Drug Container Piston Cover with Radial Locators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods of packaging piston nest assemblies do not include a cover or structure to protect and orient individual pistons for sterilization, stoppering, and filling of drug containers, leading to potential contamination issues.
Innovation Solution
A cover for drug container piston arrays and piston nests, comprising a plurality of cover sections with radially positioned locators to position and orient pistons, and a package that includes a cover and piston nest assembly for sterilization and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no cover is used for piston nest assembly, then packaging is simple, but pistons are exposed to contamination and cannot be properly oriented for sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into multiple cover sections, each corresponding to individual nesting units in the piston nest. Each cover section can be independently positioned over specific pistons, providing targeted protection while maintaining overall packaging simplicity. The segmented structure allows for selective coverage and orientation of individual pistons without requiring a completely complex packaging system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover sections are designed to nest over the piston nest assembly, with each cover section fitting over individual nesting units. The locators within cover sections nest into corresponding features on the pistons, creating a nested configuration that provides protection and orientation simultaneously. This nested approach allows the cover to integrate with the existing piston nest structure rather than requiring a separate complex packaging system.
2Manufacturing precision
If locators are added to orient pistons, then sterilization and assembly precision is improved, but cover structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Locators are positioned at specific locations on the inner surfaces of cover sections, creating localized orientation features rather than requiring complex structures throughout the entire cover. Each locator is placed precisely where needed to orient specific pistons, providing manufacturing precision only where required. This local approach to orientation reduces overall cover complexity compared to a uniformly complex design.
Solution Approach 2:
The locators are pre-positioned on the cover sections during manufacturing, establishing the correct orientation for pistons before the assembly process. This preliminary positioning of orientation features ensures that when pistons are inserted into the piston nest and covered, they are automatically oriented correctly for subsequent sterilization and assembly operations, eliminating the need for complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A cover for a drug container piston array includes a plurality of cover sections configured for positioning over the drug container piston array. Each cover section includes an elongated cover section body having an open base end and a closed capped end, and a plurality of base sections or a web positioned between the plurality of cover sections and coupled to each base end. Packaging assemblies including a cover and a piston nest are also disclosed.