DCS Glove Box for Pharmaceutical Powder Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for packaging pharmaceutical powders require a clean room environment, which is not always feasible or necessary, and existing apparatuses for powder packaging are not efficient in maintaining sterile conditions without a clean room setup.
Innovation Solution
A Drum Containment System (DCS) glove box is used to package powders, featuring a lower section for a first bag and an upper section with detachable sealed gloves for filling a second bag, creating a protective barrier under positive or negative pressure, with a dosing device for precise powder filling and HEPA filters to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clean room environment is used for packaging pharmaceutical powders, then product protection and contamination prevention are improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the packaging environment into two separate sealed chambers: a first chamber containing the powder drum and a second chamber for bag sealing operations. Each chamber can be independently pressurized and sealed, eliminating the need for a full clean room infrastructure while maintaining protected conditions during critical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pressurized atmospheres (positive or negative pressure) within the sealed chambers to create protective environments. By controlling pressure differentials between chambers and the external environment, the system prevents contamination without requiring clean room等级 facilities, using pressure-controlled inert environments instead.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling of bags is performed, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sealed gloves as intermediary interfaces that allow operators to manually manipulate bags and perform sealing operations while remaining physically isolated from the protected powder environment. The gloves are sealed to the chamber walls, creating a barrier that enables manual operation without direct exposure or contamination risk.
3Reliability
If drums with pre-contained bags are used, then product protection is improved, but device complexity and filling efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic pressure control, switching between positive and negative pressure states in different chambers during the filling process. The first chamber can be pressurized to force powder through the bag, then depressurized for sealing, allowing flexible adaptation to different filling stages without complex mechanical mechanisms.
4Productivity
If pressure differentials are used for filling, then filling speed and efficiency are improved, but control precision and contamination risk worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates pressure sensors and control mechanisms that continuously monitor and adjust pressure differentials between chambers. By providing feedback control, the system maintains precise pressure management during high-speed filling operations, preventing both contamination from pressure leaks and over-pressurization damage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables packaging of pharmaceutical powders in approximately clean room conditions without the need for a clean room setup, ensuring product protection and preventing contamination through controlled air exchange and pressure management, facilitating efficient and precise filling processes.
Implementation Method 1
the device comprises at least one inlet and/or at least one outlet volatile particle filter, more especially an HEPA particle filter, in order to avoid contamination of the surrounding area and/or the interior of the apparatus
Implementation Method 2
emerging more particularly as a result of vibrations, powder within the DCS glove box can flow into the second bag formed by the hose-like continuous liner
Implementation Method 3
The dosing device operates on a low pressure basis in order to attract powder by way of suction
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention is directed at a process for enabling the packaging of a powder (32), in particular a pharmaceutical product powder, comprising the steps of: a) Providing a first bag (9) from a flexible packaging material, b) fixing the opening (19) of the first bag (9) to a lower outlet (11) of a DCS (drum containment system) glove box (1), c) inside the DSC glove box (1) pulling a continuous liner (14) at a closed end of the liner (14) and inserting the liner (14) into the first bag (9), thus providing a second bag (16) inside the first bag (9), d) filling the second bag (16) with the powder (32), in particular through an upper opening of the DCS glove box (1), e) closing the second bag (16) by disconnecting the continuous liner (14), f) closing the first bag (9) and removing the first and second bags (9, 16) from the DSC glove box (1). Furthermore the invention is directed at an apparatus for performing the process.