| 摘要 |
A package for objects such as sutures which are to be contained under conditions of complete sterilization is disclosed along with a method for in-line sterilization packaging of the objects on mass production basis. The package includes an inner packet in which is received a sterile surgical object such as a coil of suture material, the inner packet being substantially hermetically sealed and at least initially having a sterilizing gas confined therein. The sealed inner packet in turn is received in an outer packet of the same general construction as the inner packet and which also is substantially hermetically sealed and initially has a sterilizing gas confined therein. Both the inner and outer packets can be opened readily by peelably removing the respective packet closure lids from associated packet blisters which form the bottoms of the packets. The package is made by filling the inner packet blister with a sterile surgical object, then tacking a lid onto the blister and confining the inner packet in a vacuum chamber to remove air from the inner packet. A positive pressure of a sterilizing gas is then admitted to the chamber so as to initiate killing any bacteria on the surgical object and render it and the interior of the inner packet sterile. The lid is then completely sealed to its associated blister while still in the chamber so that a quantity of the sterilizing gas is captured within the sealed inner packet. The sealed inner packet is then removed from the vacuum chamber and placed in the outer packet blister and a closure lid is tacked in place on the blister. The outer packet and its contents is then placed in a chamber and subjected to a vacuum to remove air from the outer packet after which, a positive pressure of sterilizing gas is admitted to chamber to render the interior of the outer packet and exterior of the inner packet sterile. The lid of the outer packet is then completely sealed to its associated blister while still in the chamber and under pressure of the sterilizing gas thereby to capture within the sealed outer packet a quantity of such gas.
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