Types of Medical Packaging – Something You Need To Know

In the medical and healthcare industry, the importance of reliable and secure packaging cannot be overstated. Ensuring product safety, sterility, and compliance with industry standards is crucial to maintaining product integrity during transportation and storage.

This blog post will delve into the various types of medical packaging materials available, emphasizing the significance of protective packaging for medical devices, and how these solutions guarantee safety, durability, and adherence to regulations.

In this post, we’ll cover the types of medical packaging and the materials used, as well as how a packaging design team can help you create a more efficient and user-friendly product.

1 Importance of Medical Packaging

Medical and healthcare products, such as drugs, medical devices, disposables , etc., are often heat sensitive and require special handling to ensure their stability. High-quality packaging is essential for maintaining the integrity of these products during transportation and storage, preventing contamination, damage, or degradation.

Medical packaging serves several important functions, but its primary role is to protect a medical or pharmaceutical product. Because medical products can feature unique specifications and often require sterilization prior to packaging, medical packaging is designed to both uphold the highest medical standards and ergonomically protect the integrity of a product. As a result of the wide array of medical components, medical packaging ranges from pre-formed packages to customized packages for specialty parts. Variations in size, dimension, rigidity, breathability and sterility enable even the most delicate medical component to be shipped in an appropriately engineered package.

Additionally, adherence to industry standards and regulations is vital for manufacturers, wholesalers, and professionals in the medical and healthcare industry, as it helps maintain trust in the quality of their products and avoids potential legal issues.

2 Various type of medical packaging

Medical packaging materials play a crucial role in maintaining the safety, stability and appearance of medical and healthcare products. Various materials are used depending on product requirements, such as durability, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with industry standards.Because medical devices and packaging often need to stand up to the stresses of sterilization, finding the right material is essential.

1.Plastics

Including PVC, PET, PP, and PE, offer numerous advantages in medical packaging due to their lightweight, cost-effective, and versatile properties.

Plastics are a diverse and versatile set of materials used for both film shrink wrapping and medical device trays.

2.Blister

Often used to hold individual capsules within a larger carton, blister packaging protects a package’s contents from contamination. Depending on the nature of the film material used, blister packs can feature either a peelable layer or a push-through lidding as a way to remove the contents of a package.

3.Foam

Polyethylene closed-cell foams are great for medical applications because they are sturdy, easy to process, and are water resistant, among many other benefits. Foams are typically used in thermoforming medical trays.

4.Glass materials

Such as borosilicate, soda-lime, and tubular glass, possess chemical resistance, impermeability, and transparency characteristics. These properties make glass an ideal choice for packaging vials, ampoules, and bottles, which often contain sensitive drugs and solutions requiring protection from contamination and external factors.

5.Metals

Including aluminum, stainless steel, and tinplate, are used for their strength, durability, and recyclability. Metal-based packaging solutions, such as foil pouches, cans, and containers, are commonly used for medical products that require a high level of protection against physical damage and environmental factors.

6.Cartons

Manufactured from fiber boards, cartons are suitable for products that can be stored at room temperature within a customized medicine boxes, boxed structure. Over the counter medicine, such as basic capsule pills, are often packaged within individual cartons. Materials can range from white lined chipboard to basic folding boxboard.

7.TPU

Thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU, is a family of plastic films that are water, abrasion, and fungus resistant, as well as flame retardant. Available in a range of opacity, this elastic-type material meets standards for use in medical devices and complies with FDA regulations. Because it is puncture resistant and non-particulating, it is often used in packaging for protecting sharp, cutting items.

8.Individual-wrap packages

This type of packaging is a good choice for single-use applications, such as syringes. Blister packs are often used for extra support.

9.Multi-compartmental trays

Typically manufactured from more rigid material, multi-compartmental trays are used to package sutures, implants and other sensitive surgical items.

3 Protective packaging for medical device

Rigid packaging is a type of protective packaging for medical devices that offers enhanced durability and protection. Thermoformed trays and injection-molded cases are common examples of rigid packaging. Thermoformed trays are designed to hold and secure medical devices during transportation and storage, while injection-molded cases provide a robust and durable container for sensitive equipment.

4 Medical packaging material

Many medical products depend on medical polymer films, an essential component in medical packaging, to protect against contaminants and maintain the products’ integrity. Medical polymer films also inhibit or enable the circulation of air, as well as guard against light, moisture and other gases.

Laminations are comprised of two or more individual films, typically featuring the best properties of each film in the final composite. Laminations are very stable, and are often used to manufacture pouches. Materials used to create laminations include polyethylene-cellophane, polypropylene-cellophane-polyethylene and polyethylene-polycarbonate.

Whereas laminations require individual layer fabrication, coextruded films simultaneously manufacture multiple layers. Coextruded films are sometimes used in place of adhesives and coatings. Typically, coextrusion films can be made from high-density polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride. Most coextruded films are impermeable by gas, which enables their use as packaging for sterile products.Tyvek material is commonly used for packaging products that have been gas-sterilized, such as gloves and wound dressings.

5 Choose proper packaging

Medical packaging materials must possess effective barrier properties to protect the contents from external factors such as oxygen, moisture, and light. These properties help maintain the sterility and integrity of the products throughout their shelf life. Different packaging materials offer varying degrees of barrier protection, so it's essential to choose the right material based on the specific requirements of the medical device or product.

Sterilization compatibility is another crucial aspect to consider when selecting medical packaging materials. Medical devices and products often require sterilization to ensure they are free from contaminants and safe for use. The packaging material must be compatible with the chosen sterilization method, such as gamma radiation, ethylene oxide (EO), or a steam autoclave. This compatibility ensures that the packaging maintains its integrity and protective properties after undergoing the sterilization process. Different materials have varying levels of resistance to sterilization methods, so it's essential to work with a packaging solutions provider with expertise in sterilization compatibility to ensure the right material is selected for your medical products.

6 Conclusion

As we've explored the various types of medical packaging and their importance in ensuring product safety, sterility, and compliance with industry standards, it's clear that choosing the right packaging solution is crucial to the success of any medical or healthcare product.

Don't leave the safety and integrity of your medical products to chance. Let us provide you with the customized and compliant packaging solutions your business requires. Reach out to our team today to discuss your medical and healthcare product packaging needs and discover how we can help protect your products while meeting industry standards.