System and method for purging oxygen from medical vials

Abstract

A medical vial filling system is adapted to fill a medical vial with a solution and cap the filled medical vial. A purging system includes a manifold disposed between a filling station and a capping station. The manifold includes a filling inlet port and a plurality of output ports. The output ports are positioned in a space proximate the filling station and in a space over the transport mechanism. A stoppering block includes a capping chamber for receiving a bushing positioned at the capping station. The stoppering block comprises a stoppering inlet port, a first nozzle opening into the capping chamber and a second nozzle extending into the capping chamber and directed into the medical vial when the medical vial is position in the capping station. A supply of non-reactive gas at the filling inlet port directs flow of the non-reactive gas out the manifold outlet ports to evacuate air and substitute the non-reactive gas in the filled medical vial and at the stoppering inlet port directs flow of the non-reactive gas in a flood zone surround a space above the medical vials when the medical vial is positioned in the capping station and in a stream directed into the medical vial when the medical vial is positioned in the capping station.