Initially market tested in 2003 at Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL, the structure is converted and hermetically sealed into a three-sided pouch by Cardinal Health that it sells to hospitals and dental markets. A portion of the pouch’s fourth side is open for filling a device that then requires steam sterilization.
The outer bottom ply includes a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond nonwoven sheet from BBA Fiberweb. This layer allows permeation of sterlization gases such as steam, while also serving as a barrier to bacteria. The middle ply uses Alcan Packaging’s polypropylene-based coextrusion film. It’s perforated for permeability and contains an autoclavable peelable seal feature that withstands sterilization, and activates after sterilization. The outer top ply is an adhesive-lamination of DuPont’s Dartek® nylon and Alcan Packaging’s PP.
