Apparatus and methods for lyophilizing and sealing a medicament within a medical delivery device having an opening. The apparatus may include a stopper for sealing the opening. The stopper may have one or more elongated members extending from a base, in a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the base. One or more of the members may be set radially away from the axis and define a coaxial central well. The member or members may define a void. The elongated member or members may engage a device inner wall and support the base away from the opening. The void may provide gas exchange between a device interior and a device exterior. The gas may be a lyophilization byproduct that escapes from the device interior between the inner wall, the base and the member or members. The stopper may be advanced into the device to seal the opening.

Apparatus and methods for lyophilizing and sealing a medicament within a medical delivery device having an opening. The apparatus may include a stopper for sealing the opening. The stopper may have one or more elongated members extending from a base, in a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the base. One or more of the members may be set radially away from the axis and define a coaxial central well. The member or members may define a void. The elongated member or members may engage a device inner wall and support the base away from the opening. The void may provide gas exchange between a device interior and a device exterior. The gas may be a lyophilization byproduct that escapes from the device interior between the inner wall, the base and the member or members. The stopper may be advanced into the device to seal the opening.

An automated apparatus and method for configuring and producing packaging for orders of variable configurations of perishable items includes an automatic case erector-sealer; a packing liner dispenser; a cold pack dispenser; a control system; a point of sale ecommerce platform; and a data processor to capture order configuration, order destination, and available order points of origin. The control system captures and uses the order configuration, destination, and delivery date, to generate a time in transit (TNT), total volume, cold volume, and ambient volume, of items in the order. The total volume and cold volume are used to generate a product cube category (PCC). The TNT and the PCC are used to generate a packaging configuration for the order. The system uses the packaging configuration to generate and send operational directives to one or more of the automatic case erector-sealer, the packing liner dispenser, and the cold pack dispenser.

An automated apparatus and method for configuring and producing packaging for orders of variable configurations of perishable items includes an automatic case erector-sealer; a packing liner dispenser; a cold pack dispenser; a control system; a point of sale ecommerce platform; and a data processor to capture order configuration, order destination, and available order points of origin. The control system captures and uses the order configuration, destination, and delivery date, to generate a time in transit (TNT), total volume, cold volume, and ambient volume, of items in the order. The total volume and cold volume are used to generate a product cube category (PCC). The TNT and the PCC are used to generate a packaging configuration for the order. The system uses the packaging configuration to generate and send operational directives to one or more of the automatic case erector-sealer, the packing liner dispenser, and the cold pack dispenser.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for treating and sealing perishable products in bulk bins and large bulk open top packaging are included. A modified atmosphere of industrial gas (i.e., nitrogen) and product specific treatments are injected within the contents of the liner bag or bin enclosure at the conclusion of the cooling cycle, in conjunction with or just after as the liner bag or open top bin enclosure is sealed. The methods and apparatuses provide alternative processes that can be applied manually or automated to seal of the bin liner bag or bin enclosure and then independently or in conjunction with cooling provide for the controlled and contained injection of modified atmosphere industrial gas treatments (i.e., nitrogen), sanitizer, and/or other functional substances to protect, preserve, or enhance the quality of the perishable product.

The disclosure relates to a deep-drawing packaging machine with a forming station for deep-drawing trays into a film, a loading stretch for filling products into the trays, and a sealing station for sealing the trays. The deep-drawing packaging machine further comprises at least one vacuum cooling station which is disposed in a direction of transport upstream of the sealing station and which is formed for vacuum cooling the products placed into the trays along the loading stretch. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for vacuum cooling products.

The disclosure relates to a deep-drawing packaging machine with a forming station for deep-drawing trays into a film, a loading stretch for filling products into the trays, and a sealing station for sealing the trays. The deep-drawing packaging machine further comprises at least one vacuum cooling station which is disposed in a direction of transport upstream of the sealing station and which is formed for vacuum cooling the products placed into the trays along the loading stretch. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for vacuum cooling products.

An example technique of forming a package includes retaining a package precursor in a support. The package precursor includes a shrink-formable composition and defines an interior volume configured to enclose a component, such as a medical supply. The package may be formed by at least directing a flow of heated medium from a nozzle toward at least one region of the package precursor to cause the at least one region to shrink faster than an adjacent region of the package precursor. In some examples, an example system for shrink-forming a package includes the support and the nozzle.

An example technique of forming a package includes retaining a package precursor in a support. The package precursor includes a shrink-formable composition and defines an interior volume configured to enclose a component, such as a medical supply. The package may be formed by at least directing a flow of heated medium from a nozzle toward at least one region of the package precursor to cause the at least one region to shrink faster than an adjacent region of the package precursor. In some examples, an example system for shrink-forming a package includes the support and the nozzle.

A multi-stage method of filling a container for storing a liquid makes use of a pre-loading process to insert a pre-fill portion of the liquid containing at least a flavorant, and in some embodiments both a flavorant and a sweetener. This creates a container that has been predosed with flavor and other components. Such a predosed container can be stored and shipped to be filled with the remaining components, before final packaging and distribution.