Cartridge

Glass cartridges are frequently incorporated into diabetes pens and dental injection systems. Safe and convenient self-administration of injectable drugs has been the key driver behind the success-story of diabetes care pen systems. By complementing innovative pen devices or patch pumps, the smart combination of drug protection, storage and administration function in one container is perceived as highly relevant for a growing number of therapy fields. And there is more to come: By using double-chamber cartridges, even the reconstitution of drug formulations forms part of the container’s capability set. Premium glass tubing that complies to USP, EP, and JP is selected as starting material by Contract Packaging Service Providers. Syringe cartridges (cylindrical syringe ampoules) made from glass are a widely spread primary packaging, in particular used for anaesthetics in the dental field, but also employed in autoinjectors and pen systems. A well-known disadvantage of this packaging material, however, is breakage and bursting happening in the filling lines – and it is even more concerning when it happens in autoinjectors, where momentarily, extremely high pressure is exerted on the cartridge. Syringe cartridges made from plastic eliminate these problems, provided that the plastic material and the design are optimised for the appropriate pressure stability. A dedicated bayonet-connector stopper in combination with a corresponding piston allows the user to draw the medicine from a vial just like he would when using a syringe and, once the piston has been removed from the bayonet connector, the syringe cartridge can easily be inserted into the autoinjector or pen. This innovation and further adapted components make the reconstitution of lyophilised pharmaceutical preparation and the transfer of the reconstituted medication into the syringe cartridge easy and safe. Suited in particular for the application of contrast media, large-volume syringes respectively cartridges (50ml up to 250ml) made of COP have been developed and produced by Packaging CMOs through a dedicated manufacturing technology which guarantees virtually particle-free products. These products are delivered either nested and in tube (50ml) or in a special carrier system, EO sterilized and ready to fill. These transport packaging warrant safe transportation and a product with a scratch-free surface. The products are designed specifically for the application of high pressure (up to 300psi) to assure secure use in injection machines. Cartridges should be manufactured by CMOs in cGMP environment under statistical in-process control with the standardized quality level as per ISO.