Sterilization Pouches of Tyvek® Feature Outstanding Microbial Barrier

DuPont™ Tyvek® is used to make pouches in a wide range of sizes and shapes in both self-sealing and heat-sealing styles to meet the needs of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers.

Pouches made of Tyvek® are used by medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers for packaging a wide variety of terminally sterilized medical devices, particularly those that are low-profile and lightweight. Sterilization pouches made of Tyvek® are used in hospitals and other healthcare settings, such as out-patient surgical centers, for in-house sterilization of surgical instruments.

Tyvek® provides outstanding resistance to microbial penetration, helping to maintain sterility of the contents of pouches until opened. And when medical device and sterilization pouches are opened, Tyvek® generates very few airborne particles—unlike medical-grade papers that can release a significant number of particulates when a package is opened. This clean peel of Tyvek® minimizes the risk of introducing particulates into a clean environment.

Made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), Tyvek® is extremely stable when exposed to sterilant gases and high-energy sterilization processes. It is compatible with all of the most commonly used sterilization methods, including ethylene oxide (EO), gamma, electron-beam, steam (under controlled conditions) and low-temperature oxidative sterilization processes. This means that no matter which process you use, Tyvek® will retain its color, flexibility and superior protective properties of microbial barrier and strength.

Another advantage of using Tyvek® for medical device and sterilization pouches is its superior tear strength and puncture resistance compared to medical-grade papers. Tyvek® is so tough, it resists punctures—even from the irregular or sharp edges of many surgical devices.