Vacuum package system and method

Abstract

A vacuum packaging system for transporting a plurality of medical containers including a tray that supports the medical containers and an air impervious flexible film defining an internal cavity. The air impervious flexible film completely surrounds the tray and the medical containers. The internal cavity is evacuated to a predetermined vacuum level below atmospheric pressure. A method for packaging the plurality of medical containers for transportation in the tray includes inserting the medical containers into the tray, inserting the tray filled with medical containers into the internal cavity, evacuating the internal cavity to a predetermined vacuum pressure and sealing the flexible film such that the predetermined vacuum pressure is generally maintained in the internal cavity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 584,826, filed Jul. 1, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Medical containers generally must be sterile, have a low level of non-viable particulate matter and have a low or undetectable pyrogen level prior to the introduction of medication or another medical product into the medical container such that the product is not contaminated. One having ordinary skill in the art will realize that the medical containers are not necessarily completely sterile and free of all pyrogens prior to being filled with a medical product. However, the medical containers may be referred to as being sterile, pyrogen free and non-viable particulate matter free, meaning that the medical containers have a high sterility, a low or non-pyrogenic level and a low level of non-viable particulate matter. Common medical containers, for example, vials and syringes, are typically shipp...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, the medical containers may be referred to as being sterile, pyrogen free and non-viable particulate matter free, meaning that the medical containers have a high sterility, a low or non-pyrogenic level and a low level of non-viable particulate matter.

However, polymeric or plastic vials and syringes are typically unable to withstand the temperature required to reduce pyrogens to a non-pyrogenic level and sterilize the vials and syringes.

The plastic vials and syringes may be washed and irradiated to reduce pyrogens and sterilize the vials and syringes, but the plastic vials and syringes are difficult to dry and the process is time consuming and generally will not result in removal of pyrogens to an acceptable level for filling.

Further, when medical containers are shipped in permeable boxes or trays in permeable bags, the vials and syringes may shift or vibrate during their shipment.

When the vials and syringes shift and / or vibrate during transport, they may rub against each other causing surface damage and potentially introducing particulates into the bag and onto the vials and syringes.

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