ISO 11607: A Primer on Packaging for Terminally Sterilized Medical Devices

For many medical devices, sterilization is the final step in the manufacturing process before they’re shipped and used by patients and providers all over the world.

However, the act of sterilization isn’t the last thing manufacturers need to be concerned about. For the device to be safe for users and patients alike, it has toremainsterile from the moment it exits the sterilization process up until the moment it’s used.

The device’s packaging will dictate whether it stays sterile through the shipping, handling, and storage process—until the moment it’s needed. And because packaging is so important to the safety and effectiveness of sterilized medical devices, the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) has created a standard to address the packaging requirements for terminally sterilized medical devices: ISO 11607.

In this article, we’ll review the basics of ISO 11607 and walk you through the key packaging requirements you need to understand and follow in order to achieve a terminally sterilized medical device:

What is ISO 11607?

To say that a medical device is “terminally sterilized” is to say that it has undergone a sterilization process while the product is already within its packaging, which includes a sterile barrier system. Asterile barrier systemis the minimum layer of protection, often placed within an outer layer of packaging, that ensures sterility.

The “packaging system” as a whole is a combination of the sterile barrier system and any protective packaging used to prevent damage to the sterile barrier system or the device. Terminally sterilized devices are sterilized using an agent that can penetrate their packaging system, such asethylene oxideorgamma radiation.

This type of sterilization differs from aseptic processing, where products or components are sterilized separately and are later put together in a sterile environment. ISO 11607 covers the packaging requirements—for the entire packaging system—for any terminally sterilized devices.

The ISO 11607 standard is broken up into two parts:

• : The first part of the standard covers the requirements and methods for testing the sterile barrier systems and packaging systems that are required to keep terminally sterilized medical devices sterile until they reach the end user.

• : The second part of this standard includes the requirements for the development and validation of processes manufacturers must follow to ensure the sterile barrier systems for their medical devices work as intended and keep devices sterilized until their use.

• What are the main requirements for medical device packaging in ISO 11607?

  There are a lot of requirements for packaging in ISO 11607. In fact, the word “shall” (which in this context, means youmustdo it) appears more than 115 times in the document. For the sake of brevity, I want to outline just a few of the most critical requirements within the standard you must understand and adhere to:

  • First, ISO 11607 requirements explicitly state thatpackaging must keep the device sterile until the moment of use. This means a user must be able to bring the device out of the packaging without contamination.

  • The requirements from ISO 11607 also specify thatpackaging must come with instructions on how to remove the device from the sterile barrier system in an aseptic manner.

  • Additionally, thepackaging itself must be resistant to the sterilization process. This is a reference to the fact that popular terminal sterilization processes like ethylene oxide or radiation have the ability to deform or degrade certain types of packaging. So, the sterile barrier system and any protective packaging outside it must be able to undergo the sterilization process without degradation, discoloration, or any other defects.

  • One requirement of ISO 11607 that sometimes goes overlooked isstability testing. The shelf-life of a sterilized device depends in large part upon its packaging, and medical devicemanufacturers must test and prove that their packaging will ensure sterility throughout the shelf-life they claim for their device. This may include accelerated aging of the packaging or tests of its ability to withstand different pressures, temperatures, humidity levels, or applications of physical force.

  • Lastly, ISO 11607 also addresses the expectation thatsampling must be used to validate the packaging process. It emphasises that the sampling must be decided upon using a statistically valid method.

  What changed in ISO 11607-1:2019 from the previous version?

  The most recent update to ISO 11607 occurred in 2019, and it included some significant revisions. These revisions were made in an attempt to harmonize the standard with theGeneral Safety and Performance Requirements(GSPR) in the new European Union Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR).

  Some of the updates in the 2019 version of ISO 11607 include:

  • A usability evaluation requirement for aseptic presentation in a real-world situation

  • A requirement to include risk management in the packaging process

  • An annex regarding environmental considerations

  • A new section on design change and validation

  While ISO 11607:2019 is still relatively new, anamendment to the standardis currently underway to develop a GSPR-harmonized version. The reason for this being the current standard’s direction to “consider” risk management is not detailed enough. So, a future, amended version will contain a generalrisk management processthat addresses this inadequacy.

  Keep in mind, though, this new risk management process will not expand the scope of the standard. The requirements and validation process outlined in both Part 1 and Part 2 of ISO 11607:2019 will remain current.

Other supplier products

	手动封口机	微电脑温度控制，数码管显示，温度可调，超高温自动保护，低温自动报警，过流保护等领先设计，具有加热速度快，性能稳定，外形美观，使用安全，操作简便，返修率低的优点，同时内置双刃切割刀，确保切口平整。
	血液透析水处理系统	1、完善的应急预案，两阶段同时操作，也可单独进行第一或第二阶段操作，电气控制系统出现故障时，可进行手动操作。 打开继电器，运行设备； 2.特殊的膜组件确保RO膜外表面与膜壳内壁之间的死区得到持续冲洗，有效防止生物膜形成； 3.清洁管道。两级反渗透主机不锈钢管道采用单面焊接双面成型制作，管道内部...
	工业封口机	EF803系列工业封口机用于呼吸袋、聚乙烯塑料袋等需要热封处理的特殊设备。可采用电动或气动加压封口方式封口，可用于呼吸袋和塑料袋、铝箔袋等包装袋的封口，主要适用于各类工业企业、生物制药、医用耗材等生产单位用于各类物品灭菌前或灭菌后的各类包装袋的封口，封口质量完全符合国际标准或GMP认证的要求，...
	喷射洗涤枪	喷射洗涤枪(spay gun)，型号 用铬电镀铝合金制成 专业机构，允许进行水压调节 专用抗滑有机硅材料自持手柄 装置快速、停机用的专业接水阀 8种不同填料用于我的洗涤和漂洗 固定在墙上，用于符合人体工程学地放置喷嘴 螺旋和水软管，最大延伸至255厘米 填料和固定件由AISI 304不锈钢...
	20T/H 饮用纯净水净化系统	RO反渗透系统 康辉反渗透水处理设备采用预处理装置(石英砂过滤器、 活性炭、软水器、保安过滤器)带RO反渗透系统多重过滤 和分离水离子技术，除盐率可达97%-99% 工作流程图: 原水泵→石英砂过滤器→活性炭过滤器→防垢加药系统→保安过滤器→...

供应产品

Same products

	Robotic welding	卖方: Traditional Welding in Furniture Manufacturing	Robotic welding has transformed modern manufacturing by improving welding accuracy, producti...
	Multi Dimensional Welding Robot	卖方: Traditional Welding in Furniture Manufacturing	Multi Dimensional Welding Robot are widely used in modern manufacturing for their flexibilit...
	YB-06-KS 6-Axis Industrial Robotic Arm	卖方: Traditional Welding in Furniture Manufacturing	YB-06-KS 6-Axis Industrial Robotic Arm The dual-station rotary welding system achieves sea...
	No-Code Teaching Welding Robot	卖方: Traditional Welding in Furniture Manufacturing	No-Code Teaching Welding Robot YB-08-JC No-Code Teaching Welding Robot This system supports...
	Furniture Welding Factory	卖方: Traditional Welding in Furniture Manufacturing	Furniture Welding Factory In modern furniture manufacturing, welding is a key process that d...