Simple Self-Contained Self-Sterilizing Bag

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The safe and simple self-sterilizing bag system, with its INNOVATIVE sterilant releasing plastic insert, is ideal for STERILIZATION of all medical items, especially heat and moisture sensitive medical products. The product has numerous applications both commercially, as well as hospital and in-home healthcare applications. Virtually any heat source can be used to initiate the release of sufficient quantities of sterilant. Chemical, temperature and humidity INDICATORS WITHIN the self-sterilizing bag will give a color indication when adequate STERILANT CONDITIONS have been accomplished INSIDE THE BAG by the combination of time and heat. The relatively low cost of the self- sterilizing bag system makes it widely applicable to a number of specialty sterilization applications such as potential anthrax contaminated letters or other biologically infested items. The self-sterilizing bag system is ideal for environments that may not contain potable water for mixing traditional liquid sterilants making it ideally suited for use in the FIELD, MOBILE CLINICS, RURAL AREAS, or THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. In summary, the self-sterilizing bag system is a disposable self-contained mini- sterilizer that requires only a small amount of heat to initiate sterilization of the contents of the disposable bag while color indicators tell the user when the sterilization cycle is complete. The self-sterilizing bag system has the potential to have a great impact in worldwide health as an inexpensive infection prevention method. The simplicity, versatility, and low cost of this light-weight disposable self-contained sterilizer answers a real need in developing countries for an inexpensive sterilization method without expensive capital investment in equipment.