Sterilization Tray Protection Mechanisms

Abstract

A sterilization wrap system with features for protecting a sterilization wrap and/or a sterilization tray of the sterilization wrap system is provided. Such features include strap or belt protectors, edge protectors, corner protectors, and/or expandable protectors, which each may provide protection of one or more areas of the sterilization wrap and/or tray when positioned against an outer surface of the wrap and/or between an inner surface of the wrap and a container for holding implements to be sterilized. A size-selectable protection system also is provided. The size-selectable protection system provides a material having a plurality of perforations such that a length of the material may be selected and detached from the rest of the material. The selected length of material may be used with a sterilization wrap system to protect a sterilization wrap and/or sterilization tray from cuts, tears, or the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sterilization wrap system, comprising:
 a sterilization wrap having an inner surface and an outer surface;   a tray configured to hold implements to be sterilized, the tray wrapped with the sterilization wrap to form a wrapped package; and   an expandable protector comprising a covering portion and an expandable portion, the expandable protector positioned adjacent at least four corners of the tray.   
     
     
         2 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 1 , wherein the covering portion is formed from the same material as the sterilization wrap. 
     
     
         3 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable protector comprises a plurality of expandable portions, and wherein the plurality of expandable portions are localized with respect to the covering portion such that the covering portion is expandable in particular areas. 
     
     
         4 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion forms a continuous loop about the covering portion such that the expandable portion defines a perimeter of the covering portion. 
     
     
         5 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable protector is a first expandable protector, and further comprising:
 a second expandable protector comprising a second covering portion and a second expandable portion.   
     
     
         6 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 5 , wherein the first expandable protector surrounds four corners of a top portion of the wrapped package and the second expandable protector surrounds four corners of a bottom portion of the wrapped package such that each of the first expandable protector and the second expandable protector is positioned against the outer surface of the sterilization wrap. 
     
     
         7 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 5 , wherein the first expandable protector surrounds four corners of a top portion of the tray and the second expandable protector surrounds four corners of a bottom portion of the tray such that each of the first expandable protector and the second expandable protector is positioned between the sterilization wrap and the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 5 , wherein the first expandable protector surrounds a first two corners of a top portion of the wrapped package and a first two corners of a bottom portion of the wrapped package, and wherein the second expandable protector surrounds a second two corners of the top portion of the wrapped package and a second two corners of the bottom portion of the wrapped package such that each of the first expandable protector and the second expandable protector is positioned against the outer surface of the sterilization wrap. 
     
     
         9 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 8 , wherein the wrapped package comprises a first end opposite a second end and a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first end and the second end are shorter in length than the first side and the second side, and wherein the first expandable protector surrounds the first end of the wrapped package and the second expandable protector surrounds the second end of the wrapped package. 
     
     
         10 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 8 , wherein the wrapped package comprises a first end opposite a second end and a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first end and the second end are shorter in length than the first side and the second side, and wherein the first expandable protector surrounds the first side of the wrapped package and the second expandable protector surrounds the second side of the wrapped package. 
     
     
         11 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 5 , wherein the first expandable protector surrounds a first two corners of a top portion of the tray and a first two corners of a bottom portion of the tray, and wherein the second expandable protector surrounds a second two corners of the top portion of the tray and a second two corners of the bottom portion of the tray such that each of the first expandable protector and the second expandable protector is positioned between the sterilization wrap and the tray. 
     
     
         12 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 11 , wherein the tray comprises a first end opposite a second end and a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first end and the second end are shorter in length than the first side and the second side, and wherein the first expandable protector surrounds the first end of the tray and the second expandable protector surrounds the second end of the tray. 
     
     
         13 . The sterilization wrap system of  claim 11 , wherein the tray comprises a first end opposite a second end and a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first end and the second end are shorter in length than the first side and the second side, and wherein the first expandable protector surrounds the first side of the tray and the second expandable protector surrounds the second side of the tray. 
     
     
         14 . A size-selectable protection system for a sterilization wrap, the size-selectable protection system comprising:
 a material having an overall length, a width, a first surface, and a second surface;   a plurality of perforations extending across the width of the material, the perforations spaced apart along the length of the material to define a plurality of sections of the material;   an attachment mechanism provided on the first surface of the material; and   a release mechanism provided on the second surface of the material such that the release mechanism is provided on the second surface opposite the attachment mechanism provided on the first surface, the release mechanism configured such that the attachment mechanism does not attach to the release mechanism,   wherein a length of the material may be selected and detached from the overall length of the material, and   wherein the length of the material may be used with a sterilization wrap to protect the sterilization wrap, the attachment mechanism configured to attach directly to the sterilization wrap.   
     
     
         15 . The size-selectable protection system of  claim 14 , wherein each section of material defined by the perforations has a length that is approximately equal to the width of the material such that each section is approximately square-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The size-selectable protection system of  claim 14 , wherein the material is a nonwoven material. 
     
     
         17 . The size-selectable protection system of  claim 14 , wherein the material is gathered in a roll form such that the length of material selected from the overall length is selected by unrolling the material. 
     
     
         18 . The size-selectable protection system of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment mechanism degrades under sterilization conditions such that the length of material used to protect the sterilization wrap is easily removed after sterilization of a wrapped package. 
     
     
         19 . The size-selectable protection system of  claim 14 , wherein the material further comprises a first edge extending along the length of the material and a second edge extending along the length of the material, and wherein the attachment mechanism is provided on the first surface of the material along both the first and second edges of the material and the release mechanism is provided on the second surface of the material along both the first and second edges of the material. 
     
     
         20 . A sterilization wrap system, comprising:
 a sterilization wrap having an inner surface and an outer surface;   a tray configured to hold implements to be sterilized, the tray wrapped with the sterilization wrap to form a wrapped package;   a first expandable protector comprising a first covering portion and a first expandable portion, the first expandable portion defining a perimeter of the first covering portion, the first expandable protector positioned over a first four corners of the tray; and   a second expandable protector comprising a second covering portion and a second expandable portion, the second expandable portion defining a perimeter of the second covering portion, the second expandable protector positioned over a second four corners of the tray,   wherein each of the first covering portion and the second covering portion are formed from the same material as the sterilization wrap.