Plunger rod and syringe assembly system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021283337-A1
Application number	US-201816488172-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2018
Priority date	Mar 28, 2017
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include a carriage including a cradle having a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly and an aperture portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod. An actuating device may be operatively coupled to the carriage and adapted to move the cradle from a first position to a second position to couple the plunger rod to the syringe assembly. The carriage may be selected from separate and interchangeable first and second carriages, wherein the first carriage includes a cradle adapted to receive a syringe assembly of a first size and the second carriage including a cradle sized to receive a syringe assembly of a second size that is different from the first size.

First claim

1 . A machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly, the machine comprising:
a selected carriage including a cradle having a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly and an aperture portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod; an actuating device operatively coupled to the selected carriage and adapted to move the cradle from a first position to a second position to couple the plunger rod to the syringe assembly; and wherein the selected carriage is selected from separate and interchangeable first and second carriages, wherein the first carriage includes a cradle adapted to receive a syringe assembly of a first size and the second carriage including a cradle sized to receive a syringe assembly of a second size that is different from the first size.

2 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a selected pressure plate positioned above the cradle so that the cradle moves beneath the selected pressure plate when the cradle moves from the first position to the second position, the selected pressure plate adapted to apply a downward force to the plunger rod disposed in the aperture portion of the cradle when the cradle moves from the first position to the second position.

3 . The machine of claim 2 , further comprising a selected constant tension spring operatively coupled to the selected pressure plate, the selected pressure plate defining an inlet portion adapted to receive a proximal end of the plunger rod when the cradle moves from the first position to the second position, the selected constant tension spring providing the downward force to the plunger rod, applied via the selected pressure plate, when the cradle moves between the first position and the second position.

4 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the first carriage includes a first pressure plate coupled to the first carriage, and the second carriage includes a second pressure plate coupled to the second carriage, such that the selected pressure plate is coupled to the selected carriage.

5 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a quick-change fastener and a table, the selected carriage removably coupled to the table by the quick-change fastener.

6 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the first carriage includes a first base and the second carriage includes a second base, and the actuating device includes a servomotor adapted to be operatively connected to the first and second bases.

7 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a selected friction element disposed adjacent to the selected carriage, the selected friction element adapted to engage a syringe barrel of the syringe assembly carried by the cradle as the cradle moves from the first position to the second position, the friction element adapted to apply a rotational force to the syringe barrel to spin the syringe assembly relative to the plunger rod when the cradle moves from the first position to the second position.

8 . The machine of claim 7 , wherein the first carriage includes a first guide plate coupled to the first carriage and carrying a first friction element and the second carriage includes a second guide plate coupled to the second carriage and carrying a second friction element such that the selected friction element is carried by a selected guide plate coupled to the selected carriage.

9 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a selected movable plunger rod base coupled to the selected carriage, the selected plunger rod base disposed above the cradle and including an orifice sized to receive a flanged proximal end of the plunger rod, the orifice coaxially aligned with the aperture portion of the cradle, the plunger rod base being movable with the cradle from the first position to the second position;
a selected holding cap having an outwardly extending tab arranged to extend into the orifice of the selected plunger rod base, the selected holding cap removably attached to the selected plunger rod base; and wherein the selected holding cap is fixed relative to the selected carriage and is disposed in the orifice when the cradle is in the first position.

10 . The machine of claim 9 , wherein the selected plunger rod base is selected from separate and interchangeable first and second plunger rod bases, wherein the first plunger rod base includes an orifice adapted to receive a plunger rod of a first size and the second plunger rod base includes an orifice sized to receive a plunger rod of a second size that is different from the first size.

11 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the cradle includes a cradle axis that is coaxial with longitudinal axes of the syringe assembly and plunger rod when the syringe assembly and plunger rod are disposed in the cradle, the cradle axis being disposed at an angle greater than zero degrees relative to vertical.

12 . The machine of claim 11 , wherein the selected carriage comprises a rotational carousel with a rotational axis that is parallel to the cradle axis such that the rotational axis of the selected carriage is disposed at an angle greater than zero degrees relative to vertical. 13 - 22 . (Canceled)

23 . A method of using a machine to couple a plunger rod to a syringe assembly, the method comprising:
decoupling a second carriage from an actuating device; coupling a first carriage to the actuating device after decoupling the second carriage from actuating device, the first carriage including a movable first cradle adapted to receive a syringe assembly of a first size; positioning a first syringe assembly onto the movable first cradle of the first carriage, the first syringe assembly including a distal end and a proximal end, a syringe barrel, and a plunger disposed within the syringe barrel; positioning a first plunger rod onto the first cradle of the first carriage, the first plunger rod including a distal rod end and a proximal rod end and wherein the distal rod end is disposed above the proximal end of the first syringe assembly and is axially aligned with the plunger; and activating the actuating device coupled to the first carriage to move the first cradle from a first position to a second position, thereby applying a force to the first plunger rod causing the first plunger rod to become coupled to the first syringe assembly.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further including applying a downward force to the proximal rod end of the first plunger rod when the first cradle moves from the first position toward the second position.

25 . The method of claim 23 , further including fastening the first carriage to a table by a quick-change fastener, wherein the table is connected to the actuating device, and wherein decoupling the second carriage from the actuating device includes decoupling the quick-change fastener securing the second carriage to the table.

26 - 28 . (canceled)

29 . The method of claim 23 , further including, prior to decoupling the second carriage from the actuating device, positioning a second syringe assembly onto a second cradle of the second carriage, the second cradle adapted to receive the second syringe assembly of a second size, the second syringe assembly including a distal end and a proximal end, a syringe barrel, and a plunger disposed within the syringe barrel, wherein the second cradle of the second carriage is sized to receive a second syringe barrel of a second size;
positioning a second plunger rod onto the second cradle of the second carriage, the second plunger rod including a distal rod end and a proximal rod end and wherein the distal rod end is disposed above the proximal end of the second syringe

Assignees

• Amgen Inc

Inventors

• Ketelaars Jeroen
• Leka Lawrence G
• Perez Ernesto J
• Rey Manuel
• Rivera Jomasoel
• Tapia Javier O
• Van Wezel Martin
• Vazquez Francisco Almedina
• Wah Reyes Noel

Classifications

• B65B7/2821

  applying plugs or threadless stoppers (for bottles or jars B67B1/04) · CPC title

• B65B3/006 Primary

  Related operations, e.g. scoring ampoules · CPC title

• A61M2207/10

  Device therefor · CPC title

• A61M5/31515 Primary

  Connection of piston with piston rod · CPC title

• A61M5/178 Primary

  Syringes · CPC title