Gas-Permeable Sealed Package for Sterilizable Tip Boxes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packages for disposable pipette tips are not hermetically gas-tight, leading to contamination risks and difficulties during sterilization and high-altitude transport due to pressure and temperature variations, and current wrapping methods like flowpack and shrinkwrap do not adequately ensure purity or gas-tightness.

Innovation Solution

A box-shaped package with a base and cover that includes gas-permeable zones, allowing controlled gas exchange while maintaining a gas-tight interface, using materials like high-density spunbound polyethylene or Tyvek to prevent pressure and humidity differences, and featuring seal elements for hermetic closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a flexible plastic bag is used to wrap the tip box, then the package is easy to manufacture and open, but the package is not hermetically gas-tight and allows contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidgas-tightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible plastic bag made of thermoplastic material to wrap the tip box, providing a sealed yet adaptable package that maintains gas-tightness while being easy to manufacture and open

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The package combines the flexible plastic bag with a rigid tip box structure, creating a composite packaging system that leverages the advantages of both materials: the flexibility and sealability of the bag and the structural integrity of the box

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the flowpack process is used to seal the plastic bag, then the package is hermetically sealed, but air remains inside causing expansion and rupturing during sterilization and high-altitude transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehermetic sealVSAvoidpressure and temperature variations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a one-way pressure relief valve that segments the sealed package into a controlled pressure environment, allowing air to escape during sterilization and altitude changes while preventing contamination from entering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure relief valve incorporates porous or microporous material that allows selective passage of gases while maintaining the hermetic seal against liquid contaminants and microbes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a shrinkwrap process is used to wrap the package, then the package resists pressure variations, but the film is full of holes allowing air to escape and the contents are not protected from contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure variationsVSAvoidcontamination protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a shrinkwrap film that conforms tightly to the tip box, providing pressure resistance while maintaining a continuous barrier against contamination through proper sealing techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If soft material is placed between base and cover to provide gas-tightness, then the package is hermetically sealed, but the package cannot be easily sterilized by gas sterilization process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas-tightnessVSAvoidease of sterilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses porous or microporous material in the seal between base and cover that allows sterilizing gases to penetrate through while maintaining hermetic sealing against contaminants during storage and use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The seal material acts as an intermediary that allows passage of sterilizing gases during the sterilization process while preventing passage of contaminants during storage and handling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 package ensures high purity and effective sterilization by allowing sterilizing gases to access the contents while preventing microbial contamination, and can be easily re-sealed, reducing contamination risks and facilitating opening without pressure issues.

Implementation Method 1

the base and/or the cover comprise one or more gas-permeable zones which are capable of passing gases, such as air, into and out from the package

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas permeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

the interface between the base and the cover is gas-tight

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHermetic sealing:

Data Source

PatentUS20220315305A1Package, a method and use

Publication Date: 2022.10.06 SARTORIUS BIOHIT LIQUID HANDLING OY

AI summary

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a box-shaped package, comprising: a base, and a cover configured to be placed on the base to close the package, wherein in a closed configuration of the package, the interface between the base and the cover is gas-tight; the base and/or the cover comprise one or more gas-permeable zones which are capable of passing gases, such as air, into and out from the package, particularly in the closed configuration.