GB742918A - Improved method for the sterilization and packaging of surgical sutures and packaged sutures so produced - Google Patents

Abstract

A surgical suture e.g. of the absorbable or natural collagen filament type is sterilized by soaking preferably for at least five days at a temperature from 37 to 60 DEG C. in a solution e.g. 1 to 40 per cent by volume water and 60 to 99 per cent by volume of organic solvents consisting of an aliphatic monohydroxy alcohol or ketone having less than 5 carbon atoms e.g. ethanol, of a non-toxic quaternary ammonium slat having pronounced germicidal properties. The quaternary ammonium salts particularly effective are represented by the formula <FORM:0742918/VI/1> wherein R1 represents an alkyl, alkylene, aryl, or alkaryl group, and R2 represents an alkyl, alkylene, aryl, or alkaryl group, or R1 and R2 jointly represent a heterocyclic ring; R3 represents an alkyl or alkylene group; R4 represents an alkyl or alkylene group; and X represents an inorganic anion, and specific preferred classes are those where R3 represents an alkyl or alkylene group containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms; R1 represents a methyl or benzyl group; and R2 and R4 separately represent methyl groups, and where R1 and R2 jointly represent a 6-membered heterocyclic ring; R3 represents an alkyl or akylene group containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms; and R4 represents a methyl group. In both of these classes X represents preferably a halide e.g. chloride or bromide or sulphate ion. Sutures are prepared in the usual way and wrapped on a reel or otherwise coiled and inserted in a container e.g. glass ampules or flexible plastic bag which is filled with the solution and sealed and incubated at the required temperature for the required time.