Radial filtration vent and medical device packaging

1. A gas sterilization package component comprising:

(a) a gas diversion wall stock for at least a portion of a container, said wall stock having an opening therethrough;

(b) a gas diversion layer;

(c) a filter sheet disposed between (a) and (b), said filter sheet having a first surface and an opposing second surface circumscribed by a perimeter edge; wherein said first surface of said filter sheet is attached to a surface of said gas diversion layer and said second surface of the filter sheet is sealed to a surface of the wall stock whereby an opening in said wall stock is covered by said filter sheet and a gas passageway is defined from said opening through a portion of said second surface of said filter sheet and extending through said filter perimeter edge or a distal portal area of said filter sheet.

2. A radial filter vent comprising:

(a) a first gas diversion layer having an opening therethrough;

(b) a second gas diversion layer,

(c) a filter sheet disposed between (a) and (b), said filter sheet having a first surface and an opposing second surface circumscribed by a perimeter edge; wherein said first surface of said filter sheet is sealed to a first surface of said second gas diversion layer and said second surface of the filter sheet is sealed to a first surface of said first gas diversion layer whereby an opening in said first gas diversion layer is covered by said filter sheet and a gas passageway is defined from said opening through a portion of said second surface of said filter sheet and extending through said filter perimeter edge or a distal portal area of said filter sheet.

3. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet is greater than 10 mil in thickness.

4. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet is greater than 100 mil in thickness.

5. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet has a gas passageway distance greater than a minimum thickness of said filter sheet.

6. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said gas passageway is at least 10 mil in length.

7. A radial fitter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said gas passageway is at least 25 mil in length.

8. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said gas passageway is at least 50 mil in length.

9. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said gas passageway is at least 100 mil in length.

10. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said gas passageway is at least 200 mil in length.

11. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein at least one of said gas diversion layers is a nonporous polymeric film or sheet.

12. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein at least one of said gas diversion layers is polyester, polyolefin, polyethylene, metal foil, spunbonded polyolefin, or an adhesive.

13. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet comprises a material which has a portion of at least one surface fused to form sat least one of said gas diversion layers.

14. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet has a three dimensional open cell structure.

15. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet comprises a sintered porous polyolefin.

16. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet comprises an open celled foamed polymer.

17. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet comprises a fibrous polypropylene mat.

18. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said fitter sheet comprises a sintered porous polyethylene.

19. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet has a pore size between 1-500 microns with pores extending in three dimensions.

20. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet has a pore size between 1-500 microns.

21. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet has a pore size between 15-50 microns.

22. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , attached to a flexible film package wall, a rigid tray, a lidstock, or a semi-rigid container.

23. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet further comprises an anti-microbial agent.

24. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet further comprises a first pressure sensitive layer between said first surface of said filter sheet and said first surface of said second gas diversion layer.

25. A radial filter vent, as defined in claim 2 , wherein said filter sheet further comprises a pressure sensitive layer between said second surface of said filter sheet and said first surface of said first gas diversion layer.

26. A radial filter vent comprising:

(a) a gas diversion layer;

(b) a filter sheet sealed on its first side to said gas diversion layer, said filter sheet having a first surface and an opposing second surface circumscribed by a perimeter edge;

(c) a pattern applied pressure sensitive adhesive coating on said second side of said filter sheet, said adhesive coating having an opening area which is adhesive free circumscribed by adhesive; and

(d) a release liner attached to said pressure sensitive adhesive coating on a side opposite from said filter sheet;

wherein said second surface of the filter sheet is adapted for sealable attachment to a first surface of a second gas diversion layer whereby an opening in said gas diversion layer is covered by said nonadhesive opening area of said filter sheet and a gas passageway is defined from said opening area through a portion of said second surface of said filter sheet and extending through said filter perimeter edge or a distal portal area of said filter sheet.