Applications of Airborne Ultrasound Technology Across Different Industries



Airborne Ultrasound technology is a deterministic seal quality inspection method for non-destructive testing of flexible package seals. It is an FDA Recognized Standard for seal quality integrity testing. Seal defects of various types, visible and invisible, leaking and non-leaking, process-related and random, can be detected. Testing using Airborne Ultrasound technology is an economical and cost-effective approach for evaluating the seal integrity of the final pouch. Airborne Ultrasound technology has been proven in the fields with both online (Seal-Sensor) and offline laboratory (Seal-Scan) solution options. As per ASTM F3004-13, this is the standard test method for the evaluation of seal quality and integrity. 

 

Overview of Airborne Ultrasound Technology 

 

When a package seal passes over the sensor head, ultrasonic waves propagate through the material, causing sound waves to reflect. When defects are found, the signal strength is reduced/eliminated, allowing the defect to be recognized. The greater the acoustic difference between mediums, the more sound is reflected and the less sound is transferred through the seal. Many materials, including Tyvek®, paper, foil, film, aluminum, plastic & poly can be tested with Airborne Ultrasound. Airborne Ultrasound technology characterizes the overall quality and uniformity of the package seal. This is a non-invasive technology that can be applied in various fields like pharmaceutical, medical devices, and food & nutrition.  

 

Industrial Applications of Airborne Ultrasound Technology 

 

Pharmaceutical 

 

Packaging is critical in preserving the quality of pharmaceuticals throughout their shelf life. The quality of solid oral dose drugs degrades over time when oxygen and moisture enter the package. As said, identifying the optimum packaging needs may be difficult, and if a systematic approach to pharmaceutical packaging and testing is not developed, there might be significant delays in getting a product to the market. Hence, the pharmaceutical manufacturers choose various container closure integrity test (CCIT) methods for testing packages prior to distribution.  Airborne Ultrasound technology is one such method. The method assures the quality of package seals.  

 

Medical Devices 

 

Medical device quality control inspection is regarded as critical in maintaining the safe delivery of medical devices from their point of origin to the market. Package testing of medical devices ensures packaging integrity and seal strength, which are both critical for sustaining medical device sterility. However, rapid advancements in medical technologies have posed a challenge to the medical device packaging industry in terms of ensuring package quality and reliability. 

 

Contamination is a major issue in any medical industry, particularly for Class III medical devices. These are directly implanted into human bodies, therefore, suitable packaging is necessary to assure the product's quality until it reaches the patient. Any defect in the container can cause microbes to enter the device, causing serious health concerns. As a result, adequate package integrity testing and seal quality inspection of Class III medical devices are necessary to guarantee seal quality and sterile barrier integrity.  

 

Food and Nutrition 

 

Packaging is the most important factor in maintaining the safety of food and nutrition products. Food and nutrition safety is crucial for consumer well-being and health. Packaging overcomes hurdles associated with shipping, material handling, and storage of packaged food. The safety of such products might be compromised if packaging integrity is not properly maintained and tested. Packaging protects food and nutrition products from contamination, heat, physical damage, and much more. As a result, effective packaging keeps the products safe until the point of use.  Package integrity for high risk nutritional products such as infant nutrition, is particularly critical.    


There have been several packaging improvements throughout the years in many industries. This created package integrity challenges for the manufacturers. The implementation of appropriate package integrity testing solutions helps manufacturers reduce packaging defects that would otherwise cause serious health risks for consumers.   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ASTM F2391-05 Standard Test Method for Measuring Package and Seal Integrity

Image
ASTM F2391-05 is a standard test method recognized by  the global regulatory community for measuring package and seal integrity  using helium technology .  Users can utilize this test method to perform package and seal integrity testing with adequate sensitivity to evaluate seals at extremely low levels of sensitivity.  Packages made of different materials may be evaluated in the complete range of seal performance requirements using seal-isolating leak testing equipment. This makes the ASTM F2391-05 test method to be utilized efficiently for a wide range of applications.    Measuring package and seal integrity using tracer gas- helium     The ASTM F2391-05  s tandard  t est  m ethod generally consists of a number of procedures for determining the overall package and seal barrier performance of a variety of package types and forms, as well as seal/closure types .  The use of helium as a tracer gas establishes helium  leak testing  as a reliable container closure integrity test technique
Read more

VeriPac Series for Testing Integrity of Meat Snack Products

Image
  Ensuring the package integrity of meat products is of paramount importance in the food industry. Proper packaging plays a vital role in maintaining the quality, safety, and shelf life of meat products, protecting them from contamination, spoilage, and potential foodborne illnesses.     Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is a food packaging technique that involves altering the gas composition within a sealed package to extend the shelf life and preserve the quality of perishable food products. The primary purpose of MAP is to slow down the spoilage processes caused by microorganisms, oxidation, and other deteriorative reactions, thereby maintaining the freshness and appearance of the food for an extended period. The specific gas composition and packaging conditions depend on the type of food being packaged, its respiration rate, and the desired shelf life. Different food products have different requirements, and the packaging process must be optimized accordingly.     Why MAP?   1. E
Read more

Coffee Packaging Quality Control Solutions

Image
  In the world of coffee packaging, ensuring the integrity of the packages is crucial to maintaining the quality and freshness of the coffee beans. Stale, poor tasting coffee is not something anyone wants to experience and brand reputation for quality products is of paramount importance in the coffee packaging industry .     The challenges posed by factors such as air, moisture, and contaminants necessitate robust quality control measures. This article explores the challenges and opportunities in coffee packaging, focusing on the testing of package integrity with an emphasis on PTI's Vacuum Decay technology .   Coffee packaging faces numerous challenges, including exposure to air, which can lead to oxidation and loss of flavor . Additionally, the presence of moisture and contaminants poses a threat to the quality of the coffee. Despite these challenges, there are also a number of opportunities for coffee packaging manufacturers. For example, the growing demand for single-serv
Read more