IP Library Granted Patent US 12679577
Granted Patent B2
US 12679577 · App. 18/877,730 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Predicting machine parameters to achieve target syringe plunger depth placement

Inventors: Evan Kruchowy (Port Hueneme, CA); David L. Le (Thousand Oaks, CA); Vikashni Padmakumar (Thousand Oaks, CA); Joseph P. Bernacki (Thousand Oaks, CA)
Assignee: AMGEN INC.
B65B3/003B65B31/027
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679577
App. No.
18/877,730
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for characterizing a recipe of a syringe filling system can include (a) receiving a value of a plunger depth for a syringe, (b) receiving values of product parameters, (c) determining, by applying the value of the plunger depth and the values of the product parameters as inputs to a model, values of vacuum parameters of the syringe filling system for use when filling the syringe with a product having the values of the product parameters, and (d) displaying or storing the values of the vacuum parameters. Further aspects include characterizing a recipe of the syringe filling system for use with a second value of the plunger depth for a second syringe. Still further aspects include causing one or more vacuum devices of the syringe filling system to operate at the values of the vacuum parameters.

Claims (45)

1 . A method for characterizing a recipe of a syringe filling system, comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a first value of a plunger depth for a first syringe;

receiving, by the one or more processors, first values of one or more product parameters;

determining, by the one or more processors applying the first value of the plunger depth and the first values of the product parameters as inputs to a model, one or more first values of one or more vacuum parameters of the syringe filling system for use when filling the first syringe with a product having the first values of the product parameters, wherein the model uses one or more experimentally-determined correction factors to model a relationship between the plunger depth, the product parameters, and the vacuum parameters; and

displaying or storing, by the one or more processors, the first values of the vacuum parameters.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first value of the plunger depth is a distance value or a volume value.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the model models a relationship between the plunger depth, the product parameters, the vacuum parameters, and one or more of: (i) an interior size of the first syringe; (ii) a syringe-plunger contact distance of the first syringe; (iii) a plunger stopper height in a barrel of the first syringe; (iv) a hold up volume of the first syringe; or (v) a plunger cone volume of the first syringe.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first values of the vacuum parameters include a vacuum pressure value.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing, by the one or more processors, one or more vacuum devices of the syringe filling system to operate at the first values of the vacuum parameters.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a second value of the plunger depth for a second syringe, wherein the second syringe is a different size than the first syringe;

receiving, by the one or more processors, second values of the one or more product parameters;

determining, by the one or more processors applying the second value of the plunger depth and the second values of the product parameters as inputs to the model, one or more second values of the one or more vacuum parameters of the syringe filling system for use when filing the second syringe with a product having the second values of the product parameters; and

displaying or storing, by the one or more processors, the second values of the one or more vacuum parameters.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, for the syringe filling system, the one or more experimentally-determined correction factors based on experimentally relating the plunger depth, vacuum pressure, and product fill amount.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first values of the product parameters include one or more of: a fill volume value, a fill mass value, or a fill weight value.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first values of the product parameters include two or more of: (i) the fill volume value; (ii) the fill mass value or the fill weight value; or (iii) a product density value.

10 . One or more non-transitory, computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a first value of a plunger depth for a first syringe;

receive first values of one or more product parameters;

determine, by applying the first value of the plunger depth and the first values of the product parameters as inputs to a model, one or more first values of one or more vacuum parameters of the syringe filling system for use when filling the first syringe with a product having the first values of the product parameters, wherein the model uses one or more experimentally-determined correction factors to model a relationship between the plunger depth, the product parameters, and the vacuum parameters; and

display or store the first values of the vacuum parameters of.

11 . A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a first value of a plunger depth for a first syringe;

receive first values of one or more product parameters;

determine, by applying the first value of the plunger depth and the first values of the product parameters as inputs to a model, one or more first values of one or more vacuum parameters of the syringe filling system for use when filling the first syringe with a product having the first values of the product parameters, wherein the model uses one or more experimentally-determined correction factors to model a relationship between the plunger depth, the product parameters, and the vacuum parameters; and

display or store the first values of the vacuum parameters.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first value of the plunger depth is a distance value or a volume value.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the model models a relationship between the plunger depth, the product parameters, the vacuum parameters, and one or more of: (i) an interior size of the first syringe; (ii) a syringe-plunger contact distance of the first syringe; (iii) a plunger stopper height in a barrel of the first syringe; (iv) a hold up volume of the first syringe; or (v) a plunger cone volume of the first syringe.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first values of the vacuum parameters include a vacuum pressure value.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

cause one or more vacuum devices of the syringe filling system to operate at the first values of the vacuum parameters.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a second value of the plunger depth for a second syringe, wherein the second syringe is a different size than the first syringe;

receive second values of the one or more product parameters;

determine, by applying the second value of the plunger depth and the second values of the product parameters as inputs to the model, one or more second values of the one or more vacuum parameters of the syringe filling system for use when filing the second syringe with a product having the second values of the product parameters; and

display or store, by the one or more processors, the second values of the one or more vacuum parameters.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

determine for the syringe filling system, the one or more experimentally-determined correction factors based on experimentally relating the plunger depth, vacuum pressure, and product fill amount.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first values of the product parameters include one or more of: a fill volume value, a fill mass value, or a fill weight value.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the first values of the product parameters include two or more of: (i) the fill volume value; (ii) the fill mass value or the fill weight value; or (iii) a product density value.