Method of sealing a cartridge or other medical container with a plastic closure
First Claim
1. A method of sealing a medical cartridge with a plastic closure, said medical cartridge including a tubular barrel portion having an open proximal end, a radial rim portion surrounding said open end, a reduced diameter neck portion adjacent said radial rim portion and a resilient stopper overlying said open proximal end and said rim portion of said medical cartridge, said method comprising:
- forming a clear plastic closure of a polymer which is sufficiently malleable to permit radial deformation, yet sufficiently rigid to retain its shape following deformation, and sufficiently resistant to creep to maintain a seal between the container and the plastic closure following radial deformation, said plastic closure including a generally cylindrical tubular collar portion having an internal diameter generally equal to or slightly greater than an outside diameter of said rim portion of said medical cartridge and an integral radial rim portion;
telescopically disposing said generally cylindrical tubular collar portion of said plastic closure over said rim portion of said cartridge with said radial rim portion of said plastic closure overlying said rim portion of said cartridge and said generally cylindrical tubular collar portion surrounding said rim of said container having a free end surrounding said reduced diameter neck portion of said container; and
radially deforming said free end of said generally cylindrical tubular collar portion of said plastic closure incrementally into said reduced diameter neck portion of said cartridge beneath said rim portion, said free end of said plastic closure retaining its shape beneath said radial rim portion of said cartridge following deformation to permanently retain said plastic closure on said cartridge and sealing said cartridge proximal open end.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of sealing a cartridge having a barrel with a polymeric closure, wherein the polymeric closure includes a tubular collar portion and an integral radial portion, The method includes disposing the tubular collar portion over the radial rim portion of the barrel to surround the reduced diameter neck portion and incrementally rolling and radially deforming the tubular collar portion adjacent its free end into the reduced diameter neck portion with a crimping tool, wherein the polymeric closure is sufficiently malleable to permit radial deformation, yet sufficiently rigid and resistant to creep to retain its shape following deformation The crimping tool or tools include an inclined surface having a gradually decreasing angles of inclination which are driven against the tubular collar portion adjacent the free end and the cartridge assembly and crimping tool are relatively rotated.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of sealing a medical cartridge with a plastic closure, said medical cartridge including a tubular barrel portion having an open proximal end, a radial rim portion surrounding said open end, a reduced diameter neck portion adjacent said radial rim portion and a resilient stopper overlying said open proximal end and said rim portion of said medical cartridge, said method comprising:
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forming a clear plastic closure of a polymer which is sufficiently malleable to permit radial deformation, yet sufficiently rigid to retain its shape following deformation, and sufficiently resistant to creep to maintain a seal between the container and the plastic closure following radial deformation, said plastic closure including a generally cylindrical tubular collar portion having an internal diameter generally equal to or slightly greater than an outside diameter of said rim portion of said medical cartridge and an integral radial rim portion;
telescopically disposing said generally cylindrical tubular collar portion of said plastic closure over said rim portion of said cartridge with said radial rim portion of said plastic closure overlying said rim portion of said cartridge and said generally cylindrical tubular collar portion surrounding said rim of said container having a free end surrounding said reduced diameter neck portion of said container; and
radially deforming said free end of said generally cylindrical tubular collar portion of said plastic closure incrementally into said reduced diameter neck portion of said cartridge beneath said rim portion, said free end of said plastic closure retaining its shape beneath said radial rim portion of said cartridge following deformation to permanently retain said plastic closure on said cartridge and sealing said cartridge proximal open end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of sealing a medical cartridge with a polymeric closure, said medical cartridge including a tubular barrel having an open distal end and an open proximal end having a radial rim portion surrounding said open proximal end, a reduced diameter neck portion adjacent said radial rim portion, said method comprising:
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molding a polymeric closure from a polymer which is sufficiently malleable to permit radial deformation, yet sufficiently rigid to retain its shape following deformation and sufficiently resistant to creep to maintain a seal between the polymeric closure and the medical cartridge following radial deformation, said closure including a generally cylindrical tubular collar portion having an internal diameter slightly greater than an outside diameter of said rim portion of said barrel and an integral radial rim portion and a central opening through said radial rim portion;
applying a pierceable stopper over said proximal end of said barrel;
telescopically receiving said tubular collar portion of said polymeric closure over said radial rim portion of said barrel with said radial rim portion of said polymeric closure overlying said pierceable stopper and said rim portion of said barrel and said tubular collar portion surrounding said rim portion and said reduced diameter neck portion of said barrel; and
incrementally cold forming and rolling said tubular collar portion of said polymeric closure with a crimping tool having an inclined surface facing said tubular collar portion opposite said neck portion of said barrel and relatively rotating said barrel and said crimping tool, said inclined surface of said crimping tool incrementally cold forming and rolling said tubular collar portion of said polymeric closure radially inwardly into said reduced diameter neck portion of said barrel, permanently securing said closure on said barrel and sealing said open proximal end. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of sealing a medical cartridge with a polymeric closure, said medical cartridge including a barrel having an open distal end and an open proximal end, including a radial rim portion surrounding said open proximal end and a reduced diameter neck portion adjacent said rim portion and an elastomeric septum received over said open proximal end of said barrel including a rim portion overlying said rim portion of said barrel, said method comprising the following steps:
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forming a polymeric closure including a generally cylindrical tubular collar portion having an internal diameter generally equal to or slightly greater than an outside diameter of said rim portion of said barrel and an integral radial rim portion having a central opening from a polymer which is sufficiently malleable to permit radial deformation, yet sufficiently rigid and resistant to creep to retain its shape following deformation;
telescopically receiving said tubular collar portion of said polymeric closure over said radial rim portion of said barrel and said rim portion of said elastomeric septum with said rim portion of said polymeric closure overlying said rim portion of said elastomeric septum and said tubular collar portion surrounding said rim portion and said reduced diameter neck portion of said barrel; and
compressing said rim portion of said polymeric closure against said rim portion of said elastomeric septum, and incrementally rolling and gradually cold forming said tubular collar portion of said polymeric closure against an inclined surface of a crimping tool having a decreasing angle of inclination opposite said neck portion of said barrel and relatively rotating said barrel against said inclined surface of said crimping tool, thereby incrementally rolling and gradually cold forming said tubular collar portion of said polymeric closure radially inwardly into said reduced diameter neck portion of said barrel, permanently securing said closure on said barrel and sealing said open proximal end of said barrel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification