Abstract:
Connector assembly including a piercing member having a flow port therein attached to a first piece, with the piercing member slidingly receivable within a second piece, wherein the piercing member and the second pierce are movable relative to each other between a first position where the second pieces closes the flow port and a second position where the flow port is open. The first piece contains a locking mechanism that lockingly engages with a device when connected thereto, preventing subsequent disconnection of first piece and the device. Upon initial connection of the first piece to the device, the second piece is moved from the first position to the second position.
Abstract:
A dispenser for dispensing a substance, such as a liquid lipstick or other cosmetic, pharmaceutical or cosmeceutical product, has a body with a variable-volume storage chamber for storing the product. A dispensing portion is connected with the body and a one-way valve for dispensing amounts of product therethrough. The dispensing portion defines a compression chamber in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving product therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the compression chamber. The one-way valve has a valve seat, and a visco-elastic valve cover seated on the valve seat and defining a normally-closed, axially-extending seam therebetween forming a fluid-tight seal between the valve cover and valve seat. The flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat, and the seam is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture to allow the passage of product through the seam and out of the dispenser. An actuator is drivingly connected to the compression chamber for pressurizing product within the compression chamber and dispensing an amount of product within the compression chamber.
Abstract:
A stopper and container body are molded in the same molding machine. An assembly device, such as a pick and place robot, transfers the stopper from one mold cavity into the opening in the container body located within another mold cavity, or vice versa, to assemble the stopper and container body. Then, the assembled container body and stopper are removed from the molding machine and transported to a needle filling and laser resealing station for filling and laser resealing. A laminar flow source directs a substantially laminar flow of air or sterile gas over the mold surfaces, stoppers and container bodies, and assembly device, to prevent contamination during assembly.
Abstract:
A device and related method are provided for lyophilizing a substance within the device and storing therein the lyophilized substance. The device is penetrable by a needle for filling the device with the substance to be lyophilized, and a resulting needle hole in the device is laser resealable by transmitting thereon laser radiation from a laser source. The device defines a chamber for receiving therein the substance to be lyophilized. 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 with the substance to be lyophilized through the needle, and is laser resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation thereto. A filter is connectable in fluid communication between an interior and exterior of the chamber for permitting fluid to flow therethrough in a direction from the interior to the exterior of the chamber, and for substantially preventing contaminants from flowing therethrough in a direction from the exterior to the interior of the chamber.
Abstract:
A medicament-dispensing system includes a cartridge for housing and actuating an accordion-like vial-dispenser for dispensing a calibrated amount of medicament by means of a single actuation motion which sequentially loads the vial-dispenser and dispenses the loaded medicament. The vial-dispenser has a front bellows portion, a rear bellows portion, an internal piston mechanism, a medicament storage chamber and a dosage cavity. The cartridge has a trigger mechanism which acts in concert with a notched lever and a wedge-shaped arm internally located in the cartridge to sequentially load the dosage cavity with medicament and discharge it. Depression of the trigger mechanism simultaneously extends, by means of the notched lever, the front bellows portion and compresses the rear bellows portion to load the dosage cavity with medicament. Once the notched lever has extended the front bellows portion a predetermined distance, the notched lever is disengaged from the front bellows portion by the wedge-shaped arm extending from the rear wall of the housing, thereby releasing the front and rear bellows portions, along with the internal piston mechanism, to return to original position and force the medicament from the dosage cavity via a nozzle of the vial-dispenser.
Abstract:
A device includes a first part having a co-molded first support, valve cover and elastic actuator, and a second part having an injection molded second support, valve seat, and variable-volume storage chamber pre-form. The pre-form is blow molded into a flexible pouch defining the variable-volume storage chamber. The one-way valve includes a semi-annular, curvilinear, relatively rigid valve seat defining axially-extending, opposing first marginal portions, and an axially-extending first mid-portion angularly extending between the opposing first marginal portions. A flexible valve member is superimposed on the valve seat and defines axially-extending, opposing second marginal portions fixedly secured on or adjacent to respective first marginal portions of the valve seat, and an axially-extending second mid-portion angularly extending between the opposing first marginal portions and superimposed onto the first mid-portion of the valve seat. The flexible valve cover and valve seat form a normally closed axially and angularly extending valve seam therebetween.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for sterile filling comprises de-contaminating a needle penetrable surface of a device including a needle penetrable septum and a sealed chamber in fluid communication with the needle penetrable septum. A filling needle penetrates the needle penetrable septum, introduces substance through the filling needle and into the chamber and is, in turn, withdrawn from the septum. A liquid sealant is applied to the penetrated region of the septum. Radiation or energy is applied to the liquid sealant to cure the liquid sealant from a liquid phase to a solid phase.
Abstract:
An assembly includes a support and drive assembly, a first structure and a second structure. The first structure is in operable communication with and supported by the support and drive assembly. The first structure includes at least one filling or needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of filling or needle assemblies. The second structure is supported by the support and drive assembly. The second structure includes at least one seal assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of seal assemblies. A method includes determining a number of containers or vials that are to be filled concurrently and adjusting an assembly to include at least one filling or needle assembly and at least one seal assembly. A number of the filling or needle assemblies and the seal assemblies equals the number of containers or vials.
Abstract:
A container including a nozzle and body depending therefrom. The body is preferably tubular and defines an interior which retains a product to be dispensed. A cap engages the nozzle to prevent inadvertent release of the product. In order to dispense the product, the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the body and the nozzle allows release of the product. The nozzle releases the product without exposing the remaining product to the external atmosphere, thus the sterility of the interior of the body is maintained and the shelf life of the product is increased. The nozzle includes an inner body, coupled to the tubular body, surrounded by a flexible outer cover. A seam between the inner body and flexible outer cover forms a one-way release valve wherein a portion of the seam remains closed during dispensing the product.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for formulating and aseptically filling liquid products. A first liquid source includes at least one first liquid component; a second liquid source includes at least one second liquid component; and a container includes a body defining an empty, sterile storage chamber therein that is sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere. The container is introduced into a sterile filling chamber. A first filling member coupled in fluid communication with the first liquid source is placed in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the container located in the sterile filling chamber, and the first liquid component is aseptically introduced through the first filling member and into the storage chamber. A second filling member coupled in fluid communication with the second liquid source is placed in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the container located in the sterile filling chamber, and the second liquid component is aseptically introduced through the second filling member and into the storage chamber and, in turn, the first and second liquid components are combined into a liquid product formulation within the sterile chamber of the container. The first and second filling members are withdrawn from fluid communication with the storage chamber of the container located within the sterile filling chamber, and the filled storage chamber is sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere to hermetically seal the liquid product formulation within the storage chamber of the container.