title: The challenges of packaging combination devices.
abstract: This article focuses on the development of a packaging format for drug eluting stents where the package not only has to meet the needs of the stent, but also the needs of the drug incorporated into its polymer coating. The package has to allow the transfer of ethylene oxide gas for sterilisation, but when in storage, must provide a barrier to keep out moisture and oxygen. A pouch and commercial scale manufacturing process were developed to incorporate this dual function into one item.
authors.affiliation: Perfecseal, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK. gmankel@bemis.com
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mankel
mesh_terms: D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods*; D019064:Product Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*