Device for vacuum and vent tube stoppering a medical container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11370567-B2
Application number	US-201816630295-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2018
Priority date	Jul 11, 2017
Publication date	Jun 28, 2022
Grant date	Jun 28, 2022

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for vacuum and vent tube stoppering a medical container. The device includes a main body defining an internal volume that has a first variable pressure chamber configured to be connected to a vacuum pump, the main body being configured to receive the proximal end of a medical container so that said medical container is in communication with the first variable pressure chamber. A vent device including a vent tube is moveable inside the internal volume of the main body along a longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position and a distal operative position. A piston rod is moveable inside the internal volume of the vent tube along the longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position and a distal operative position. A container holder system is provided in the main body, in communication with the first variable pressure chamber.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for vacuum and vent tube stoppering a medical container, comprising:
a main body defining an internal volume comprising a first variable pressure chamber configured to be connected to a vacuum pump, the main body being configured to receive the proximal end of a medical container so that said medical container is in communication with the first variable pressure chamber;
a vent device comprising a vent tube moveable inside the internal volume of the main body along a longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position and a distal operative position wherein the vent tube passes through the first variable pressure chamber down to the inside of the medical container, the vent tube having an internal volume configured to contain a stopper in a compressed state, the vent tube being in communication with a second variable pressure chamber configured to be connected to the vacuum pump;
a piston rod moveable inside the internal volume of the vent tube along the longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position and a distal operative position wherein the piston rod pushes the stopper into the medical container when the vent tube is in the operative position; and
a container holder system provided in the main body, in communication with the first variable pressure chamber, said container holder system being configured to receive the proximal end of a medical container to be stoppered and to hold the medical container aligned with the direction of travel of the vent tube so that when moving from the proximal rest position to the distal operative position, the vent tube enters the medical container.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vent tube comprises a shoulder between a first portion moveable inside the internal volume of the main body, and a second portion configured to abut the proximal end of the main body when the vent tube is in the operative position.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the inner volume of the vent tube is configured to compress radially the stopper inserted herein so that the stopper has a reduced diameter compared to the diameter of the stopper when positioned inside the medical container.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vent device comprises a leak tight lid from which extends the vent tube along the longitudinal axis, the leak tight lid defining an internal volume comprising the second variable pressure chamber.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the leak tight lid comprises an aperture on its proximal end, the aperture being aligned with the longitudinal axis and configured for receiving both the stopper and the piston rod to be inserted in the vent tube.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a first portion including a spacer configured to guide the vent tube along the longitudinal axis, and a second portion distally adjacent to the first portion, including the first variable pressure chamber.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the container holder system comprises:
a proximal wall provided with an opening in communication with the first variable pressure chamber, the opening being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the piston rod and configured so that, when moving, the vent tube passes through the opening, and
a distal wall facing the proximal wall and joined to the proximal wall by a lateral wall provided with a slot, the distal wall being provided with a through groove continuous with the slot and extending in the distal wall from the slot,
the proximal the distal wall, and the lateral wall defining a housing in between able to receive the end of the medical container inserted through the slot and moved along the groove to be aligned with the direction of travel of the vent tube.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the proximal wall of the medical container holder system comprises a recess provided with the opening, the recess being configured to contact the proximal end of the medical container and to block the medical container radially when the latter is positioned in the housing and when the device is under vacuum.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the piston rod comprises a handle configured to be moved manually by a user.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device is handheld.

11. A system for vacuum and vent tube stoppering a medical container, comprising:
the device according to claim 1 ,
a vacuum pump and a vacuum valve for pulling vacuum and adjusting the pressure in the first and second variable pressure chambers of the device to a pressure inferior to the atmospheric pressure, and
a back valve for breaking vacuum so as to adjust the pressure in the first and second variable pressure chambers back to the atmospheric pressure.

12. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising a digital display associated with a probe positioned inside each of the first and second variable pressure chambers so as so measure and display the pressure in said first and second variable pressure chambers to a user.

13. A method for vacuum and vent tube stoppering a medical container using a device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a) positioning a stopper inside the vent tube;
b) mounting a medical container pre-filled with a composition on the main body of the device;
c) pulling vacuum in the first and second variable pressure chambers so as to decrease the pressure inside the first and second variable pressure chambers and inside the vent tube;
d) moving the vent tube along the longitudinal axis through the main body when the pressure is down, up to the inside of the medical container, and moving the piston rod along the vent tube so as to push the stopper out of the vent tube and position said stopper inside the medical container; and
e) breaking the vacuum so as to increase the pressure inside the first and second variable pressure chambers, causing the stopper to expand and to move further down the medical container to the surface of the composition contained herein due to pressure differential between the first and second variable pressure chambers and the remaining volume between the stopper and the composition.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the device held in a user's hand, and at least elements a), b), and d) are carried out manually by the user.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson France

Inventors

• Le Dimet Gwenn
• Gagliano Julien

Classifications

• A61J1/2041

  having removable plugs · CPC title

• A61J1/2072

  for internal venting · CPC title

• B65B31/027 Primary

  closed by a stopper · CPC title

• A61J2200/70

  Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means · CPC title

• B65B31/046

  the nozzles co-operating, or being combined, with a device for opening or closing the container or wrapper (B65B31/06 takes precedence) · CPC title