Flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly with bolsters
A multi-panel sterilization assembly that includes a barrier panel formed of a permeable material, barrier panel bolsters at or adjacent at least a portion of two edges of the barrier panel, a fold protection panel, and at least one panel attachment means. The barrier panel has a first end and a second end opposite the first end such that the barrier panel has a length that is the distance from the first end to the second end and a midpoint along the length generally delineating the barrier panel into a content receiving region and a content covering region. The barrier panel bolsters prevent the edges of the barrier panel from folding back onto itself, i.e. back towards the unfolded position, during unfolding of the barrier panel after sterilization.
1. A disposable flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly comprising:
a barrier panel comprising a permeable sheet material having barrier properties, wherein the permeable sheet material is made from a thermoplastic polymer, the barrier panel including:
a first surface and a second opposing surface,
a first end:
a flat pre-determined reference line, wherein the pre-determined reference line comprises printing, an imprint, or a combination thereof, wherein the pre-determined reference line aids in positioning of content to be sterilized,
a second end opposite the first end,
a first edge that is generally perpendicular to the pre-determined reference line,
a second edge that is generally opposite the pre-determined reference line, and
a third edge that is generally perpendicular to the pre-determined reference line, the barrier panel having a width that is measured from the first edge to the third edge and a length that is measured from the first end to the second end, the barrier panel having a midpoint along the length and extending between the first edge and the third edge to generally delineate the barrier panel into a content receiving region extending from the pre-determined reference line to the midpoint and a content covering region extending from the midpoint to the second edge;
barrier panel bolsters at or adjacent at least a portion of the first edge and third edge of the barrier panel, wherein said bolsters extend inwardly from said first and third edges and said bolsters increase the basis weight of the barrier panel by at least about 5 percent at or adjacent the edges of the barrier panel, wherein said bolsters comprise one or more layers of material bonded to the first surface or the second opposing surface of the barrier panel, further wherein attachment of the bolsters stiffens the barrier panel at or adjacent the edges of the barrier panel at least about 5 percent more than a stiffness of the bolsters and barrier panel when combined but unattached;
a panel attachment means between the pre-determined reference line and the midpoint of the barrier panel and at or near the first edge or the third edge; the panel attachment means being joined to the barrier panel at a pre-determined position to identify the content receiving region of the barrier panel and further to join the first edge of the barrier panel and third edge of the barrier panel to each other or to a portion of the content covering region after the barrier panel has been folded at or near the midpoint of the barrier panel such that the second end of the barrier panel is brought near the first end of the barrier panel; and
a fold protection panel in juxtaposed communication with the barrier panel, the fold protection panel comprising a permeable sheet material, the fold protection panel including:
a proximal end generally adjacent the pre-determined reference line,
a distal end generally opposite the proximal end; and
at least a first edge and a second edge extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the fold protection panel has a non-rectangular perimeter shape, the fold protection panel having a width at the proximal end that is measured from the first edge to the second edge at the proximal end and a length that is measured from the proximal end to the distal end, such that, after the barrier panel has been folded at or near the midpoint of the barrier panel so the second end of the barrier panel is brought near the first end of the barrier panel and the first and third edges of the barrier panel are joined to each other or to the content covering region to form a package, wherein the fold protection panel is configured to fold at or near the pre-determined reference line to cover at least the first edge and the third edge of the barrier panel when folded,
wherein the barrier panel bolsters are configured to prevent the first and third edges of the barrier panel from folding back on the barrier panel during unfolding of the barrier panel.
2. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the barrier panel has a fourth edge.
3. The sterilization assembly of claim 2 , wherein the barrier panel includes a fifth edge.
4. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the barrier panel bolsters prevent the barrier panel from folding back on itself during unfolding of the barrier panel after extended steam sterilization.
5. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the barrier panel bolsters are located in the content covering region at or adjacent the first and third edges of the barrier panel.
6. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sterilization assembly further includes at least one pull tab attached to the second end of the barrier panel.
7. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises indicia or instructions on the sterilization assembly for folding of the assembly into a package.
8. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises indicia or instructions on the sterilization assembly for unfolding of the assembly after the assembly has been folded into a package and sterilized.
9. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bolsters are bonded to the barrier panel by adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, bar sealing, or a combination thereof.
10. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined reference line is provided on the barrier panel and barrier panel bolsters.
11. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined reference line is an intermittent line printed or imprinted on the barrier panel.
12. The sterilization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fold-protection panel further comprises a third edge that is generally parallel to the pre-determined reference line.
13. A disposable flexible multi-panel sterilization assembly comprising:
a barrier panel having a first surface and a second opposing surface and comprising a sheet of barrier material, wherein the sheet of barrier material is made from a thermoplastic polymer, the sheet defining at least two panel edges, the barrier panel configured to be folded around content to be sterilized to form a package;
barrier panel bolsters at or adjacent at least a portion of at least two panel edges of the barrier panel, wherein said bolsters extend inwardly from said at least two panel edges and said bolsters increase the basis weight of the barrier panel by at least about 5 percent at or adjacent the at least two panel edges of the barrier panel, wherein said bolsters comprise one or more layers of material bonded to the first surface or the second opposing surface of the barrier panel, further wherein attachment of the bolsters stiffens the barrier panel at or adjacent the at least two panel edges of the barrier panel at least about 5 percent more than a stiffness of the bolsters and barrier panel when combined but unattached;
barrier panel attachment means located on a portion of the barrier panel for securing one or more panel edges of the barrier panel in a folded configuration around content to be sterilized, the barrier panel attachment means configured to secure the one or more panel edges in a folded configuration;
a flat pre-determined reference line present on the barrier panel, wherein the pre-determined reference line comprises printing, an imprint, or a combination thereof, wherein the pre-determined reference line aids in positioning of content to be sterilized;
a fold protection panel extending from the barrier panel, wherein the fold protection panel has a non-rectangular perimeter shape, the fold protection panel including:
a proximal end generally adjacent the barrier panel,
a distal end generally opposite the proximal end; and
wherein the distal end of the fold protection panel covers the at least two panel edges of the barrier panel after the barrier panel is in the folded configuration and further wherein the barrier panel bolsters are configured to prevent the at least two panel edges of the barrier panel from folding back on the barrier panel during unfolding of the barrier panel.
14. The sterilization assembly of claim 13 , wherein the barrier panel bolsters prevent the barrier panel from folding back on itself during unfolding of the barrier panel after extended steam sterilization.
15. The sterilization assembly of claim 13 , wherein the barrier panel bolsters comprise one or more layers of material selected from fibrous webs, textile webs, films and combinations thereof.
16. The sterilization assembly of claim 13 , wherein the sterilization assembly further comprises indicia or instructions on the sterilization assembly for unfolding of the assembly after the assembly has been folded into a package and sterilized.
17. The sterilization assembly of claim 13 , wherein said bolsters are bonded to the barrier panel by adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, bar sealing, or a combination thereof.
18. The sterilization assembly of claim 13 , wherein the pre-determined reference line is provided on the barrier panel and barrier panel bolsters.
19. The sterilization assembly of claim 13 , wherein the pre-determined reference line is an intermittent line printed or imprinted on the barrier panel.
20. The sterilization assembly of claim 13 , wherein the fold-protection panel further comprises a third edge that is generally parallel to the pre-determined reference line.