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Blisters have proven to be a successful application and process approach in numerous industries and their use for cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, high-volume production is far from being exhausted. This is also demonstrated by the new medical, pharmacological and environmental applications with frangible seals that Rohrer AG, Möhlin, is developing with customers.
Packaging and process control in one system
In recent years, there is a growing need for cost-effective diagnostic methods and testing procedures that perform well in so-called point-of-care situations, which means without requiring a complex laboratory environment. Blisters ideally support this trend by combining different materials and material strengths, thus keeping liquids separate or mixed and directed for diagnosis.
To this end, special 'predetermined breaking points' are used in the blisters in such a way as to expand functionality for process control beyond packaging. Since a channel to the blister is opened by means of pressure, no separate opening tools (e.g. scissors) are needed. Thus the application is both simplified, and made more reliable since there can be no entry of foreign material.
Thanks to a corresponding architecture, blisters can control the defined media flow. When used in connection with a device, the forces needed to release the medium can be generated either by pressure or by centrifugal force.
To get there, a specific thermal seal is produced on a thermoformed blister under precisely controlled conditions and process parameters. Since the sealing properties can thereby be controlled in a manner specific to the application, the seal tears or ruptures under defined conditions at an predetermined breaking point.
Separation of substances for later mixing / reaction:
Powders or liquids are thus safely stored and separated so that they can subsequently be mixed or, respectively, allowed to react with one another at the desired point in time and in a specified sequence in an equally specific manner, for example:
- for specific biological / chemical reaction prior to use
- in order to extend the "shelf life"
- for dosing at temporal or localised intervals
The material and its shape allow for perfect control both of the dosing and the flow of media within the blister. The seal strength is influenced by the interaction of specially selected combinations of films and process parameters including pressure, time and temperature.