STERILE PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR STERILIZING AND ASSEMBLING SUCH PRODUCT

摘要

A sterile product and a method for sterilizing and assembling such a product are disclosed wherein the product has two or more portions, such as a medical fluid containing portion (12) and a flow control apparatus portion (14), which are mutually incompatible with regard to the method of sterilization . The sterile product is preferably produced by exposing one portion of the product, e.g., the flow control apparatus (14), to a first form of steriliza tion such as an electron beam, while shielding the other portion of the product, e.g., the medical fluid containing portion (12), from the first form of sterilization. The product may be integral, with the step of sterilizing the fir st portion occurring while the other product portion remains attached in close association therewith. The present invention has particular application in association with a product having first and second incompatible portions (12 and 14) which are joined by a flow path. In such a product, each product portion and its respective low path portion may be sterilized in the appropriate manner. The flow path may then be isolated from the respective product portion and the flow paths joined together. Subsequent to joinder, the isolated portion of the flow path may be sterilized, as by electron beam, while any product portion incompatible with such form of sterilization is shielded from the effects of the sterilization.