Process and device for dosing pharmaceutical agents

• US 8,061,350 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Company Kg (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Company Kg (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Feiertag, Christian, Koelbel, Hans-Juergen, Eicher, Joachim, Geser, Johannes, Hausmann, Matthias, Boeck, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTRUP, CLINTON T
• Application Number:
  US11/421,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.21, 128/200.23, 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.23, 128/203.24, 128/205.18, 128/205.24
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0413 with reciprocating pumps, e.g. membrane pump, piston pump, bellow pump B05B9/0409 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections

Abstract

A process and a device for dosing a pharmaceutical agent, preferably a liquid, are proposed. To achieve an enhanced dosing accuracy, a first component that is produced in batches, such as a shaped seal, is combined with a second component, such as a guide pipe selected from a suitable group guide pipes, wherein the suitable group of second components is selected based on at least one decisively significant value of the respective batch first components and is distinguished by an essential value of the second component which will optimize the sealing between the first and second components.

Claims

1. A process of assembling a device for delivering a medicament with improved metering accuracy, wherein at least one first component and at least one second component are provided, which are sealingly brought into engagement with one another,

wherein the at least one first component is a ring-shaped seal produced in batches, wherein at least one significant magnitude of the at least one first component in each batch is selected from the diameter, cross-section, volume, or compressibility of the at least one first component and is determined only by random sampling from which the mean and the standard deviation of the at least one significant magnitude are determined, the mean and the standard deviation determined are used as essential values for division of the at least one second component into groups, wherein at least one decisive significant magnitude for all the at least one first components of the respective batch is determined from the at least one significant magnitude, wherein the at least one second component is a guide tube for a piston and is divided into groups which differ by at least one essential dimensional value of the at least one second component, wherein, depending on the at least one decisive significant magnitude, one of the groups matching the respective decisive significant magnitude, and thus, to the respective batch is selected, wherein a piston is provided which is sealed by the at least one first component, the diameter of the piston is an additional significant value, in addition to the decisively significant value, in selection of a suitable one of said groups wherein the at least one first component of a batch is combined with the at least one second component of one of the groups matching this batch and a support ring axially securing the at least one first component within the at least one second component in a deformed state so as to achieve an optimum seal between the at least one first component and the at least one second component and between the at least one first component and the piston in order to improve the metering accuracy.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of producing the at least one first component is performed by injection molding.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the mean and the standard deviation are determined to be significant values.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second component has a recess for receiving the at least one first component.

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the recess comprises a shoulder or groove and forms the guide tube for a piston.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second component is produced with different essential values, and wherein the difference of the essential values of different groups is greater than production tolerances.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second component is produced in batches, wherein the at least one essential value of the at least one second component of each batch is determined based on a random sample, and the essential value determined from the random sample is used for all second components of the respective batch for division into groups.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the piston is produced in batches, and at least one significant value thereof is determined only on a random-sample basis for each batch of pistons.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein an axially active length of the support ring is determined, and is considered as an additional significant value in addition to the decisively significant value in selection of a suitable one of said groups.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein a suitable one of said groups is selected such that the decisively significant value together with the at least one essential value results in a set fill level of the recess by the seal.