Syringe systems for lyophilized drugs and methods for making the same

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Patent Number: US6440101
Publication date: 2002-08-27
Inventor(s): GRABENKORT RICHARD W [US]; FARMER RANDALL M [US]
Applicant(s): ABBOTT LAB [US]
Requested Patent: WO0191836
Application Number: US20000584307 20000531
Priority Number(s): US20000584307 20000531
IPC Classification: A61M37/00
EC Classification: A61M5/315M, F26B5/06
Equivalents: AU6490701, CA2410468, EP1289583, JP2003535624T
Abstract
A syringe system requires a decreased vertical travel for sealing during a lyophilization process and therefore provides for increased utilization of space in a lyophilization chamber. The syringe system is provided with a sterility maintenance sleeve including a stopper affixed thereto for sealingly engaging the syringe barrel to define a drug chamber. The sterility maintenance sleeve is provided with a venting passage to permit egress of vapor from the drug chamber during lyophilization. A plug cap cooperating with the sterility maintenance sleeve includes an occluding tip which is adapted to occupy the venting passage and seal the drug chamber after lyophilization. The plug cap is provided with a support structure in the form of flexible fins for supporting the plug cap in a venting position in which the occluding tip is removed from the venting passage to permit egress of drug solution vapor from the drug chamber during lyophilization. After lyophilization, the plug cap is moved into a sealing position in which the drug chamber is sealed against contamination.
Data supplied from the esp@cenet database - l2