Method for filling and capping syringes

• US 6,976,349 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter Corporation Englewood (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BAXA Corporation (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Mancuso, Robert Eugene II, Page, Jon Paul, Baldwin, Brian Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASH, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US10/630,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20040088951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 534/25, 534/67, 534/68, 534/71, 534/26, 534/73, 534/89
• US Class Current: 53/468
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/28 Syringe ampoules or carpules, i.e. ampoules or carpules provided with a needle
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/006 Related operations, e.g. scoring ampoules
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/04 Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging sterilising bottles B67C7/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 Forms or constructions layered products B32B

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 filling a plurality of syringe bodies, wherein for each syringe body of the plurality of syringe bodies the method comprises:

holding the syringe body in at least one holder;

removing a cap from a dispensing end of the syringe body during said holding step;

filling the syringe body at the dispensing end thereof after said removing step and during said holding step; and

,

replacing a cap removed during the removing step from one of said plurality of syringe bodies on the dispensing end of the syringe body after said filling step and during said holding step.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

placing said cap on said dispensing end of the syringe body prior to said holding step.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

sterilizing the syringe body after said placing step and prior to said holding step.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein said placing and sterilizing steps are completed at a first location and said holding, removing, filling and replacing steps are completed at a second location remote from said first location.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

packaging said syringe body in a container at said first location after said placing step and prior to said holding step; and

,

unpackaging said syringe body from said container at said second location prior to said holding step.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

sterilizing the syringe body after said packaging step and prior to said unpackaging step.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

interconnecting a flexible belt to said plurality of syringe bodies in a predetermined orientation prior to said packaging step.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the holding, removing, filling and replacing steps are successively repeated in an automated manner for each of said plurality of syringe bodies.

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

severing said flexible belt between each of said plurality of syringe bodies after said unpackaging step.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein for each syringe body said severing step is completed after said removing, filling and replacing steps.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein for each syringe body the removing step includes:

retainably engaging said cap in a retainer; and

,

moving at least one of said retainer and said at least one holder in an automated manner to affect relative movement between the cap and the dispensing end of the syringe body; and

,

wherein for each syringe body the replacing step comprises;

retainably engaging said one of said caps in a retainer; and

moving said holder along a predetermined path to insert said one of said caps into the syringe body.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein for each syringe body the cap removed in said removing step is the same as the cap replaced in said replacing step.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein for each syringe body the filling step comprises:

interconnecting a fluid supply member with the dispensing end of the syringe body in an automated manner; and

,

flowing fluid into the syringe body through the interconnected fluid supply member and dispensing end of the syringe body.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein for each syringe body said removing, filling and replacing steps are completed at a first location of the syringe body.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein for each syringe body said retainer and said fluid supply member are interconnected for tandem movement during said removing, filling and replacing steps.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

first locating the syringe body at a first location for completion of said removing step;

second locating the syringe body at a second location for completion of said filling step; and

,

returning the syringe body to said first location for completion of said replacing step.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

sensing the position of a plunger end thereof to terminate said filling step.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said flowing step comprises at least one of the following:

injecting said fluid into the syringe body under pressure; and

,

drawing said fluid into said syringe body by retraction of a plunger comprising the syringe body.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein for each syringe body the removing filling and replacing steps are completed in an automated manner.

20. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein for each syringe body the caps removed in the removing step is the same as the cap replaced in said replacing step.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

holding the cap removed from the syringe body until replaced on one of the plurality of syringe bodies.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

sterilizing the syringe body at said first location.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein for each syringe body said sterilizing step is completed after said placing step and prior to said packaging step.

24. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein for each syringe body said sterilizing step is completed after said placing and packaging steps.

30. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein for each syringe body the cap removed in the removing step is the same as the cap replaced in said replacing step.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the holding, removing, filling and replacing steps are successively repeated in an automated manner for each of said plurality of syringe bodies.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

sterilizing the syringe body at said first location.

33. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein for each syringe body said severing step is completed after said removing, filling and replacing steps.

25. A method for filling a plurality syringe bodies, wherein for each syringe body of the plurality of syringe bodies the method comprises:

sterilizing the syringe body;

holding the sterilized syringe body in at least one holder;

removing a cap from a dispensing end of the sterilized syringe body during said holding step;

filling the sterilized syringe body at the dispensing end thereof after said removing step and during said holding step; and

replacing a cap removed during the removing step from one of said plurality of syringe bodies on the dispensing end of the syringe body after said filling step and during said holding step.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

placing said cap on said dispensing end of the syringe body prior to said holding step.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein for each syringe body the sterilizing step is completed after said placing step and prior to said holding step.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein said placing and

sterilizing steps are completed at a first location and said holding, removing, filling and

replacing steps are completed at a second location remote from said first location.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein for each syringe body the method further comprises:

packaging said syringe body in a container at said first location after said placing step and prior to said holding step; and

,

unpackaging said syringe body from said container at said second location prior to said holding step.

34. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein for each syringe body the capremoved in the removing step is the same as the cap replaced in said replacing step.

35. A method for filling a plurality of syringe bodies, wherein for each syringe body of the plurality of syringe bodies the method comprises:

placing a cap on a dispensing end of the syringe body at a first location;

packaging said syringe body in a container at said first location after said placing step;

unpackaging said syringe body from said container at a second location;

holding the syringe body in at least one holder at said second location;

removing a said cap from a dispensing end of the syringe body during said holding step;

filling the syringe body after said removing step and during said holding step; and

,

replacing a cap removed during the removing step from one of said plurality of syringe bodies on the dispensing end of the syringe body during said holding step.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, further comprising:

interconnecting a flexible belt to said plurality of syringe bodies in a predetermined orientation at said first location prior to said packaging step.

37. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein for each syringe body the cap removed in said removing step is the same as the cap replaced in said replacing step.

38. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein for each syringe body the filling step comprises:

interconnecting a fluid supply member with the dispensing end of the syringe body in a automated manner; and

,

flowing fluid into the syringe body through the interconnected fluid supply member and dispensing end of the syringe body.

39. A method as recited in claim 38, wherein for each syringe body said flowing step comprises:

injecting said fluid into the syringe body under pressure.

40. A method as recited in claim 38, wherein for each syringe body said flowing step comprises:

drawing said fluid into the syringe body by retraction of a plunger comprising the syringe body.