Novel Process
OwnerPatrick Baleriaux, Jacques Thillyinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for reducing the oxygen concentration in a container prior to filling the container with a liquid by passing a hollow filling needle through a puncturable part of the container wall, in which the empty container is enclosed within an envelope which is less permeable to oxygen than the container wall. The process is suitable for use with vials having a puncturable closure.
Claims18
A process for the provision of a closed container having an internal atmosphere containing a lower concentration of oxygen than ambient atmospheric comprising:
- providing a container which is bounded by an oxygen-permeable boundary having a part which is puncturable by a filling needle, and being suitable for a process of introduction of a liquid content into the container by passing a filling needle through the puncturable part and then introducing the liquid content via the needle then withdrawing the needle, the container having an internal volume of which 50% or more is initially an oxygen-containing atmosphere;
- enclosing the container within an envelope bounded by an envelope wall of a material which is less oxygen permeable than the wall material;
- exposing the atmosphere between the container and the envelope wall to an oxygen-absorbing material for a time such that the oxygen concentration of the atmosphere within the container is reduced below the initial concentration.
A process for introducing a liquid substance into a container comprising the steps of:
- providing a container which is bounded by a boundary having a part which is puncturable by a filling needle, and being suitable for a process of introduction of a liquid content into the container by passing a filling needle through the puncturable part and then introducing the liquid content via the needle;
- the container having an oxygen concentration within the interior of the container at a level below ambient atmospheric concentration;
- passing a hollow filling needle through the puncturable part,
- introducing a liquid substance into the container via the filling needle,
- then withdrawing the filling needle.
A combination comprising:
- a container made at least in part of an oxygen-permeable wall material;
- an envelope bounded by an envelope wall of an envelope material which is less oxygen permeable than the container wall material and enclosing the container;
- an oxygen-absorbing material between the vial and the envelope wall;
- the container within the envelope being empty except for its atmosphere, or containing an additive for mixing with a liquid medicinal substance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.