CA1222976A - Sterilizable perforated packaging material - Google Patents
Sterilizable perforated packaging materialInfo
- Publication number
- CA1222976A CA1222976A CA000404537A CA404537A CA1222976A CA 1222976 A CA1222976 A CA 1222976A CA 000404537 A CA000404537 A CA 000404537A CA 404537 A CA404537 A CA 404537A CA 1222976 A CA1222976 A CA 1222976A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- layer
- package
- heat
- perforated
- protuberances
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A sterilizable, fiber-free, perforated packaging material (10) which can be utilized to make a package (22) to hold an item (23) which can be sterilized while it is inside the package (22), said package comprising a first layer (11a) of perforated thermoplastic extruded film, and a second layer (11b) of perforated thermoplastic extruded film, the first layer (11a) being oriented relative to the second layer (11b) so that the perforations (12) in both of the layers are misaligned, and, optionally, the first layer (11a) having at least one heat-sealable surface (16) and the second layer (11b) having at least one heat-sealable surface (16) so that at least one of the heat-sealable surfaces (16) of one of the layers contacts at least one of the heat-sealable surfaces of the other layer; a package (22) made from the packaging material; and a method of sterilizig an item in a package (22).
Description
Case V-4781/V-4866 STERILIZABLE PERFORATED
PACRAGING MATERIAL
The present invention is related to sterilizable packaging material and packages made therefrom. Such packages are used in containers for sterile gauze and other types of wound dress-ings. The present invention is more particularly related to a material for packaging articles which can be sterilized after packaging.
In the medical field there are numerous applications and demands for sterile articles.
Such articles include wound dressings such as gauze, cotton, and the like, and surgical instruments such as needles, scalpels, clamps, and the like. When packaging these materials, difficulties are en-countered in maintaining the articles in a sterile condition while placing them in a package which will maintain the sterile condition. If an item must be handled by a packaging machine or packaging personnel after it is sterilized, there is the danger that the person or machine handling the item prior to packaging will contaminate the item.
Bven if sterilization standards are maintain-;, ed, contamination can still occur when fibers breakaway from conventional packaging material such as coated paper and non-woven sheets made from poly-olefin fibers. These fibers can be dangerous if " .~
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they should enter the sterile field and become entrapped in a wound or incision and thereby provide a situs for infection or irritation.
It is therefore highly desira~le that a non-fibrous material be provided for making a package which could be used to maintain items in a sterile condition in which the items could be sterilized while actually inside the package.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sterilizable package and a non-fibrous perforated packaging material which can be utilized to make a package to hold an item which can be sterilized while it is inside the package, the packaging material including a first layer of perforated thermoplastic extruded film and a second layer of perforated thermoplastic extruded film, the first layer being oriented relative to the second layer so that the perforations in both of the layers are misaligned. The package of the invention is made by placing an item to be packaged between two sheets of the material of the invention and connecting the sheets at their edges.
Such a material formed of two layers will allow gas to flow through the perforations in the layers to permit sterilizing an article contained in a package made of the material, and then the package can be sealed by heating the layers to cause the heat-sealable surfaces to fuse. Thus, an article which is desired to be sterilized can be placed in a package made from the material of the present invention, sterilized inside of the package by flowing steam or other high temperature liquids therethrough the perforations in the package layers, and then the perforations can be sealed by heating the package. Also, since the film is extru-sion formed, it is non-fibrous in nature and thus contamination from fibers is obviated.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the packaging material comprises a first layer of perforated thermoplastic film having at least one heat-sealable surface and a second layer of perforated thermoplastic film having at least one heat-sealable surface,the first layer being oriented relative to he second layer so that the perforations in both of the layers are misaligned and at least one of the heat-sealable surfaces of one of the layers contacts at least one of the heat-sealable surfaces of the other layer.
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a segment of of the packaging material of the present invention with the holes ; in the bottom layer shown by broken lines;
FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging material of the present ` invention taken along lines 2-2 of Figure l;
FIGURE 3 is a schematic of a method of making the film of the present lnvention .'~ ~` ', , ~:
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.
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FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a package made from the material of the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention FIGVRE 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention taken along lines 2-2 of Figure l; and FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention being heat sealed.
Refering now to the drawings, the packaging material can be seen in the drawings to be generally indicated by the numeral 10. The packaging material is made from two identical layers lla and llb of the same perforated extruded film.
Layer lla refers to the top layer as shown in the drawings and layer llb refers to the bottom layer. The top layer lla has holes of perforations 12 therein in protuberances 12a and the bottom layer llb has identical holes or perforations 12 therein. The protuberances 12a face away from each other in Figure 2.
Layers lla and llb may be any desired plastic material such as polyethylene, poly-propylene, or the like.
9'7t;
The two layers lla and llb are oriented so the perforations are misaligned. To maintain the orientation of the layers lla and llb prior to packaging an article, any means well-known in the art may be used such as clamping at the edges, sealing at the edges, spot sealing various small spots at different locations on the sheet, and the like.
Also the method shown in Figure 3 may be used to join the sheets. The film may be fed from rolls 28 and 29 to heated sealing rolls 30-30 to form sheet 10.
A package 22 can be made from the material of the invention for holding an article 23 which is to be sterilized. Such a package is shown in Figure 4, although any conventional package shape or design may be used. Two sheets of material lO
are shown enclosing the article 23 to be packaged and the edges 24 of sheets lO being sealed by gluing, heat sealing, or the like.
After the article is placed in the package, steam is then injected into the package as shown in Figure 2 by the arrows. The steam travels in the direction of the arrows through the top holes 12 and out of the bottom holes 12 to heat and sterilize the article contained in the package.
It is thus seen that the packaging material of the present invention can be made to form a package in which an item can be placed and sterilized while actually in the package. The package is maintained in its sterile condition since no bacteria or other contaminants have a straight-line path to the interior of the package.
In Figure 5 is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the protuberances 12a face each other and interlock, whereas, in Figure 2, the protuberances 12a face away from each other.
~ f desired, each layer lla and llb could be a laminate having more than two laminae.
Furthermore, if desired, each layer lla and llb could have a different manner of laminae, e.g., lla could have two laminae and layer llb could have three laminae, so long as the inside facing laminae are heat-sealable materials.
As shown in Figure 6, layers lla and llb have an inner, heat-sealable lamina 16 and an outer lamina 18. Lamina 16 may be any desired plastic ma-terial such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like. Lamina 18 may also be any desired plastic material which is heat-sealable such as low density polyethylene, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers, vinyl acetate-propylene copolymers, and like conventional polymers. By heat sealable is meant a material which will bond to itself when exposed to a heat source.
After the article is heated and sterilized, the entire package is placed in close proximity to heating elements 20 shown in Figure 7. Heating elements 20 heat the inner lamina 16 to a tempera-ture sufficiently high ~o fuse the two layers as 12~Z9~7~;
indicated in Figure 4. The package is heated sufficiently to fuse layers lla and llb together so that no particles, bacteria, or other contaminants can travel into the package through orifices 12.
It is thus seen that the packaging material of the present invention can be made to form a package in which an item can be placed and steri-lized while actually in the package. The package is maintained in its sterile condition by exposure to heating source means which seals the area around all of the perforations in the sheets to prevent data contained in the package from being con-taminated by any outside source of contamination.
PACRAGING MATERIAL
The present invention is related to sterilizable packaging material and packages made therefrom. Such packages are used in containers for sterile gauze and other types of wound dress-ings. The present invention is more particularly related to a material for packaging articles which can be sterilized after packaging.
In the medical field there are numerous applications and demands for sterile articles.
Such articles include wound dressings such as gauze, cotton, and the like, and surgical instruments such as needles, scalpels, clamps, and the like. When packaging these materials, difficulties are en-countered in maintaining the articles in a sterile condition while placing them in a package which will maintain the sterile condition. If an item must be handled by a packaging machine or packaging personnel after it is sterilized, there is the danger that the person or machine handling the item prior to packaging will contaminate the item.
Bven if sterilization standards are maintain-;, ed, contamination can still occur when fibers breakaway from conventional packaging material such as coated paper and non-woven sheets made from poly-olefin fibers. These fibers can be dangerous if " .~
, ' :,:
,~. ~: , ".,,,; ~
.:: . : . :
9'~
they should enter the sterile field and become entrapped in a wound or incision and thereby provide a situs for infection or irritation.
It is therefore highly desira~le that a non-fibrous material be provided for making a package which could be used to maintain items in a sterile condition in which the items could be sterilized while actually inside the package.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sterilizable package and a non-fibrous perforated packaging material which can be utilized to make a package to hold an item which can be sterilized while it is inside the package, the packaging material including a first layer of perforated thermoplastic extruded film and a second layer of perforated thermoplastic extruded film, the first layer being oriented relative to the second layer so that the perforations in both of the layers are misaligned. The package of the invention is made by placing an item to be packaged between two sheets of the material of the invention and connecting the sheets at their edges.
Such a material formed of two layers will allow gas to flow through the perforations in the layers to permit sterilizing an article contained in a package made of the material, and then the package can be sealed by heating the layers to cause the heat-sealable surfaces to fuse. Thus, an article which is desired to be sterilized can be placed in a package made from the material of the present invention, sterilized inside of the package by flowing steam or other high temperature liquids therethrough the perforations in the package layers, and then the perforations can be sealed by heating the package. Also, since the film is extru-sion formed, it is non-fibrous in nature and thus contamination from fibers is obviated.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the packaging material comprises a first layer of perforated thermoplastic film having at least one heat-sealable surface and a second layer of perforated thermoplastic film having at least one heat-sealable surface,the first layer being oriented relative to he second layer so that the perforations in both of the layers are misaligned and at least one of the heat-sealable surfaces of one of the layers contacts at least one of the heat-sealable surfaces of the other layer.
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a segment of of the packaging material of the present invention with the holes ; in the bottom layer shown by broken lines;
FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging material of the present ` invention taken along lines 2-2 of Figure l;
FIGURE 3 is a schematic of a method of making the film of the present lnvention .'~ ~` ', , ~:
, ~ - -- - , , - .
.
: ':'~' ' . ' "
: . -, ~22~37~;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a package made from the material of the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention FIGVRE 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention taken along lines 2-2 of Figure l; and FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention being heat sealed.
Refering now to the drawings, the packaging material can be seen in the drawings to be generally indicated by the numeral 10. The packaging material is made from two identical layers lla and llb of the same perforated extruded film.
Layer lla refers to the top layer as shown in the drawings and layer llb refers to the bottom layer. The top layer lla has holes of perforations 12 therein in protuberances 12a and the bottom layer llb has identical holes or perforations 12 therein. The protuberances 12a face away from each other in Figure 2.
Layers lla and llb may be any desired plastic material such as polyethylene, poly-propylene, or the like.
9'7t;
The two layers lla and llb are oriented so the perforations are misaligned. To maintain the orientation of the layers lla and llb prior to packaging an article, any means well-known in the art may be used such as clamping at the edges, sealing at the edges, spot sealing various small spots at different locations on the sheet, and the like.
Also the method shown in Figure 3 may be used to join the sheets. The film may be fed from rolls 28 and 29 to heated sealing rolls 30-30 to form sheet 10.
A package 22 can be made from the material of the invention for holding an article 23 which is to be sterilized. Such a package is shown in Figure 4, although any conventional package shape or design may be used. Two sheets of material lO
are shown enclosing the article 23 to be packaged and the edges 24 of sheets lO being sealed by gluing, heat sealing, or the like.
After the article is placed in the package, steam is then injected into the package as shown in Figure 2 by the arrows. The steam travels in the direction of the arrows through the top holes 12 and out of the bottom holes 12 to heat and sterilize the article contained in the package.
It is thus seen that the packaging material of the present invention can be made to form a package in which an item can be placed and sterilized while actually in the package. The package is maintained in its sterile condition since no bacteria or other contaminants have a straight-line path to the interior of the package.
In Figure 5 is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the protuberances 12a face each other and interlock, whereas, in Figure 2, the protuberances 12a face away from each other.
~ f desired, each layer lla and llb could be a laminate having more than two laminae.
Furthermore, if desired, each layer lla and llb could have a different manner of laminae, e.g., lla could have two laminae and layer llb could have three laminae, so long as the inside facing laminae are heat-sealable materials.
As shown in Figure 6, layers lla and llb have an inner, heat-sealable lamina 16 and an outer lamina 18. Lamina 16 may be any desired plastic ma-terial such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like. Lamina 18 may also be any desired plastic material which is heat-sealable such as low density polyethylene, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers, vinyl acetate-propylene copolymers, and like conventional polymers. By heat sealable is meant a material which will bond to itself when exposed to a heat source.
After the article is heated and sterilized, the entire package is placed in close proximity to heating elements 20 shown in Figure 7. Heating elements 20 heat the inner lamina 16 to a tempera-ture sufficiently high ~o fuse the two layers as 12~Z9~7~;
indicated in Figure 4. The package is heated sufficiently to fuse layers lla and llb together so that no particles, bacteria, or other contaminants can travel into the package through orifices 12.
It is thus seen that the packaging material of the present invention can be made to form a package in which an item can be placed and steri-lized while actually in the package. The package is maintained in its sterile condition by exposure to heating source means which seals the area around all of the perforations in the sheets to prevent data contained in the package from being con-taminated by any outside source of contamination.
Claims (14)
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE
DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A sterilizable perforated packaging material (10) comprising a first layer (11a) of perforated thermoplastic extruded film and a second layer (11b) of perforated thermoplastic extruded film, said first layer being oriented relative to said second layer so that perforations (12) in both of said layers are misaligned.
2. A sterilizable package (22) comprising a fiber-free top sheet connected at its edges (24) to a fiber-free bottom sheet so that an item (23) to be packaged may be placed between said sheets, said sheets being made from a material (10) comprising a first layer (11a) of perforated extruded film, a second layer (11b) of perforated extruded film connected to said first layer, said first layer being oriented relative to said second layer so that said perforations (12) in both of said layers are misaligned.
3. A method for sterilizing an item in a package (22) comprising:
(a) placing the item (23) between a fiber-free top sheet and a fiber-free bottom sheet of sterilizable package (22), which package com-prises said top sheet connected at its edges (24) to said bottom sheet, said sheets being made from a material (10) comprising a first layer (11a) of perforated extruded film and a second layer (11b) of perforated extruded film, said second layer (11b) connected to said first layer (11a), said first layer being oriented relative to said second layer so that said perforations (12) in both of said layers are misaligned;
(b) subjecting said package to a stream of gas sufficient to enter the interior of said package (22) and sterilize the item (23) inside; and, (c) subjecting said package to heat (20) sufficient to seal the perforations (12) in said package (22) to make said package watertight and airtight.
(a) placing the item (23) between a fiber-free top sheet and a fiber-free bottom sheet of sterilizable package (22), which package com-prises said top sheet connected at its edges (24) to said bottom sheet, said sheets being made from a material (10) comprising a first layer (11a) of perforated extruded film and a second layer (11b) of perforated extruded film, said second layer (11b) connected to said first layer (11a), said first layer being oriented relative to said second layer so that said perforations (12) in both of said layers are misaligned;
(b) subjecting said package to a stream of gas sufficient to enter the interior of said package (22) and sterilize the item (23) inside; and, (c) subjecting said package to heat (20) sufficient to seal the perforations (12) in said package (22) to make said package watertight and airtight.
4. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first layer (11a) of perforated film is a layer of polyethylene.
5. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein -said first and second layers have protuberances (12a) in which said perforations (12) are located.
6. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first and second layers have protuberances (12a) in which said perforations (12) are located and said protuberances (12a) of said first layer (11a) face said protuberances (12a) of said second layer (11b).
7. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first and second layers have protuberances (12a) in which said perforations (12) are located, said protuberances (12a) of said first layer (11a) face said protuberances (12a) of said second layer (11b) and said protuberances (12a) of said first layer (11a) interlock with said protuber-ances (12a) of said second layer (11b).
8. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said protuberances (12a) of said first layer (11a) face away from said protuberances (12a) of said second layer (11b).
9. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first layer (11a) is connected to said second layer (11b) by spot sealing.
10. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first layer (11a) is connected to second layer (11b) by gluing.
11. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first layer (11a) is heat sealed to said second layer (11b).
12. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first layer (11a) has at least one heat-sealable surface (61) and said second layer (11b) has at least one heat-sealable surface (16).
13. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first layer (11a) has at least one heat-sealable surface (16), said second layer (11b) has at least one heat-sealable surface (16), and said first layer (11a) of perforated film comprises a lamina (18) of polyethylene having bonded thereto a lamina (16) of a heat-sealable material.
14. The material of claim 1 or 2 wherein said first layer (11a) has at least one heat-sealable surface (16), said second layer (11b) has at least one heat-sealable surface (16), said first layer (11a) of perforated film comprises a lamina (18) of polyethylene having bonded thereto a lamina (16) of a heat-sealable material of a copolymer of vinyl acetate and ethylene.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US27060981A | 1981-06-05 | 1981-06-05 | |
| US270,609 | 1981-06-05 | ||
| US28936981A | 1981-08-03 | 1981-08-03 | |
| US289,369 | 1988-12-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1222976A true CA1222976A (en) | 1987-06-16 |
Family
ID=26954389
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000404537A Expired CA1222976A (en) | 1981-06-05 | 1982-06-04 | Sterilizable perforated packaging material |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1222976A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5492705A (en) | 1992-04-27 | 1996-02-20 | Dowbrands L.P. | Vegetable containing storage bag and method for storing same |
-
1982
- 1982-06-04 CA CA000404537A patent/CA1222976A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5492705A (en) | 1992-04-27 | 1996-02-20 | Dowbrands L.P. | Vegetable containing storage bag and method for storing same |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |