Drug Loading Through Plunger

• US 20100152676A1
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: DuPriest, Mark T., Clements, Don A., Clifford, Julie A., Sethi, Pardeep K., Rodstrom, Robert, Sanchez, Robert J. JR., Dacquay, Bruno
• Application Number:
  US12/635,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20100152676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/231
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31515 Connection of piston with piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like

Abstract

A drug loading apparatus includes a plunger with a through hole or slit valve located in the top face of the plunger. A dispensing chamber housing located in a drug delivery device is configured to receive the plunger so that a dispensing chamber is formed when the plunger is located in the dispensing chamber housing. The drug can then be loaded into the dispensing chamber through the plunger, and a piston with an end configured to seal the through hole or engage the plunger with the slit valve can then be inserted.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plunger with a through hole located in the top face of the plunger;

a dispensing chamber housing located in a drug delivery device, the dispensing chamber housing configured to receive the plunger so that a dispensing chamber is formed when the plunger is located in the dispensing chamber housing; and

a piston with an end configured to seal the through hole.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a drug loading apparatus configured to inject a mixture into the dispensing chamber through the plunger.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drug loading apparatus is heated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a temperature control device at least partially surrounding the dispensing chamber housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the through hole is semicircular and the piston has a semicircular lumen that forms a continuous path for injecting a mixture into the dispensing chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the piston is capable of being rotated to seal the through hole.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the through hole is generally perpendicular to a top face of the plunger.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the through hole is oriented at an angle with respect to a top face of the plunger.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the end of the piston that is configured to seal the through hole further comprises:

a protrusion that fits into the through hole.

10. A drug loading apparatus comprising:

a plunger with a slit valve located in the top face of the plunger;

a dispensing chamber housing located in a drug delivery device, the dispensing chamber housing configured to receive the plunger so that a dispensing chamber is formed when the plunger is located in the dispensing chamber housing; and

a piston with an end configured to engage the plunger.

11. A method of loading a drug into an injection device comprising:

placing a plunger in a dispensing chamber housing to form a dispensing chamber when the plunger is located in the dispensing chamber housing;

inserting a drug loading mechanism into the plunger; and

filling the dispensing chamber through the plunger.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

removing the drug loading mechanism from the plunger.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

inserting a piston into the plunger after the drug loading mechanism is removed.