Sterilization container

• US 20050189252A1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hu-Friedy Manufacturing Co Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hu-Friedy Manufacturing Co Incorporated
• Inventors: Naylor, Jennifer Radovich, Miller, Cheryl Marie
• Application Number:
  US11/058,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189252A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0065 Peelable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/181 Flexible packaging means, e.g. permeable membranes, paper
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

A sterilization pouch incorporates a selected bottom paper layer to which is bonded to a transparent resin top layer. The paper layer carries a printed self-sealed tape which is covered by a removable sterilization indicating strip. The pouch can be formed with two elongated spaced apart side seals which terminate in an end seal which is straight or chevron-shaped. Various peel designs can be incorporated.

Claims

1. A flexible container comprising:

a first planar layer bonded to a second planar layer so as to form a partly bounded receiving region, one of the layers is, at least in part, transparent, and, a sterilization indicium, the indicium is observable through the transparent, at least in part, layer.

2. A container as in claim 1 where the layers are flexible.

3. A container as in claim 1 where one of the layers comprises one of resin or paper.

4. A container as in claim 3 where the indicium is printed on one of the layers.

5. A container as in claim 1 where the indicium is carried on one of the layers.

6. A container as in claim 5 where the indicium is printed on one of the layers.

7. A container as in claim 6 where one of the layers comprises one of resin or paper.

8. A container as in claim 7 where one of the layers carries an integrally formed closure flap.

9. A container as in claim 8 where the flap carries a self-adhesive layer.

10. A container as in claim 9 where the flap carries the indicium.

11. A container as in claim 10 where the indicium is bounded, in part, by a fold line.

12. A container as in claim 11 where the indicium is removable from the layer along the fold line.

13. A container as in claim 1 which includes a flap where the flap closes the receiving region.

14. A container as in claim 13 where the indicium is printed on the flap.

15. A container as in claim 13 where the self-adhesive layer, is at least in part, covered by a removable planar member.

16. A container as in claim 1 where the layers are bonded by one of adhesive, heat sealing, high frequency welding.

17. A container as in claim 16 where the layers are elongated.

18. A container as in claim 16 where one layer is formed of a fibrous material and the other is formed, at least in part of a resin.

19. A container as in claim 18 where the indicium is printed on one of the layers.

20. A container as in claim 18 where the indicium comprises a removable layer.

21. A multi-layer container comprising:

a paper layer;

a plastic layer bonded on three sides to the paper layer;

a closure flap formed on one of the layers;

a sterilization indicator carried by one of the layers, the indicator is at least one of printed on the one layer, or, removably attached to the one layer.

22. A container as in claim 21 where an expansion element is provided along at least some of the sides.

23. A container as in claim 21 which includes a peelable region for separating the layers.

24. A container as in claim 23 where portions of the peelable region are releasably held together.

25. A container as in claim 23 where the paper layer comprises autoclavable paper with a weight parameter in a range of 35-48 pounds.

26. A container as in claim 23 where the plastic layer has a thickness parameter in a range of 1.2 to 2.5 mil.

27. A container as in claim 25 where the plastic layer has a thickness parameter in a range of 1.2 to 2.5 mil.

28. A container as in claim 27 where at least one of the bonds between layers has a central elongated region and first and second regions extending therefrom at a first angle.

29. A container as in claim 28 where another one of the bonds between layers has an elongated section and an end section extending therefrom at a second angle.

30. A container as in claim 29 where one of end regions intersects the end section to form a continuous U-shaped bond between the layers.

31. A container as in claim 29 where the angles are substantially equal.

32. A container as in claim 30 where the peelable region is adjacent to the intersection between the end region and the end section.