| abstract |
A steam-sterilizable flexible pouch package (10) includes a non-woven barrier web (11), a perforated plastic intermediate web (12), and an imperforate plastic upper web (13). Line heat seals (14, 15) bonding the webs form a cavity (16) into which sterilizing steam may enter after passing through the barrier and intermediate webs. The line heat seal (15) bonding the upper and intermediate webs is of the delamination failure type. An access opening is provided for insertion of an object to be sterilized into the cavity after which the access opening is sealed, enclosing the object in the cavity. After steam sterilizing, the package is opened by peeling apart the upper web from the intermediate web which causes delamination failure of the line heat seal. Preferred materials enable steam sterilization at a temperature of at least about 270 °F. |