Sterilizable flexible peel-seal pouch package
First Claim
1. A steam-sterilizable pouch comprising:
- a steam-permeable non-woven bottom web;
a multilayer intermediate web superposed with and bonded to said bottom web, said intermediate web being substantially steam-impermeable, having a perforated region to permit passage of steam, and having a bottom layer and a top layer bonded thereto;
a steam impermeable top web superposed with and bonded to the top layer of said intermediate web by a first line heat seal, said first line heat seal defining limits of a cavity between said top web and said intermediate web for receiving an object to be sterilized, at least one area of said package being free of said first line heat seal, said seal-free area forming an access opening for inserting an item to be sterilized into said cavity, said access opening being sealable such that, when sealed, the sealed access opening forms with said first line heat seal a continuous steam-impervious seal enclosing said cavity, at least a portion of said first line heat seal being a peelable seal which, after steam sterilization of the pouch at a temperature of 270°
F., has a peel strength of from 3/4 to 5 pounds per inch and is reliably sealed such that the shelf life of a sealed sterilized package is at least 30 days, said peel seal portion of said first line heat seal extending a distance such that, when peeled open, the contents of the cavity are readily removable from said cavity;
said intermediate web being bonded to said bottom web by a second line heat seal peripherally outside the perforated steam-permeable region of said intermediate web such that, when the pouch is sealed, steam can penetrate into said cavity only after passing through said bottom web and then through the perforated region of the intermediate web.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steam sterilizable pouch is disclosed. The pouch includes a non-woven steam-permeable bottom web. A multi-layer intermediate web is bonded to the bottom web. The multi-layer web is substantially steam impermeable, except for a perforated steam-permeable region. The intermediate web includes top and bottom layers. A steam-impermeable top web is bonded by a first line heat seal to the top layer of the intermediate web. A cavity having a heat sealable access opening is located between the top web and the top layer. At least a portion of the first line heat seal is peelable after steam sterilization of the pouch at 270° F., the peel strength being from 3/4 to 5 pounds per inch. The bonding of the intermediate web to the bottom web is by a second line heat seal that is located peripherally outside of the perforated steam permeable region of the intermediate web.
85 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A steam-sterilizable pouch comprising:
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a steam-permeable non-woven bottom web; a multilayer intermediate web superposed with and bonded to said bottom web, said intermediate web being substantially steam-impermeable, having a perforated region to permit passage of steam, and having a bottom layer and a top layer bonded thereto; a steam impermeable top web superposed with and bonded to the top layer of said intermediate web by a first line heat seal, said first line heat seal defining limits of a cavity between said top web and said intermediate web for receiving an object to be sterilized, at least one area of said package being free of said first line heat seal, said seal-free area forming an access opening for inserting an item to be sterilized into said cavity, said access opening being sealable such that, when sealed, the sealed access opening forms with said first line heat seal a continuous steam-impervious seal enclosing said cavity, at least a portion of said first line heat seal being a peelable seal which, after steam sterilization of the pouch at a temperature of 270°
F., has a peel strength of from 3/4 to 5 pounds per inch and is reliably sealed such that the shelf life of a sealed sterilized package is at least 30 days, said peel seal portion of said first line heat seal extending a distance such that, when peeled open, the contents of the cavity are readily removable from said cavity;said intermediate web being bonded to said bottom web by a second line heat seal peripherally outside the perforated steam-permeable region of said intermediate web such that, when the pouch is sealed, steam can penetrate into said cavity only after passing through said bottom web and then through the perforated region of the intermediate web. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of steam sterilizing an object which comprises:
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(a) providing a pouch which comprises; a steam-permeable bottom web; a multilayer intermediate web superposed with and bonded to said bottom web, said intermediate web being substantially steam-impermeable, having a perforated region to permit passage of steam, and having a bottom layer and a top layer bonded thereto; a steam impermeable top web superposed with and bonded to the top layer of said intermediate web by a first line heat seal, said first line heat seal defining limits of a cavity between said top web and said intermediate web for receiving an object to be sterilized, at least one area of said package being free of said first line heat seal, said seal-free area forming an access opening for inserting an item to be sterilized into said cavity, said access opening being sealable such that, when sealed, the sealed access opening forms with said first line heat seal a continuous steam-impervious seal enclosing said cavity, at least a portion of said first line heat seal being a peelable seal which, after steam sterilization of the pouch at a temperature of 270°
F., has a peel strength of from 3/4 to 5 pounds per inch and is reliably sealed such that the shelf life of a sealed sterilized package is at least 30 days, said peel seal portion of said first line heat seal extending a distance such that, when peeled open, the contents of the cavity are readily removable from said cavity;said intermediate web being bonded to said bottom web by a second line heat seal peripherally outside the perforated steam-permeable region of said intermediate web such that, when the pouch is sealed, steam can penetrate into said cavity only after passing through said bottom web and then through the perforated region of the intermediate web, said second line heat seal being a permanent fiber tearing seal; (b) placing an object to be sterilized in the cavity of the pouch; (c) sealing said pouch such that the object to be sterilized is sealed in said cavity and such that steam can penetrate into said cavity only after passing through the bottom web and then through the perforated region of the intermediate web; (d) and subjecting the sealed pouch to steam sterilization at a temperature of at about 270°
F. for a time sufficient to sterilize said object. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification