Interface/pouch design for aseptic opening of sterilization pouch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11518600-B2
Application number	US-202016992367-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2020
Priority date	Mar 23, 2020
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

A sterilizable pouch includes at least one sheet, wherein outer peripheral edges of the at least one sheet are sealed together to define a pouch having an interior space for receiving an article therein. A first releasable seam spans between a first peripheral edge of the at least one sheet to a second, opposite, peripheral edge of the at least one sheet, the first releasable seam dividing the at least one sheet into a first sheet part and a second sheet part. A second releasable seam and a third releasable seam each substantially span from a third peripheral edge of the at least one sheet to a fourth, opposite, peripheral edge of the at least one sheet and along the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge, respectively. The second and third releasable seams are arranged generally perpendicular to the first releasable seam, where the first, second and third releasable seams enable the pouch to be completely opened such that a device can be removed from the pouch without the device contacting non-sterile portions of the pouch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sterilizable pouch comprising:
a first sheet;
a second sheet, wherein outer peripheral edges of the first and second sheets are sealed together to define a pouch having an interior space for receiving an article therein;
a first releasable seam spanning between a first peripheral edge of the first sheet to a second, opposite, peripheral edge of the first sheet, the first releasable seam dividing the first sheet into a first sheet part and a second sheet part;
a first flap portion attached to the first sheet and extending beyond the first releasable seam on an outer surface of the pouch;
a second flap portion attached to the second sheet and extending beyond the first releasable seam on an outer surface of the pouch; and
a second releasable seam and a third releasable seam each substantially spanning from a third peripheral edge of the first sheet to a fourth, opposite, peripheral edge of the first sheet and along the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge, respectively, the second and third releasable seams arranged generally perpendicular to the first releasable seam, where the first, second and third releasable seams enable the pouch to be completely opened such that a device can be removed from the pouch without the device contacting non-sterile portions of the pouch.

2. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second sheets are joined together along outer peripheral edges of the respective sheets to define the pouch.

3. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second sheet parts have approximately the same surface area.

4. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the first releasable seam bisects the first sheet.

5. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein a surface area of the first sheet part is at least one third of a surface area of the second sheet part.

6. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sheet or the second sheet comprises a breathable material.

7. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 6 , wherein the breathable material comprises a fibrous material.

8. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 7 , wherein the fibrous material comprises an uncoated fibrous material.

9. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 6 , wherein the breathable material is impervious to microorganisms and pervious to gases.

10. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second or third releasable seam comprises a mating male rib and a female sealing closure.

11. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second or third releasable seam comprises a paper seam.

12. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second and third releasable seam comprises a layer of fibrous material arranged between two layers of plastic film.

13. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second or third releasable seam comprises a heat-sealed portion.

14. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second or third releasable seam comprises adhesive tape.

15. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first sheet or the second sheet comprises a non-breathable flexible film.

16. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 15 , wherein the non-breathable flexible film comprises low density polyethylene plastic.

17. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second and third releasable seam comprises a grasping portion for pulling apart at least one of the first, second or third releasable seam.

18. The sterilizable pouch according tee claim 1 , wherein the pouch comprises gussets.

19. The sterilizable pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second flaps comprise through holes.

20. A sterilizable pouch, comprising:
a first outer surface;
a second outer surface arranged opposite the first outer surface, the second outer surface joined to the first outer surface along peripheral edges of the first and second outer surfaces to define an interior space for storing an article;
a first releasable seam spanning between a first peripheral edge and a second peripheral edge of one of the first outer surface or the second outer surface, the first releasable seam dividing one of the first outer surface or the second other surface into a first part and a second part, wherein a surface area of the first part and the second part are substantially equal to each other;
a first flap portion attached to the first outer surface and extending beyond the first releasable seam;
a second flap portion attached to the second outer surface and extending beyond the first releasable seam: and
at least one second releasable seam substantially spanning between a third peripheral edge and a fourth, opposite peripheral edge of one of the first outer surface or the second outer surface and along at least one of the first peripheral edge or the second peripheral edge, the at least one second releasable seam arranged generally perpendicular to the first releasable seam,
where the first and at least one second releasable seams enable the pouch to be completely opened such that an article stored in the interior space can be removed without the device contacting non-sterile portions first or second outer surfaces.

21. A sterilizable pouch comprising:
at least one sheet, wherein outer peripheral edges of the at least one sheet are sealed together to define a pouch having an interior space for receiving an article therein;
a first releasable seam spanning between a first peripheral edge of the at least one sheet to a second, opposite, peripheral edge of the at least one sheet, the first releasable seam dividing the at least one sheet into a first sheet part and a second sheet part;
a first flap portion attached to a first end of the at least one sheet and extending beyond the first releasable seam on an outer surface of the pouch;
a second flap portion attached to a second end of the at least one sheet and extending beyond the first releasable seam on an outer surface of the pouch; and
a second releasable seam and a third releasable seam each substantially spanning from a third peripheral edge of the at least one sheet to a fourth, opposite, peripheral edge of the at least one sheet and along the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge, respectively, the second and third releasable seams arranged generally perpendicular to the first releasable seam, where the first, second and third releasable seams enable the pouch to be completely opened such that a device can be removed from the pouch without the device contacting non-sterile portions of the pouch.

Assignees

• American Sterilizer Co

Inventors

• Robinson Nancy A
• Meszaros Janet E

Classifications

• A61B50/30

  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 title

• A61L2202/181

  Flexible packaging means, e.g. permeable membranes, paper · CPC title

• B65D33/18

  using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. to flaps · CPC title

• A61B2050/314

  Flexible bags or pouches · CPC title

• A61B2050/002

  having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip · CPC title