METHOD OF PACKAGING A MEDICAL ARTICLE

摘要

A method for sterilizing an article supported in a housing is provided. The method includes placing an article in a housing, introducing pressurized steam and a sterilizing gas into the housing and closing the housing. The sterilizing gas may be mixture of ethylene oxide/carbon dioxide or ethylene oxide/nitrogen. The percent by volume of ethylene oxide in the housing at the conclusion of the sterilizing gas introducing step may range from at least about 2 % to about 25 % by volume. The present invention is particularly well suited for use with a form-fill-seal process.