US5044141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for sterile packaging and wetting of articles
Assignee: FRANCHI TECHNOLOGY Corp
•
Filing: 1990-07-11
•
Granted: 1991-09-03
•
Expires: 2010-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A method of sterile packaging and wetting articles within the package which involves the steps of partially filling a container with any of a number of anti-bacterial agents in liquid or semi-liquid form, then placing articles into the container, then sealing the container so that an air space is formed above the liquid within the container, then heating the container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the liquid, and at a pressure of about one atmosphere, until the surfaces within the container above and below the liquid level, and the entire contents of such container, are sterilized, and finally cooling the container and its contents to a temperature at or below the dew point of the air space until the surfaces within the container and above the liquid level are wetted by the condensed liquid from the air.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M. Franchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/16; A61L2/18; B; B65; B65B; B65B55/00; B65B55/02; B65B55/12; B65B55/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of sterile packaging and wetting of articles comprising the sequential steps of partially filling a container with a solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent; then placing an article in the container so that the article is partially above the solution; then sealing said container to provide a gas space above the solution within the sealed container; then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized; and thereafter cooling the container and its entire contents to a temperature at which condensation occurs on the surfaces inside the container that are above the solution until condensation occurs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of sterile packaging and wetting of articles comprising the sequential steps of partially filling a container with a solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent; then placing an article in the container so that the article is partially above the solution; then sealing said container to provide a gas space above the solution within the sealed container; then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized; and thereafter cooling the container and its entire contents to a temperature at which condensation occurs on the surfaces inside the container that are above the solution until condensation occurs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 in which the anti-bacterial agent is selected from the group consisting of iodophor, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, quartenary ammonium salts, and halogenated bis-phenols.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 120° to 210° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 in which the gas space contains air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 130° to 150° F. for at least 2 hours.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 in which the solution is standard anti-bacterial agent having an available iodine concentration within the range of 0.0012 to 3.0 percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 120° to 150° F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 in which the solution is an aqueous solution of a halogenated 2,2'-bis-phenol having a concentration within the range of 0.25 to 4.0 percent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 in which the solution is an aqueous solution of a quaternary ammonium salt having a concentration within the range of 0.0025 to 0.2 percent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 in which the solution is a solution of sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate having a concentration within the range of 1:100 to 1:2000.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2 in which the solution contains soap.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of sterile packaging and wetting of articles comprising the steps of partially filling a container with a solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent and placing articles in the container, then sealing said container to provide a gas space above the solution within the sealed container; then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized; and thereafter cooling the container and its entire contents to a temperature at which condensation occurs on the surfaces inside the container that are above the solution until condensation occurs.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of sterile packaging and wetting of articles comprising the steps of partially filling a container with a solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent and placing articles in the container, then sealing said container to provide a gas space above the solution within the sealed container; then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized; and thereafter cooling the container and its entire contents to a temperature at which condensation occurs on the surfaces inside the container that are above the solution until condensation occurs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 in which the anti-bacterial agent is selected from the group of iodophor, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, quaternary ammonium salts, and halogenated bis-phenols.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 in which articles placed in the container are completely above the liquid level of the solution.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 120° to 210° F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 in which the gas space contains air.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 130° to 150° F for at least 2 hours.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 in which the solution is a standard anti-bacterial agent having an available iodine concentration within the range of 0.0012 to 3.0 percent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 120° to 150° F.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 in which the solution is an aqueous solution of a halogenated 2,2'-bis-phenol having a concentration within the range of 0.25 to 4.0 percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 in which the solution is an aqueous solution of a quaternary ammonium salt having a concentration within the range of 0.0025 to 0.2 percent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 in which the the solution is a solution of sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate having a concentration within the range of 1:100 to 1:2000.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 in which the solution contains soap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3725003A
Cited
US3754368A
Cited
US3857677A
Cited
US3720037A
Cited
US3895474A
Cited
US4099914A
Cited
JPS6254691A
Cited
US4797255A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-02 | 1995-03-04 | 1995-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-02 | 1999-03-04 | 1999-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-02 | 2003-03-04 | 2003-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |