Sealed containers and methods of making and filling same

A vial assembly for storing a substance, comprising:

• a body defining an opening, a chamber in fluid communication with the opening for receiving therein the substance, a base, a mid-portion, and an upper portion axially spaced from the base on an opposite side of the mid-portion relative to the base, wherein each of the base and upper portion define a laterally-extending dimension greater than a maximum laterally-extending dimension of the mid-portion, and the mid-portion defines an axial extent that is greater than an axial extent of the base;
• a stopper received within the opening and penetrable by a needle or like member for at least one of introducing the substance into, and withdrawing the substance from, the chamber;
• and
• a tamper-resistant portion extending over the stopper for preventing unnoticeable removal of the stopper;
• wherein the stopper has an annular groove defined in an outer periphery thereof such that an annular recess is formed between the stopper and the body, and the tamper-resistant portion is at least partially received in the annular recess.

A vial assembly for storing a substance, comprising:

• a body defining an opening, a chamber in fluid communication with the opening for receiving therein the substance, a base, a mid-portion, and an upper portion axially spaced from the base on an opposite side of the mid-portion relative to the base, wherein each of the base and upper portion define a laterally-extending dimension greater than a maximum laterally-extending dimension of the mid-portion, and the mid-portion defines an axial extent that is greater than an axial extent of the base;
• and
• a stopper received within the opening and penetrable by a needle or like member for at least one of introducing the substance into, and withdrawing the substance from, the chamber;
• wherein the stopper is a thermoplastic stopper defining a needle penetration region that is pierceable with a needle to form a needle aperture therethrough, and is heat resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power thereto, wherein the stopper comprises a thermoplastic body defining (i) a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, (ii) a predetermined color and opacity that substantially absorbs the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and substantially prevents the passage of the radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and (iii) a predetermined color and opacity that causes the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal a needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period of less than approximately 2 seconds and substantially without burning the needle penetration region.

An assembly comprising:

• a vial including a body defining an opening, a chamber in fluid communication with the opening for receiving therein the substance, a base, a mid-portion, and an upper portion axially spaced from the base on an opposite side of the mid-portion relative to the base, wherein each of the base and upper portion define a laterally-extending dimension greater than a maximum laterally-extending dimension of the mid-portion, end the mid-portion defines an axial extent that is greater than an axial extent of the base;
• and
• a stopper received within the opening and penetrable by a needle or like member for at least one of introducing a substance into, and withdrawing the substance from, the chamber;
• a vial support including a vial mounting surface engageable with the mid-portion of the vial, an upper surface located on one side of the mounting surface, and a lower surface located on another side of the mounting surface, wherein the upper portion of the vial is engageable with the upper surface of the vial support for substantially preventing axial movement of the vial relative thereto, and the base of the vial is engageable with the lower surface of the vial support for substantially preventing axial movement of the vial relative thereto;
• and
• a filling assembly comprising a needle manifold including a plurality of needles spaced relative to each other and movable relative to the vial support for penetrating a plurality of vials mounted on the support within the filling assembly, filling the vials through the needles, and withdrawing the needles from the filled vials.

A vial assembly comprising:

• a body a vial including defining an opening, a chamber in fluid communication with the opening for receiving therein the substance, a base, a mid-portion, and an upper portion axially spaced from the base on an opposite side of the mid-portion relative to the base, wherein each of the base and upper portion define a laterally-extending dimension greater than a maximum laterally-extending dimension of the mid-portion, and the mid-portion defines an axial extent that is greater than a an axial extent of the base;
• and
• first means received within the opening for sealing the opening and being penetrable by a needle for at least one of introducing the substance into, and withdrawing the substance from, the chamber,
• wherein the first means is a thermoplastic stopper defining a needle penetration region that is pierceable with a needle to form a needle aperture therethrough, and is heat resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power thereto, wherein the stopper comprises (i) a thermoplastic body defining a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, (ii) second means for substantially absorbing the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and substantially preventing the passage of the radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and (iii) third means for causing the laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength and power to hermetically seal a needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period of less than approximately 2 seconds and substantially without burning the needle penetration region.