Patent attributes
Packaging for prosthetic heart valves including an assembly for stabilizing dry prosthetic tissue implants such as heart valves during storage. The packaging assembly includes a primary sterile barrier that permits gas sterilization of the tissue implant, and a secondary sterile barrier that also prevents oxidation of the implant during long-term storage. Tissue heart valves may be placed or suspended within a cavity of an inner rigid tray with a gas-permeable lid sealed thereon, and a cap placed over the cavity to limit movement of the valve therein. The inner tray is placed within an outer sterile barrier, such as another rigid tray or a flexible pouch, and the assembly is then sterilized. The outer sterile barrier may include a double seal so that a first gas-permeable seal can be closed for sterilization, after which a second gas-impermeable seal can be closed to seal out any further oxygen contact with the tissue implant. Alternatively, the inner tray may be placed within a sterile pouch and the assembly gas-sterilized, and then the entire assembly is placed within another pouch that provides an impermeable barrier to the surrounding atmosphere to prevent oxidation of the tissue implant.
