Abstract:
A pouch is formed from one or more webs of material that provide at least one absorbent surface. The pouch further includes an integral flap, which may be folded over the opening, or entrance, of the pouch so as to maintain the contents of the pouch in place and to help retain moisture within the pouch. The interior of the pouch is defined, at least partially, by its absorbent faces.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to pouches for holding medical instruments and medical devices such as implants. These articles may be loaded into the pouch either as separate items or within holding trays or baskets. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Traditionally, the purpose of a medical pouch has been to provide a sterile barrier for instruments and devices up to the point of use. After use, the soiled articles are sent to a washing/disinfecting facility in bags or containers which allow protein to dry on the instruments, thereby rendering them difficult to clean. 
     Statements of the Invention 
     According to the present invention there is provided a pouch formed from one or more webs of material providing at least one absorbent surface, the pouch having an integral flap which may be folded over the entrance of the pouch so as to maintain the contents of the pouch in place and help to retain moisture within the pouch, and the interior of the pouch being defined at least partly by the or each absorbent surface. In use therefore, an item, such as a medical instrument will be located within the pouch along with the absorbent surface or surfaces. 
     A pouch in accordance with the present invention is intended to provide a moist environment for the bag contents at and beyond the point of use. Such an environment reduces the drying of protein and other debris on the instruments, thus facilitating easier cleaning prior to sterilisation. 
     To achieve and maintain a moist environment within the pouch, liquid is introduced into the pouch and is allowed to permeate the absorbent surfaces prior to use. The liquid may be a sterile liquid and/or it may contain one or more additives. The liquid is preferably an aqueous liquid. 
     Preferably, the pouch comprises first and second substantially rectangular webs of material, at least one of which has an absorbent surface on one side thereof, the webs being of the same length but of different width and being sealed together along respective three edges of each web so that the web of greater width extends beyond the free edge of the web of lesser width to provide a flap for folding over the web of lesser width and also for facilitating ease of entry of the instruments or trays into the pouch. 
     Alternatively, the pouch may comprise first and second substantially rectangular webs of material and a third web located between said first and second webs and having at least one absorbent surface, the first and second webs being of the same length but of different width and being sealed together along respective three edges of each web so that the web of greater width extends beyond the free edge of the web of lesser width to provide a flap for folding over the web of lesser width and also for facilitating ease of entry of the instruments or trays into the pouch. 
     Preferably, the pouch is formed by at least one web of absorbent material. 
     Preferably, the pouch is provided with at least one web of water imperious plastics film. 
     One or both of the flaps and the outer surface of the web of lesser width is provided with means for securing the flap to the outer surface of the web of lesser width. Preferably, such securing means is provided on the flap. 
     Preferably, the securing means is double sided tape. 
     The first and second webs may be provided by a single piece of folded over material or alternatively by separate pieces of material. 
     Preferably, the webs are additionally joined together at one or more positions along the length of the pouch to provide pockets for accommodating medical instruments. 
     For example, the webs may be joined together at two positions along the length of the pouch to provide three pockets. 
     The present invention also provides a method of storing a medical instrument or component in a moist environment, the method comprising locating the instrument or component within a pouch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the or each absorbent surface being permeated with liquid. 
     The pouch may be provided in “wet” condition, that is to say, with the or each absorbent surface permeated with liquid. Alternatively, it may be in “dry” form with liquid supplied in a separate container, from which it is added to the pouch. As a further alternative, the pouch may be supplied dry and the user may make up a suitable liquid for addition to the pouch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are as follows:— 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a medical pouch in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 2 to 4  are, in each case, front and longitudinal sectional views of three further embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the accompanying drawings, a medical pouch  1  is for use in holding surgical instruments in a moist environment both during and after use. 
     Pouch  1  includes a web of material  3  which may consist of two separate pieces of material  5 ,  7  or a single piece of material folded at  9 . The surface or surfaces which provide the inner surfaces of the pouch are liquid absorbent. 
     As shown in the drawing, the webs  5  and  7  are rectangular and of the same length but of different width. They are connected together at  9  (or folded about  9 ) and also along edges  11  and  13 . Because of the different widths, web  7  extends beyond the edge  15  of web  5  to form a flap  17  which extends from the open edge of the pouch. 
     Flap  17  may be provided with a strip of double sided tape  19  which extends along the length of the flap at a position close to its free edge. 
     Pouch  1  may be divided into sealed compartments by means of seals  21  which extend parallel to edges  11  and  13 . As a result there are provided three compartments for holding instruments  23 . 
     With instruments in place in the pouch, the release liner may be removed from tape  19  and the flap folded over to retain the instruments within the pouch, and also to help retain the moist atmosphere within the pouch. When access to the instruments is required, the flap can be easily detached from the body of the pouch. 
     The above described pouch allows instruments to be maintained in a moist environment both during and after use. Material, such as protein, adhering to the instruments may be kept moist thereby allowing for easy cleaning prior to sterilisation of the instruments. 
     Sterile liquid may be introduced into the pouch to achieve and maintain a moist environment. 
     It should be appreciated that the above described pouch can be modified in many ways within the scope of the present invention. For instance, the webs may be of equal length, tape to hold the flap down may be omitted and the pouch may be made of three (or more) webs. 
     Various pouches, within the scope of the present invention, are illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4 . In each case, the pouch makes use of at least one web of absorbent material  25 . This web may be, for instance, of 100% viscose material, made of viscose rayon and binder (73% viscose rayon fibre/27% binder). The material may be impregnated with an absorbency increasing agent. The material has low linting, that is to say, it has a low level of loose fibres and does not disintegrate easily as a result of instrument abrasion. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a pouch  27  comprises a layer of absorbent material  25  having a backing of a transparent plastics film  29 . A shorter layer of plastics film  31  is provided at the front of absorbent layer  25 . The three layers are secured together by sealing about a substantial portion of the edges as indicated at  33 . The absorbent layer  25  is shorter than both plastics film layers  29  and  31 . 
     The plastics film  31  may be made of any suitable transparent, translucent or opaque material. Examples are a polyester/polypropylene or polyester/polyethylene film which might be a laminate, or a non-laminate. A film containing polypropylene might be used if the pouch and its contents are to be subjected to a steam sterilisation process. A film containing polyethylene might be used where the pouch and its contents are to be subjected to EB (electron beam radiation) or γ radiation. 
     The film  31  may or may not be provided with small holes to allow steam to escape from the pouch. 
     The flap  37 , which is that portion of webs  29  extending above web  31 , may be folded over the front of web  31  when the pouch is loaded with an instrument. Flap  37  is provided with a strip  39  of double sided adhesive tape. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  of the accompanying drawings, a pouch  41  is formed from two webs of absorbent material  43  and  45 . The webs are connected together by means of seals indicated at  47 . As a result, pockets are provided at  49  and these pockets may accommodate surgical instruments or associated components. 
     Rear web  45  extends beyond front web  43  and the flap  51  may be folded over the web when the instruments are contained within the pouch. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  of the accompanying drawings, a further embodiment of a pouch in accordance with the present invention has a layer of absorbent material  53  backed by a layer of transparent plastics film  55 . Located at the front of web  53  is a further layer of transparent plastics film  57  and the three layers are sealed together as indicated by sealing  59 . The result is that two pockets  61  are provided and these can accommodate instruments located between the plastics film  57  and absorbent layer  53 . 
     Fixed to plastics film  57 , at a position above the sealing areas  59  is a strip of double sided adhesive tape  63 . Tape  63  is provided with a protective backing (on its front side) which may be peeled off. The flap  65 , above the upper edge of layer  57  may then be folded over the front of layer  57  and secured to the adhesive layer  63  in order to maintain the instruments within the pockets  61  of the pouch  57 . 
     It should be appreciated that pouches may be made in various combinations of absorbent and non-absorbent layers. A plastics film located on the front side of an absorbent layer provides visibility of the contents of the pockets and has some effect on water retention. If a plastic film is provided on both sides of the absorbent film, such as is the case in the  FIG. 2  embodiment, then there is both visibility of instruments within the pouch and also a better water retention. 
     Tests have been carried out on various embodiments as follows:— 
     1. An embodiment in which there is no plastics film (such as is shown in  FIG. 3 ). In this case, a time interval of about two hours elapsed before the water had completely evaporated from the moistened pouch. 
     2. Film is provided on both sides of an absorbent layer (such as is shown in  FIG. 4 ). In this case, a period of two days elapsed before the water has evaporated from the moistened pouch. 
     3. The pouch is similar to that of  FIG. 4  except that the front plastics layer is perforated to allow for steam sterilisation. In this case a period of four hours elapsed before water evaporated from the moistened pouch.