Packing and sterilizing a pen in a kit

Abstract

Sterile packaging of pens for use in a medical environment may include labels packaged along with a pen in a pen and label (PAL) kit. The present invention also relates to methods of packaging a pen and/or the PAL kit. In particular, the method of packaging includes the steps of placing a writing instrument into packaging configured to be sealed such that the writing instrument is contained in a sealed portion of the packaging, sealing the package, and sterilizing the writing instrument and the package using gamma sterilization such that all portions of the writing instrument are sterilized.

1 . A method for packaging a pen, comprising:
 placing a writing instrument into packaging configured to be sealed such that the writing instrument is contained in a sealed portion of the packaging;   sealing the packaging; and   sterilizing the writing instrument and the packaging using gamma sterilization, such that all portions of the writing instrument are sterilized.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the writing instrument is a permanent ink pen. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging is one of a multivac blister packaging and a foil packaging. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the writing instrument is non-sterile prior to the sterilizing using gamma sterilization. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing includes vacuum sealing. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging is an inner packaging, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 placing the sealed inner packaging into an outer packaging;   placing at least one other item into the outer packaging;   sealing the outer packaging such that the sealed inner packaging and the additional items are contained in a sealed portion of the outer packaging; and   sterilizing the contents of the outer package using EtO sterilization.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the inner packaging is impermeable to the EtO gas. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the inner packaging is foil packaging. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the outer packaging is multivac blister packaging. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one other item includes labels configured to be written on with the writing instrument. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one other item also includes at least one item configured to be used with a medical procedure. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein labels configured to be written on with the writing instrument are included in at least one of the inner packaging and the outer packaging. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of printing on the packaging simultaneous to sealing the packaging. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of printing on the outer packaging simultaneous to sealing the outer packaging. 
   
   
       15 . A kit comprising:
 packaging;   a writing instrument; and   labels configured to be written on by a user with the writing instrument, wherein at least the writing instrument is sealed in the packaging, and wherein at least the packaging and the writing instrument are sterilized using gamma sterilization.   
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the packaging is inner packaging, and further comprising:
 outer packaging; and   at least one other item, wherein the writing instrument sealed in the inner packaging, the labels, and the at least one other item are sealed in the outer packaging, and wherein the outer packaging and the contents of the outer packaging are sterilized using EtO sterilization.   
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the writing instrument is a permanent ink pen. 
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the packaging is one of a multivac blister packaging and a foil packaging. 
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the labels are sealed in the packaging. 
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the inner packaging is impermeable to air such that the EtO gas does not penetrate the inner packaging. 
   
   
       21 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one other item is an item configured to be used in medical treatment.