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Medical device packaging evolution

Package functionality and sustainability join safety and cost among key topics as medical care needs grow and governmental changes occur.

A group of medical device packaging pouches. Photo supplied by Printpack Medical.
A group of medical device packaging pouches. Photo supplied by Printpack Medical.

This content was written and submitted by the supplier. It has only been modified to comply with this publication’s space and style.

Historically, medical device converters have been driven by two factors, safety and cost. More recently, functionality and sustainability are emerging as topics of importance as well.

Functionality encompasses a broad array of product qualities. Sustainability brings to discussion qualities that will be more eco-friendly and allow medical packaging to fit nicely within the recycling stream as well as waste reduction.

Without making cuts detrimental to the integrity of their packaging, suppliers are offering improvements in safety, functionality, and sustainability, while incorporating new technologies to cut costs. These new technologies are hitting on all four of these market demands in anticipation of rising needs for medical care, and costs associated with new governmental changes.

Safety first

Eighty percent of medical device recalls are attributed to unsterile packaging due to defects and performance flaws. Recalls result in enormous amounts of money wasted for manufacturers. In addition, 80% only represents the number of defects that are caught. Undetected compromised packaging increases the risk of infection. Packaging safety is best categorized as cleanliness, sterility, product protection, and performance.

It has been reported that 3 million people die every year from infections contracted in hospitals while being treated for unrelated ailments. These infections are caused by small microorganisms that may be picked up during any point in the device manufacturing and distribution stream. 

There are growing preferences by Class 2 and 3 medical device manufacturers to reduce particulate counts contained in manufacturing and packaging areas of production. Reducing particulate count lessens possibilities of harmful airborne bacteria and other hazardous agents. 

Medical device packagers are doing their part to control the rate of infection by acquiring cleanroom certifications. Cleanroom certification requires a plant to undergo physical transformations as well as procedural improvements to decrease the accumulation of particles.

New packaging designs are being introduced that improve performance. Hospitals are requesting specialized kits customized for specific procedures. In some cases kits are customized for a specific doctor’s preferences. Specialty kits are decreasing the number of mistakes made in operating rooms by ensuring that the necessary tools are accounted for in one package.

As more stipulations are put on packagers and certifications become a requirement, rather than a request, safety of packages and devices contained in them will constantly improve.

New sterilization techniques are on the horizon, once again changing the way packaging needs to perform.

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INTRODUCING! The Latest Trends for Life Sciences at PACK EXPO Southeast