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Salient Aspects of
Medical Device Packaging
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Dr. R. Rangaprasad
Business Head
Packaging 360 |
Definition of a Medical Device
The Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) has
proposed the following harmonized definition of a
medical device:
Any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine,
appliance, implant in vitro reagent or calibrator,
software, material, or other similar or related
article.
Intended by the manufacturer to be used, alone or
in combination, for human beings for one or more of
the specific purpose(s) of : |
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Diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, or
alleviation of disease.
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Diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of, or
compensation for an injury.
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Investigation, replacement, modification, or support of
the anatomy or of a physiological process.
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Supporting or sustaining life.
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Control of contraception.
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Disinfection of medical devices.
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Providing information for medical or diagnostic purposes
by means of in vitro examination of specimens derived from
the human body, and
B. Which does not achieve its primary intended action in
or on the human body by pharmacological, immunological, or
metabolic means, but which may be assisted in its intended
function by such means.
By definition, devices are involved in many different
aspects of healthcare. As such, devices, their
manufacturing processes, and the packaging that contains
and protects them are extremely disparate. Complicated
capital equipment, such as MRI tunnels and X-ray machines,
are medical devices, but so are simple, commodity-like
items such as tongue depressors and syringes. Some are
meant for mass markets; others are niche items. Some are
packaged individually; others are packaged in boxes of 100
s or 1000 s. Some are reprocessed, others are disposable,
and some are used for a lifetime. Risks associated with
device misuse and failures are equally varied, ranging
from inconvenience to patient death.
Classification of Medical Devices
The great variation present in the medical device industry
means that devices can be classified in a number of ways.
Devices can be categorized by :
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The risk associated with improper use or a failure
(generally high, moderate, and low).
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Conditions of processing (reusable, disposable, capital
equipment, etc.).
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Conditions of the therapy (invasive, noninvasive).
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Conditions of shipping and handling (capital equipment,
commodity surgical, etc.).
Because the goal of these therapies is to maximize
efficacy and protect patient safety, the most common way
to classify devices is based on risk.
Key Considerations for The Development of Medical Device
Packaging.
In addition to the normal functions of a packaging system,
the following requirements are unique to Medical Devices.
Sterile Barrier System
The vital importance of maintenance of the sterile barrier
system (SBS) is a distinctive characteristic of medical
device packaging. Medical device packaging for disposables
must not only maintain the SBS but, in many cases, also
facilitate the sterilization of the device within. Such
protective characteristics can be achieved through
the package shape, particularly in thermoformed parts, in
order to avoid product shifting or to keep kit components
separated or nested. For sealed packages, seal integrity
is an important characteristic in product protection.
Seals must be free of channels and must withstand the
rigors of sterilization and transit.
Utility
Utility is related to the ease of use of the system. For
many medical devices, quick and easy opening and removal
of contents are crucial. While this consideration is also
important for devices with relatively low risk, such as an
adhesive bandage, it is extremely critical for sterile
medical devices that are used in surgical arenas where the
packaging must allow the device to be removed without
contamination. This particular need has led to the
development of special materials and sealants that, when
used in combination, can provide package strengths that
are adequate to endure the severity of processing and, at
the same time, can be manually opened without imposing
excessive stress on product or user. |
