Pharmaceutical Packaging with Permeable Barriers and Fluid Degradation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Decontamination fluids used to sterilize pharmaceutical and medical devices can linger within the components, causing unwanted reactions and contamination when introduced into controlled environments.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a substance that degrades and/or absorbs decontamination fluids, such as activated carbon filters or metallic catalysts, within the packaging of these devices to break down the fluids before they reach the components, using a partially permeable section to allow fluid penetration while retaining particles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a partially permeable packaging is used to allow decontamination fluid penetration, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but contamination of components by retained decontamination fluid occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidcomponent contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An absorbent substance is introduced as an intermediary element within the packaging interior. This substance acts as a mediator that selectively absorbs the decontamination fluid while allowing particles to be retained by the permeable packaging, thereby preventing direct contact between the fluid and the pharmaceutical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging utilizes porous or permeable materials that allow the decontamination fluid to pass through while retaining particles. The controlled porosity enables selective permeability based on molecular size and properties, achieving both sterilization and protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If decontamination fluid penetrates the container for sterilization, then sterilization coverage is improved, but fluid retention in components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization coverageVSAvoidfluid retention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent substance is pre-positioned within the packaging interior before the decontamination process. This preliminary placement ensures that when the decontamination fluid penetrates the packaging, it is immediately absorbed and redirected, preventing accumulation and retention in the component spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The decontamination fluid, which could potentially harm the components by lingering and causing contamination, is converted into a beneficial sterilizing agent. The absorbent substance captures the fluid after it has performed its sterilization function, transforming the potential harm into a controlled and effective process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If the interior is filled with degrading substance to ensure complete fluid degradation, then degradation effectiveness is improved, but packaging complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegradation effectivenessVSAvoidpackaging structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly distributing the absorbent substance throughout the entire packaging interior, the substance is placed in specific localized areas where decontamination fluid penetration is most likely to occur. This targeted placement maintains degradation effectiveness while minimizing the amount of substance required and simplifying the overall packaging structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Porous materials are utilized to provide high surface area and absorption capacity in a compact form, allowing effective fluid degradation without requiring large volumes of degrading substance, thereby maintaining simple packaging geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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

Prevents contamination of components by ensuring decontamination fluids are degraded or absorbed before entering controlled environments, thereby maintaining the integrity of pharmaceutical and medical devices.

Implementation Method 1

the packaging is designed to be partially permeable in at least one section delimiting the interior space, so that a decontamination fluid can pass through and particles are retained

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

A substance absorbing the decontamination fluid can be, for example, a reservoir and/or an adsorbent, such as an activated carbon filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

the degradation of the decontamination fluid can occur through material conversion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP4606394A1Pharmaceutical package and method

Publication Date: 2025.08.27 SKAN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

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Figure 4~7

AI summary

A contamination-sensitive, in particular pharmaceutical and/or medical-technical container and a use thereof are proposed, comprising at least one component of a pharmaceutical and/or medical-technical medication device and a packaging which accommodates the at least one component in an interior space, wherein the packaging is designed to be partially permeable in at least one section delimiting the interior space, so that a decontamination fluid, in particular decontamination gas, can pass through and particles are retained, characterized in that a substance which degrades the decontamination fluid is presented in the interior space.