Medical Device Link.

Originally Published EMDM October 2003

Spotlight

Sliding-door autoclave

An autoclave comes in two models and is available in 150-, 200-, and 300-L sizes. Both models have a fully interlocked, easy-glide sliding door with a floating gasket to ensure a secure seal. The seal is automatically pulled away from the door at the end of each cycle to reduce wear. The autoclave is equipped with a touch screen control system for entering and displaying all commands, cycle and program data, and alarm settings. LTE Scientific Ltd., Greenfield, Lancs, UK.

Sterile barrier packaging

A company specializing in coextrusion technology provides a number of medical packaging products. The Steriking packaging line includes flexible and rigid thermoforming films, and paper and film lidding materials. Polyolefin-based films are available for primary and secondary liquid packaging applications. High-barrier films with aluminium-foil and special coatings can be specified. PVC-free film for urine and drainage bags is also available. Wipak Medical, Nastola, Finland.


Bagging system

A bagging machine accommodates wide bag openings, handles a variety of premade bags in a range of materials, and features easy changeovers. The system is compatible with a variety of filling and dosing equipment, gas flushers, and marking devices. The SchurStar 3020 machine was recently purchased by a maker of resuscitation equipment that is difficult to handle during packaging because of its shape and size. The OEM reportedly chose the SchurStar system because it could accommodate very wide rectangular bag openings, thus easing the packaging process. Schur Flexible Europe, Horsens, Denmark.



Foil laminations

A company offers heat-seal-coated foil laminations for devices requiring puncture-resistant barrier packaging. The foil laminations are coated with adhesives formulated to peel smoothly. Light-, oxygen-, and moisture-barrier properties are built into the packaging for sensitive items. The products are available as a peelable or tear-open pouches, die-cut lidding, and printed rollstock. The laminates are sealable to a variety of foils and high-barrier films, including PETG, PVC, PP, and HDPE, as well as other rigid tray materials. They are compatible with radiation and steam sterilization processes. Tolas Health Care Packaging, London, UK.

Sterilization systems

Large-scale sterilization systems have been developed by a firm to satisfy demand from the medical product market. The EtO sterilizers are designed to process a range of materials in compliance with medical device industry norms. The larger units produce steam using a built-in generator; smaller systems have an external steam source. Getinge Sterilization AB, Getinge, Sweden.





Thermoform packaging machine

A thermoform-fill-seal machine is designed for automated packaging of medical devices such as syringes, catheters, gowns, and tubing sets. The Tool-less Changeover MT2500 can work with different pack sizes without requiring a change in the seal tooling. The system is suited for processing products that are packaged together but segregated within the pack. The servo-controlled machine provides a maximum packaging format of 15 lanes across the web by 10 lanes up, and it runs at speeds up to 30 cycles per minute. Doyen Medipharm Ltd., Barton, Cambs, UK.


Gamma detector labels

Labels that change from yellow to red in the presence of gamma irradiation have a radiation-sensitive coating that is protected by a transparent varnish. The labels can be supplied with a Detex stripe on one side and a white area for printing date and batch details or other data. The labels may be used where the total radiation dose falls within the 10–100-kGy range. Sessions of York, York, UK.


In-line sterilization

E-beam accelerators are suited for in-line sterilization of bottles and stoppers. The medium- and low-energy accelerators can be installed directly into the production line. Stand-alone sterilizers can be supplied after a preliminary study of the customer’s products and requirements. Accelerators are suitable for high-output production facilities. Linac Technologies, Orsay, France.


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