Container with valve assembly, and apparatus and method for filling
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vial has a body defining a chamber for receiving a substance therein; and a valve assembly coupled in fluid communication with the chamber and defining (i) an open position permitting at least one of (a) passage of the substance through the valve assembly and into the chamber for storing the substance in the chamber, and (b) passage of the substance out of the chamber for dispensing the substance therefrom; and (ii) a closed position forming a fluid-tight seal between the chamber and exterior of the container, A filling member is connectable in fluid communication with the valve assembly to fill the chamber therethrough.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1-50. -50. (canceled)
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51. A device that is fillable in a filling assembly including a filling member coupled in fluid communication with a substance source for introducing the substance into the device, the device comprising:
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a body defining a chamber for receiving a substance therein; and
a valve assembly connectable in fluid communication between the filling member and the chamber for introducing the substance through the valve assembly and into the chamber, wherein the valve assembly includes an axially-extending valve seat, and a flexible valve member overlying the valve seat, the flexible valve member and the valve seat form a normally closed interface defining a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and the flexible valve member is flexible outwardly relative to the valve seat in response to the introduction of substance at sufficient pressure from the filling member into the interface between the valve member and the valve seat to open the valve assembly and allow passage of the substance therethrough and into the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A device that is fillable in a filling assembly including a filling member coupled in fluid communication with a substance source for introducing the substance into the device, the device comprising:
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a body defining a chamber for receiving a substance therein; and
first means connectable in fluid communication between the filling member and the chamber for introducing the substance through the first means and into the chamber, wherein the first means includes second means extending axially within the first means and cooperating with third means for forming a normally closed interface between the second and third means defining a fluid-tight seal, and third means cooperating with the second means for forming the normally closed interface defining the fluid-tight seal, and for flexing outwardly relative to the second means in response to the introduction of substance at sufficient pressure from the filling member into the interface between the second and third means to allow passage of the substance through the interface and into the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64)
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65. A method of filling a device with a substance, wherein the device includes a body defining a chamber for receiving the substance therein, and a valve assembly including an axially-extending valve seat, and a flexible valve member overlying the valve seat and forming a normally closed interface defining a fluid-tight seal between the valve member and the valve seat, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
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providing a device having a sealed, empty sterile chamber;
filling the sterile empty chamber with the substance by moving at least one of the valve assembly and a filling member into fluid communication with the other;
introducing the substance from the filling member at sufficient pressure into the interface between the valve member and the valve seat to flex the valve member outwardly relative to the valve seat and, in turn, flow through the interface between the valve member and the valve seat and into the chamber;
terminating the flow of the substance from the filling member into the interface between the valve member and the valve seat, allowing the flexible valve member to form the normally closed interface defining the fluid-tight seal between the valve member and the valve seat, and in turn sealing the substance with the chamber; and
moving at least one of the valve assembly and the filling member relative to the other to disconnect the valve assembly and the filling member from fluid communication with each other. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification