Method, system, and apparatus for labeling syringes

• US 20040172915A1
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Corporation Englewood (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BAXA Corporation (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Brian Eugene, Morton, Jason Conrad
• Granted Patent: US 6,957,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• 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

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 labeling a plurality of syringe bodies, comprising:

interconnecting a belt to a plurality of a syringe bodies in a predetermined orientation;

placing contents-related information on an interconnected belt segment for each given one of said plurality of syringe bodies; and

separating said belt between each of said plurality of syringe bodies to define an interconnected flap on each of said plurality of syringe bodies.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said belt is of a pliable construction, and wherein said separating step comprises:

severing said belt between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein for each said plurality of syringe bodies said placing step comprises:

printing said contents-related information directly on said interconnected belt segment.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said contents-related information comprises at least one of the following:

information regarding a type of fluid contained in the syringe body;

information regarding an amount of a fluid contained in the syringe body;

information regarding a fill date for the contents of the syringe body; and

,

information regarding handling and storage instructions for the syringe body.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said contents-related information is bar coded.

7. A method a recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

packaging said plurality of syringe bodies in a container after said interconnecting step and prior to said separating and placing steps; and

,

unpackaging said plurality of syringe bodies from said container prior to said separating and placing steps.

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

sterilizing said plurality of syringe bodies after to said packaging step.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting step comprises:

attaching at least one continuous layer of a pliable material between and about at least a portion of each of said plurality of syringe bodies.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said at least one continuous layer is substantially transparent.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said interconnector step comprises:

attaching opposing layers to define said belt, wherein said opposing layers are adjoined in fact-to-face relation between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies and wrapped about opposing sides of the barrels of each of said plurality of syringe bodies.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein at least a first one of said opposing layers is opaque, and where said placing step comprises:

printing said contents-related information on said opaque layer.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein a second one of said opposing layers is substantially transparent.

3. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein for each of said plurality of syringe bodies said placing step comprises:

printing said contents-related information on a label; and

,

affixing said label to said interconnected belt segment.

14. An apparatus for labeling a plurality of syringe bodies interconnected in series by a belt, comprising:

a plurality of holders for holding said plurality of syringe bodies; and

,

a separation member for separating said belt between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies to define an interconnected flap on each of the plurality of syringe bodies; and

,

a labeling member for placing contents-related information on an interconnected belt segment for each given one of said plurality of syringe bodies.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said belt defines a predetermined spacing between adjacent ones of said plurality of syringe bodies, and wherein said plurality of holders are separated by a distance corresponding with said predetermined spacing.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a driven support member for moving at least one of said separation member and said labeling member towards and away from said plurality of holders.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

first and second driven support members for separately moving said separation member and said labeling member towards and away from said plurality of holders, respectively.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a driven support member for moving said plurality of holders along a predetermined path.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said driven support member comprises:

a rotatable member.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said separation member and said labeling member are disposed for sequential operation along said predetermined path.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a processor for storing and providing said contents-related information to said labeling member.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said labeling member comprises:

a printer for printing said contents-related information on one of labels and said belt segments.