RFID Medicinal Vial Closure Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medicinal vials face challenges in correct identification and protection against counterfeiting, as existing RFID solutions can detach during use and are vulnerable to damage from sterilization processes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an RFID into the closure system of medicinal vials, using resilient plastics materials and gamma-ray-resistant designs to ensure the RFID remains attached during needle penetration and withstands sterilization, with options for embedding in the vial body or within a cavity, facilitating secure tracking and anti-counterfeiting measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an RFID is incorporated in a flip off cover over the penetrable closure of the vial, then the RFID can be used for identification, but the RFID becomes detached from the vial prior to insertion of the needle through the closure
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID is nested within a holder that is integrated into the closure system. The holder is positioned such that the RFID remains enclosed and attached to the vial even when the cover is opened and the needle is inserted through the closure. This nesting arrangement ensures the RFID stays with the vial throughout the entire usage sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
A holder acts as an intermediary component between the RFID and the vial closure system. This holder is designed to maintain the RFID's attachment to the vial while allowing the closure to be opened and the needle to be inserted. The holder mediates between the need for RFID retention and the need for closure accessibility.
2Reliability
If gamma ray sterilisation is used to sterilize the vial, then the vial can be sterilized effectively, but the delicate circuitry of the RFID can be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed to protect the RFID from gamma ray sterilization damage by positioning it in a location where the sterilization radiation is attenuated or redirected. The holder structure itself becomes a protective element that converts the potentially harmful sterilization process into a safe operation for the RFID.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder serves as a protective intermediary between the gamma ray sterilization process and the RFID circuitry. It shields the delicate RFID components from direct exposure to high-energy radiation while still allowing the sterilization to effectively treat the vial and its contents.
3Ease of manufacture
If the RFID is stacked on top of the plastic cap of the vial, then the RFID can be easily attached, but the RFID necessarily becomes detached from the vial prior to insertion of the needle through the closure
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID is nested within a holder that is integrated into the closure system. The holder is positioned such that the RFID remains enclosed and attached to the vial even when the cover is opened and the needle is inserted through the closure. This nesting arrangement ensures the RFID stays with the vial throughout the entire usage sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is merged with the closure system components, combining the RFID retention function with the closure mechanism. This integration ensures that the RFID remains attached to the vial through the entire usage sequence without requiring separate attachment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Medicinal vials are provided incorporating RFID' s in a way which causes them to remain associated with the vial when the vial closure is opened. Several embodiments are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment an RFID is incorporated in the vial closure system.