Method of filling a device
First Claim
1. A method comprising the following steps:
- providing a syringe including a syringe body, a plunger slidably received within the syringe body, and a resealable stopper including a resealable portion fusible in response to the application of thermal energy thereto;
sterilizing an exposed surface of the stopper;
penetrating the stopper with a needle coupled in fluid communication with a source of a substance;
introducing the substance through the needle and into the interior of the syringe body;
withdrawing the needle from the stopper; and
applying sufficient thermal energy to the penetrated region of the resealable portion of the stopper to fuse the penetrated region and form a substantially gas-tight seal between the penetrated region and the interior of the syringe body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A syringe and a reconstitution syringe are provided for the delivery of controlled doses of any of numerous different sterile substances, such as vaccines, medicaments, pharmaceutical preparations, cosmetics, and food products. A plunger of the syringe defines a resealable stopper frictionally and slidably received within a hollow syringe body for dispensing the medicament or other substance through a dispensing tip of the syringe upon movement of the plunger. The resealable stopper defines a heat-sealable portion to allow the stopper to be penetrated by a needle or other filling device to fill the syringe with a medicament or other substance, and in turn allow the hole remaining upon withdrawal of the needle to be heat sealed by transmission of laser energy thereon. The plunger assembly further defines a plurality of cam-like members that each engage and cooperate with a respective helical path of steps formed on the inner wall of the syringe body to provide stepwise movement of the plunger and, in turn, precise metering of the substance dispensed therefrom. A reconstitution syringe defines within a syringe body plural compartments, wherein each compartment stores a respective component of a multi-component medicament or other preparation. An elastomeric plug is coupled to the plunger and connected between the two compartments to prevent intermixing of the components. Upon moving the plunger, the plug is released to thereby place the compartments in fluid communication with each other, and to facilitate intermixing of the components upon shaking the syringe.
173 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method comprising the following steps:
-
providing a syringe including a syringe body, a plunger slidably received within the syringe body, and a resealable stopper including a resealable portion fusible in response to the application of thermal energy thereto; sterilizing an exposed surface of the stopper; penetrating the stopper with a needle coupled in fluid communication with a source of a substance; introducing the substance through the needle and into the interior of the syringe body; withdrawing the needle from the stopper; and applying sufficient thermal energy to the penetrated region of the resealable portion of the stopper to fuse the penetrated region and form a substantially gas-tight seal between the penetrated region and the interior of the syringe body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
9. A method comprising the following steps:
-
providing a device including a sealed, empty storage chamber, and including a penetrable and thermally resealable portion in fluid communication with the storage chamber including a body defining a predetermined wall thickness that substantially absorbs laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power and substantially prevents the passage of such radiation therethrough, and a penetrable region that is penetrable with a filling member and that defines a predetermined color and opacity that substantially absorbs the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal an aperture therein; sterilizing an exposed surface of the penetrable and thermally resealable portion; penetrating the penetrable and thermally resealable portion with a filling member coupled in fluid communication with a source of a sterile food product; introducing the sterile food product through the filling member and into the storage chamber; withdrawing the filling member from the penetrable and thermally resealable portion; applying laser radiation from a laser source at the predetermined wavelength and power to an aperture formed in the penetrable region of the body; substantially absorbing within the penetrable region of the body the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power and substantially preventing the passage of radiation through the predetermined wall thickness of the body; and hermetically sealing the aperture in the penetrable region of the body with the laser radiation within a predetermined time period and, in turn, hermetically sealing the sterile food product within the chamber of the device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
20. A method comprising the following steps:
-
providing a device including a first body portion defining a first compartment forming a first sealed, empty storage chamber;
a second body portion defining a second compartment forming a second sealed storage chamber; and
a penetrable and thermally resealable portion in fluid communication with at least the first storage chamber, wherein the first and second compartments define a storage state in which the first and second compartments are hermetically sealed relative to each other, and a dispensing state in which the first and second compartments are in fluid communication with each other;sterilizing an exposed surface of the penetrable and thermally resealable portion; penetrating the penetrable and thermally resealable portion with a filling member coupled in fluid communication with a source of a first product component of a sterile food product; introducing the first product component through the filling member and into the first sealed, empty storage chamber; withdrawing the filling member from the penetrable and thermally resealable portion; and applying sufficient thermal energy to the penetrated region of the penetrable and thermally resealable portion to fuse the penetrated region and form a substantially gas-tight seal between the penetrated region and the first compartment.
-
-
21. A method as defined in 20, further comprising:
-
filling the storage chamber of the second compartment with a second product component and sealing the second product component within the second compartment; and maintaining the filled first and second compartments in the storage state hermetically sealed relative to each other while in the storage state. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
Specification