Patent ID: 6391260
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
A method for sterilizing an article in a hydrogen-peroxide gas plasma sterilization unit wherein the article is treated within a sterilization chamber of the unit with a hydrogen-peroxide vapor, the method comprising:placing the article within an instrument pouch fabricated from a closed cell, foam material, the closed cell material having a percent elongation as determined under ASTM D3575-93 that is within the range of between about two percent and about twenty-one percent; positioning the instrument pouch containing the article within the sterilization chamber of the sterilization unit; operating the sterilization unit such that the article within the instrument pouch is sterilized; removing the instrument pouch containing the article from the sterilization unit; and leaving the sterilized article within the instrument pouch until the sterilized article is actually used.