Ampule filling device

• US 5,649,912 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bioject Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bioject Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Steven F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alexander, V.
• Application Number:
  US08/603,563
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 604/68-72, 604/140, 604/141, 604/143, 604/228, 604/232, 604/233, 604/187, 604/88-99, 604/240, 604/414, 604/200, 604/201, 604/210, 128/760, 206/537
• US Class Current: 604/187
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/062 Carpules
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3121 via the proximal end of a syringe, i.e. syringe end opposite to needle cannula mounting end
• 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 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules

Abstract

An ampule filling device having an ampule for jet injection attached to a transfer apparatus having a housing, a barrier within the housing, and a push rod attached to the housing to drive the medication from a medication vial. Further, the ampule filling device is advantageously bulk sterilized during assembly, and, assembled and packaged in an aseptic manufacturing environment.

Claims

1. An ampule filling device comprising

an ampule,

a housing releasably attached to said ampule,

a piercing cannula fixedly and axially located within said housing,

a barrier axially and slidably located within said housing adjacent an inner wall of said housing,

a medication vial having an elastomer closure and a piston axially and slidably located within said vial, said medication vial being axially received in said housing adjacent said barrier, and

a push rod axially and slidably attached to said housing, said push rod including a rod axially extending into said housing and abutting said piston in said medication vial to drive medication from said medication vial during operation of the ampule filling device.

2. The ampule filling device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises

a transfer chamber,

a supply chamber, and

a partition interposing and separating said transfer and supply chambers, said cannula being mounted in said partition and interconnecting said transfer and supply chambers.

3. The ampule filling device of claim 2, wherein said transfer chamber further comprises a stem extending into said transfer chamber from said partition and forming a toroidal cavity with said housing and said partition.

4. The ampule filling device of claim 3, wherein said stem includes a cavity comprising an inner wall inwardly tapered towards said partition and forming a female half of a slip taper fitting.

5. The ampule filling device of claim 1, wherein said ampule, housing, barrier, and push rod are constructed of molded plastic.

6. The ampule filling device of claim 1, wherein said barrier is generally cup shaped.

7. The ampule filling device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises

a first shoulder formed on an inner wall of said housing, said barrier abutting said first shoulder to retain said barrier in spaced relation to said cannula prior to operation, and

a second shoulder formed on said housing to retain said push rod on said housing.

8. An ampule filling device comprising

an ampule,

a housing releasably attached to said ampule,

a piercing cannula fixedly and axially located within said housing,

a barrier axially and slidably located within said housing adjacent an inner wall of said housing, said barrier being maintained in spaced relation with said cannula prior to operation of the ampule filling device,

a medication vial having a rubber stopper axially fixed in an end of said medication vial and a piston axially and slidably located within said vial, said medication vial being axially received and retained in said barrier in said housing, and

a push rod axially and slidably attached to said housing, said push rod including a rod axially extending into said housing and abutting said piston in said medication vial to drive medication from said medication vial during operation of the ampule filling device.

9. The ampule filling device of claim 8, wherein said housing further comprises

a transfer chamber,

a supply chamber, and

a partition interposing and separating said transfer and supply chambers, said cannula being mounted in said partition and interconnecting said transfer and supply chambers.

10. The ampule filling device of claim 9, wherein said transfer chamber further comprises a stem extending into said transfer chamber from said partition and forming a toroidal cavity with said housing and said partition.

11. The ampule filling device of claim 10, wherein said stem includes a cavity comprising an inner wall inwardly tapered towards said partition and forming a female half of a slip taper fitting.

12. The ampule filling device of claim 8, wherein said housing further comprises

a first shoulder formed on said housing to retain said barrier in spaced relation to said canula prior to operation, and

a second shoulder formed on said housing to retain said push rod on said housing.

13. An ampule filling device comprising

a housing having a first and second chamber separated by a partition,

a piercing cannula axially fixed in said partition, said cannula having a first end adjacent to said first chamber and a second end extending into said second chamber,

an ampule releasably attached to said housing adjacent said first chamber,

a barrier axially and slidably located within said second chamber adjacent an inner wall of said housing, said barrier being maintained in spaced relation with said second end of said cannula prior to operation of the ampule filling device,

a medication vial having a rubber closure on one end and a piston axially and slidably located within said vial, said medication vial being received and retained by said barrier, and

a push rod axially and slidably attached to said housing, said push rod including a rod axially extending into said second chamber and abutting said piston in said medication vial to drive medication from said medication vial during operation of the ampule filling device.

14. The ampule filling device of claim 13, wherein said housing further comprises

a first shoulder formed on said housing to retain said barrier in spaced relation to said canula prior to operation, and

a second shoulder formed on said housing to retain said push rod on said housing.

15. An ampule filling device comprising

an ampule, said ampule comprising

a body having first and second ends, said first end opens into a storage cavity formed in said body and said second end is formed into a nozzle,

a plunger axially and slidably extending from said first end into said storage cavity of said body, each of said plunger and said body of said ampule include a plurality of opposing steps formed thereon, said plurality of steps on said plunger being operably connected to said plurality of steps on said body to form a tortuous path sterility barrier therebetween, and

an orifice formed in said nozzle,

a housing releasably attached to said ampule,

a piercing cannula fixedly and axially located within said housing,

a barrier axially and slidably located within said housing, said barrier being maintained in spaced relation with said cannula and said barrier being adapted to receive and retain a medication vial, and

a push rod axially and slidably attached to said housing to drive medication from a medication vial retained by said barrier.

16. The ampule filling device of claim 15, wherein said ampule, housing, cannula and barrier assembly is bulk sterilized during manufacture.

17. An ampule filling device comprising

an ampule, said ampule comprising

a body having first and second ends, said first end opens into a storage cavity formed in said body and said second end is formed into a nozzle,

a plunger axially and slidably extending from said first end into said storage cavity of said body, each of said plunger and said body of said ampule including a plurality of opposing steps formed thereon, said plurality of steps on said plunger being operably connected to said plurality of steps on said body to form a tortuous path sterility barrier therebetween, and

an orifice formed in said nozzle,

a housing releasably attached to said ampule,

a piercing cannula fixedly and axially located within said housing,

a barrier axially and slidably located within said housing,

a medication vial having a piston axially and slidably located within said vial, said medication vial being axially received in said housing adjacent said barrier, and

a push rod axially and slidably attached to said housing, said push rod including a rod axially extending into said housing and abutting said piston in said medication vial to drive medication from said medication vial during operation of the ampule filling device.

18. The ampule filling device of claim 17, wherein said ampule, housing, cannula and barrier assembly is bulk sterilized during manufacture.

19. An ampule filling device comprising

a housing having a first and second chamber separated by a partition,

a piercing cannula axially fixed in said partition, said cannula having a first end adjacent to said first chamber and a second end extending into said second chamber,

an ampule releasably attached to said housing adjacent said first chamber,

said ampule comprising

a body having a first and second end, said first end opens into a storage cavity formed in said body and said second end is formed into a nozzle,

a plunger axially and slidably extending from said first end into said storage cavity of said body, each of said plunger and said body of said ampule including a plurality of opposing steps formed thereon, said plurality of steps on said plunger being operably connected to said plurality of steps on said body to form a tortuous path sterility barrier therebetween, and

an orifice formed in said nozzle,

a barrier axially and slidably located within said second chamber, said barrier being maintained in spaced relation with said second end of said cannula prior to operation of the ampule filling device,

a medication vial having a piston axially and slidably located within said vial, said medication vial being received and retained by said barrier, and

a push rod axially and slidably attached to said housing, said push rod including a rod axially extending into said second chamber and abutting said piston in said medication vial to drive medication from said medication vial during operation of the ampule filling device.

20. An ampule filling device comprising

an ampule,

a housing releasably attached to said ampule, said housing comprising a transfer chamber, a supply chamber, and a partition interposing and separating said transfer and supply chambers, said transfer chamber further comprising a stem extending into said transfer chamber from said partition and forming a toroidal cavity with said housing and said partition,

a piercing cannula fixedly and axially located in said partition and interconnecting said transfer chamber and said supply chamber,

a barrier axially and slidably located within said housing adjacent an inner wall of said housing, said barrier being maintained in space relation with said cannula prior to operation of the ampule filling device, and said barrier including a cylindrical cavity adapted to receive and retain a sealed medicant filled vial, and

a pushrod axially and slidably attached to said housing.

21. The ampule filling device of claim 20, wherein said stem includes a cavity comprising an inner wall inwardly tapered toward said partition and forming a female half of a slip taper fitting.

22. An ampule filling device comprising

a housing having a first and second chamber separated by a partition, said first chamber further comprising a stem extending into said first chamber from said partition and forming a toroidal cavity with said housing and said partition,

a piercing cannula axially fixed in said partition, said cannula having a first end adjacent to said first chamber and a second end extending into said second chamber,

an ampule releasably attached to said housing adjacent said first chamber,

a barrier axially and slidably located within said second chamber adjacent an inner wall of said housing, said barrier being maintained in spaced relation with said second end of said cannula prior to operation of the ampule filling device,

a medication vial having a rubber closure on one end and a piston axially and slidably located within said vial, said medication vial being received and retained by said barrier, and

a pushrod axially and slidably attached to said housing, said pushrod including a rod axially extending into said second chamber and abutting said piston in said medication vial to drive medication from said medication vial during operation of the ampule filling device.

23. The ampule filling device of claim 22, wherein said stem includes a cavity comprising an inner wall inwardly tapered toward said partition and forming a female half of a slip taper fitting.