Biodegradable Pharmacy Container with Child-Resistant Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pharmacy containers made from plastic are not biodegradable, contributing to environmental issues and do not meet safety standards for child-resistant and elderly-friendly closure systems, while also failing to protect pharmaceuticals from degradation due to light, moisture, and reactive gases.
Innovation Solution
Development of biodegradable pharmacy containers and safety caps using bioplastic resins such as polylactic acid (PLA) or polyhydroxyalkonate (PHA) with added plasticizers, combined with a silicone hard coat resin for improved barrier properties and child-resistant features, ensuring the containers meet USP and FDA guidelines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic containers are used, then manufacturing cost and ease of molding are improved, but environmental biodegradability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses bioplastic resins (such as PHA, PHB/V, PHB, PBS, PBSA, PCL, or PLA) as composite materials to create containers that are both manufacturable and environmentally friendly. These bioplastics can be molded similarly to conventional plastics while being biodegradable, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional petroleum-based plastic to biodegradable bioplastic resin, maintaining the moldability and manufacturing processes while fundamentally altering the environmental degradation characteristics to be beneficial rather than harmful.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional plastic is used, then manufacturing cost is improved, but biodegradability and sustainability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs bioplastic resins as alternative materials that maintain cost-effectiveness while providing biodegradability. These materials can be processed using existing manufacturing infrastructure, keeping production costs comparable to conventional plastics while achieving the desired biodegradation and sustainability properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter from non-biodegradable petroleum plastic to biodegradable bioplastic resin, enabling the material to decompose naturally while maintaining economic viability through established manufacturing processes.
3Illumination intensity
If clear or translucent materials are used, then visibility is improved, but protection from light degradation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different parts of the container system. The container body can be opaque or translucent with appropriate opacity to block harmful light, while the cap remains translucent for visibility of contents. This local differentiation of quality allows simultaneous achievement of visibility and light protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color or opacity modifications in the container material to provide light protection. By making the container opaque or using specific colors that block UV and harmful wavelengths, the patent protects light-sensitive pharmaceuticals while maintaining the ability to identify the container and its contents through labeling or cap transparency.
Data Source
AI summary
A biodegradable pharmacy container and safety cap includes a biodegradable material that includes a bioplastic resin and a plasticizer; a container that includes the biodegradable material, adapted to store medicine; a first locking element on an exterior side of the container; a cap that includes the biodegradable material; a resilient inner member in the cap that engages with the container so as to form a seal; a second locking element in the cap that cooperates with the first locking element so that the cap is safely held to the container. The bioplastic resin may be polylactic acid (PLA), PHA, PHB, or PHBH. The acrylate may be cured with ultraviolet light, and may include a silicone.