Dual-Chamber Plastic Bag for Ophthalmic Irrigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging systems for two-part ophthalmic irrigation solutions, such as those containing bicarbonate, pose safety risks due to glass bottle breakage, require manual reconstitution with potential for incomplete mixing, and have sterility and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A dual-chamber plastic laminate gas-impermeable bag with a frangible seal and over-wrap, allowing for steam sterilization and easy reconstitution, replacing glass bottles with flexible plastic, and featuring an administration port for safe and efficient use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass bottles are used for packaging two-part ophthalmic irrigation solutions, then terminal sterilization can be achieved, but safety risks increase due to potential breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from glass to plastic laminate, transforming the packaging material to eliminate breakage risk while maintaining sterilization capability through steam autoclaving. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by selecting a material that is both safe (flexible plastic) and sterilizable.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate glass bottles are used for two-part solutions, then storage stability is maintained, but reconstitution requires manual manipulation with potential for incomplete mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate bottles into a single dual-chamber bag system. The frangible seal separates the chambers during storage to maintain stability, but allows complete mixing when broken during reconstitution. This merging resolves the contradiction by providing both stability during storage and ease of complete reconstitution during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the solution into two separate chambers within a single flexible bag, each containing one component. The frangible seal provides a predetermined break point that ensures complete mixing when broken, eliminating the manual manipulation issues of separate bottles while maintaining storage stability.
3Reliability
If one bottle is sterilized via sterile filtration and aseptically filled, then sterility is maintained, but the risk of non-sterile contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sterilization parameter from sterile filtration to steam autoclaving, allowing both chambers to be terminally sterilized in a single process. This eliminates the contamination risk associated with aseptic filling while maintaining sterility through a more reliable terminal sterilization method.
4Reliability
If glass bottles are used for packaging, then solution containment is achieved, but shipping and disposal difficulty increases with environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid glass bottles with flexible plastic laminate bags. The flexible material provides adequate containment while being lightweight for shipping and easily disposable with reduced environmental impact. This resolves the contradiction by selecting a material that maintains containment functionality while improving shipping and disposal characteristics.
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
The dual-chamber packaging system enhances patient safety, reduces environmental impact, and simplifies handling and disposal while ensuring sterility and complete reconstitution of ophthalmic irrigation solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a frangible (releasable) seal separating the first and second chambers
Implementation Method 2
a plastic laminate gas-impermeable dual-chamber bag
Implementation Method 3
All of the components of the dual-chamber solution packaging system can withstand steam sterilization
Data Source
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AI summary
A solution packaging system (10) is disclosed. One embodiment of the solution packaging system of the present invention comprises a gas-impermeable dual-chamber bag (15) , having a first chamber (30) and a second chamber (35) separated by a frangible (releasable) seal (25) , and an over-wrap member (20) enclosing and containing the dual-chamber inner bag. The dual-chamber bag can be used to package two-part medicinal solutions containing bicarbonate, such as ophthalmic irrigation solutions. The over-wrap member can serve as a dust cover and need not be a moisture or gas barrier, as the dual-chamber inner bag will have sufficient gas barrier properties to minimize the loss of CO2 from the first part of the solution (e.g., the bicarbonate) . The dual-chamber bag can be fitted with an administration port (110) , and sealed with a stopper and an aluminum crimp seal. The dual-chamber bag can further comprise fill-ports (100) to fill each chamber. The fill port openings can be sealed after filling the chambers and the fill ports cut from the dual-chamber bag. The frangible seal between the chambers of the embodiments of this invention can be broken by the end user to mix and reconstitute the two parts of the solution prior to use.