Abstract: A container for use in sterilization of medical items is made entirely of resin-treated, fluid repellent, semi-rigid nonwoven material. The container includes a bottom or receptacle having extending side wall or side walls and a cover having depending side wall or side walls. The material is readily permeable to gas or steam, yet is resistant to the transmission of bacteria. The container and its contents may be retrieved from a sterilizing vessel almost immediately after sterilization without special procedures or devices and without fear of being burned. Because of its low cost, the container is disposable and may be molded to a particular shape for use in shipping prosthetic devices, implants or delicate instruments in sterilized condition.

Abstract: A sterilization container for holding medical or surgical items during steam (or gas) sterilization procedures is formed entirely of resin-treated nonwoven material which provides a bacterial filter. The container includes a tray and a cover having correspondingly shaped seal flanges formed to provide a double seal and a tortuous path establishing a bacterial barrier. The lid and tray each have body portions adapted to be firmly gripped or handled with separate hands and the body portions are spaced from and related to the seal flanges in such a manner that the sterilized container may be opened and its contents presented or dispensed while maintaining sterile technique. The container is soft yet semi-rigid even after being subjected to steam sterilization.