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A carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical catheter is disclosed. The carrier tube assembly includes an elongate tube, a medical catheter, and a plug. At least a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the medical catheter is positioned in the lumen of the elongate tube such that the proximal e

A carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical catheter is disclosed. The carrier tube assembly includes an elongate tube, a medical catheter, and a plug. At least a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the medical catheter is positioned in the lumen of the elongate tube such that the proximal end of the elongate tube is hermetically sealed around a portion of the hub assembly of the medical catheter. The plug is inserted into the lumen of the elongate tube at the distal end of the elongate tube, hermetically sealing the distal end of the elongate tube. Thus, a hermetically sealed environment is established within the elongate tube. The plug includes a moisture and/or oxygen absorbing agent to absorb moisture and/or oxygen in the hermetically sealed environment.

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What is claimed is: 1. A carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical catheter, the carrier tube assembly comprising: an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough; a medical catheter including a hub assembly and an elongate shaft extending distally from t

What is claimed is: 1. A carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical catheter, the carrier tube assembly comprising: an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough; a medical catheter including a hub assembly and an elongate shaft extending distally from the hub assembly, at least a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the medical catheter positioned in the lumen of the elongate tube, wherein the proximal end of the elongate tube is hermetically sealed around a portion of the hub assembly of the medical catheter; a plug inserted into the lumen of the elongate tube at the distal end of the elongate tube, the plug hermetically sealing the distal end of the elongate tube, the plug includes an annular wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the annular wall of the plug includes one or more slots extending through the annular wall from the exterior surface to the interior surface; wherein a hermetically sealed environment is established within the elongate tube; and wherein the plug includes a moisture and/or oxygen absorbing agent to absorb moisture and/or oxygen in the hermetically sealed environment. 2. The carrier tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug is formed of a polymeric material, wherein the moisture and/or oxygen absorbing agent is incorporated into the polymeric material of the plug. 3. The carrier tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a bore defining an interior surface, wherein the moisture and/or oxygen absorbing agent is included in a layer of material located on the interior surface of the plug. 4. The carrier tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a core of a first material and an outer portion of a second material, wherein the moisture and/or oxygen absorbing agent is included in the core. 5. The carrier tube assembly of claim 4, further including a frangible layer of material separating the core from the hermetically sealed environment. 6. The carrier tube assembly of claim 5, wherein the frangible layer of material is broken to expose the core to the hermetically sealed environment. 7. The carrier tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a circumferential exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface includes one or more recesses. 8. The carrier tube assembly of claim 7, wherein the one or more recesses are concave grooves. 9. A carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical catheter, the carrier tube assembly comprising: an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough; a medical catheter including a hub assembly and an elongate shaft extending distally from the hub assembly, at least a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the medical catheter positioned in the lumen of the elongate tube, wherein the proximal end of the elongate tube is hermetically sealed around a portion of the hub assembly of the medical catheter; a plug inserted into the lumen of the elongate tube at the distal end of the elongate tube, the plug hermetically sealing the distal end of the elongate tube, the plug includes an annular wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the annular wall of the plug includes one or more slots extending through the annular wall from the exterior surface to the interior surface; wherein a hermetically sealed environment is established within the elongate tube; and wherein the plug includes a means for reducing the quantity of moisture and/or oxygen within the hermetically sealed environment. 10. The carrier tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the plug includes a moisture and/or oxygen reducing agent. 11. The carrier tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the plug includes an oxidizing agent. 12. The carrier tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the plug includes a desiccant. 13. The carrier tube assembly of claim 12, wherein the plug is formed of a polymeric material, wherein the desiccant is incorporated into the polymeric material of the plug. 14. The carrier tube assembly of claim 12, wherein the plug includes a bore defining an interior surface, wherein the desiccant is included in a layer of material located on the interior surface of the plug. 15. The carrier tube assembly of claim 12, wherein the plug includes a core of a first material and an outer portion of a second material, wherein the desiccant is included in the core. 16. The carrier tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the plug includes an oxygen scavenger. 17. A carrier tube assembly for packaging a medical catheter, the carrier tube assembly comprising: an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough; a medical catheter including a hub assembly and an elongate shaft extending distally from the hub assembly, at least a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the medical catheter positioned in the lumen of the elongate tube, wherein the proximal end of the elongate tube is hermetically sealed around a portion of the hub assembly of the medical catheter; and a cylindrical plug having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface, the first end of the cylindrical plug inserted into the lumen of the elongate tube at the distal end of the elongate tube such that the exterior surface of the plug is in contact with an inner surface of the elongate tube to hermetically seal the distal end of the elongate tube, the plug including a central bore extending from the first end of the plug toward the second end, wherein the central bore defines an interior surface of the plug; wherein the plug includes one or more openings extending into the central bore from the exterior surface to the interior surface, and wherein the central bore is in fluid communication with the lumen of the elongate tube. 18. The carrier tube assembly of claim 17, wherein the plug includes a moisture and/or oxygen absorbing material to absorb moisture and/or oxygen sealed within the elongate tube. 19. A method of packaging and sterilizing a medical catheter, the method comprising: providing a medical catheter having a hub assembly and an elongate shaft extending distally from the hub assembly; providing an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; providing a plug having a first end and a the plug includes an annular wall defining a central bore, and wherein the one or more fluid pathways are one or more openings extending through the annular wall to the central bore; positioning at least a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the medical catheter into the lumen of the elongate tube; hermetically sealing the proximal end of the elongate tube around a portion of the hub assembly of the medical catheter; partially inserting the plug into the lumen of the elongate tube at the distal end of the elongate tube to a first position, wherein in the first position the first end of the plug is located within the lumen of the elongate tube proximal of the distal end of the elongate tube a first distance, wherein in the first position one or more fluid pathways are open for introducing a sterilization fluid from exterior of the elongate tube, past the plug and into the lumen of the elongate tube; with the plug in the first position, introducing a sterilization fluid into the lumen of the elongate tube through the one or more fluid pathways to sterilize the medical catheter; and after the step of introducing a sterilization fluid into the lumen of the elongate tube, further inserting the plug into the lumen of the elongate tube to a second position, wherein in the second position the first end of the plug is located within the lumen of the elongate tube proximal of the distal end of the elongate tube a second distance greater than the first distance, wherein in the second position the distal end of the elongate tube is hermetically sealed with the plug, establishing a hermetically sealed environment within the elongate tube. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein in the second position, the elongate tube covers the one or more fluid pathways. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the plug includes a circumferential exterior surface, and wherein the one or more fluid pathways are one or more concave flutes formed in the exterior surface. 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the plug includes a moisture and/or oxygen absorbing material. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the moisture and/or or oxygen absorbing material includes an oxygen scavenger. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the moisture and/or oxygen absorbing material includes a desiccant. 25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of activating the moisture and/or oxygen absorbing material after the step of introducing a sterilization fluid into the lumen of the elongate shaft. 26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of exposing the moisture and/or oxygen absorbing material to the hermetically sealed environment after the step of introducing a sterilization fluid into the lumen of the elongate shaft.