragile paper envelopes or expensive non-woven polypropylene bags that cannot accommodate products of significant size and weight.
Innovation Solution
A plastic bag design with a steam-permeable wall made of paper or nonwoven material, attached via a weld line for peelability, allowing for increased capacity and reduced manufacturing costs by using commonly available plastic films, and featuring bellows-shaped side edges for enhanced product insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If paper envelopes or non-woven polypropylene bags are used for steam sterilization packaging, then sterilization function is achieved, but the packaging becomes fragile or expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging combines a plastic bag (providing mechanical strength and durability) with a steam-permeable wall made of paper or nonwoven material (providing sterilization function). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties: the plastic bag prevents damage while the permeable wall allows steam penetration for sterilization.
2Reliability
If traditional sachets or envelopes are used for packaging, then sterilization is possible, but capacity is limited for large-sized products
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic bag is designed with expandable bellows at its side edges, allowing the packaging volume to dynamically increase according to the size of the product being packaged. This dynamic expansion capability enables the same packaging structure to accommodate both small and large products (up to 30-50 cm in size and 7 cm thickness) while maintaining the sterilization function through the steam-permeable wall.
3Reliability
If non-woven polypropylene bags with micro-perforations are used, then steam permeability is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive micro-perforated non-woven polypropylene bags with a more economical solution: a plastic bag combined with a steam-permeable wall made of paper or nonwoven material. This approach achieves the same steam permeability function using cheaper, readily available materials that can be easily manufactured and disposed of after single use.
4Volume of stationary object
If plastic bags with bellows are used, then capacity and ease of insertion are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows structure is created by dividing the side edges of the plastic bag into multiple expandable sections through folding. This segmentation allows the bag to expand in a controlled manner to accommodate large products while using simple folding techniques that can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing processes, minimizing the increase in manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a robust, high-capacity packaging option for steam sterilization that is cost-effective and suitable for larger items, ensuring safe and effective sterilization processes while maintaining ease of use and production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the walls is made of a material capable of allowing steam to pass during a sterilization cycle
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
The package has a plastic bag (1) including two side edges (1a, 1b) constituted by respective gussets (a, b), and a panel (2) made of material e.g. paper or non-woven material, that allows passage of vapor during a product sterilization cycle. The panel is formed by a sheet that is connected and fixed on the side edges and on a transversal edge (1c) of another panel (1d) made of plastic material, by forming a bottom. The sheet is projected from one of the side edges of the bag to form a gripping zone for assuring strippability of the former panel of the bag.