Amcor Pouch Offers Single-Bag Desiccating Solution

The High Barrier Dual Chamber Pouch from Amcor Flexibles Global Medical eliminates the need to produce two separate pouches in packaging of products sensitive to moisture and oxygen.
 
 
The pouch system features an uncoated Tyvek-vented center divider that creates a separate pouch for a drop-in the desiccant. The Tyvek is integrated into the package in a circular patch placed to the center of the co-extruded structure.
 
“Other dual pouch systems use Tyvek across the package’s structure. Our solution eliminates the Tyvek in problem areas, where it sometimes creates channeling or other seal quality issues,” says Michael Barr, product manager.
 
“The dual-pouch system provides an alternative desiccating solution. It eliminates head space moisture or oxygen and extends product shelf life. As a single bag solution, it reduces manufacturing complexity, and costs associated with multiple bag inventories,” Barr says.
 
Produced on Amcor pouch making equipment, the dual-chamber pouch provides comparable shelf life to a double-pouched system, and to solutions using Amcor’s DesiVent desiccant film solution, Barr says.
Drug-eluting stents and other combo products are often doubled-packaged using foil header pouches that, after foil-to-foil sealing, are placed into a high-barrier foil-based laminated pouch.
 
“Stent manufacturers want desiccant in the package to scavenge the head space RH or oxygen for product shelf life. But in the operating room, it is absolutely critical to guarantee package and product integrity. With a dual-pouch system, you can eliminate potential contamination of the product, the seal, and the sterile field. Our dual pouch system also eliminates the need to account for stray or floating desiccant which can also contaminate the device,” Barr says.
 
The center divider is a separate piece of film running the full length of the pouch. A high barrier foil laminate is weld-sealed to the divider film on the desiccant compartment side. A high-barrier foil-based peelable laminate seals to the bottom side.
 
The product compartment side is packaged, sealed, sterilized, resealed film-to-film, and the header is removed. The desiccant is then placed in the desiccant pouch for a second seal. Alternately, the desiccant can be pouched before ETO sterilization enabling a one-seal process.
 
“Medical device manufacturers will have different preferences in desiccant solutions. Our dual pouch system is an excellent solution for any product with a need for moisture and oxygen scavenging,” Barr says.