Sterile filling machine having needle filling station within e-beam chamber
First Claim
1. A method for sterile filling a container with a substance, wherein the container includes a heat resealable stopper and a chamber for receiving the substance therein, the method comprising the steps of:
- sealing the stopper to the container;
transporting the sealed, empty containers through an e-beam chamber;
directing an electron beam within the e-beam chamber onto a penetrable surface of the stopper to sterilize the penetrable surface;
introducing a needle within the e-beam chamber through the sterilized penetrable surface of the stopper;
introducing through the needle a substance into the chamber of the container;
withdrawing the needle from the stopper upon introducing the substance through the needle and into the chamber;
transporting the filled containers out of the e-beam chamber; and
applying energy to the penetrated surface of the stopper and hermetically sealing same.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sterile filling machine and related method are provided for sterile filling a container with a substance. The container includes a heat resealable stopper and a chamber for receiving the substance therein. The sealed, empty containers are subjected to radiation capable of penetrating through the stopper and chamber for sterilizing the container. The previously sterilized containers are then transported through an e-beam chamber, wherein an electron beam is directed onto a penetrable surface of the stopper to sterilize the penetrable surface. A needle is mounted within the e-beam chamber and moved into engagement with the stopper to pierce the sterilized penetrable surface of the stopper and inject the substance through the needle and into the chamber of the container. The needle is then withdrawn from the stopper and the filled container is transported outside of the e-beam chamber. Laser energy is then transmitted onto the penetrated surface of the stopper to fuse the stopper material and hermetically re-seal the stopper.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for sterile filling a container with a substance, wherein the container includes a heat resealable stopper and a chamber for receiving the substance therein, the method comprising the steps of:
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sealing the stopper to the container;
transporting the sealed, empty containers through an e-beam chamber;
directing an electron beam within the e-beam chamber onto a penetrable surface of the stopper to sterilize the penetrable surface;
introducing a needle within the e-beam chamber through the sterilized penetrable surface of the stopper;
introducing through the needle a substance into the chamber of the container;
withdrawing the needle from the stopper upon introducing the substance through the needle and into the chamber;
transporting the filled containers out of the e-beam chamber; and
applying energy to the penetrated surface of the stopper and hermetically sealing same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for sterile filling a container with a substance, wherein the container includes a heat resealable stopper and a chamber for receiving the substance therein, the apparatus comprising:
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an e-beam chamber for receiving the container therein;
an e-beam source for directing an electron beam within the e-beam chamber onto a penetrable surface of the stopper to sterilize the penetrable surface;
a needle movably mounted within the e-beam chamber, wherein the needle is movable into and out of engagement with the resealable stopper for piercing the resealable stopper and introducing a substance through the stopper and into the sealed chamber of the container; and
an energy source connectable in thermal communication with the penetrable surface of the resealable stopper for applying energy to the penetrable surface after withdrawing the needle therefrom to hermetically seal same. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for sterile filling a container with a substance, wherein the container includes a heat resealable stopper and a chamber for receiving the substance therein, the apparatus comprising:
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an e-beam chamber for receiving the container therein;
first means for directing an e-beam beam within the e-beam chamber onto a penetrable surface of the stopper to sterilize the penetrable surface;
second means located within the e-beam chamber and movable into and out of engagement with the resealable stopper for piercing the resealable stopper and introducing a substance through the stopper and into the sealed chamber of the container; and
third means for applying energy to the penetrable surface of the resealable stopper after withdrawing the second means therefrom to hermetically reseal the penetrable surface. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification