Holding structure for simultaneously holding a plurality of containers for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications and transport or packaging container with holding structure

Abstract

A supporting structure for concurrently supporting a plurality of containers for substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications is disclosed, wherein the containers are open at least at one end and wherein the supporting structure comprises a plurality of openings or receptacles and a plurality of supporting means for supporting said containers in said openings or receptacles. According to the invention the supporting structure is formed by or comprises a plurality of subunits, wherein each of the subunits can be handled or processed separately together with the containers supported thereon.The subunits make the transfer to processing stations of the process easier, but also serve for reliably positioning the containers during the process at positions, which are precisely determined by the positions of the supporting means.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to the concurrent supporting of a plurality of containers for the storage of substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, in particular of flasks (vials) and ampoules, and more particularly to the concurrent supporting of a plurality of containers in a supporting structure in such a manner that these, while they are supported in a supporting structure provided for this purpose, may be further processed in filling or processing units, in particular in a sterile tunnel, in a filling unit for liquid medical or pharmaceutical applications or in a freeze-dryer for lyophilizing a liquid including an agent or the like. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a process for the treatment of a plurality of such containers with a concurrent automated conveyance and transfer of a plurality of containers at processing stations.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Medication containers, for example vi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to improve the supporting structure of containers used for medical, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic applications. This enhancement makes treatment or processing of the containers easier and faster, allowing for automation. The invention includes a transport and packaging container with the improved supporting structure and a process for using it.

Problems solved by technology

This limits the speed of processing that can be achieved.

Particularly in the isolation of the containers by means of cell wheels or the like, it always occurs that individual containers abut uncontrolled, which results in an undesired abrasion and subsequently in a contamination of the interior volume of the containers or of the processing station and in an impairment of the outer appearance of the containers which is undesirable.

During the evacuation and the subsequent opening of the plastic tube, however, the medication containers may slip sideways, increasing the efforts required for automation for processing further the medication containers.

In addition, the medication containers may still collide uncontrolled after opening of the plastic tube, resulting in the aforementioned disadvantages.

If at this stage a direct contact over the entire bottom surface is not ensured, this results in a significant prolongation of the freeze-drying process, leading to higher costs.

The need for a direct contact between the bottoms of the medication containers and the cooling head for the freeze-drying process conventionally requires a treatment or processing of individual containers, which increases the costs for processing and packaging.

Conventionally, a batch-wise processing of medication containers is not possible.

In any case, a direct contact between the bottoms of the medication containers, in particular the bottoms of vials, is not possible in the conventional supporting structures.

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