JP2003221017A - Handling method for carried object - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a handling method for carried objects which makes the handling of the carried objects such as sterilization easy and inexpensive. <P>SOLUTION: The handling method comprises steps of putting an object 1 to be carried in a storage means 2 which prevents bacteria from entering and allows a gas to transmit, closing the storage means 2, sterilizing the whole storage means 2 with ozone to sterilize the object 1, positioning the storage means 2 to locate an unsealing portion 8 of the means 2 in a steriled space 16 before unsealing the means 2, and disinfecting the unsealing portion 8 of the means 2 by optical pulses for unsealing. This dispenses with an operation of receiving the object 1 in the storage means 2 in a sterile state and can make the handling of the object 1 easy and inexpensive. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for handling a conveyed product which is sterilized and handled in an aseptic state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, it is necessary to sterilize an eye drop container or an ointment container and fill the contents with it. The procedure is to mold the container in a container manufacturing factory and then sterilize it to Aseptically enclose it in a bag for transportation and transfer it to the drug product factory, sterilize and open the outer layer of the bag in a clean room or isolator to prevent recontamination due to the contaminated surface of the bag, and then remove the container from the bag. It is carried into the line for filling the contents.

The sterilization process after molding the container is as follows.
The method of sterilization with ethylene oxide gas (EOG gas) and the method of sterilization by irradiation with gamma rays, electron beams, etc. are used. The method of sterilization is used.

[0004]

However, in the container sterilization method using ethylene oxide gas, since the ethylene oxide gas has toxicity and is adsorbed to the container, it is necessary to remove the adsorbed gas. The method of sterilizing the container using the method is very expensive because the sterilization is done by consignment, and the method of sterilizing the surface of the bag using ultraviolet irradiation or application of alcohol requires a long processing time. There was a problem. Further, when a sterilized container is sealed in a bag, it must be maintained in a sterile state, so that there is a problem that expensive equipment is required and the work is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of handling a conveyed product which facilitates handling such as sterilization of the conveyed product at low cost.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a carrying object is placed in a housing means capable of preventing invasion of bacteria and permeable to gas, the housing means is closed, and the carrying object is housed so as to be sterilized. Before the container is sterilized by ozone sterilization and the storage means is opened, the storage means is arranged such that the opening part of the storage means is located in a sterile space, and the opening part of the storage means is sterilized by an optical pulse before opening. The present invention relates to a method for handling a conveyed article, characterized by:

A second aspect of the present invention relates to the method of handling a conveyed article according to the first aspect, in which the conveyed article is taken out from the storage means and then the accommodation means is reused for transferring the conveyed article.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to the method for handling a conveyed article according to the first or second aspect, in which the opening portion of the storing means is formed by a take-out cap having a peelable seal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the storing means has a surface capable of preventing invasion of bacteria and allowing gas to pass therethrough, and a surface capable of preventing invasion of bacteria and gas, or The method of handling a conveyed product according to item 3 above.

As described above, when sterilizing a transported article, the transported article is placed in a storage means capable of preventing the invasion of bacteria and permeable to gas and ozone-sterilized together with the storage means. It is possible to eliminate the need for aseptic storage work and sterilization by irradiation with ethylene oxide gas or radiation, and as a result, it is possible to easily handle the conveyed product and reduce the cost.

Further, when sterilizing the outer layer of the storage means, since the opening portion is sterilized and opened by a light pulse stronger than ultraviolet irradiation, it can be processed in a short time and sterilized by ultraviolet irradiation or application of alcohol. Is unnecessary, and as a result, it is possible to more easily handle the conveyed product and reduce the cost.

When the carrying means is reused for transferring the carried article after the carried article has been taken out from the housing means, it is not necessary to newly prepare the carrying means and the cost can be further reduced. You can

When the opening portion of the accommodating means is formed by the take-out cap having a peelable seal, the accommodating means is opened by peeling the seal, so that the accommodating means can be easily opened. The chance of contamination with bacteria can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the storage means has a surface capable of preventing the invasion of bacteria and allowing gas to permeate therethrough and a surface capable of preventing the invasion of bacteria and gas from the storage means. While being used for sterilization, the shape of the storage means can be maintained and the degree of freedom in using the storage means can be improved.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 8 show an example of a mode for carrying out the present invention.

The method of handling a conveyed product according to the present invention comprises a step of sterilizing the container 1 of the conveyed product, and a step of transferring the sterilized container 1 from a container manufacturing factory to a drug product factory. And a sterilization step for preventing recontamination by the contaminated surface of the bag 2 by sterilizing the bag 2 of the storage means used for transferring the container 1.

Here, the bag 2 of the accommodating means has a surface made of Tyvex (registered trademark) which forms a mesh of several microns with continuous ultrafine fibers of polyethylene so that bacteria can be prevented from entering and gas can be transmitted. 3 and a surface 4 formed of a material such as vinyl so as to prevent the invasion of bacteria and gas, the bag body 5 is configured, and one opening portion 6 of the bag body 5 is provided with heat. A crimpable edge portion 7 is formed, and a take-out cap 10 having a peelable seal 9 is attached to the other opening portion 8 of the bag body 5 by a fastening band 11.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

In the step of sterilizing the container 1 of the conveyed object, first, the container 1 formed by the container manufacturing apparatus 12 is directly dropped on the bag 2 of the storing means. Here, it is preferable that the bag 2 of the storing means is prepared in a state in which the side of the extraction cap 10 is closed in advance, and the container 1 is inserted from the opening portion 6 on the side of the edge portion 7. The space in which the container 1 is put in the bag 2 may be in a contaminated state or in a sterile state.

Next, the opening portion 6 of the bag 2 on the edge 7 side is thermocompression-bonded to close the bag 2, and the bag 2 is placed in the ozone sterilizer 13.
Ozone concentration 1000ppm ~ 20000ppm, humidity 5
By leaving it at 0% to 90% for about 30 minutes to 60 minutes, ozone gas permeates the inside of the bag 2 from the Tyvex surface 3 to sterilize the container 1. Here, the sterilized state is a polystyrene carrier BI manufactured by Steril by a general test.
(B. stearother mophilus 1 ×
It was confirmed by all deaths of 10 ⁵ ).

Subsequently, the process proceeds to the carrying step, and the bag 2 containing the sterilized container 1 is put in a plastic bag 14 for protection, and then put in a case 15, so that the container manufacturing factory changes to the drug product manufacturing factory. Transfer to.

Further, the process moves to the step of sterilization for sterilizing the bag 2 of the storing means, and in the preparation factory, the bag 2 of the conveyed product is taken out by the pass box (not shown) of the clean room, and the unsealed portion 8 is taken out. The bag 2 is attached to the filling device 17 in the aseptic space 16 by the fastening means 18 so that the cap 10 is located in the aseptic space 16, and the optical pulse generator 19 is set in front of the ejection cap 10 to set the optical pulse generator 19 therein. Light cap is emitted from the cap 1
Sterilize the surface of the zero seal 9. Here, the light pulse is 2
It is light having a wavelength of 00 nm or more and about 1 × 10 ⁵ times the intensity of sunlight, and sufficiently sterilizes the light irradiation surface.

After sterilizing the surface of the seal 9 of the take-out cap 10, the bag 9 is opened by peeling off the seal 9 and the container 1 is taken out, and the container 1 is put through a hopper (not shown) of the filling device 17. To a line (not shown) for filling the formulation of the contents. Further, after the container 1 is taken out from the bag 2, the take-out cap 10 is removed from the bag 2 to put the bag 2 into the bag body 5 so that it can be used again. The take-out cap 10 may be reused or may be discarded.

As described above, when sterilizing the container 1 of the conveyed product, the container 1 is put in the bag 2 of the storing means which prevents the invasion of bacteria and allows ozone gas to permeate, and the bag 2 is sterilized by ozone. The work of aseptically storing the container 1 in the bag 2 is not necessary, and sterilization by ethylene oxide gas or radiation irradiation is not necessary. As a result, the container 1 can be easily handled and the cost can be reduced. . Further, in ozone sterilization, since ozone returns to oxygen, no post-treatment is required, and the sterilization treatment of the container 1 can be made extremely easy.

When the outer layer of the bag 2 of the storage means is sterilized, the take-out cap 10 of the unsealing portion 8 is sterilized by the light pulse stronger than the ultraviolet irradiation and the seal 9 is peeled off to open the bag. It can be treated and does not require sterilization by irradiation with ultraviolet rays or application of alcohol, and as a result, the container 1
Can be handled more easily and at low cost.

If the bag 2 is reused for the transfer of the conveyed product after the container 1 of the conveyed product is taken out from the bag 2 of the storing means, it is not necessary to newly prepare the bag 2 and the cost can be further reduced. it can.

When the opening portion 8 of the bag 2 is formed by the take-out cap 10 having the peelable seal 9, the seal 9 is formed.
Since the bag 2 is opened by peeling, the opening of the bag 2 can be facilitated and the chance of contamination with bacteria can be reduced. or,
Since the extraction cap 10 is provided, it can be easily attached to and detached from the filling device 17, and the irradiation area for sterilization can be reduced.

When the bag 2 of the storing means has the surface 3 capable of preventing the invasion of the bacteria and allowing the gas to permeate and the surface 4 capable of preventing the invasion of the bacteria and the gas, the bag 2 of the storing means is the container 1. In addition to being used for the sterilization treatment, it is possible to maintain the shape and label of the bag 2 and improve the degree of freedom in using the bag 2.

The method of handling a conveyed article according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, the conveyed article is not limited to a container, and the storage means is a fixed shape instead of a bag. Needless to say, a storage container may be used, and other various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0031]

According to the method for handling a conveyed product of the present invention, various excellent effects as described below can be obtained.

I) When sterilizing a conveyed product, the conveyed product is placed in a storage means capable of preventing invasion of bacteria and permeable to gas and ozone-sterilized together with the storage means. It becomes unnecessary to sterilize by carrying out ethylene oxide gas or radiation irradiation, and as a result, it becomes possible to easily handle the conveyed product and to reduce the cost.

II) When sterilizing the outer layer of the storing means,
Since the opening part is sterilized and opened by a light pulse stronger than ultraviolet irradiation, it can be processed in a short time, and sterilization by ultraviolet irradiation or application of alcohol is unnecessary, and as a result,
It is possible to more easily handle the transported object and reduce the cost.

III) As claimed in claim 2, if the carrying means is reused for transferring the carried article after the carried article is taken out from the containing means, it is not necessary to newly prepare the containing means, and the cost is further reduced. can do.

IV) When the opening portion of the accommodating means is formed by the take-out cap having a peelable seal, the bag is opened by peeling the seal, so that the bag is opened.
It is possible to easily open the storage means and reduce the chance of contamination with bacteria.

V) When the accommodating means is provided with a surface capable of preventing invasion of bacteria and allowing gas to permeate therethrough and a surface capable of preventing invasion of bacteria and gas, the accommodating means can be transported. It can be used for sterilization of an object and at the same time, the shape of the storing means can be maintained, so that the flexibility of using the storing means can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of a storage means used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper part of the storage means used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a conveyed product is put into a storage means by a container manufacturing apparatus in a step of sterilization processing.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which a conveyed product is put in a storage means in a step of sterilization processing.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the storage means and the conveyed product are sterilized in the step of sterilization processing.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which a storage means is put in a case via a vinyl bag in the carrying step.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a state in which a take-out cap is sterilized in a step of sterilization processing.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a state in which a conveyed product is taken out from a storage means in a step of sterilization processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Container (conveyed goods) 2 Bags (storage means) 3 Tyvex surface (surface that can prevent bacteria from entering and gas can permeate) 4 Vinyl surface (surface that can prevent bacteria and gas from entering) 8 Opening part 9 Seal 10 Extraction cap 16 Sterile space

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) B65B 55/04 B65B 55/04 L

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A container is placed in a container that can prevent the invasion of bacteria and allows gas to pass therethrough, and the container is closed. The container is sterilized by ozone to sterilize the container, and the container is opened. A method of handling a conveyed article, characterized by arranging a storage means such that the opening portion of the storage means is located in a sterile space, and sterilizing the opening portion of the storage means by an optical pulse before opening. 2. After removing the transported article from the storage means,
The method of handling a conveyed article according to claim 1, wherein the storing means is reused for transferring the conveyed article. 3. The opening section of the accommodating means is formed by a take-out cap having a peelable seal.
How to handle the conveyed items. 4. The conveyed product according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the storage means has a surface capable of preventing entry of bacteria and allowing gas to pass therethrough, and a surface capable of preventing entry of bacteria and gas. How to handle.