Prefilled syringe with sterility-preserving cap

• US 5,989,227 A
• Filed: 11/19/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arzneimittel GmbH Apotheker Vetter & Co. Ravensburg
• Original Assignee: Arzneimittel GmbH Apotheker Vetter & Co.
• Inventors: Otto, Thomas, Vetter, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/195,738
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 604/200, 604/201, 604/232-234, 604/256, 604/82
• US Class Current: 604/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/062 Carpules
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3118 via the distal end of a syringe, i.e. syringe end for mounting a needle cannula
• 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 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

A medicament container has a body having an open mouth defining an axis, a pierceable plug engaged over and sealing the mouth, a ring engaged around the mouth and over the plug and formed with a hole through which an outer surface of the plug is exposed, and a cap engageable around the mouth over the ring and plug. The cap holds an elastomeric element bearing elastically through the hole against the plug outer surface.

Claims

1. A medicament container comprising:

a body having an open mouth defining an axis;

a pierceable plug engaged over and sealing the mouth;

a ring engaged around the mouth and over the plug and formed with a hole through which an outer surface of the plug is exposed;

a cap engageable around the mouth over the ring and plug and including

an upper cap part,

a lower ring part fixed around the mouth of the body, and

a weakened zone joining the lower and upper parts together, whereby the upper part can be easily broken off the lower part at the weakened zone; and

an elastomeric element fixed in the upper cap part and bearing elastically through the hole against the plug outer surface.

2. The medicament container defined in claim 1 wherein the element is basically cylindrical and centered on the axis and is formed with an axially projecting annular ridge centered on the axis and engaging the plug outer surface.

3. The medicament container defined in claim 2 wherein the cap is formed with a seat in which the element is fitted, the element and seat being formed with radially interengaging formations retaining the element in the seat.

4. The medicament container defined in claim 3 wherein the formations include a radially outwardly projecting annular ridge on the plug and a radially inwardly open groove in the seat.

5. The medicament container defined in claim 1, further comprising

a shrink foil engaged over the cap and around the mouth to retain the cap on the body.