Automation technology adds horsepower to medical syringe assembly
AutomationGT has recently entered into a partnership with a leading pharmaceutical company to help design and build a system for preparing drug injection needles. Previously this task was done manually, and only a few needles were prepared for each batch.
But how do you automate the process of handling very small needles? The answer is to use the latest robotic feeding system. To reduce the safety risks associated with manually operating the needle, the needle is inserted into the end of the needle by the machine and then backfilled with the drug for the next process.
Customers are requesting an advanced pharmaceutical grade system that can produce 20 pieces per minute. The system was built from stainless steel for 10,000 (ISO7) cleanrooms and is driven by a precision pick-and-place robot.
The needles of these needles are thinner than the needle tip and are covered with a sheath that prevents the needle tip from being stabbed during manual handling. The robotic hand can quickly pick up the needle from the tray, remove the sheath and slide it toward the positioner, where it is positioned by vertical rotation to position the oblique side of the needle. The robotic hand delivers the needle to the dispensing station through a quick, purposeful movement, where it is then coated with biodegradable glue (to form a seal that prevents spillage of the drug during backfilling). Accurate positioning of the needle is required when applying sealant. The machine uses an ultra-precision dual camera (one for positioning the X-axis and one for positioning the Y-axis) to guide the robot to determine the correct needle position using precise coordinates.
After the dispensing process is completed, the safety sheath is placed back into the needle to prevent the user from being stabbed while filling the medication. The machine allows the operator to skip the process of reloading the jacket so that the factory inspector only needs to inspect 10% of the needle.
The system is performed by a PLC multi-axis control system with a human machine interface (HMI), visual inspection system and robot. The HMI has been integrated into the dispensing system to allow the user to monitor the entire process, view run time, machine and total yield/defective rate at any time.
AutomationGT's fully automated dispensing machine delivers significant yield/product quality improvements, allowing technicians to redistribute less dangerous tasks. Supported by the industry's leading FDA documentation package, the system seamlessly integrates to customers' production facilities that meet all applicable UL inspection and certification standards. (Viki translation)
Antineoplastic,Antineoplastic Agents,Natural Antineoplastic,Methotrexate Antineoplastic
NOUVASANT GROUP LTD. , https://www.nouvasant.com