Vapor hydration of a hydrophilic catheter within a package

A ready-to-use vapor hydrated hydrophilic catheter assembly, comprising:

• a gas impermeable package containing:
• a hydrophilic coated catheter,
• a vapor donating liquid, and
• a liquid sequestering element,
• wherein the vapor donating liquid is substantially retained by the liquid sequestering element to minimize the spill hazard, while releasing a vapor to produce a vapor atmosphere within the gas impermeable package, such that the ready-to-use condition of the catheter is due at least in part to the vapor activating at least a portion of the hydrophilic coated catheter, so as to ensure delivery of the hydrophilic coated catheter to the user in a completely ready-to-use condition.

A ready-to-use vapor hydrated hydrophilic catheter assembly manufactured by a process comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas impermeable package having a cavity therein;
• placing a hydrophilic coated catheter in the cavity of the package;
• placing a vapor donating liquid in the cavity of the package;
• sealing the cavity with the catheter and liquid in the package;
• and
• delaying distribution of the package after sealing the cavity with the catheter and liquid therein for a period of time sufficient:
• i) for the vapor donating liquid to produce a vapor atmosphere within the cavity;
• and
• ii) for the vapor atmosphere to complete the activation of the hydrophilic coated catheter by hydrating at least a portion thereof.

A ready-to-use vapor hydrated hydrophilic catheter assembly, comprising:

• a gas impermeable package containing:
• a hydrophilic coated catheter, and
• a vapor donating liquid,
• such that the vapor donating liquid in the assembly is incapable of reliably hydrating the hydrophilic coated catheter by direct liquid contact, and wherein the vapor donating liquid produces a vapor atmosphere within the gas impermeable package to activate at least a portion of the hydrophilic coated catheter, to ensure delivery of the hydrophilic coated catheter to the user in a completely ready-to-use condition.

A method of producing a ready-to-use vapor hydrated hydrophilic catheter assembly comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas impermeable package having a cavity therein;
• coating at least a portion of a catheter with a hydrophilic coating;
• placing the hydrophilic coated catheter in the cavity of the package;
• placing a vapor donating liquid in the cavity of the package;
• sealing the cavity with the catheter and liquid in the cavity of the package;
• delaying distribution of the package after sealing the cavity with the catheter and liquid therein for a period of time sufficient:
• i) for the vapor donating liquid to produce a vapor atmosphere within the cavity;
• and
• ii) for the vapor atmosphere to complete the activation of the hydrophilic coated catheter.

A method for ensuring delivery of a hydrophilic catheter to an end user in a completely ready-to-use condition, comprising the steps of:

• providing the hydrophilic catheter within a gas impermeable package together with a vapor donating liquid;
• determining the times required for:
• i) the vapor donating liquid to form a vapor atmosphere in a state of equilibrium within the package;
• and
• ii) the vapor donating liquid to complete the activation of the hydrophilic catheter within the package;
• and
• delaying the distribution of the hydrophilic catheter to the end user for at least the longer of the times so determined;
• whereby the hydrophilic catheter is in a completely ready-to-use condition when it is delivered to the end user.