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FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation and packaging of a sterile procedure pack or kit for operating room use.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for the preparation and packaging of a procedure pack or kit that contains within it a series of medical devices made sterile and immediately usable in the operating room after said pack has been opened.

The invention further relates to a sterile pack or kit that contains a series of health devices immediately usable in the operating room after said pack has been opened.

The invention is mainly applicable in the field of the supply of advanced products and services in the health field. PRIOR ART

Inside hospital operating rooms kits of products and normally used that are supplied inside packs made sterile and delivered sterile to the hospital operators.

Packs of sterile products have always been split into two large categories, the technical requirements of which are considered substantially incompatible.

Within a first category , all products made of reusable technical textiles (hereinafter indicated by the acronym RTT) must be considered, which are normally sterilised by steam in an autoclave, and whose traceability must necessarily be guaranteed.

On the other hand, within a second category products made of single-use technical textiles (hereinafter indicated by the acronym NWF) are considered, as well as a series of different accessories such as, for example, syringes, needles, extensions, bowls, scalpels, tweezers, valves, etc. for which the sterilisation operation is performed by treatment in an autoclave using gas, in particular ethylene oxide (hereinafter indicated by the acronym ETO) .

The two methods implemented respectively for the sterilisation of health aids for the operating room belonging to the two mentioned categories differ greatly from one another.

In fact, steam sterilisation takes place using saturated steam as a sterilising agent and creating, within a sterilisation chamber, predetermined physical pressure and temperature conditions for a given time period, and the sterilisation cycle envisages subsequent steps of creating a vacuum, injecting steam, sterilisation and drying. During every sterilisation cycle, the sensors connected to the sterilisation chamber of the autoclave send the data related to the physical parameters of the process, i.e. temperature and pressure, to an electronic control system.

By way of example, typical technical parameters of sterilisation processes applied for the sterilisation RTTs are indicated in the following table:

Absolute (Absolute [ bsolute Relative Relative Relative ' Time

pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure °c| ≥ 3 min 3 . 415 3415 341 . 5 2 . 415 2415 241 . 5

As mentioned above, the ETO sterilisation method takes place using ethylene oxide as a sterilising agent.

The inactivation of the micro-organisms by the ETO is influenced by various factors which are: concentration of ethylene oxide, temperature, relative humidity and exposure time.

The anti-microbial action depends on the dose. If the temperature and relative humidity values are kept constant, by increasing the concentration of the gas the inactivation rate of the micro-organisms increases and therefore the inactivation time is reduced.

In order to be able to exert its sterilising effect, the ETO needs humidity. The optimal relative humidity (rh) value required in the sterilisation site is 35%, but in common practice the rh values in autoclaves are a bit higher, 40-60%.

The fundamental stages of a sterilisation cycle with ethylene oxide ETO are:

1. Elimination of air through vacuum;

2. Humidification to reach the desired relative humidity value and preconditioning of the load using steam;

3. Inlet of the sterilising gas. The addition must not make the temperature change. The pressure value that corresponds to the desired concentration of ETO must be reached; 4. Exposure to the gas for the predefined time. The time may be very variable - from tens of minutes to a few hours - according to the conditions used;

5. Evacuation of the gas;

6. Forced degassing;

7. Final vacuum cycles alternating with the inlet of sterile air/inert gas.

The material must be arranged in the sterilisation chamber so that everything can be easily permeated by steam and gas. After the product has been loaded and heated to 50-60°C partial vacuum is created for eliminating air, the steam is injected into the sterilisation chamber so as to reach a rh of 40-60%, the sterilising gas is introduced into the sterilisation chamber, reaching operating pressures according to the concentration of the mixture but not below 48 kpa (lower than atmospheric pressure to prevent diffusion to the outside) . After the required sterilisation time, the sterilising gas is evacuated by creating the vacuum.

Finally, the products must be subjected to a degassing step to eliminate any particles of ETO. The load is subjected to a standstill time in a controlled temperature environment inside which a biological indicator is placed; the outcome of its reading determines the release of the sterile product.

The present description facilitates the understanding of how, according to the products and materials to be sterilised, the market has proposed different sterilisation processes that have led to the provision of different kits of materials for operating room use, some sterilised with steam and others sterilised with ETO, and the conviction has become widespread that it is impossible to assemble a combined kit that allows sterile materials made of reusable technical textiles RTT and materials made of single-use technical textiles NWF and various disposable accessories to be inserted in a single sterile pack. This sort of technical prejudice is a source of high preparation and supply costs for the packs or kits of sterilising materials for operating room use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention sets out to provide a solution to the drawbacks and disadvantages typical of the prior art and therefore to provide a method for the packaging of a combined sterile pack or kit for operating room use within which products or materials made of RTT and products or materials made of NWF are positioned, as well as a series of accessories whose sterility must be guaranteed in the operating room.

This is obtained through a method for the packaging of a sterile procedure pack or kit for operating room use having the characteristics described in claim 1.

The dependent claims outline particularly advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention .

Furthermore, claims 8 to 10 describe a sterile procedure pack or kit for operating room use.

Experiments performed by the applicant, in contrast with common practice, have been able to demonstrate how products or materials made of reusable technical textiles RTT, which have historically only be sterilised by steam in an autoclave, under certain conditions can also be sterilised through the method that uses ethylene oxide ETO. It follows that, under certain conditions and when the traceability of the reusable technical textile products is guaranteed, it is possible to prepare and package a combined pack containing both RTT items and single-use textiles or other items of common operating room use. The result is a sterile procedure pack of medical devices that allows the operating room personnel to be supplied with the material required for:

equipping the operating field according to the indications of the particular surgical procedure involved so as to prevent risks of surgical infection through appropriately conformed equipped or simple drapes and/or protecting the patient and operators from risks of cross contamination through white coats;

containing (where envisaged) disinfecting solutions for the patient's skin prior to the surgical incision (e.g. bowls) ;

- performing dressings;

performing certain steps of the surgical procedure (e.g. scalpels and syringes) .

In this way, substantial economic, time and environmental sustainability advantages are obtained.

The method for the preparation and packaging of a sterile procedure pack or kit for operating room use according to the present invention comprises the following successive steps: a) washing and technical folding of reconditioned reusable technical textile RTT garments and microchip reading and saving of traceability data through appropriate electronic means; and/or

a' ) washing and folding of new reusable technical textile RTT garments and microchip association and saving of traceability data through appropriate electronic means; b) provision of a controlled contamination environment for the preparation of a procedure pack or kit for operating room use;

c) provision, within the environment referred to in paragraph b) , of said reusable technical textile RTT garments equipped with microchips, of further single-use textile NWF garments, as well as accessories for the operating room, such as, by way of non-limiting example, extensions, bowls, caps, scalpels, syringes, needles, tweezers, valves, cotton gauze, etc.

d) preparation, packaging and closing of a procedure pack containing the materials or products referred to in paragraph c) within said controlled contamination environment;

e) sterilisation of the procedure pack referred to in paragraph d) through treatment with ethylene oxide ETO gas for a predetermined time, at a predetermined temperature, predetermined pressure and predetermined humidity level;

f) natural and/or forced evacuation of the ETO sterilising gas from said pack for a predetermined time and control of the potential presence of ETO inside said procedure pack;

g) reading via multireader tunnel or antenna of the data contained in the microchip of the RTT material contained inside the pack;

h) storage of said pack inside a sterile storage area; i) release of the sterile procedure pack and delivery to users in the operating room;

j ) collection of the RTT material after use for appropriate reconditioning.

In compliance with a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention for the preparation of the pack, the materials are arranged and inserted into an envelope made of synthetic material. Furthermore, according to a further particular embodiment, such synthetic material envelope is inserted inside a packaging box, advantageously made of corrugated cardboard, which is reclosed and equipped with a series of labels indicating the contents of the pack and the batch of packs being produced.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the reusable technical textile RTT material subject to washing is dried and inserted into tanks or closed cabinets for being taken to said controlled contamination environment.

The result of such method for the preparation, packaging and sterilisation of a procedure pack for operating room use comprises an object never created prior to the method according to the present invention, and that constitutes total novelty in the world of providing services for operating rooms, i.e. a procedure pack sterilised through a sterilisation method based on ethylene oxide ETO which contains inside it both material made of reusable technical textile RTT, reconditioned, and single-use technical textile NWF, as well as accessories for the operating room made of different metal and/or synthetic materials.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be evident from reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the figures illustrated in the appended tables of drawings, in which:

- figures 1 and 2 illustrate, in a schematic perspective view, the various components for realising a procedure pack to be sterilised according to the invention for performing a caesarian section; and

- figures 3 and 4 illustrate, in a schematic perspective view, the various components for realising a procedure pack to be sterilised according to the invention for performing an angiography.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In figures 1 and 2, an operating room kit for performing a caesarian section comprises, within a controlled contamination environment (otherwise known as a "cleanroom") , a sheet of crepe paper 10, an operating room table drape 11 on which a tray 12 is positioned.

The following components are positioned within said tray 12:

- an umbilical chord clamp 13;

a Yankauer cannula 14;

a suction tube 15;

a scalpel 16;

- small sheets of gauze 17;

laparotomy gauze 18;

- an adhesive strip 19.

On top of these components an obstetric drape 20 is placed, on which, in turn, wipes 21 and white coats 22, 22' are arranged tidily. A drape 23 made of RTT and a Mayo bag 24 are positioned thereon.

According to the invention, the above-listed components are then completely wrapped up by the said operating table drape 11 and the package is secured by chemical process indicating tape 25. Then, a further towel 26 and white coat 27 are positioned on the package. Everything is further wrapped with the said crepe paper sheet 10, secured with chemical process indicating tape 25 and equipped with a contents list 28. The kit thus prepared is then inserted into a special envelope 29 onto which an identification label is applied. The packaging is then completed by inserting two kits in envelopes as described above into a cardboard box 30 on which a label and a colour change chemical indicator are applied.

Figures 3 and 4 show the preparation and packaging of a further kit for the operating room for performing an angiography. It comprises, within a controlled contamination environment (otherwise known as a "cleanroom") , a sheet of crepe paper 10, an operating room table drape 11 on which a tray 12 is positioned.

The following components are positioned within said tray 12:

- a cap 31;

gauze 32;

a scalpel 33;

- bowls 34;

- various syringes 35 with and without needles;

- drape clamps 36;

- a RTT drape 37.

On top of these components an angiography drape 38, a white coat 39 and wipes 40 are positioned.

Everything is then wrapped up with the operating room table drape 11 and secured with the chemical process indicating tape 25.

Then, a further towel 26 and white coat 27 are positioned on the package. Everything is further wrapped with the said crepe paper sheet 10, secured with chemical process indicating tape 25 and equipped with a contents list 28. The kit thus prepared' is then inserted into a special envelope 29 onto which an identification label is applied. The packaging is then completed by inserting two kits in envelopes as described above into a cardboard box 30 on which a label and a colour change chemical indicator are applied.

In relation to the reusable technical textile, in general a polyester mesh, polyester microfibre or trilaminate fabric is generally used, the latter being obtained through the lamination of two layers of polyester on the two sides of a membrane, generally a polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE membrane or a microperforated polyurethane PU membrane.

These products are inserted into the kit in the new condition (if used for the first time) simply washed to remove any manufacturing treatment residues, or in a condition previously subjected to chemical industrial/heat washing without ironing.

Once washed, such products are immediately inserted into tanks or closed cabinets in order to prevent recontamination .

Again, before being inserted into the kit, the reusable technical textile products are equipped with electronic identification codes and recorded (if being used for the first time) or simply recorded (if being reused) .

The single-use textiles are normally comprised of non-woven fabric NWF in various versions according to the degrees of absorption that are intended to be used.

The accessories are generally comprised of objects made of synthetic plastic material, for example polypropylene or polyethylene, silicone, or stainless steel or carbon.

The envelopes are generally made of coupled polyethylene/TYVEK®, and the boxes of corrugated cardboard for packaging.

The procedure packs thus packaged are subsequently subjected to a sterilisation treatment using ethylene oxide ETO.

The fundamental stages of a sterilisation cycle with ethylene oxide are:

1. Elimination of air through vacuum;

2. Humidification to reach the desired relative humidity value and preconditioning of the load using steam;

3. Inlet of the sterilising gas. The addition must not make the temperature change. The pressure value that corresponds to the desired concentration of ETO must be reached;

4. Exposure to the gas for the predefined time. The time may be very variable - from tens of minutes to a few hours - according to the conditions used;

5. Evacuation of the gas;

6. Washing (forced degassing)

7. Final vacuum cycles alternating with the inlet of sterile air/inert gas.

The material must be arranged in the sterilisation chamber so that everything can be easily permeated by steam and gas. After the product has been loaded and heated to 50-60°C partial vacuum is created for eliminating air, the steam is injected into the sterilisation chamber so as to reach a rh of 40-60%, the sterilising gas is introduced into the sterilisation chamber, reaching operating pressures according to the concentration of the mixture but not below 48 kpa (lower than atmospheric pressure to prevent diffusion to the outside) .

After the required sterilisation time, the sterilising gas is evacuated by creating the vacuum. Finally, the products must be subjected to a degassing step to eliminate any particles of ETO. The load is subjected to a standstill time in a controlled temperature environment inside which a biological indicator is placed; the outcome of its reading determines the release of the sterile product. Experiments performed by the applicant have surprisingly been able to demonstrate how such sterilisation with ETO allows a suitable degree of sterilisation to be obtained also for reusable technical textiles, which were previously only sterilised with steam at high temperature. Therefore, the procedure packs according to the present invention allow both procedure packs for reusable technical textiles RTT and procedure packs for single-use technical textiles and operating room accessories to be replaced easily, by combining their best technical characteristics. In this way it is possible to achieve remarkable advantages both from an organisational and work safety point of view, as well as the value for money of the product to be supplied to operating rooms.

The invention has been described in the above with reference to an advantageous embodiment thereof. However, it appears clear that the invention is susceptible to numerous variants which fall within the scope thereof, and which are technically equivalent, as defined by the following claims.