A Method Of Inserting A Lubricant Free Stopper Into A Lubricant Free Barrel Or A Lubricant Free Cartridge Tube And A System For Assembling Same

A system comprising:

• (A) an insertion tube having:
• a placement region having a diameter for receiving a stopper from a stopper feeder;
• a body having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the placement region;
• and
• a transition zone having a tapered angle for transitioning the stopper from the placement region to the insertion tube body;
• (B) an insertion pin for maneuvering the stopper through the insertion tube;
• and
• (C) a barrel or cartridge tube having an inner surface for receiving the stopper from the insertion tube and a therapeutic substance from a therapeutic feeder,
• wherein (A) to (C) comprise a system to form a pre-filled syringe or cartridge, and
• wherein the system and the pre-filled syringe are lubricant free or substantially lubricant free.

A method for inserting a lubricant free stopper into a lubricant free cartridge tube, the method comprising:

• (A) inserting a stopper that includes at least one sealing rib into a placement region located at a proximal end of an insertion tube, the insertion tube having a body connected to the placement region through a transition zone;
• (B) lowering the body of the insertion tube into a cartridge tube having a end portion to a position located past the top of the cartridge tube;
• (C) maneuvering the stopper to a distal opening of the insertion tube using an insertion pin;
• (D) retracting the insertion tube while the stopper remains in a fixed position within the cartridge tube by the insertion pin, wherein the stopper is securely positioned within the cartridge tube;
• and
• (E) fully retracting the insertion pin and the insertion tube from the cartridge tube to form a stoppered cartridge,
• wherein at least the stopper, the insertion tube, the body of the insertion tube, the cartridge tube, the top of the cartridge tube, and the insertion pin are free or substantially free of lubricants.