Sterilized chlorhexidine article and method of sterilizing a chlorhexidine article

Abstract

A sterilized chlorhexidine product for topical disinfection includes a package and at least one sterilized chlorhexidine article comprising a cloth. The package includes a film defining an interior volume and the sterilized chlorhexidine article disposed within the interior volume. The package further includes a first sealed end portion positioned at a first end of the film and a second sealed end portion positioned at a second end of the film, wherein the first sealed end portion and the second sealed end portion define a hermetically sealed portion about the interior volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sterilized chlorhexidine product for topical disinfection, comprising:
 a package; and   at least one sterilized chlorhexidine article comprising a cloth;   wherein the package comprises:
 a film defining an interior volume, the sterilized chlorhexidine article disposed within the interior volume; 
 a first sealed end portion positioned at a first end of the film; and 
 a second sealed end portion positioned at a second end of the film; 
 wherein the first sealed end portion and the second sealed end portion define a hermetically sealed portion about the interior volume. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 1 , wherein the package further comprises a tear portion for providing access to the interior volume, wherein the tear portion of the package is arranged on the first sealed end portion or the second sealed end portion such that the hermetically sealed portion is maintained. 
     
     
         3 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outlet in the package defined by the film, the outlet configured to dispense the chlorhexidine article; and   a label applied to the package to cover the outlet.   
     
     
         4 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 3 , wherein the label further comprises a free end for peeling the label to expose the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 1 , wherein the package comprises a rectangular geometry. 
     
     
         6 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 1 , further comprising a predetermined number of sterilized chlorhexidine articles, the predetermined number of chlorhexidine articles corresponding to a particular task. 
     
     
         7 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 6 , comprising two sterilized chlorhexidine articles in the package. 
     
     
         8 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 1 , wherein the cloth comprises a fiber, wherein the fiber is a synthetic fiber. 
     
     
         9 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 8 , wherein the fiber comprises one or more of a polyester fiber, a polypropylene fiber, a polyethylene fiber, a rayon fiber, a nylon fiber, an acrylic fiber, an acetate fiber, a spandex fiber, a latex fiber, and a Kevlar fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 1 , wherein the sterilized chlorhexidine article comprises an antiseptic composition. 
     
     
         11 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 10 , wherein antiseptic composition remains in the sterilized chlorhexidine article until the chlorhexidine article is applied to a skin or a mucous membrane of a patient to disinfect the skin or the mucous membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 10 , wherein the antiseptic composition comprises between 2.0% and 10% of chlorhexidine gluconate based on a total weight of the antiseptic composition. 
     
     
         13 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 10 , wherein the antiseptic composition further comprises one or more of purified water, isopropyl alcohol, glycerol, and propylene glycol. 
     
     
         14 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 10 , wherein the antiseptic composition further comprises an emollient comprising one or more of dimethicone, alkyl methicones, alkyl dimethicones, phenyl silicones, and alkyl trimethylsilanes. 
     
     
         15 . The sterilized chlorhexidine product of  claim 10 , wherein the chlorhexidine article comprises the antiseptic composition in an amount between 0.1 and 2.5 grams. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using a sterilized chlorhexidine article for topical disinfection, the method comprising:
 providing a sterilized chlorhexidine product for topical disinfection, comprising:
 a package; and 
 at least one sterilized chlorhexidine article comprising a cloth; 
 wherein the package comprises:
 a film defining an interior volume, the sterilized chlorhexidine article disposed within the interior volume; 
 a first sealed end portion positioned at a first end of the film; and 
 a second sealed end portion positioned at a second end of the film; 
 wherein the first sealed end portion and the second sealed end portion 
 
 define a hermetically sealed portion about the interior volume; 
   opening the package to access the at least one sterilized chlorhexidine article;   applying the sterilized chlorhexidine article to a patient's skin for disinfecting skin or mucous membranes of the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein opening the package comprises breaking a tear portion on the first end portion or the second end portion, wherein the tear portion is configured to maintain the hermetically sealed portion until the tear portion is broken. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the sterilized chlorhexidine product comprises providing two chlorhexidine articles. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sterilized chlorhexidine article comprises an antiseptic composition and wherein the antiseptic composition comprises between 2.0% and 10% of chlorhexidine gluconate based on a total weight of the antiseptic composition. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sterilized chlorhexidine article comprises an antiseptic composition in an amount between 0.1 and 2.5 grams.