Patent ID: 7959857
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
1. A method of radiation sterilizing a plurality of stent-catheter assemblies, the method comprising: Positioning a plurality of stent-catheter assemblies on a fixture, each of the stent catheter assemblies being arranged in a planar configuration and disposed in corresponding planar packaged supported on the fixture, wherein the packages are stacked horizontally on the fixture, and wherein the stents of the assemblies are positioned at a position in each package such that the stents are exposed to the same or substantially the same radiation; and Exposing the packages to an incoming radiation beam, the radiation beam being at an acute angle to the planes of the planar configuration of the assemblies, wherein the packages are arranged such that a front end of the stack faces the radiation beam and a back end of the stack faces away from the radiation beam, wherein a radiation shield is positioned at the front end of the stack to reduce radiation exposure to selected assemblies adjacent the front end from the incoming radiation.