Method of packaging artificial implants in sterile and contamination-free manner and a package therefor

• US 4,712,681 A
• Filed: 12/26/1985
• Issued: 12/15/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bengt Kasemo, Jukka Lausmaa, Per-Ingvar Branemark
• Original Assignee: Bengt Kasemo, Jukka Lausmaa, Per-Ingvar Branemark
• Inventors: Branemark, Per-Ingvar, Kasemo, Bengt, Lausmaa, Jukka
• Primary Examiner(s): Spruill, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/813,355
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 53/167, 53/425, 53/449, 604/199, 128/419 P, 128/748, 206/438, 206/363, 206/524.6, 220/408, 220/415
• US Class Current: 206/438
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/865 Packages or dispensers for bone screws or threaded wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0087 Means for sterile storage or manipulation of dental implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of packaging artificial implants in a sterile and contamination-free manner, comprising applying the implant inside a closable capsule made of the same material as the implant, thereafter enclosing the capsule in a hermetically sealable outer casing and sterilizing the package thus produced, and also to a package for performing the method.

Claims

1. A method of packaging artificial implants for sterile and contamination-free storage, comprising positioning the implant inside a closable capsule made of the same material as the implant, thereafter enclosing the capsule in a hermetically sealable outer casing which is then hermetically sealed, and sterilizing the package thus produced, wherein said implant is removed from the casing and capsule prior to implantation.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the package is heated to between 160°

and 180°

C. for 2-4 hours in order to sterilize it.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein hermetically sealable metal foils provide the outer casing.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein hermetically sealable glass wrappings provide the outer casing.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the package is sterilized by means of dry sterilization in air.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the package is sterilized in an autoclave.

7. A package for sterile and comtamination-free storage of artificial implants, comprising an inner capsule to hold said implant and made of the same material as the implant, and a hermetically sealed outer casing surrounding said capsule, wherein said implant is removed from the casing and capsule prior to implantation.

8. A package according to claim 7, wherein the inner capsule is closable.

9. A package according to claim 7, wherein the outer casing consists of two metal foils sealed hermetically to each other.

10. A package according to claim 7, wherein the outer casing consists of a hermetically sealable glass container.

11. A package according to claim 10, wherein said glass container consists of pyrex glass.