US Patent 7938580 Sterilizable package with a high barrier to oxygen

A package (599) with three layers allows sterilization of the package contents, provides a separate area for a scavenger and minimizes the oxygen transmission rate for the package and has, in one embodiment, a third layer (330) with a first section (336) of breathable polymeric material, a second section (334) of substantially non-breathable polymeric material and a third section (332) of breathable polymeric material which is positioned between a first layer (512) of substantially non-breathable polymeric material and a second layer (514) of substantially non-breathable polymeric material. The first layer (512) and the second layer (514) are fixed together to define a non-breathable pouch (516); and the third layer (330) is fixed to the first layer (512) and the second layer (514) and divides the non-breathable pouch (516) into a first compartment (592) and a second compartment (594). The outer seal (518) fixing the first layer (512) to the second layer (514) does not include any interposing first section (336) of the third layer (330).