Ready To Use Components · Single-Use Filling Equipment · Nested Containers
RTU
RTU filling equipment
Ready To Use (RTU) means that a variety of single-use filling equipment — such as sterile connectors for liquid drugs, filling needles, intermediate bags, tubing and related assemblies — are already sterilized, validated and assembled for immediate use in aseptic filling applications, often in combination with peristaltic pumps.
Disposable rolling diaphragm pumps and even rotary piston pumps are also available on the market for one-time-use-only in a batch.
The annual growth rate of disposables / single-use pre-sterilized equipment is about 30%.
RTU container
The term RTU is not limited to filling equipment. Containers such as vials, syringes and cartridges are also available ready-to-use. They come as nests, trays or bricks, pre-sterilized and multiply bagged.
In small batch production and clinical studies, a product change can take place on the same filling machine in just a few minutes. As a result, more economical production can be achieved than with conventional filling systems.
For larger batches, product contact parts can be completely replaced, eliminating the risk of cross contamination by the filling system.
When filling high potency pharmaceuticals, operator safety is improved by avoiding direct contact with the product or contaminated surfaces.
Bulk vs Ready to Use (nest)
Comparison based on a small scale isolator vial line (2R, LYO, 3000 vials / hour).
What are the advantages of Ready-To-Use filling equipment and containers?
- Lower investment cost, faster line installation, lower running costs and lower maintenance costs.
- Reduced space requirement because container washer and depyrogenation can be eliminated.
- Reduced energy costs because depyrogenation can require hundreds of kW.
- Elimination of hard-piped product supply and CIP/SIP for the pipes.
- Reduced media supply costs such as purified water, WFI, sterile air, glycol and cleaning agents.
- RTU filling equipment installation is plug & play right out of the bag.
- Decreased time to production by reducing changeover time, cleaning and autoclaving.
- Increased process, production and product safety because cross-contamination risk is reduced to a minimum.
- Reduced validation and approval time.