Non-porous material as sterilization barrier

A method comprising the steps of:

• providing a device comprising:
• a sealed interior portion with at least one opening to the exterior covered by a sterilization barrier formed from a non-porous material allowing a sterilization gas to penetrate but prevents germs from penetrating, wherein:
• the device is in the form of a pump with a flow path arranged between an inlet and an outlet, the pump comprising at least one valve member arranged in the flow path, and
• the size and configuration of the at least one sterilization barrier formed from a non-porous material comprising liquid silicone rubber allowing at least 50% of the sterilization gas, that would pass between a sterilization gas-containing exterior and the sealed interior portion when a pressure difference is created there between, to pass through the non-porous material,
• placing the device in a sterilization enclosure,
• creating a relative vacuum in the sealed interior portion by controlling the pressure in the sterilization enclosure,
• introducing sterilization gas in the sterilization enclosure thereby raising the pressure therein above the relative vacuum created in the sealed interior portion, and
• allowing the sterilization gas to penetrate into the sealed interior portion, whereby at least 50% of the sterilization gas passes between the sterilization enclosure and the sealed interior portion through the at least one sterilization barrier formed from a non-porous material.