# US 5,345,746 A · Method for regulating the amount of anti-bacterial agent in sterile packaging processes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,345,746 A - Document ID: US5345746A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/057,515 - Filed: 1993-05-06 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1993-05-06 - Inventors: Richard M. Franchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345746A ## CPC - B65B 55/14: by heat - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A method of regulating the amount of anti-bacterial agent in sterile packaging processes within the package which involves the steps of partially filling a container with any of a number of anti-bacterial agents in a solution of liquid, semi-liquid or frozen form, then placing articles into the container, so that an air space is formed within the container partially dehumidifying the air so that when the container is sealed the heating of the container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere, the surface within the container above and below the solution level, and the entire contents of such container, are sterilized, and have a regulated amount of anti-bacterial agent present in the air space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of regulating the amount of anti-bacterial agent in sterile packaging processes comprising the steps of partially filling a container with a solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent; then placing an article in the container; then sealing said container to provide a gas space above the solution within the sealed container; then cooling the entire contents of the container until the gas space is partially dehumidified; then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 in which the anti-bacterial agent is selected from the group consisting of iodophor, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, quaternary ammonium salts, and halogenated bis-phenols. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 in which the container and its contents are cooled to a temperature within a range of 40.degree. F. to 60.degree. F. until the gas inside the container is partially dehumidified and then heated to a temperature within the range of 120.degree. F. to 210.degree. F. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 in which the gas space contains air. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 130.degree. F. to 150.degree. F. for at least 2 hours. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 in which the solution is standard anti-bacterial agent having an available iodine concentration within the range of 0.0012 to 3.0 percent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 in which the container and its contents are cooled to a temperature within the range of 40.degree. F. to 60.degree. F. until the gas inside the container is partially dehumidified then heated to a temperature within the range of 120.degree. F. to 150.degree. F. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 in which the solution is an aqueous solution of a halogenated 2, 2'-bis-phenol having a concentration within the range of 0.25 to 4.0 percent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 in which the solution is an aqueous solution of a quaternary ammonium salt having a concentration within the range of 0.0025 to 0.2 percent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 in which the solution is a solution of sodium ethylmercurithosalicylate having a concentration within the range of 1:100 to 1:2000. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 in which the solution contains soap. ### Claim 12 A method of regulating the amount of anti-bacterial agent in sterile packaging processes comprising the steps of partially dehumidifying a gas utilized in said sterile packaging processes; then partially filling a container with a solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent; then placing an article in the container; then sealing said container to provide a gas space above the solution within the sealed container; then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 in which the anti-bacterial agent is selected from the group of iodophor, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, quaternary ammonium salts, and halogenated bis-phenols. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 in which articles placed in the container are completely above the liquid level of the solution. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A method of claim 12 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 120.degree. F. to 210.degree. F. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 in which the gas space contains air. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 130.degree. F. to 150.degree. F. for at least 2 hours. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 in which the solution contains soap. ### Claim 19 A method of regulating the amount of anti-bacterial agent in sterile packaging processes comprising the steps of placing a block of frozen solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent in a container; then placing an article in the container; then sealing said container to provide a gas space within the sealed container; then allowing the frozen solution to cool down the gas inside the container until said gas is partially dehumidified, then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 in which the anti-bacterial agent is selected from the group of iodophor, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, quaternary ammonium salts, and halogenated bis-phenols. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 in which articles placed in the container are completely above the solution. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 120.degree. F. to 210.degree. F. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 in which the gas space contains air. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 in which the container and its contents are heated to a temperature within the range of 130.degree. F. to 150.degree. F. for at least 2 hours. ### Claim 25 A method of regulating the amount of anti-bacterial agent in a sterile packaging process comprising the steps of partially filling a container with a solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent; then sealing said container to provide a gas space above the solution within the sealed container; then cooling the entire contents of the container until the gas space is partially dehumidified then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized. ### Claim 26 A method of regulating the amount of anti-bacterial agent in sterile packaging processes comprising the steps of partially dehumidifying a gas utilized in said sterile packaging processes; then partially filling a container with a solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent; then sealing said container to provide a gas space above the solution within the sealed container; then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized. ### Claim 27 A method of regulating the amount of anti-bacterial agent in sterile packaging processes comprising the steps of placing a block of frozen solution of a standard anti-bacterial agent in a container; then sealing said container to provide a gas space within the sealed container; then allowing the frozen solution to cool down the gas inside the container until said gas is partially dehumidified; then heating said container and its contents to a temperature substantially below the boiling point of the solution and at a pressure of about one atmosphere until all the surfaces inside the container above and below the solution, and the entire contents of the container, are sterilized.