Method and system for labeling syringe bodies

• US 6,957,522 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter Corporation Englewood (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BAXA Corporation (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Morton, Jason Conrad, Baldwin, Brian Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASH, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US10/727,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 534/11, 533/99, 53/481, 532/50, 535/91, 531/361, 534/15, 156/552
• US Class Current: 53/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/02 Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/06 Affixing labels to short rigid containers

Abstract

An inventive method, system and apparatus are provided for syringe handling, and more particularly, for syringe labeling, filling and capping operations. To facilitate syringe handling, an inventive apparatus includes a plurality of syringe bodies interconnected in a predetermined orientation by a belt. Such belt may be of pliable construction and may define a predetermined spacing in between adjacent ones of the syringe bodies, such predetermined spacing corresponding with a distance between holders provided in a handling apparatus. The syringe handling apparatus may provide for the placement of contents-related information on belt segments between adjacent syringe bodies and for separating the belt segments, wherein a flap is left interconnected to each syringe body. The syringe handling apparatus may alternatively or also provide for automated filling of the syringe bodies wherein cap removal, filling and cap replacement operations are completed free from manual handling.

Claims

1. A method for labeling a plurality of syringe bodies, comprising:

interconnecting a belt to a plurality of a syringe bodies in a predetermined orientation;

placing contents-related information on belt segments between and in corresponding relation to each of said plurality of syringe bodies; and

separating said belt between each of said plurality of syringe bodies to define an interconnected flap on each of said plurality of syringe bodies, wherein each interconnected flap includes a different corresponding one of said belt segments.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said belt is of a pliable construction, and wherein said separating step comprises:

severing said belt between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein for each of said plurality of syringe bodies said placing step comprises:

printing said contents-related information on a label; and

,

affixing said label to said interconnected belt segment.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein for each said plurality of syringe bodies said placing step comprises:

printing said contents-related information directly on said interconnected belt segment.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said contents-related information is bar coded.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said contents-related information comprises at least one of the following:

information regarding a type of fluid contained in the syringe body;

information regarding an amount of a fluid contained in the syringe body;

information regarding a fill date for the contents of the syringe body; and

,

information regarding handling and storage instructions for the syringe body.

7. A method a recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

packaging said plurality of syringe bodies in a container after said interconnecting step and prior to said separating and placing steps; and

,

unpackaging said plurality of syringe bodies from said container prior to said separating and placing steps.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

sterilizing said plurality of syringe bodies after said packaging step.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting step comprises:

attaching at least one continuous layer of a pliable material between and about at least a portion of each of said plurality of syringe bodies.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said at least one continuous layer is substantially transparent.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting step comprises:

attaching opposing layers to define said belt, wherein said opposing layers are adjoined in face-to-face relation between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies and wrapped about opposing sides of the barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein at least a first one of said opposing layers is opaque, and wherein said placing step comprises:

printing said contents-related information on said opaque layer.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein a second one of said opposing layers is substantially transparent.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of interconnected syringe bodies comprises a barrel and a plunger slidably disposed in one end of the barrel.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of interconnected syringe bodies further comprises a cap disposed on another end of the corresponding barrel.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said separating step is completed after said placing step.

17. A method for labeling a plurality of syringe bodies, comprising:

interconnecting a belt to a plurality of a syringe bodies in a predetermined orientation;

packaging said plurality of syringe bodies in a container after said interconnecting step;

unpackaging said plurality of syringe bodies from said container after said packaging step;

placing contents-related information on belt segments between and in corresponding relation to each of said plurality of syringe bodies after said unpackaging step; and

separating said belt between each of said plurality of syringe bodies to define an interconnected flap on each of said plurality of syringe bodies after said placing step, wherein each interconnected flap includes a different corresponding one of said belt segments.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

first completing said interconnecting and packaging steps at a production location; and

,

second completing said unpackaging, placing and separating steps at another location.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

shipping said container from said production location to said another location.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

sterilizing said plurality of interconnected syringe bodies at said production location.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said sterilizing step is completed after said packaging step and prior to said unpackaging step.