Pre-filled Syringe Gasket Mold Surface Roughness Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gaskets laminated with fluororesin films for pre-filled syringes exhibit poor air-tightness and liquid-tightness, particularly when used with glass or resin syringes, and existing solutions like increasing annular rib diameter or using skived PTFE films do not effectively address these issues, leading to leakage and sealing problems.

Innovation Solution

A method for producing a gasket with an inactive film using a mold with a mirror-finished surface having an arithmetic mean roughness of less than 0.02 µm, which ensures excellent sealing performance by preventing the transfer of fine irregular marks from the mold to the gasket, even when using PTFE films with higher surface roughness than 0.05 µm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a fluororesin film is laminated on the gasket to ensure drug stability, then chemical compatibility is improved, but air-tightness and liquid-tightness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug stabilityVSAvoidair-tightness and liquid-tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the surface roughness parameter of the mold from conventional values to less than 0.02 µm (mirror finish), which fundamentally alters how the fluororesin film surface is formed. This parameter change enables the laminated gasket to achieve both drug stability and excellent air-tightness/liquid-tightness by preventing liquid penetration while maintaining chemical compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the annular rib diameter is increased to improve sealing width, then sealing performance is improved, but setting difficulty and crease formation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidsetting ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the geometric parameter of the annular rib diameter, the invention changes the surface roughness parameter of the mold to less than 0.02 µm. This alternative parameter change achieves improved sealing performance without the negative effects of increased setting difficulty and crease formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the annular rib diameter is increased to increase compressibility, then sealing performance is improved, but sliding resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidsliding resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the mold surface roughness parameter to less than 0.02 µm, which improves sealing performance through enhanced film formation rather than increasing compressibility. This approach achieves better sealing without increasing sliding resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If a conventional mold is used for laminated gasket production, then manufacturing is simpler, but surface quality and sealing performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsurface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention specifies a mold surface roughness parameter of less than 0.02 µm (mirror finish), which is a significant refinement from conventional molds. This parameter change produces gaskets with superior surface quality and sealing performance, preventing liquid leakage while maintaining ease of manufacture through the defined molding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method results in gaskets with enhanced air-tightness and liquid-tightness, preventing leakage and ensuring the stability and quality of drugs in pre-filled syringes, as demonstrated by the absence of leakage in tests under pressure and steam sterilization.

Implementation Method 1

at least a surface of the mold which forms a seal sliding surface of an annular protrusion of the gasket is mirror finished to have an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of less than 0.02 µm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface roughness control:

Implementation Method 2

formed by vacuum press molding into a molded sheet for a laminated gasket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum press molding:

Implementation Method 3

molding at 155°C to 200°C using a mold, which is preheated before the gasket is molded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal bonding:

Data Source

PatentEP2565006B1Method for producing a gasket for a pre-filled syringe
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP2565006B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(C)

AI summary

The present invention aims to provide a gasket for a pre-filled syringe which has excellent air-tightness and liquid-tightness and a mold for forming the gasket. The present invention relate to a mold for a gasket laminated with an inactive film for a pre-filled syringe, wherein at least a surface of the mold which forms a seal sliding surface of an annular protrusion of the gasket is mirror finished to have an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of less than 0.03 µm.