# US 2019/0167078 A1 · Sterilization package > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167078 A1 - Document ID: US20190167078A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/830,331 - Filed: 2017-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon, Inc. - Inventors: Ben FRYER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167078A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/00144: {Hygienic packaging} - A61B 1/00142: {with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath} - A61B 1/121: {provided with means for cleaning post-use} - A61B 50/30: Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40) - A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours - A61L 2/208: Hydrogen peroxide - A61L 2/26: Accessories - A61L 2/28: Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation or disinfection, e.g. indicators which change colour - A61B 2050/002: {having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip} - A61B 2050/005: {with a lid or cover} - A61B 2050/318: {Multi-pouches, e.g. strips of side-by-side pouches} - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61L 2202/181: Flexible packaging means, e.g. permeable membranes, paper - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract A sterilization package for an endoscope that is described herein. The sterilization package may be used for endoscopes over six feet long. The sterilization package may include a first leg, a second leg connected to the first leg, an opening, and a flap disposed proximate the opening and configured to cover the opening. The package may be 95% by weight of a vapor permeable material. The package, with the endoscope disposed therein, may be coiled and placed into a vacuum chamber of a sterilization system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sterilization package, comprising: a first leg; a second leg connected to the first leg; an opening; and a flap disposed proximate the opening and configured to cover the opening, wherein the first leg, the second leg, and the flap are fabricated from a vapor-permeable material such that the package is at least 95% by weight of the material, and wherein the first leg has a first length, the second leg has a second length, and the first length plus the second length equals a least approximately six feet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a non-woven fabric. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The package of claim 2, wherein the non-woven fabric includes flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The package of claim 2, wherein the non-woven fabric is a non-woven polypropylene fabric. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The package of claim 2, further comprising an adhesive disposed upon the flap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The package of claim 5, wherein the adhesive is adapted to seal the flap about the opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The package of claim 5, wherein the opening is a single opening disposed in the first leg proximate the second leg. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The package of claim 7, wherein the package lacks any other openings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The package of claim 7, further comprising an endoscope disposed within the package. ### Claim 10 A method for sterilizing an endoscope, comprising: providing a package, the package comprising, a first leg; a second leg connected to the first leg; an opening; and a flap disposed proximate the opening and configured to cover the opening; wherein the first leg, the second leg, and the flap are fabricated from a vapor-permeable material such that the package is at least 95% by weight of the material, and wherein the first leg has a first length, the second leg has a second length, and the first length plus the second length equals a least approximately six feet, placing an endoscope that is at least approximately six feet long within the package; sealing the package; placing the endoscope and package into a vacuum chamber of a sterilization system; and passing a sterilant through the package. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of placing the endoscope and package in the vacuum chamber includes coiling the endoscope and package. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising confirming that no portion of the endoscope contacts another portion of the endoscope. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the material comprises a non-woven fabric ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the non-woven fabric includes flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the non-woven fabric is a non-woven polypropylene fabric. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the package further includes an adhesive disposed upon the flap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the adhesive is adapted to seal the flap about the opening and the step of sealing the package includes covering the opening with the flap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the opening is a single opening disposed in the first leg proximate the second leg. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the package lacks any other openings. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of placing the endoscope and package into a vacuum chamber of a sterilization system is performed without placing a sterilization tray into the vacuum chamber.