Methods of filling a sealed device
View Patent ↗A sterile filling machine and related method are provided for sterile filling a container with a substance. The container includes a resealable stopper or portion and a chamber for receiving the substance therein. The sealed, empty containers are subjected to radiation capable of penetrating through the resealable portion and chamber for sterilizing the container. The previously sterilized containers are then transported through another sterilizing chamber, such as an e-beam chamber, to sterilize the penetrable surface. A filling member is moved into engagement with the resealable portion to pierce the sterilized penetrable surface of the resealable portion and inject the substance through the filling member and into the chamber of the container. Energy is then transmitted onto the stopper to hermetically re-seal the penetration in the resealable portion.
1. A method comprising the following steps:
transporting at least one device on a conveyor, wherein the at least one device includes a penetrable portion, and a sealed empty chamber in fluid communication with the penetrable portion;
penetrating the penetrable portion of the at least one device with at least one filling or injection member, and forming a penetrated portion of the penetrable portion;
introducing substance through the at least one filling or injection member and into the chamber of the at least one device;
withdrawing the at least one filling or injection member from the penetrable portion of the at least one device; and
covering the penetrated portion of the at least one device and thereby, in turn, at least one of (i) hermetically sealing the penetrated portion from the ambient atmosphere; (ii) hermetically sealing the substance within the chamber from the ambient atmosphere, and (iii) forming a gas-tight seal between the ambient atmosphere and the chamber.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the following steps:
prior to the penetrating step, sterilizing the at least one device by subjecting said at least one device to radiation capable of penetrating through the penetrable portion and into the chamber; and
conveying the at least one device to a sterilizing station and sterilizing at least an external surface of the penetrable portion.
3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one device comprises a plurality of devices, and further comprising moving the conveyor by a motor and holding the devices in predetermined positions thereon.
4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing one of a sterile medicament, cosmetic and food product into the chamber of the at least one device.
5. A method as defined in claim 2 , further comprising transporting the at least one device on the conveyor from the sterilizing station to a filling station including therein the at least one injection member.
6. A method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the step of sterilizing the at least one device by subjecting the at least one device to radiation includes subjecting the at least one device to gamma radiation, and the step of conveying the at least one device to a sterilizing station and sterilizing at least the external surface of the penetrable portion includes directing an electron beam onto such surface.
7. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising drivingly mounting the at least one filling or injection member over the conveyor, and wherein the penetrating step includes driving the at least one filling or injection member into engagement with the penetrable portion of the at least one device and piercing such portion.
8. A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein the holding step comprises holding the devices with a plurality of receptacles or cleats.
9. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the covering step comprises at least one of (i) engaging a covering portion against the penetrable portion at at least one of the penetrated portion and directly adjacent the penetrated portion; and (ii) engaging a covering portion into compressing engagement with the penetrable portion and, thereby, in turn, compressing the penetrable portion.
10. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the penetrating step, transporting the at least one device on the conveyor to a filling station including therein the at least one filling or injection member coupled in fluid communication with a source of substance.
11. A method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the step of conveying the at least one device through a sterilizing station and sterilizing at least an external surface of the penetrable portion includes conveying the at least one device through an electron beam chamber, directing an electron beam within the electron beam chamber onto the penetrable portion, and, in turn, sterilizing the at least an external surface thereof.
12. A method comprising:
providing a device including a penetrable and thermally resealable portion and a sealed empty chamber in fluid communication with the penetrable and thermally resealable portion;
sterilizing the sealed, empty chamber;
transporting the device to a sterilizing station and sterilizing at least an external surface of the penetrable and thermally resealable portion;
introducing an injection member through the penetrable and thermally resealable portion;
introducing through the injection member a sterile substance into the sterile chamber of the device;
withdrawing the injection member from the penetrable and thermally resealable portion; and
applying energy to the penetrable and thermally resealable portion and, in turn, thermally resealing the penetrable and thermally resealable portion and hermetically sealing the sterile substance within the chamber.
13. A method as defined in claim 12 , further comprising transporting the device from the sterilizing station to a filling station including therein the injection member, and transporting the devices from the filling station to a resealing station, wherein the step of applying energy is performed within the resealing station.
14. A method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the step of applying energy includes applying laser energy.