Vacuum-Sealed Thermoplastic Packaging for Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization and depyrogenation processes require specialized ovens with laminar flow and sterile overpressure, limiting the versatility and cost-effectiveness of packaging articles, and there is a need for packaging that maintains sterility and depyrogenation during storage and use.
Innovation Solution
A disposable packaging article made from thermoplastic materials resistant to high temperatures, such as PEEK, with an inner enclosure under vacuum, allowing for sterilization and depyrogenation without laminar flow or sterile overpressure, and featuring easy-opening mechanisms and multiple pocket configurations to accommodate various products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized ovens with laminar flow and sterile overpressure are used for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable packaging article that can be sterilized in any conventional oven without requiring specialized equipment. The packaging is designed to maintain sterility through its structure and material properties rather than through complex sterilization equipment, allowing use of simple, widely available ovens while achieving reliable sterilization results.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging article maintains its sterile state through inherent design features including heat-resistant materials that withstand sterilization temperatures, vacuum sealing that prevents recontamination, and structural integrity that protects contents. The system serves itself by maintaining sterility through its own properties rather than requiring continuous external control systems like laminar flow or overpressure.
2Temperature
If thermoplastic materials resistant to high temperatures above 225°C are used, then sterilization temperature resistance is improved, but material selection and cost are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging article utilizes composite material structures combining heat-resistant thermoplastics with other materials to achieve the required temperature resistance. This allows leveraging existing material technologies and manufacturing capabilities while meeting the high-temperature sterilization requirements through material composition rather than requiring entirely new materials.
3Reliability
If vacuum sealing is applied to maintain sterility during storage, then sterility maintenance is improved, but packaging complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum sealing function is integrated directly into the packaging article structure itself rather than being a separate system. The packaging combines the containment function with the vacuum sealing function in a unified disposable article, eliminating the need for separate vacuum equipment and complex sealing mechanisms while effectively maintaining sterility during storage and transport.
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
Enables sterilization and depyrogenation of products in any type of sterilization apparatus, maintaining sterility and reducing costs, while allowing for easy use and storage of sterile and depyrogenated products.
Implementation Method 1
a film of a thermoplastic (10) resistant to sterilization and/or depyrogenation, and resistant to a temperature above 225°C. at 10 -5 bar
Implementation Method 2
the inner enclosure (5) of which is under vacuum (40) in storage and/or transport conditions
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a disposable packaging item capable of being sterilised and/or depyrogenated. The invention in particular relates to the packaging of products and/or devices in the fields of medicine, pharmaceutics, chemistry, biology, food or electronics. The invention in particular relates to a disposable packaging item (1) at least partially produced with at least one thermoplastic film (10) that can withstand sterilisation and/or depyrogenation, said disposable packaging item (1) defining at least one inner enclosure (5) for receiving one or more elements (50) to be packaged, said inner enclosure (5) being under vacuum (40) and preferably sterile and/or depyrogenated, said packaging item (1) including one or more packaged elements (50).