Methods and systems for buffering solutions with controlled tonicity
AssigneeOnpharma, Inc.
InventorsMatthew J. Stepovich, Michael I. Falkel, Mark Foley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An anesthetic cartridge is adapted to receive a volume of buffer by displacing a plunger in one end of the anesthetic cartridge inwardly so that addition of the buffer volume will not displace the plunger excessively beyond the end of the cartridge body. The inwardly displaced end is protected by a plug or cover which prevents contamination and which is ejected when the buffer is added. The amount of buffer volume injected is selected to raise the pH of the anesthetic to a target value and to simultaneously achieve a target tonicity.
Claims27
A liquid medicament cartridge comprising:
- a hollow body having a first open end and a second open end;
- a needle-penetrable septum over the first open end;
- a plunger spaced inwardly from the second open end;
- and
- a protective plug inserted into the second open end, said protective plug being displaceable as additional liquid is injected through the septum into the hollow body to cause the plunger to move toward the plug.
A method for buffering anesthetic carried in a container, said method comprising:
- injecting a buffer into the container to outwardly displace a plunger which in turn ejects a protective plug which covers the plunger.
A method for buffering a liquid anesthetic having a target tonicity and a target pH, said method comprising:
- providing a volume of the liquid anesthetic in a sealed container having a septum at one end and a plunger at an opposite end, wherein the anesthetic is initially acidic;
- and
- injecting a volume of buffer through the septum into the anesthetic;
- wherein the buffer is hypertonic and has a basic pH selected so that the buffered anesthetic will have both the target pH and the target tonicity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.