IP Library Granted Patent US 12,409,276
Granted Patent B2
US 12,409,276 · App. 17/011,676 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Dead end container and container assembly with dead end container

Inventors: Arne Kloke (St. Gallen, CH); Anil-Kumar Busimi (St. Gallen, CH); Dominique Bauert (St. Gallen, CH)
Assignee: SCHOTT PHARMA SCHWEIZ AG
A61M5/3134A61M5/31513
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 12,409,276
App. No.
17/011,676
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A container for accommodating pharmaceutical compositions, which is installable in a medical device, is provided. The container includes a hollow cylindrical body having an open end and a dead end opposite to the open end. The dead end is closed by a bottom portion. The hollow cylindrical body and the bottom portion are formed integrally and of the same material. The bottom portion transitions into the hollow cylindrical body via a curved heel that is defined by an outer radius r o , an inner radius r i and a thickness d h in a center portion of the curved heel, wherein the following condition is fulfilled: r i +d h −r o >0 mm.

Claims (60)

1. A container for accommodating pharmaceutical compositions, the container comprising:

a hollow cylindrical body having an open end and a dead end opposite to the open end,

the open end being configured to receive a plunger that is slidable relative to the hollow cylindrical body from the open end towards the dead end;

a bottom portion closing the dead end, the hollow cylindrical body and the bottom portion being formed integrally and of a common material, the common material comprises glass or polymer;

a curved heel between the bottom portion and the hollow cylindrical body,

wherein the curved heel is defined by an outer radius (r o ) in mm, an inner radius (r i ) in mm, and a thickness (d h ) in mm in a center portion of the curved heel, and

wherein the curved heel fulfills: r i +d h −r o >0.1 mm; and

a burst pressure of at least 110% compared to a comparative container which only differs from the container in that the comparative container does not fulfill r i +d h −r o >0 mm.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body has a length (L) in mm, an outer diameter (D o ) in mm, an inner diameter (D I ) in mm, a difference (D) between the outer diameter (D o ) and the inner diameter (D I ) in mm,

wherein the common material has a tensile strength (Ts) in MPa, and

wherein 1.00 MPa≤A≤12.00 MPa, where A=D×Ts÷L.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body has a length (L) in mm, an outer diameter (D o ) in mm, an inner diameter (D I ) in mm, a difference (D) between the outer diameter (D o ) and the inner diameter (D I ) in mm,

wherein the common material has a Young's modulus (E) in GPa, and

wherein 0.10 GPa.≤B≤10.00 GPa, where B=D×E÷L.

4. The container of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure compliance of at least 0.64 N/mm 2 ×(inner diameter) 2 .

5. The container of claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body has a wall thickness (d w ) in mm, a length (L) between 35 mm and 120 mm, an outer diameter (D o ) between 8.65 mm and 30 mm, an inner diameter (D I ) between 4.65 mm and 27 mm, and a ratio of the length (L) to the outer diameter (D o ) of between 3:1 and 15:1.

6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body has an outer diameter (D o ) in mm, an inner diameter (D I ) in mm, and a length (L) in mm, wherein the outer diameter (D o ) and/or the inner diameter (D I ) varies not more than 5% over the length (L).

7. A container for accommodating pharmaceutical compositions, the container comprising:

a hollow cylindrical body having an open end and a dead end opposite to the open end,

the open end being configured to receive a plunger that is slidable relative to the hollow cylindrical body from the open end towards the dead end;

a bottom portion closing the dead end, the hollow cylindrical body and the bottom portion being formed integrally and of a common material, the common material comprises glass or polymer;

a curved heel between the bottom portion and the hollow cylindrical body,

wherein the curved heel is defined by an outer radius (r o ) in mm, an inner radius (r i ) in mm, and a thickness (d h ) in mm in a center portion of the curved heel, and

wherein the curved heel fulfills: r i +d h −r o >0.1 mm; and

a vertical load strength of at least 110% compared to a comparative container which only differs from the container in that the comparative container does not fulfill r i +d h −r o >0 mm.

8. The container of claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body has a wall thickness (d w ) in mm, and wherein one or more of the following conditions is/are fulfilled:

d h 3 ±(r o ×d w )>0.8 mm,

[(100×d h 3 ×r i )÷(d w ×D o 2 )]+(4.4 mm 2 ÷D o )>0.55 mm, and

r i >0.7 mm.

9. The container of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is a circular bottom having a minimum thickness (d b,min ), and wherein d h ÷d b,min <3.0.

10. The container of claim 1 , wherein the common material is cycloolefin copolymer or cycloolefin polymer.

11. The container of claim 1 , further comprising an inner surface having an average Zn-leachability of 0.00085 μg/cm 2 or less.

12. The container of claim 1 , further comprising an inner surface having an average Zn-leachability of 0.00055 μg/mm 2 or less.

13. A container assembly for accommodating pharmaceutical compositions, the container assembly comprising:

a plunger configured to be pierceable by a cannula;

a hollow cylindrical body having an open end and a dead end opposite to the open end,

the open end receiving the plunger at the open end so as to sealingly close the open end, the plunger being slidable relative to the hollow cylindrical body from the open end towards the dead end;

a bottom portion closing the dead end, the hollow cylindrical body and the bottom portion being formed integrally and of a common material, the common material comprises glass or polymer;

a curved heel between the bottom portion and the hollow cylindrical body,

wherein the curved heel is defined by an outer radius (r o ) in mm, an inner radius (r 1 ) in mm, and a thickness (d h ) in mm in a center portion of the curved heel, and

wherein the curved heel fulfills: r i +d h −r o >0.1 mm; and

a burst pressure of at least 110% compared to a comparative container which only differs from the container in that the comparative container does not fulfill r i +d h −r o >0 mm.

14. A container assembly for accommodating pharmaceutical compositions, the container assembly comprising:

a plunger configured to be pierceable by a cannula;

a hollow cylindrical body having an open end and a dead end opposite to the open end,

the open end receiving the plunger at the open end so as to sealingly close the open end, the plunger being slidable relative to the hollow cylindrical body from the open end towards the dead end;

a bottom portion closing the dead end, the hollow cylindrical body and the bottom portion being formed integrally and of a common material, the common material comprises glass or polymer;

a curved heel between the bottom portion and the hollow cylindrical body,

wherein the curved heel is defined by an outer radius (r o ) in mm, an inner radius (r i ) in mm, and a thickness (d h ) in mm in a center portion of the curved heel, and

wherein the curved heel fulfills: r i +d h −r o >0.1 mm; and

a vertical load strength of at least 110% compared to a comparative container which only differs from the container in that the comparative container does not fulfill r i +d h −r o >0 mm.

15. The container assembly of claim 13 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body has a length (L) in mm, an outer diameter (D o ) in mm, an inner diameter (D I ) in mm, a difference (D) between the outer diameter (D o ) and the inner diameter (D I ) in mm,

wherein the common material has a tensile strength (Ts) in MPa and a Young's modulus (E) in GPa,

wherein 1.00 MPa≤A≤12.00 MPa, where A=D×Ts÷L, and/or

wherein 0.10 GPa.≤B≤10.00 GPa, where B=D×E÷L.

16. The container assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a pharmaceutical composition in the hollow cylindrical body.

17. A medical device for expelling or injecting pharmaceutical compositions, comprising:

the container assembly of claim 16 ;

a cannula for expelling the pharmaceutical composition from the container assembly through the cannula, wherein the cannula is arranged so as to pierce the plunger upon actuation, and

an actuation mechanism configured to move the container and the plunger relative to each other in a substantially axial direction to apply pressure to the pharmaceutical composition accommodated in the container for expelling the pharmaceutical composition through the cannula.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 7, 2022
From: SCHOTT SCHWEIZ AG
To: SCHOTT PHARMA SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 061895/0026 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2020
From: KLOKE, ARNE, DR.; BUSIMI, ANIL-KUMAR; BAUERT, DOMINIQUE
To: SCHOTT SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 054491/0084 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19195405 · Sep 4, 2019 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210060256A1 · Mar 4, 2021
References Cited (23)
US 2817458A · Amigone · 1957 [cited by examiner]
US 5425715A · Dalling · 1995 [cited by examiner]
US 6055829A · Witzmann · 2000 [cited by examiner]
US 20030006349A1 · Sadowski · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20060173418A1 · Rinaudo · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20070148326A1 · Hastings · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20080245758A1 · Geser · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20100213083A1 · Olander · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20170182489A1 · Ebetsberger · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190021949A1 · Skufca · 2019 [cited by examiner]
GB 2453432 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 8102572 · 1981 [cited by applicant]
WO 9119606 · 1991 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015107953 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018145005 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2018145005A1 · 2018 [cited by examiner]
Applied welding Engineering (Third Edition), 2020, ‘Chapter 2—Mechanical behaviour of Plastics’. 2020; [Accessed Online Jan. 12, 2025 via Science Direct] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/stress-con… [cited by examiner]
ISO 11608-3, “Needle-based injection systems for medical use—Requirements and test methods—Part 3: Finished containers”, Second Edition, Oct. 1, 2012, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
DIN EN ISO 7458, “Glass containers—Internal pressure resistance—Test methods”, May 2004, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
DIN EN ISO 8113, “Glass containers—Resistance to vertical load—Test methods”, May 2004, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
ISO 12775, “Guidelines on types of glass of normal bulk-production composition and their test methods”, 1st edition, Oct. 15, 1997, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
DIN EN ISO 8362-1, “Injection containers and accessories—Part 1: Injection vials made of glass tubing”, Jan. 2020, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
DIN ISO 9187-1, “Injection equipment for medical use—Part 1: Ampoules for injectables”, Oct. 15, 2010, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]