Abstract:
An apparatus has a valve body defining a first passageway, a valve seat, and a flow aperture extending through the valve body and coupled in fluid communication with the first passageway. A valve cover of the apparatus is formed of an elastic material and includes a cover base mounted on the valve body and fixedly secured against movement relative thereto, and a valve portion overlying the valve seat. The valve portion defines a predetermined radial thickness and forms an interference fit with the valve seat. The valve portion and the valve seat define a normally closed, axially-extending valve opening therebetween. The valve portion is movable between a normally closed position with the valve portion engaging the valve seat, and an open position with at least a segment of the valve portion spaced away from the valve seat to connect the valve opening in fluid communication with the flow aperture to thereby allow the passage of fluid from the flow aperture through the valve opening. A hermetically sealed variable-volume storage chamber stores therein multiple portions of the fluid and is connectible in fluid communication with the one-way valve assembly. A pump is coupled between the variable-volume storage chamber and the one-way valve assembly, and is configured to pump discrete portions of fluid from the variable-volume storage chamber, through the flow aperture, and through the valve opening to dispense the portions of fluid through the valve assembly.
Abstract:
A container is provided for storing a product, such as a fat containing liquid product, and includes a body defining a chamber for receiving the product; and a container closure including a sealing portion for sealing the product within the chamber. The container closure includes a member forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the container closure and the body; a nipple in fluid communication with the chamber that seals the chamber with respect to the ambient atmosphere during storage of the product in the chamber and that can be opened to dispense product from the chamber therethrough; and a needle penetrable and laser resealable portion that is penetrable by the needle for aseptically filling the chamber with the product, and that is thermally resealable by the application of laser radiation thereto to seal the product within the chamber.
Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for needle filling and thermally resealing containers having stoppers that are needle penetrable for filling the containers with a substance, and are thermally resealable for thermally sealing a needle hole in the stopper upon withdrawal of a needle therefrom. A container support of the apparatus supports at least one container having a resealable stopper in a substantially fixed position during needle filling and thermally resealing a needle hole in the stopper upon withdrawal of a needle therefrom. A manifold is drivingly mounted over the container support and comprises (1) a needle cartridge including a needle for penetrating the resealable stopper and introducing a substance through the needle and into the container, a needle mount for mounting the needle cartridge on the manifold, and a needle cover releasably coupled to the needle mount for covering the needle during transportation, installation and/or removal of the needle cartridge from the manifold, and that is removable from the needle cartridge upon mounting the needle cartridge to the manifold. The manifold further includes a thermal source for heating a needle penetrated region of the stopper and, in turn, sealing a needle hole in the stopper.
Abstract:
A syringe and a reconstitution syringe are provided for the delivery of controlled doses of any of numerous different sterile substances, such as vaccines, medicaments, pharmaceutical preparations, cosmetics, and food products. A plunger of the syringe defines a resealable stopper frictionally and slidably received within a hollow syringe body for dispensing the medicament or other substance through a dispensing tip of the syringe upon movement of the plunger. The resealable stopper defines a heat-sealable portion to allow the stopper to be penetrated by a needle or other filling device to fill the syringe with a medicament or other substance, and in turn allow the hole remaining upon withdrawal of the needle to be heat sealed by transmission of laser energy thereon. The plunger assembly further defines a plurality of cam-like members that each engage and cooperate with a respective helical path of steps formed on the inner wall of the syringe body to provide stepwise movement of the plunger and, in turn, precise metering of the substance dispensed therefrom. A reconstitution syringe defines within a syringe body plural compartments, wherein each compartment stores a respective component of a multi-component medicament or other preparation. An elastomeric plug is coupled to the plunger and connected between the two compartments to prevent intermixing of the components. Upon moving the plunger, the plug is released to thereby place the compartments in fluid communication with each other, and to facilitate intermixing of the components upon shaking the syringe.
Abstract:
A sterile filling machine and related method are provided for sterile filling a container with a substance. The container includes a heat resealable stopper and a chamber for receiving the substance therein. The sealed, empty containers are subjected to radiation capable of penetrating through the stopper and chamber for sterilizing the container. The previously sterilized containers are then transported through an e-beam chamber, wherein an electron beam is directed onto a penetrable surface of the stopper to sterilize the penetrable surface. A needle is mounted within the e-beam chamber and moved into engagement with the stopper to pierce the sterilized penetrable surface of the stopper and inject the substance through the needle and into the chamber of the container. The needle is then withdrawn from the stopper and the filled container is transported outside of the e-beam chamber. Laser energy is then transmitted onto the penetrated surface of the stopper to fuse the stopper material and hermetically re-seal the stopper.
Abstract:
A container and valve assembly for storing and dispensing substances including edible substances. The container is a tubular body that defines a storage chamber for storing the substance and a head portion for supports the valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve body and a valve seat surrounded by a flexible outer cover that includes a valve portion. A seem between the valve portion and valve seat form a one-way release valve wherein a portion of the seam remains closed when the substance is dispensed. To dispense the substance, pressure is applied to the body forcing the substance into the valve assembly, which in turn, controls the flow and release of the substance without exposing the remaining substance to the external atmosphere; thus, the sterility of the storage chamber and remaining substance is maintained, and the shelf life of the substance is increased.