Biodegradable sterilization wrap

Abstract

The present invention concerns a medical material comprising biodegradable compounds.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A medical material, intended to be sterilized, the medical material for producing a product chosen in the group consisting of: a surgical drape, a container filter, a sterile field, a gown, a sterilization wrap or a sterile barrier system as per ISO 11607 standard definition, said material comprising or consisting of a sheet:
 comprising at least 80%, in percentage by dry weight on the basis of said sheet, of biodegradable compounds, a biodegradable compound having a ratio of its biodegradation percentage on the biodegradation percentage of cellulose fibers of at least 75%, the biodegradation percentages being measured according to ISO 14855 (2005) method: “Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability and disintegration of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions”, after 24 days,   having a bio-based content of 60% or more, and   having a grammage of 75 g/m 2  or less,   said sheet comprising or consisting of a layer comprising, for a total of more than 80% in percentages by dry weight on the basis of said layer, 15% or more of cellulose fibers and:   at least 1% of synthetic biodegradable fibers having an average length of at least 2.5 mm, and/or   20% to 100% of natural biodegradable fibers having an average length of at least 1.5 mm, and/or   a biodegradable binder.   
     
     
         16 . The material according to  claim 15 , the sheet comprising biodegradable fibers selected from at least one of following ones: bleached wood pulp, semi-bleached wood pulp, unbleached wood pulp, cotton, abaca, straw, bamboo, viscose, hemp, jute, sisal, flax, kenaf, esparto or fibers from biodegradable or biocompostable polymers, according to EN 13432 standard. 
     
     
         17 . The material according to  claim 15 , the sheet comprising less than 30% in percentage by dry weight of the layer, of a biodegradable binder or additive providing wet strength, cohesiveness or softness. 
     
     
         18 . The material according to  claim 15 , the sheet having an amount less than 20% in percentage by dry weight of the layer, of non-biodegradable compounds. 
     
     
         19 . The material according to  claim 15 , the sheet having a concentration in the layer of fluorocarbon compounds additives of less than 200 parts per million. 
     
     
         20 . The material according to  claim 15 , the sheet having a grammage lying in the range 25 g/m 2  to 75 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         21 . The material according to  claim 15 , the sheet having at least a portion comprising a softening process pattern, formed on-line or off-line, configured to soften said sheet. 
     
     
         22 . The material according to  claim 15 , having a density of 0.8 g/cm 3  or less. 
     
     
         23 . The material according to  claim 15 , being a monolayer material. 
     
     
         24 . The material according to  claim 15 , the product being a sterilization wrap. 
     
     
         25 . A product chosen in the group consisting of: a surgical drape, a container filter, a sterile field, a gown, a sterilization wrap or a sterile barrier system as per ISO 11607 standard definition, said product comprising a material as defined in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         26 . A kit comprising:
 a sterilization wrap according to  claim 24 , said sterilization wrap defining a closed inner volume, and   a sterilized medical device present inside said inner volume.   
     
     
         27 . A method for manufacturing a material according to  claim 15  comprising:
 preparing a furnish:
 comprising at least 80% by dry weight, of biodegradable compounds, a biodegradable compound having a ratio of its biodegradation percentage on the biodegradation percentage of cellulose fibers of at least 75%, the biodegradation percentages being measured according to ISO 14855 (2005) method: “Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability and disintegration of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions”, after 24 days, 
 having a bio-based content of 60% or more, said furnish further comprising: 
 for a total of more than 80%, in percentages by dry weight of said furnish, at least 15 percent of cellulose fibers and:
 at least 1% of synthetic biodegradable fibers having an average length of at least 2.5 mm, and/or 
 20% to 100% of natural biodegradable fibers having an average length of at least 1.5 mm, and/or 
 a biodegradable binder, 
 
 
 forming a sheet from the furnish in a wet-laid process, 
 
     
     
         28 . A method of sterilization of a medical device comprising at least the following steps consisting in:
 providing a sterilization wrap according to  claim 24 ,   wrapping in said sterilization wrap a medical device to form a kit,   introducing said kit into a sterilizing unit, and   sterilizing said kit.