APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STERILIZING ITEMS IN SEALED FLEXIBLE POUCHES

摘要

An apparatus is disclosed for sterilizing items sealed in a flexible pouch. The apparatus comprises: a means for depositing filled and sealed flexible pouches on stackable trays with the stackable trays capable of controlling the exposed cross-section of flexible pouches thereon and providing a continuous conduit for a heating medium to circulate about the pouches; means for stacking the stackable trays with the pouches thereon; and means for circulation a heating medium about the pouches to sterilize the items in the pouches. A method is also disclosed for sterilizing the contents of flexible pouches comprising: sealing the material to be sterilized in air and light impermeable, flexible pouches; spacing apart a plurality of the filled pouches on trays to form a plurality of conduits with substantially unmovable pouches therein; and retort sterilizing the pouches therein by circulating a heated medium through the formed conduits and about the pouches.