Nesting Structures for Pharmaceutical Dispenser Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in pharmaceutical packaging lies in efficiently handling and assembling large quantities of fragile drug containers and dispensers, particularly glass containers, which are prone to breakage and require careful handling to maintain sterility and product safety, while also dealing with irregularly-shaped items that can become entangled or disorganized during mass-scale manufacturing and distribution.

Innovation Solution

The development of nested packaging structures, including support surfaces with dispenser covers and seats, and reinforcement members, which allow for the simultaneous and organized manipulation of multiple dispensers and containers, utilizing locking flexure members and alignment features to securely couple dispensers to containers, thereby protecting against breakage and ensuring efficient handling and assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If glass containers and dispensers are handled in mass-scale manufacturing and distribution, then productivity is improved, but the risk of breakage and deformation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass-scale manufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidcontainer and dispenser integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nesting by placing multiple fragile containers and dispensers into a single support structure that is itself placed within a larger outer container. This nested arrangement allows mass-scale handling of multiple items simultaneously while protecting each individual component through the protective enclosure and organized positioning provided by the support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is divided into multiple compartments or sections, each designed to hold a specific container or dispenser in a fixed position. This segmentation prevents items from moving relative to each other during transport and manipulation, thereby reducing breakage risk while maintaining high productivity through organized mass handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If irregularly-shaped items are handled in large quantities, then quantity throughput is improved, but the items become entangled or disorganized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity throughputVSAvoiditem organization and order

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Each compartment or section of the support structure is specifically shaped and sized to accommodate the particular geometry of the container or dispenser it holds. This local customization ensures that irregularly-shaped items are properly positioned and stabilized in their respective locations, preventing entanglement and maintaining organization even during high-volume handling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If careful handling is applied to fragile containers, then breakage is reduced, but handling complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer breakage preventionVSAvoidhandling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is pre-configured with fixed positions, compartments, and positioning features before items are placed in it. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for careful manual positioning and adjustment during handling, as items are simply placed into their predetermined locations. The structure itself provides the protective and organizing function, reducing both breakage risk and handling time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution enables the efficient, organized, and protective handling of large quantities of drug dispensers and containers, reducing the risk of breakage and disorganization, while maintaining sterility and facilitating automated assembly processes, thus improving the efficiency and safety of pharmaceutical packaging and distribution.

Implementation Method 1

at least one dispenser cover may include a locking flexure member configured to couple a dispenser to the at least one dispenser cover

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

at least one alignment feature configured to engage with an engagement feature in a dispenser to thereby orient the dispenser in the at least one dispenser seat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

The containers may include a first material having a first rigidity, and the at least one reinforcement member may include a second material having a second rigidity that is greater than the first rigidity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRigidity:

Data Source

PatentUS12098018B2Nesting structures for storage, transport, and assembly of drug dispensers and containers

Publication Date: 2024.09.24 OYSTER POINT PHARMA INC

AI summary

Various nesting structures for storage, transport and/or assembly of dispensers and containers are described herein. For example, a packaging structure for a plurality of drug dispensers may include a support surface and a plurality of dispenser covers arranged on the support surface, where at least one dispenser cover includes a locking flexure member configured to couple a dispenser to the at least one dispenser cover.