Whether it's to keep medicine safe, or to keep it from falling out of the box, there are a variety of options for medicine packaging. There are stack-able containers, anti-tamper devices, and even alternative forms of packaging.
Safety and Sterility
Sterility assurance innovation is not limited to the pharmaceutical printing industry. It is applicable to any combination of bio-pharmaceuticals or medical devices. New tools are needed for systematic analysis of these combinations. Often, new paradigms are required to help sterility assurance professionals navigate the complexities of each sector.
There are two primary options for manufacturing a product: aseptic processing and terminal sterilization. Both require exceptional control and manual interventions. These processes are both art and science, and a proper testing regimen is required to ensure overall product sterility.
Several standards have sample sizes that can be used to calculate the relevant statistical measures. A common metric is the PNSU, which is an estimated probability of a non-sterile unit after sterilization. The calculation is more complicated in the terminal sterilization sector.
Stack Ability
Stacking multiple containers is no small feat. There are many pitfalls and a few stragglers to keep an eye on. On the other hand, the best laid plans are the best laid. Besides, they all have their own perks. Most importantly, the top tier mates will have you in the goodie bag. Probably the best part is that you get to be around the rest of the gang. A couple of the nerds will be your new best friends. To top it all off, you have the best of the best in the best of the rest of the gang.
Anti-Tamper Device (Atd)
An anti-tamper device is a security feature attached to the outer packaging of medicines. It is used to prove that the container was opened by someone other than the manufacturer. This feature is mandatory for most prescription medicines.
A report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in the United States found that one-third of medication errors could be traced to packaging issues. To combat this threat, the FDA has regulated the use of seals. In addition, there are tamper-evident features that can be installed on the packaging of medicines, such as a label with a unique identifier and expiration date.
In order to be effective, the tamper-evident feature must be properly validated, and its application must conform to design and validation principles. For example, the tamper-evident label needs to be appropriate for the medicine, and it must be printed in a human-readable format.
Alternative Forms of Packaging
Although the idea of reusing medicines might seem appealing, it can be an environmental challenge. Pharmaceutical packaging must adhere to certain standards to ensure that the medicine remains safe and effective during its shelf life. While most medications are packaged in containers that protect them from moisture and heat, there are some types that need special attention. For example, some injections are packed in glass vials. This makes them susceptible to breakage under pressure.
However, some medicines can be reused and can even help improve public health. Reusing dispensed medicines can be an efficient way to reduce the amount of medicinal waste that ends up in landfills. In fact, reusing dispensed medicines has been a hot topic for environmental activists for years. Developing technologies for reusing medicines might also have positive effects on the overall health of the environment.
Complexity
Complexity of medicine packaging is a growing problem in healthcare that has implications for patient adherence and cost. It can be caused by many factors, including product differentiation, increasing regulatory demands, and a wide range of supplier-specific issues. Pharmaceutical companies need to be aware of the complexity of their medicines and find effective controls to reduce it.
An electronic decision aid has been developed to help detect and minimize complexity factors in medicine schedules. This tool comprises an algorithm that identifies complexity factors and proposes simple optimization measures to simplify medication regimens. These measures can be tailored to different settings, such as a hospital or home care setting. The tool was tested by two pharmacists, and exemplary medication schedules were used to test its performance.
A panel of experts, spanning general practitioners, clinical pharmacologists and pharmacists, was used to rate and assess complexity factors. The final set of complexity factors was checked for feasibility of automated detection. They were then selected based on expert opinion, and complemented with potential optimization measures.