Unit package heals problem with liquid suture: veterinarians can use a wound-closure adhesive more easily thanks to innovative single-dose packaging

Food & Drug Packaging,  Oct, 2002  

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Makers of a wound-closure adhesive--a product veterinarians use as an alternative sutures during minor animal surgeries--recently had a sticky problem on their hands.

Officials at Veterinary Products Laboratories (VPL) of Phoenix, Ariz., were confident their new product would outperform similar adhesives on the market. Yet they suspected that something more was needed for Tissumend to gain a toehold in a marketplace where two chief rivals already were well entrenched.

Research pointed toward innovative packaging as the solution. VPL decision-makers calculated that if a convenient unit-dose applicator could be devised, then their product would be uniquely positioned in the market.

With these high hopes, VPL approached Unicep Packaging Inc. Unicep's specialty package is the MicroDose, an eye-catching unit-dose package that combines the accuracy of a syringe with the simplicity of a tube and disposability of a vial. Unicep embraced VPL's concept, took note of the technical challenges and then went to work.

The results have spoken for themselves. Since its introduction in March 2002, Tissumend has exceeded initial sales projections and has captured increasing market share.

"There's nothing like it on the market," says VPL marketing director Betsy Watkins. "It was a new adventure for both of us, and Unicep has been a wonderful partner to work with."

The success of Tissumend began with methyl cyanoacrylate, a patented tissue-adhesive polymer with important new virtues. For example, the substance is bioabsorbable and tissue-friendly in case a portion escapes into a patient's wound. Furthermore, the new polymer proved to be very stable for packaging, whereas previous adhesives' chemistry had been incompatible with the MicroDose vial.

Previous packaging for this type of product has consisted of multidose high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles with screw caps. Using a dropper bottle or pipette, veterinarians would have to transfer the product to a secondary container where it might harden and be wasted. Vets also complained that by inadvertently touching pipettes to the cap, they sometimes glued the bottles shut.

By contrast, unit-dose packaging with MicroDose reduces waste and improves product integrity. The MicroDose squeeze-bulb also offers controlled dispensing via its tapered, angled nozzle, which eliminates the chance of creating a mess.

Unicep incorporates nitrogen flushing throughout the contract-packaging process at its facility in Sandpoint, Idaho, to deal with oxygen and moisture sensitivity. A blended low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/HDPE resin is utilized to meet shelf-life requirements while also maintaining flexibility for the squeeze-bulb. The 0.2 ml MicroDose units are filled using Unicep's proprietary modified blow-fill-seal process.

VPL's Watkins says, "It went extremely well. And when a back-order situation developed, Unicep was great as far as squeezing us into production runs and keeping our lead times short."

IN A NUTSHELL

Goal: Eliminate waste in using wound-closure adhesive

How: Single-dose packaging

Results: Neater dispensing with better product integrity

For more information

Unicep Packaging, Inc.
208-265-9696; www.unicep.com

COPYRIGHT 2002 BNP Media
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning