Aseptic Technologies S.a.

Smithkline Beecham Biologicals S.a.

Glaxosmithkline Biologicals Sa

Medical Instill Technologies, Inc.

Jacques Thilly

Christian Vandecasserie

Daniel Py

Julian V Chan

Norbert M Assion

A hollow needle comprising a shaft having a distal portion suitable for passing through an elastomer closure of a container, said shaft extending in a longitudinal direction and having a central longitudinal axis, and having an internal longitudinal conduit therein for the flow of liquid and one or more orifices communicating between the conduit and the exterior of the needle, the distal portion of the shaft being provided with a pointed end that has a profile comprising a cutting edge in the form of two part cutting edges converging in the longitudinal direction to meet at the needle point, each part cutting edge extending in a straight line in a widthways direction across a plane including the central longitudinal axis, on both widthways sides of the cutting edge the pointed end having a profile which is a non-cutting surface, wherein the pointed end of the needle tapers from an outer surface of said distal portion toward the point of the needle, and the distance, measured in a further plane defined by said two part cutting edges between the outermost ends of said part cutting edges, is smaller than the largest outer dimension of said distal portion, measured perpendicular to said central axis in said further plane.

Pyramid shaped needle point

A process for preparing a lyophilized material, providing a container having a penetrable envelope and containing the material in a carrier liquid, whereby the penetrable region is penetrated with a penetrator which provides a conduit through the envelope, and the carrier liquid is evaporated out of the container via the conduit, after which the penetrator is withdrawn.

Process for preparing a lyophilized material

A closure system for a vial comprising: an elastic closure part to engage the mouth opening, a clamp part to hold the closure part in a closing relationship with the mouth opening, the clamp part defining an upper aperture through which a region of the upper surface of the closure part is exposed when the clamp part is engaged with the vial, a cover part to engage the clamp part to cover the exposed region, the cover part engaging with the closure part to provide two or more concentric ring-shaped seals, at least part of the cover part being removable from the vial to allow access to the closure.

Closure system and method of filling a vial

A closure system for a pharmaceutical vial, comprising an elastomer closure part, a clamp part which holds the closure part in engagement with the mouth of the vial, and a cover part which engages with the clamp part. The interior of the closure part is profiled to minimize retention of residual liquid therein.

Closure system for a vial, vial, method of closing and filling a vial and stand for a vial

A novel elastomer material having an absorption coefficient for laser light of 0.5-2.5 mm, preferably being a base thermoplastic elastomer compounded with a colorant which comprises a Pantone 4597C pigment mixed with a carrier material. The elastomer is suited for use as a pharmaceutical vial closure which can be punctured by a filling needle and the puncture hole heat sealed by a focused laser.

Laser sealing elastomer

A process for making a medicinal vial in which a vial and a closure are moulded in parallel in respective vial and closure moulds, then the closure and vial are automatically assembled together, all in a sterile environment. An apparatus for performing this process is also provided. By the process and apparatus of the invention sealed vials with a sterile interior may be made.

Process and apparatus for producing a vial in a sterile environment

Vial

A system for making a connection between the interior and exterior of a compartment, comprising a door opening through the compartment wall, a connector body which can engage with the wall, and having a connection port through it, and a removable cover on the connector body. The body is engaged with the door opening, and an inner door within the compartment engages and removes the cover. A preferred construction creates a single line of confidence seal. The system is particularly suited for sterile compartments.

System for providing communication between the interior and the exterior of a compartment

Apparatus for introducing a medicament into containers, especially vials, in which the containers are passed through an enclosure and exposed therein to a sterilising electron beam. The containers are then conveyed to a filling station situated outside the enclosure at which a wall part of the container is punctured with a filling needle and medicament introduced into the container via the needle then withdrawing the needle. Preferred apparatus also includes means for heat sealing the puncture site. A corresponding process is disclosed.

Apparatus and process for filling a medicament into a container

A connector for forming a sterile connection between two tubes, comprising first and second parts which comprise connectable conduits and which can mate, first and second covers which can be removed from the so-mated parts to expose connectable ends of the first and second conduits, so that the conduits can then be connected.

Connector device for the sterile connection of tubes

A teat nozzle suitable for pediatric oral dosing of a fluid medicament comprising a tubular conduit which is engageable with a socket, and has at least one engagement part which can engage with an internal thread in the socket. The teat nozzle facilitates connection between the conduit and the socket. Dosing devices such as syringes and squeezable capsules provided with the nozzle, and a connection means for a vial having such a socket, are also described.

Teat nozzle for dosing device with connection means

For storage of syringes, a support rack comprising a plurality of elongate fingers (,) connected together at one end by a spine member (,) is used. The fingers (,) define parallel support channels (,) open at one end, and the syringes are stored in the channels (,) with their lips or wings (,) resting on the elongate fingers (,). Also disclosed are support cradles. Storage boxes, and lifting devices for handling the loaded racks. The support rack is better adapted than existing systems for cooperation with automated machinery since it can receive syringes into the channels by a horizontal translation movement, readily provided by a simple pushing device.

Growing community of inventors

Rixensart, Belgium

Jacques Thilly