Automated filling systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
- first and second housing portions operatively connected to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion;
the first and second housing portions having an opening through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;
the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;
the first and second housing portions being configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;
wherein the second housing portion has a moveable door that is selectively moveable to open and close the opening to allow the reservoir to pass through opening in a direction transverse to the first direction when the door is in an open state, and to inhibit passing the reservoir through the opening in a direction transverse to the first direction when the door is in a closed state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to transferring fluidic media from a vial to a reservoir. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir by moving a housing portion to move a plunger head located in the reservoir to draw fluidic media from the vial to the reservoir. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir while the reservoir is held by a holding unit and vibrated by a vibrator to remove air from the fluidic media. In some embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir by moving a handle operatively connected to a bias member for assisting with the transfer of fluidic media. In other embodiments, the transfer of fluidic media may be assisted by a bias member and a needle connecting atmosphere and the vial.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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first and second housing portions operatively connected to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion; the first and second housing portions having an opening through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the first and second housing portions being configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; wherein the second housing portion has a moveable door that is selectively moveable to open and close the opening to allow the reservoir to pass through opening in a direction transverse to the first direction when the door is in an open state, and to inhibit passing the reservoir through the opening in a direction transverse to the first direction when the door is in a closed state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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first and second housing portions operatively connected to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion; the first and second housing portions having an opening through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; and wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open on one end for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.
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7. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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first and second housing portions operatively connected to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion; the first and second housing portions having an opening through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; and wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open in a direction facing transverse to the first direction, for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.
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8. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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first and second housing portions, each having a lengthwise dimension extending in a first direction, the second housing portion being operatively connected to the first housing portion and being moveable relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; the first housing portion removably connectable to a transfer guard that provides a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir; the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume that contains the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion, the first and second housing portions having an opening along at least a portion of their lengthwise dimensions through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; wherein the second housing portion has a moveable door that is selectively moveable to open and close the opening along at least a portion of their lengthwise dimensions and configured to allow the reservoir to pass through opening when the door is in an open state and to inhibit the passable the reservoir through the opening when the door is in a closed state. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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first and second housing portions, each having a lengthwise dimension extending in a first direction, the second housing portion being operatively connected to the first housing portion and being moveable relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; the first housing portion removably connectable to a transfer guard that provides a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir; the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume that contains the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion, the first and second housing portions having an opening along at least a portion of their lengthwise dimensions through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; and wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open on one end for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.
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12. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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first and second housing portions, each having a lengthwise dimension extending in a first direction, the second housing portion being operatively connected to the first housing portion and being moveable relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; the first housing portion removably connectable to a transfer guard that provides a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir; the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume that contains the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion, the first and second housing portions having an opening along at least a portion of their lengthwise dimensions through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction; wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; and wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open in a direction facing transverse to the first direction, for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.
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13. A method for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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operatively connecting first and second housing portions to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion, passing a reservoir through an opening in the first and second housing portions, in a direction transverse to the first direction to insert the reservoir into the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; operatively engaging a plunger head in the reservoir with the second housing portion when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; moving the second housing portion relative to the first housing portion in the first direction to transfer fluidic media between the vial and the reservoir while the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; selectively moving a moveable door that is connected to the second housing portion to open the opening to allow the reservoir to pass through the opening in a direction transverse to the first direction when the door is in an open state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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operatively connecting first and second housing portions to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion; passing a reservoir through an opening in the first and second housing portions, in a direction transverse to the first direction to insert the reservoir into the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; operatively engaging a plunger head in the reservoir with the second housing portion when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; moving the second housing portion relative to the first housing portion in the first direction to transfer fluidic media between the vial and the reservoir while the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; receiving in a receptacle of the second housing portion, a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open on one end for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.
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17. A method for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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operatively connecting first and second housing portions to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion; passing a reservoir through an opening in the first and second housing portions, in a direction transverse to the first direction to insert the reservoir into the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; operatively engaging a plunger head in the reservoir with the second housing portion when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; moving the second housing portion relative to the first housing portion in the first direction to transfer fluidic media between the vial and the reservoir while the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; receiving in a receptacle of the second housing portion, a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open in a direction facing transverse to the first direction, for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.
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Specification