Wave-Shifting Crystal Authentication for Pharmaceutical Package Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pharmaceutical packaging lacks effective traceability solutions, particularly for injectable drugs, which hinders the control and tracking of pharmaceuticals throughout the supply chain.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of luminescent wave-shifting crystals, such as rare earth doped nanoparticles, into pharmaceutical packages to enable authentication and tracking by emitting specific light characteristics detectable by mobile readers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pharmaceutical packaging is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but traceability and authentication capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates wave-shifting crystals that change optical properties under different light conditions. These crystals absorb UV light and emit visible light at specific wavelengths, creating authentication patterns that are visible only under appropriate illumination. This allows the package to maintain its simple physical structure while gaining advanced traceability and authentication capabilities through optical property changes.
2Reliability
If wave-shifting crystals are incorporated into the package, then authentication capability is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-shifting crystals are pre-incorporated into the packaging materials during the manufacturing process, such as embedding them in the vial, stopper, or labeling materials. This preliminary incorporation ensures that the authentication capability is built-in from the start, eliminating the need for separate crystal installation steps and simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
3Ease of operation
If transparent vessel walls are used, then visual inspection is improved, but crystal light emission detection becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies wave-shifting crystals selectively to specific local areas of the transparent packaging, such as embedding them in the base of the vial or incorporating them into localized authentication labels. This localized application allows the majority of the package to remain transparent for visual inspection, while the crystal-containing areas provide authentication functionality when illuminated with appropriate light sources.
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
Enhances traceability and authentication of pharmaceutical packages, ensuring better control and monitoring of pharmaceuticals throughout the supply chain.
Implementation Method 1
wave-shifting crystals, optionally in which the wave-shifting crystals are rare earth doped crystals, optionally in which the wave-shifting crystals are nanoparticle crystals, optionally in which the wave-shifting crystals are rare earth doped nanoparticle crystals, configured to emit light having one or more characteristics by which the package may be identified
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to pharmaceutical packages, such as syringes, vials, etc., containing wave-shifting crystals that, when excited, emit light having one or more characteristics by which information about the package, such as a unique package identifier, may be obtained. The wave-shifting crystals may be rare earth doped crystals. In some embodiments, the wave-shifting crystals may be incorporated into or onto a wall of a vessel, e.g. a syringe barrel or vial, in a way that maintains transparency of the vessel wall. In other embodiments, the wave-shifting crystals may be incorporated into or onto a portion of the package that need not be transparent, such as a needle shield, tip cap, or vial closure. The wave-shifting crystals may be used to track and/or authenticate a pharmaceutical package.