Pharmaceutical Container Rupture Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pharmaceutical product containers with partitioning means do not provide indications for the use of bottles and fail to meet new anti-tampering standards, making them unsuitable for securely containing pharmaceutical products.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical product container with partitioning means that includes locking mechanisms, such as tabs and attachment areas, which rupture when a bottle is removed, indicating tampering and ensuring secure containment by preventing unauthorized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If partitioning means are provided to create separate compartments for bottles, then the integrity of bottles is preserved, but no indication is provided regarding the use of the bottles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebottle integrityVSAvoidusage indication
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes through the use of rupture indicators that change state (e.g., from intact to broken) to provide visual information. When the locking mechanism is broken upon bottle removal, the rupture indicator becomes visible or changes appearance, thereby providing usage indication while maintaining bottle integrity through the locking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Ease of manufacture

If simple partitioning means are used to separate compartments, then the container is easy to manufacture, but it does not meet anti-tampering standards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer manufacturingVSAvoidanti-tampering capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the partitioning means with integrated locking mechanisms and rupture indicators before the container is used. The locking mechanism is already in place to prevent unauthorized access, and the rupture indicator is pre-positioned to automatically provide tampering detection when the bottle is removed, thereby meeting anti-tampering standards without complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If locking mechanisms with rupture indicators are added to the partitioning means, then anti-tampering standards are met, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-tampering capabilityVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the partitioning means, locking mechanism, and rupture indicator into a single integrated structure. The partitioning wall itself incorporates the locking features and indicator elements, eliminating the need for separate components. This integration maintains anti-tampering capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into one unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4037982B1Pharmaceutical product container
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 EURPACK GIUSTINI SACCHETTI SRL
  • EP4037982B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4037982B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4037982B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A container (1) is provided for a pharmaceutical product comprising a partition (2) configured to create at least one compartment (20) for one bottle (10) of the pharmaceutical product and including at least one first support (21) designed to support at least one first end of the bottle (10) and one second support (22) designed to support at least one second end, opposite the first end, of the bottle (10), wherein at least one of the supports (21, 22) includes locking means (3) configured to lock at least one end of the bottle (10) and to define at least one rip when the bottle (10) is removed from the compartment (20) in such a way as to reveal tampering with the container (1).