Lyophilization cap and method
First Claim
1. A sealing cap for use with a pharmaceutical container of the type which undergoes lyophilization, the container having an interior terminating at an open mouth surrounded by a rim and having an outwardly extending mouth ring, the mouth ring having a shoulder facing away from the rim, the cap comprising:
- a body including an outer end and an inner end, said outer end of the body including an external thread;
the body including a container engaging means, including at least one radially deflectable element, for mounting the cap to the container at a first, lyophilized position, at which fluid flow through the mouth into and from the container interior is substantially unhindered, and a second, sealed position, at which the cap seals the mouth of the container; and
an axially movable lock ring which locks the cap to the container when the cap is at the second position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sealing cap (2, 2a) is mounted to the open mouth of a pharmaceutical-containing container (20) which is to undergo lyophilization. The container has an outwardly extending mouth ring (26) with a shoulder (28) spaced apart from and facing away from the mouth (22). The sealing cap includes a body (4, 4a) having a through hole (6) covered by a piercible septum (16). The body includes radially deflectable fingers (30, 30a) which engage the mouth ring when the cap is at an open position, at which fluid flow into and out of the interior (38) of the container is substantially unhindered. The fingers also include surfaces (42, 42a) which engage the shoulder of the mouth ring when the cap seals the container mouth. The cap is locked into place using a lock ring (44, 44a) which engages the distal ends (47, 47a) of the fingers to keep the fingers engaged beneath the mouth ring. The sealing cap moves from the open to the sealed position using straight line, axial movement with simple fixtures.
78 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sealing cap for use with a pharmaceutical container of the type which undergoes lyophilization, the container having an interior terminating at an open mouth surrounded by a rim and having an outwardly extending mouth ring, the mouth ring having a shoulder facing away from the rim, the cap comprising:
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a body including an outer end and an inner end, said outer end of the body including an external thread; the body including a container engaging means, including at least one radially deflectable element, for mounting the cap to the container at a first, lyophilized position, at which fluid flow through the mouth into and from the container interior is substantially unhindered, and a second, sealed position, at which the cap seals the mouth of the container; and an axially movable lock ring which locks the cap to the container when the cap is at the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cap sealing cap for use with a pharmaceutical container of the type which undergoes lyophilization, the container having an interior terminating at an open mouth surrounded by a rim and having an outwardly extending mouth ring, the mouth ring having a shoulder facing away from the rim, the cap comprising:
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a body including an outer end and an inner end; the body including a container engaging means, including a plurality of radially deflectable fingers, for mounting the cap to the container at a first, lyophilized position, at which fluid flow through the mouth into and from the container interior is substantially unhindered, and a second, sealed position, at which the cap seals the mouth of the container, said radially deflectable fingers including; mouth ring engaging portions sized and positioned to engage the mouth ring when the cap is at the first position; and shoulder engaging portions sized and positioned to engage the shoulder when the cap is at the second position; and an axially movable lock ring which locks the cap to the container when the cap is at the second position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A sealing cap for use with a pharmaceutical cartridge of the type which undergoes lyophilization, the cartridge having an interior terminating at an open mouth surrounded by a rim and having an outwardly extending mouth ring, the mouth ring having a shoulder facing away from the rim, the cap comprising:
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a molded body including; an outer end and an inner end, the outer end of the body including radially deflectable segments on which an external thread is formed so to aid removal of the body from a mold; a through hole extending from the outer end to the inner end; and a cartridge engaging means for mounting the cap to the cartridge at a first, lyophilization position, at which fluid flow through the mouth into and from the cartridge interior is substantially unhindered, and a second, sealed position, at which the cap seals the mouth of the cartridge; a piercible septum positioned across the through hole at the outer end, access through the mouth to the interior of the cartridge when the cap is in the second position being through the piercible septum; and an axially movable lock ring which locks the cap to the cartridge when the cap is at the second position.
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18. A sealing cap for use with a pharmaceutical container of the type which undergoes lyophilization, the container having an interior terminating at an open mouth surrounded by a rim and having an outwardly extending mouth ring, the mouth ring having a shoulder facing away from the rim, the cap comprising:
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a body including an outer end and an inner end; the body including a plurality of container engaging fingers for mounting the cap to the container at a first, lyophilized position, at which fluid flow through the mouth into and from the container interior is substantially unhindered, and a second, sealed position, at which the cap seals the mouth of the container; the fingers including mouth ring engaging portions sized and positioned to engage the mouth ring when the cap is at the first position, and shoulder engaging portions sized and positioned to engage the shoulder when the cap is at the second position; and a lock ring carried by the body and movable from an initial position to a locking position at which at least a portion of the lock ring is on a side of the shoulder away from the rim for locking the cap to the container when the cap is at the second position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification