Sterilization wraps and methods for sterilizing articles

Abstract

There is provided an improved sterilization wrap and a method for using the improved sterilization wrap to sterilize an article. The wrap is made of at least one sheet, and preferably two sheets, of sterilization material and in some embodiments, includes an additional sheet which may be made of an absorbent material. The sheet of absorbent material may have a smaller perimeter than at least one sheet of sterilization material. One side of at least one sheet of sterilization material includes a central portion. The absorbent material may be attached to the central portion of at least one sheet of sterilization material. The article to be sterilized is placed on the sterilization wrap and is then wrapped. The absorbent material provides sterility protection for the article in addition to the at least one sheet of sterilization material and also wicks moisture away from the article after sterilization has taken place. A visual indicator may be provided to indicate whether or not the article has been exposed to adequate sterilization conditions.

1 - 92 . (canceled) 
     
     
         93 . A sterilization wrap for wrapping an article to be sterilized comprising:
 a first sheet having a central portion, wherein the first sheet is made of spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded material;   a sheet of reinforcement material wherein at least a portion of the sheet of reinforcement material is bonded to the central portion of the first sheet and adapted to receive the article to be sterilized, wherein the sheet of reinforcement material is made of spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded material; and   a second sheet made of spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded material and bonded to the first sheet;   wherein the sterilization wrap is configured such that when the article to be sterilized is wrapped by the sterilization wrap, at least a portion of both the bottom and the sides of the article to be sterilized is covered by at least a portion of the sheet of reinforcement material and at least a portion of the top of the article to be sterilized is covered by at least a portion of the first sheet.   
     
     
         94 . The sterilization wrap as set forth in  claim 93 , wherein at least a portion of an outer periphery of the first sheet is bonded to at least a portion of an outer periphery of the second sheet. 
     
     
         95 . The sterilization wrap as set forth in  claim 94 , wherein the entire outer periphery of the first sheet is bonded to the entire outer periphery of the second sheet. 
     
     
         96 . The sterilization wrap as set forth in  claim 93 , wherein the perimeter of the sheet of reinforcement material is substantially contained within the perimeter of the first sheet. 
     
     
         97 . The sterilization wrap as set forth in  claim 93 , wherein the perimeter of the sheet of reinforcement material is smaller than the perimeter of the first sheet. 
     
     
         98 . The sterilization wrap as set forth in  claim 93 , wherein the area of the sheet of reinforcement material is smaller than the area of the first sheet. 
     
     
         99 . The sterilization wrap as set forth in  claim 93 , wherein the sheet of reinforcement material comprises a single sheet of reinforcement material. 
     
     
         100 . The sterilization wrap as set forth in  claim 93 , wherein the sheet of reinforcement material has a different color than the first sheet. 
     
     
         101 . The sterilization wrap as set forth in  claim 93 , wherein the sheet of reinforcement material is made of spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded material of equal or higher basis weight than the spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded material of the first sheet.