Measurement Sensors for the Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry

As stated, precision is crucial in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, and even the slightest deviation in the dimensions or composition of equipment and drugs can lead to disastrous results. Because of that, the industry demands adherence to strict standards and protocols that ensure that each product is of the highest possible quality and safety specification.

Measuring sensors, such as thrubeam sensors and 2D/3D profilers, are therefore necessary to achieve higher levels of precision. They allow manufacturers to control the production process and ensure unparalleled quality control of their products.

KEYENCE 3D Snapshot sensors deliver best-in-class 3D inline measurement for different pharmaceutical application needs. Manufacturers must check for proper sealing in packaging to avoid deterioration and alteration of active product ingredients. It's also important to ensure containers have no holes or cuts so that moisture or gases don't get inside the packaging, which could cause oxidation and product damage.

Our 3D laser snapshot sensors for medical industry solutions can capture a wide inspection area in a single shot with fast imaging in as little as 0.2 seconds, allowing production lines to carry out measurement and inspection tasks rapidly.

Manufacturing of medical products and supplies requires no physical contact measurements to retain the quality and integrity of products under measurement/inspection. Physical contact with many medical products can contaminate the targets, altering their characteristics. As a laser-based technology, 3D snapshot laser systems offer non-contact and precision measurement for dimension analysis, surface profiling, and many other applications.

Another benefit of using laser-based systems like 3D snapshot sensors is the ultra-high imaging speed. Plus, the 3D data captured helps provide the depth or height data required to accurately determine the dimensions, appearance, shape, and other features of packaging materials.

The production of medical devices — such as needles, syringes, scalpels, and precision tweezers — often involves intricate designs that demand precision. Measurement sensors are often used for quality control purposes, such as measuring the dimensional accuracy of syringes, the shape and dimensions of injection needle tips, and the shape and dimensions of other devices.

These sensors ensure that the defective products get redirected on the production line long before they reach the packaging stage. Ampoule and vial dimensional inspection is also performed using sensors such as an optical micrometer.

In pharmaceuticals, precision measurement sensors inspect several different aspects of pills and tablets—most notably their size, weight, and composition standards. These ensure the chemical uniformity and consistency of the product; laser sensors and machine vision are particularly useful in discerning misshaped, discolored, and inadequately coated pills and tablets.

Medical equipment, ranging from mere tools to complex machines, also undergo thorough inspections. These inspections rely on precise measurement sensors, which ensure that all the equipment and components meet specified requirements and tolerances necessary for the proper functioning of said equipment.

Integrating measurement sensors into the medical and pharmaceutical inspection process ensures that the products adhere to strict industry standards and are thus safe to use. If you’re looking to integrate measurement sensors, KEYENCE has you covered. The TM-X5000 Series of thrubeam micrometer sensors is capable of providing fast and accurate measurements by capturing the silhouette of a target object, which is particularly useful in ampoule integrity verification and needle quality control.

Other sensors, such as the LK-G5000 Series, are often used to measure the uniform thickness of IV bags, while the LJ-X8000 Series often finds its use in pharmaceutical industries, where it inspects blister packaging for tears of missing tablets.

Use laser snapshot sensors to enhance inspection efforts. Laser snapshot sensors for the medical and pharmaceutical industries, such as the LJ-S8000 Series, come with standard and proprietary functions that make measurement and inspection tasks faster, more accurate, and easier.

For example, our LJ-S Series is the first in the world to utilize a motor-driven scanning detection method. This design eliminates the need for an external lighting unit, lensing, a stage, or an encoder. With an imaging speed of 0.2 seconds and repeatability of 0.3 µm, the system can be installed in different medical and pharmaceutical lines for ultra-high-speed and ultra-high-accuracy inline inspections.

Interested in streamlining your medical and pharmaceutical inspection processes? Contact us today about how our 3D snapshot sensors can be utilized in your pharmaceutical packaging applications. From thrubeam micrometers to laser displacement sensors, we have the perfect solution for you!