Apparatus and method for needle filling and laser resealing

An apparatus for needle filling and thermally resealing containers having stoppers that are needle penetrable for filling the containers with a substance, and are thermally resealable for thermally sealing a needle hole in the stopper upon withdrawal of a needle therefrom, the apparatus comprising:

• first means for supporting at least one container having a resealable stopper in a substantially fixed position during at least one of needle filling and thermally resealing a needle hole in the stopper upon withdrawal of a needle therefrom;
• a manifold that includes at least one of (1) a needle for penetrating the resealable stopper and introducing a substance through the needle and into the container;
• (2) a thermal source for heating a needle penetrated region of the stopper and, in turn, sealing a needle hole in the stopper;
• and (3) a temperature sensor for sensing the temperate of a needle penetrated region of the stopper to determine whether a needle hole therein is sealed;
• and
• second means for moving the manifold in a plurality of directions relative to the container on the first means to position the manifold relative to a needle penetrable region of the stopper of the container.

A method for needle filling and thermally resealing a plurality of containers each having a resealable stopper, the method comprising:

• providing a manifold drivingly mounted on a robotic arm and including at least one of (1) a needle for penetrating the resealable stopper and introducing a substance through the needle and into one of the plurality of containers;
• (2) a thermal source for heating a needle penetrated region of the stopper and, in turn, sealing a needle hole in the stopper;
• and (3) a temperature sensor for sensing the temperate of a needle penetrated region of the stopper to determine whether a needle hole therein is sealed;
• and
• moving the manifold relative to the plurality of containers, the manifold is movable in a plurality of directions.