Patent ID: 6013293
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A container which(a) is composed of(i) one or more barrier sections which are relatively impermeable to O.sub.2 and CO.sub.2, and(ii) one or more atmosphere-control members which are relatively permeable to O.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 ; and(b) can be sealed around a respiring biological material to provide a sealed package which is surrounded by air and which contains a packaging atmosphere around the biological material;at least one said control member comprising(a) a gas-permeable membrane composed of (i) a microporous film having an R ratio of about 1, and (ii) a polymeric coating on the microporous film; and(b) an apertured cover member which, when the container has been sealed around a respiring biological material to provide a said sealed package, lies between the gas-permeable membrane and the air surrounding the package;the gas permeable membrane having, in the absence of the apertured cover member,(i) an O.sub.2 permeability, OTR.sub.perm, of at least 155,000 ml/m.sup.2 .cndot.atm.cndot.24 hr (10,000 cc/100 in.sup.2 .cndot.atm.cndot.24 hr), and(ii) a permeability ratio, R.sub.perm, of at least 2, andthe apertured cover member being composed of(i) a barrier portion having an O.sub.2 permeability, OTR.sub.bar, which is less than 0.5 times OTR.sub.perm, and(ii) an aperture portion which comprises at least one aperture having an area of at least 0.015 in.sup.2 and through which the gas-permeable membrane is exposed to the air surrounding the package, the aperture portion being such that the control member has a permeability ratio, R.sub.control, of at most 0.9 times R.sub.perm.