Terminal sterilization process for filled syringes under an auxiliary pressure

• US 6,161,364 A
• Filed: 02/02/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schering Ag (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Schering Ag (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Kolberg, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESAI, HEMANT
• Application Number:
  US09/230,885
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 53/432, 53/510, 53/489, 53/426, 141/7, 141/25, 141/18, 141/27, 141/59, 141/198, 141/95
• US Class Current: 53/425
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/04 Heat A61L2/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/12 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• 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

Abstract

A production process for a prefilled, sterile syringe comprising providing a sterilized syringe barrel having sealable proximal and sealable distal ends. The proximal end being opened and the distal end being closed and adapted for coupling with a syringe outlet piece. In accordance with the process, the distal end of the barrel is closed and the barrel is then filled through the proximal end while the proximal end is opened with a fluid medium in the form of a liquid, a solution, a suspension or an emulsion wherein the barrel contains the fluid medium in a portion of the barrel and contains a gaseous medium in another portion of the barrel. After the barrel has been filled, a sterile plug is inserted through the proximal end of the barrel to close the proximal end. After pressing the plug into the barrel, the barrel is vented through a tube extending past the plug so that only the liquid medium is within the barrel. In accordance with one embodiment of the production process, the barrel is filled first through the open proximal end and then subsequently through a tube which extends past the plug.

Claims

1. A production process for a prefilled, sterile syringe comprising:

providing a sterilized syringe barrel having sealable proximal and sealable distal ends, the proximal end being open and the distal being adapted for coupling with a syringe outlet piece, the barrel having an inner wall surface;

closing the distal end of the barrel;

filling the barrel through the proximal end while the proximal end is open with a fluid medium in the form of a liquid, a solution, a suspension or an emulsion, wherein the barrel contains the fluid medium in one portion of the barrel and a gaseous medium in another portion of the barrel;

after filling the barrel, inserting a sterile plug through the proximal end of the barrel to close the proximal end, the sterile plug having at least an outer portion which is elastic; and

while pressing the plug into the barrel, venting the gaseous medium through a tube extending past the plug so that only the liquid medium is within the barrel.

2. A production process according to claim 1, wherein an array of tubes are arranged on a holding device, and points where the tubes are mounted on the holding device lie essentially on a circular line that is located above the plug.

3. A production process according to claim 2, wherein the tube deviates by an angle of 0.5°

to 2°

from the axis of the barrel, whereby the part of needle (6) that lies closest to the distal end of the syringe points inward.

4. A production process according to claim 1, whereby a sterilization chamber in the form of an autoclave or sterilizer, with steam, hot air and/or microwaves is provided to sterilize the syringe.

5. A production process according to claim 1 wherein supporting pressure is built up around the syringe by a gas in the sterilization chamber, whereby the pressure on the outer surface of the syringe is equal to, greater than, or less than the pressure on the inner surface of the syringe.

6. A production process according to claim 1, wherein the syringe is selected from devices comprising:

cartridges, ampoule syringes, disposable syringes, disposable cartridge-needle units, one-way cartridge-needle units, one-way syringes, injection ampoules, cartridge-needle units, ampoules that are ready for spraying, barrel ampoules, and emergency syringes.

7. A production process according to claim 1, wherein the plastic of polyolefins comprising the barrel is selected from the group consisting of COC, TPX, polymethyl pentene, and PP.

8. A production process according to claim 1, wherein the barrel of the syringe has a Luer lock at the distal end.

9. A production process according to claim 1, wherein the medium in the filled syringe is a mixture that consists of a fluid medium and at least one gas.

10. A production process according to claim 1, wherein the fluid medium is a contrast medium.

11. A production process according to claim 1, wherein the plug is fixed within the barrel during sterilization.

12. The production process of claim 1, wherein the tube extends between the plug and the inner wall surface of the barrel.

13. The production process of claim 12, wherein there are at least two tubes, one of which is used to add residual fluid medium to the barrel and the other of which is used to vent residual gaseous medium from the barrel as the residual gaseous medium is displaced by the residual fluid medium.

14. The production process of claim 13, wherein the tubes extend from a support and are passed through a guide ring disposed at the proximal end of the barrel.

15. The production process of claim 14, wherein the filling height is monitored by an external sensor.

16. A production process according to claim 15, whereby the sensor is a capacitive sensor.

17. The production process of claim 1, wherein the filling height is monitored by an external sensor.

18. The production process of claim 1, wherein lubricant is disposed between the plug and inner wall surface of the barrel.