Patent ID: 7694810

Claim:
A carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical catheter, the carrier tube assembly comprising: an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough; a medical catheter including a hub assembly and an elongate shaft extending distally from the hub assembly, at least a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the medical catheter positioned in the lumen of the elongate tube, wherein the proximal end of the elongate tube is hermetically sealed around a portion of the hub assembly of the medical catheter; a plug inserted into the lumen of the elongate tube at the distal end of the elongate tube, the plug hermetically sealing the distal end of the elongate tube, the plug includes an annular wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the annular wall of the plug includes one or more slots extending through the annular wall from the exterior surface to the interior surface; wherein a hermetically sealed environment is established within the elongate tube; and wherein the plug includes a moisture and/or oxygen absorbing agent to absorb moisture and/or oxygen in the hermetically sealed environment.