In the Spotlight May 2010

Editors' Picks of Pharmaceutical Science & Technology Innovations

A drug product's packaging performs several important functions for patients. It provides needed dosing instructions and contraindications. A package also can serve as a drug-delivery device such as a prefilled syringe. Packaging assists manufacturers, too, by helping to provide authentication. This month's products enable companies to create packages that perform all of these duties. An inkjet printer from Videojet enables users to work on two separate product labels at once. Cognex's software solution lets companies establish item-level traceability. Astech's inhaler tester is designed to reduce variability in quality-assurance operations.

Printer designed for serialization applications

The Wolke m600 advanced inkjet printer from Videojet Technologies (Wood Dale, IL), features a multiprocessor architecture specifically designed for applications such as serialization that require high throughput of variable data. One processor is dedicated to sending data to the printheads, thus preventing interruptions in data transmissions. The second processor controls input–output functions, and the third processor manages data transfer between the input–output processor and the print processor. The multiprocessor architecture allows the operator to edit a label in the printer's memory while the machine is printing another label.

Wolke m600 inkjet printer Videojet Technologies www.videojet.com

The printer's flexible hardware and software facilitate integration with pharmaceutical packaging lines and with various equipment and line controllers. The company also offers four printhead designs to facilitate integration into tight spaces that require different printhead shapes, mounting locations, or cable-connection locations.

Robotic inhaler tester increases productivity

Astech Projects's (Runcorn, UK) Xelair Series 5 automated inhaler tester is designed to reduce variability and increase efficiency. The unit's device-handling module has a robotic arm that picks up inhalers and places them into a device-actuation module. The unit can shake inhalers accurately according to user-defined parameters such as speed, acceleration, frequency, and amplitude. The tester's movements are monitored and stored in the test record. The robot also can remove caps and clean devices if necessary. The tester was designed for 24-h operation.

Xelair Series 5 inhaler tester Astech Projects www.astechprojects.com

Software provides scalable serialization solution

Cognex's (Natick, MA) In-Sight Track and Trace software package is a data-capture and -verification solution designed to help pharmaceutical manufacturers achieve unit-level product traceability. Together with Cognex's In-Sight vision systems, the software can read 2D and 1D barcodes and verify identification-code contents. The product also evaluates data-matrix codes during production to detect changes in print quality. In addition, the software confirms the accuracy of printed text and detects label misalignment.

In-Sight Track and Trace software Cognex www.cognex.com

Users can configure and operate the software through a touchscreen interface. Developers can integrate the Track and Trace interface into a computer-based human–machine interface or into a custom application. Users also can combine the software with third-party products. This feature enables users to customize and scale their serialization solutions according to their needs. The software complies with 21 CFR Part 11, and includes the technical controls needed for validation.

New Product Announcements

may be sent to New Products Editor, Pharmaceutical Technology, 485 Route One South, Building F, First Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830, fax 732.596.0005, ptpress@advanstar.com.