Dual sterilization containment vessel

A method of sterilizing a biologically derived replacement heart valve component and at least a portion of an apparatus configured and adapted to implant the biologically derived replacement heart valve component in a living body, the method comprising:

• attaching a biologically derived replacement heart valve component to a distal end of the apparatus configured and adapted to implant the biologically derived replacement heart valve component to form a first expanded configuration;
• withdrawing the biologically derived replacement heart valve component to a position at least partially within the distal end of the apparatus configured and adapted to implant the biologically derived replacement heart valve component to form a second collapsed configuration;
• inserting the distal end of the second collapsed configuration through an opening in a removable proximal end cap of a dual sterilization containment vessel which includes a hollow element, a closed distal end, the removable proximal end cap, and a secondary proximal end cap;
• sealing the opening in the removable proximal end cap around a distal end of the second collapsed configuration;
• moving the second collapsed configuration to the first expanded configuration within the dual sterilization containment vessel;
• filling the dual sterilization containment vessel and the apparatus with a biocidal fluid;
• and
• sealing the dual sterilization containment vessel and the apparatus;
• and exposing the dual sterilization containment vessel to a source of ionizing radiation of sufficient penetrating power and for a sufficient time to sterilize contents of the dual sterilization containment vessel.