Textured Molded Structure for Hermetic Pharmaceutical Vial Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging methods for multi-monodose containers fail to effectively evacuate air and form a hermetic seal around interconnected pharmaceutical vials, which can lead to compromised stability and efficacy of the pharmaceutical agents.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a molded structure with a textured surface pattern to direct gas flow, combined with a hermetically-sealable overwrap, where air is evacuated and the overwrap is bonded to form a hermetic seal around the vials, and the second portion is separated from the first portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current packaging methods are used for multi-monodose containers, then the packaging process is simple, but air evacuation and hermetic seal formation are ineffective, leading to compromised pharmaceutical stability
Solution Approach 1:
The molded structure incorporates a textured surface pattern on specific portions (first and second portions) that creates localized gas flow channels. This local structural modification directs evacuated air flow through specific pathways, ensuring effective air removal from critical areas around the interconnected vials while maintaining overall packaging simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The textured surface pattern is pre-formed as an integral part of the molded structure before the hermetic sealing process. This preliminary structural feature is designed to actively direct gas flow during the subsequent evacuation and sealing operations, ensuring that air is effectively removed from around the vials before the hermetic seal is formed, thereby preventing compromised pharmaceutical stability.
2Reliability
If a hermetic seal is formed around interconnected vials, then pharmaceutical efficacy is maintained, but the packaging process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The textured surface pattern creates localized regions with different gas flow characteristics. The first and second portions of the molded structure have specific texturing that directs air flow away from the sealing area, ensuring that when the hermetic seal is formed, air is effectively evacuated from the sealing interface, thereby maintaining pharmaceutical efficacy without requiring excessively complex sealing procedures.
3Reliability
If air is evacuated from the packaging, then hermetic seal integrity is improved, but the packaging process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The textured surface pattern is pre-formed on the molded structure to create optimized gas flow pathways. During the evacuation process, this pre-designed texture actively directs air flow, accelerating the removal of air from around the interconnected vials. This allows hermetic seal integrity to be achieved more quickly, reducing the overall packaging process time while maintaining effective air evacuation.
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 approach ensures a stable and effective packaging solution by removing air, forming a tight seal, and maintaining the integrity of the pharmaceutical agents within the vials.
Implementation Method 1
a textured surface pattern positioned to direct gas flow between the first portion and a region adjacent to the second portion
Implementation Method 2
forming a hermetic seal around the row of interconnected monodose pharmaceutical vials by bonding the hermetically-sealable overwrap to at least a portion of the molded structure
Data Source
AI summary
Methods are described for packaging a foldable container including covering a multi-monodose container in an expanded configuration with a hermetically-sealable overwrap, the multi-monodose container including a row of interconnected monodose pharmaceutical vials, each of the monodose pharmaceutical vials enclosing at least one pharmaceutical agent, the interconnected monodose pharmaceutical vials connected to one another by one or more articulating joints sufficiently flexible to form a folded configuration of the multi-monodose container; exerting a force on at least one of the monodose pharmaceutical vials; bending the one or more articulating joints to form the folded configuration of the multi-monodose container in response to the exerted force; and sealing the hermetically-sealable overwrap to form a hermetic seal around the folded configuration of the multi-monodose container.