Cartridge assembly packaging

• US 6,305,541 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Ward, Mark, Perry, James P., Tanner, John C., Vasper, Harley E. Jr., Lokay, Joseph D., Cronin, Darlene, Freund, James G., Carrington, Julian L. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUONG, SHIAN TINH NHAN
• Application Number:
  US09/396,719
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 206/364, 206/365, 206/366, 206/372, 206/459.5, 206/807, 206/497, 220/610, 220/617, 220/620
• US Class Current: 206/366
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof

Abstract

A combination of a package and a cartridge filled with a medicament. The package includes a tube having first and second ends and a cylindrical wall. The package further includes a plug disposed within the tube proximate the first end. A removable cover covers the first end of the tube. The cartridge is disposed within the package. The cartridge has a cylindrical wall defining an interior space. A grommet is disposed within the interior space and a septum is disposed on a first end portion of the cylindrical wall. A medicament is disposed within the cylindrical wall between the grommet and the septum.

Claims

1. An assembly of individually packaged cartridges, said assembly comprising:

a plurality of individual packages, each of said plurality of individual packages constructed to enclose a cartridge;

a plurality of cartridges, one of said plurality of cartridges disposed within each of said plurality of individual packages; and

a combining package for combining said plurality of individual packages together as a single unit;

each of said plurality of individual packages including;

a tube having a first end, a second end, and a cylindrical wall defining a hollow interior chamber in communication with said first and second ends;

a plug disposed within said hollow interior chamber proximate said second end, said plug constructed to prevent access to a cartridge disposed within said hollow interior chamber through said second end of said tube;

a cover for covering said first end of said tubes; and

a securing structure for securing said cover to said tube.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said combining structure is shrink wrap.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said securing structure is a label with a tamper indication element for indicating whether a person has attempted to access the contents of the tube adjacent the first open end of the tube.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each said plug has a top wall and an annular side wall extending from said top wall.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein each said tube has a portion which is bent around said annular wall in a direction toward the interior chamber of said tube.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said portion which is bent includes a section that is substantially parallel to said cylindrical wall.

7. A method for storing a medicament, said method comprising:

providing a cartridge having a cylindrical wall having a first end portion and a second end portion, said cylindrical wall defining an interior space, a grommet disposed within said interior space defined by said cylindrical wall proximate said second end portion, and a septum disposed on said first end portion of said cylindrical wall, a medicament being disposed within said interior space defined by said cylindrical wall between said grommet and said septum;

providing a package for said cartridge containing said medicament, said package comprising;

a tube having a first end, a second end, and a wall defining a hollow interior chamber in communication with said first and second ends;

a plug disposed within said hollow interior chamber proximate said second end, said plug constructed to prevent access by a hypodermic needle to a cartridge disposed within said hollow interior chamber through said second end of said tube when said plug is disposed within said hollow interior chamber; and

a removable cover constructed to cover said first end of said tube;

placing said cartridge containing said medicament within said hollow interior chamber of said tube; and

placing said cap on said first end of said tube.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said plug has a top wall and an annular side wall extending from said top wall, and wherein said wall of said tube has a portion constructed to retain said plug within said tube.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said method further comprises providing a securing structure for securing said cover to said tube, and placing said securing structure on said package.

10. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said package further comprises a tamper evidence seal mounted on said tube and said cap.

11. A combination comprising:

a package comprising;

a tube having a first end, a second end, and a wall defining a hollow interior chamber in communication with said first and second ends;

a plug disposed within said hollow interior chamber proximate said second end, said plug constructed to prevent access by a hypodermic needle to a cartridge disposed within said hollow interior chamber through said second end of said tube when said plug is disposed within said hollow interior chamber; and

a removable cover for covering said first end of said tube; and

a cartridge disposed within said hollow interior chamber of said package, said cartridge having a cylindrical wall having a first end portion and a second end portion, said cylindrical wall defining an interior space, a grommet disposed within said interior space defined by said cylindrical wall proximate said second end portion, and a septum disposed on said first end portion of said cylindrical wall, a medicament being disposed within said interior space defined by said cylindrical wall between said grommet and said septum.

12. A combination in accordance with claim 11, wherein said package further comprises a tamper evident seal mounted on said tube and said cap.

13. A combination comprising:

a package comprising;

a tube having a first end, a second end, and a wall defining a hollow interior chamber in communication with said first and second ends, an end wall disposed on said second end, said end wall separating said hollow interior from an external environment of said tube, said end wall constructed to prevent access by a hypodermic needle to a cartridge disposed within said hollow interior chamber through said second end of said tube; and

a removable cover for covering said first end of said tube; and

a cartridge disposed within said hollow interior chamber of said package, said cartridge having a cylindrical wall having a first end portion and a second end portion, said cylindrical wall defining an interior space, a grommet disposed within said interior space defined by said cylindrical wall proximate said second end portion, and a septum disposed on said first end portion of said cylindrical wall, a medicament being disposed within said interior space defined by said cylindrical wall between said grommet and said septum.