The time to begin thinking about medical device packaging is when clinical trials or other tests have shown the device to be safe and effective, and an application for FDA approval is being prepared for submission.
Since package development takes time and is required for FDA approval, considering packaging late in development will only further delay introduction to market.
What is your product?Does it need to be kept wet or dry? Where will it be opened? What is the end use and who is the end user? Answering these basic questions will help define the parameters of your package development efforts.
From what does the product need to be protected?Is it abrasion, environmental damage (heat, cold, humidity, etc.) or atmospheric damage (light, oxygen, water vapor, etc.)? Answering these questions will help determine packaging materials, which may include foil or a coex to produce the required barrier properties (oxygen, moisture vapor, etc.).