Device with needle penetrable and laser resealable portion and related method
First Claim
1. A resealable member for sealing a substance within a chamber of a device, wherein the device is fillable in a filling assembly including a filling member for penetrating the resealable member and introducing a substance through the resealable member and into the chamber, a substance source coupled in fluid communication with the filling member for introducing the substance through the filling member and into the chamber, and an energy source connectable in communication with the resealable member, wherein the resealable member comprises:
- a base portion formed of a first material compatible with the substance and defining a substance-exposed surface in fluid communication with the chamber, the base portion being penetrable by the filling member for introducing the substance into the chamber; and
a resealing portion overlying the base portion and formed of a second material that, upon the application of energy from the energy source thereto after removing the filling member from the chamber, forms a gas-tight seal between the ambient atmosphere and the substance in the chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method are provided for needle penetrating and filling a chamber with a predetermined substance, and laser resealing a resulting needle hole in the device. A needle penetrable and laser resealable portion of the device is pierceable with a needle to form a needle aperture therethrough to fill the chamber through the needle, and is laser resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power thereto. The needle penetrable and laser resealable portion defines a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, and includes a thermoplastic that substantially prevents the formation of particles released into the chamber from the needle penetrable and laser resealable portion during penetration by and withdrawal of the needle. The thermoplastic includes a predetermined amount of pigment that allows the thermoplastic to substantially absorb laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength, substantially prevent the passage of radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and hermetically seal a needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A resealable member for sealing a substance within a chamber of a device, wherein the device is fillable in a filling assembly including a filling member for penetrating the resealable member and introducing a substance through the resealable member and into the chamber, a substance source coupled in fluid communication with the filling member for introducing the substance through the filling member and into the chamber, and an energy source connectable in communication with the resealable member, wherein the resealable member comprises:
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a base portion formed of a first material compatible with the substance and defining a substance-exposed surface in fluid communication with the chamber, the base portion being penetrable by the filling member for introducing the substance into the chamber; and a resealing portion overlying the base portion and formed of a second material that, upon the application of energy from the energy source thereto after removing the filling member from the chamber, forms a gas-tight seal between the ambient atmosphere and the substance in the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A resealable member for sealing a substance within a chamber of a device, wherein the device is fillable in a filling assembly including a filling member for penetrating the resealable member and introducing a substance through the resealable member and into the chamber, a substance source coupled in fluid communication with the filling member for introducing the substance through the filling member and into the chamber, and a laser source connectable in communication with the resealable member, wherein the resealable member comprises:
a body defining a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, a base portion formed of a first material compatible with the substance and defining a substance-exposed surface in fluid communication with the chamber, a resealing portion overlying the base portion and defining a penetrable region that is penetrable with the filling member to form an aperture therethrough, and is resealable to hermetically seal the aperture by applying laser radiation from the laser source at a predetermined wavelength and power thereto, wherein the penetrable region defines a predetermined color and opacity that substantially absorbs the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and causes the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal the aperture formed in the penetrable region thereof, and the predetermined wall thickness substantially prevents the passage of the radiation therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A resealable member for sealing a substance within a chamber of a device, wherein the device is fillable in a filling assembly including a filling member for penetrating the resealable member and introducing a substance through the resealable member and into the chamber, a substance source coupled in fluid communication with the filling member for introducing the substance through the filling member and into the chamber, and an energy source connectable in communication with the resealable member, wherein the resealable member comprises:
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a base portion formed of a first material compatible with the substance and defining a substance-exposed surface in fluid communication with the chamber, the base portion being penetrable by the filling member for introducing the substance into the chamber; and a resealing portion overlying the base portion and formed of a second material that, upon the application of energy from the energy source thereto after removing the filling member from the chamber, seals the region penetrated in the base portion by the filling member.
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Specification