# US 8,739,838 B2 · Adjustable filling and sealing method and apparatus therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,838 B2 - Document ID: US8739838B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/352,235 - Filed: 2012-01-17 - Published: 2012-06-07 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-11-07 - Assignees: Medical Instill Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Daniel Py; Benoit Adamo; John Guthy - Inventors: Daniel Py; Benoit Adamo; John Guthy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739838B2 ## CPC - B65B 3/006: {Related operations, e.g. scoring ampoules} - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61M 5/1782: {Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ (combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003)} - B29C 66/80: {General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof} - B65B 3/003: {Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like} - B65B 43/00: Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging (forming pockets in sheets, blanks or webs, by pressing the material into forming dies or moving it through folding dies B65B47/00) - B65B 51/00: Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags - Y10T 29/49716: Converting - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An assembly includes a support and drive assembly, a first structure and a second structure. The first structure is in operable communication with and supported by the support and drive assembly. The first structure includes at least one filling or needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of filling or needle assemblies. The second structure is supported by the support and drive assembly. The second structure includes at least one seal assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of seal assemblies. A method includes determining a number of containers or vials that are to be filled concurrently and adjusting an assembly to include at least one filling or needle assembly and at least one seal assembly. A number of the filling or needle assemblies and the seal assemblies equals the number of containers or vials. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: moving a plurality of containers to an assembly, said assembly comprising: a support and drive assembly; a first structure in operable communication with and supported by said support and drive assembly and including at least one filling assembly, wherein the first structure is adjustable so as to (i) receive a plurality of filling assemblies and (ii) adjust the number of filling assemblies received by the first structure; and a second structure supported by said support and drive assembly, wherein said second structure includes at least one seal assembly and is adjustable so as to (i) receive a plurality of seal assemblies and (ii) adjust the number of seal assemblies received by the second structure; stopping said plurality of containers at said assembly; piercing each of said plurality of containers at a position with a filling member; withdrawing said filling member from said container; and sealing said plurality of containers at said position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one filling assembly includes at least one filling member, and a number of filling members is equal to a number of said containers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method as defined in claim 2, where said filing members comprise needles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said support and drive assembly includes at least one first support and at least one second support laterally spaced relative to said first support, said first structure is supported between said at least one first support and said at least one second support, said at least one seal assembly is adapted to transmit radiation to seal at least one aperture created by said at least one filling assembly, wherein said sealing step comprises transmitting said radiation, and said assembly further comprises a drive unit in operable communication with at least one of said first and second supports for driving said at least one filling assembly between penetrating and non-penetrating positions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said at least one seal assembly comprises a laser optic device adapted to transmit said radiation, and said transmitting step comprises transmitting laser radiation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said laser optic device includes a laser source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said laser optic device is connected to an external laser source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said second structure comprises at least one sense assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of sense assemblies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said at least one sense assembly is configured to determine a temperature of said aperture to be sealed, and further comprising the steps of determining said temperature and determining whether the aperture is sufficiently heated to seal the aperture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said sense assembly comprises an infrared sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first structure comprises a plurality of said at least one filling assembly, wherein each filling assembly is releasably retained with at least one other filling assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said second structure is supported between said at least one first and at least one second supports of said support and drive assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) A method as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said seal assembly is releasably retained with at least one other seal assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first structure comprises a plurality of said at least one filling assembly and said second structure comprises a plurality of said at least one seal assembly, wherein each of said plurality of filling assemblies and each of said plurality of seal assemblies form a plurality of units that are releasably retained with each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said plurality of filling assemblies equals said plurality of seal assemblies. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one filling assembly is configured to penetrate and fill a container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first structure comprises a plurality of said at least one filling assembly and said second structure comprises a plurality of said at least one seal assembly, wherein said plurality of filling assemblies are arranged linearly adjacent to one another, and said plurality of seal assemblies are arranged linearly adjacent to one another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said support and drive assembly includes a pair of stands, said pair of stands each having a base and a support column extending from said base, each base includes a drive shaft, each drive shaft is in operable communication with a drive unit, said at least one filling assembly is in operable communication with said drive unit, said first structure and said second structure are received between said pair of stands, said at least one seal assembly is adapted to transmit radiation to seal at least one aperture created by said at least one filling assembly, and said sealing step comprises transmitting said radiation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one filling assembly includes a filling member support and a filling member adapted to deliver substance into a container, and further comprising the step of delivering substance respectively into each of the containers therethrough after said piercing step. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one filling assembly is configured to receive a cover. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first structure is releasably retained by said support and drive assembly. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second structure is releasably retained by said support and drive assembly. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the support and drive assembly includes a pair of stands, at least one of which is movable in a lateral direction relative to the other to allow for (i) the insertion of at least one of (a) one or more additional filling assemblies and (b) one or more additional seal assemblies and (ii) the removal of at least one of (a) one or more filling assemblies and (b) one or more seal assemblies, wherein said seal assembly is adapted to transmit radiation to seal at least one aperture created by said at least one filling assembly, and wherein said sealing step comprises transmitting said radiation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the support and drive assembly includes first means for supporting and second means for supporting laterally spaced relative to said first means, said first structure is supported between said first and second means, said at least one seal assembly is adapted to transmit radiation to seal at least one aperture created by said at least one filling assembly, and said sealing step comprises transmitting said radiation, and said assembly further comprises third means, in operable communication with at least one of said first and second means, for driving said at least one filling assembly between penetrating and non-penetrating positions; fourth means for releasably retaining a plurality of said at least one filling assembly with each other; and fifth means for releasably retaining a plurality of said at least one seal assembly with each other. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said first structure comprises a plurality of said at least one filling assembly and said second structure comprises a plurality of said at least one seal assembly, wherein each of said plurality of filling assemblies and each of said plurality of seal assemblies are formed as one unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said first means comprises at least one first support, said second means comprises at least one second support, said third means comprises a drive unit, said fourth means comprises a filling member manifold, and said fifth means comprises a seal manifold. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said second structure is supported between said first and second means for supporting, and is adjustable to receive a plurality of said at least one seal assembly. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting at least one of (i) the first structure so that a number of said at least one filling assembly received thereby is equal to a number of said containers, and (ii) the second structure so that a number of said at least one seal assembly received thereby is equal to a number of said containers. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said moving step comprises feeding said plurality of containers into said assembly in a side by side relationship. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the support and drive assembly further comprises a filling member manifold configured to releasably retain the at least one filling assembly. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the support and drive assembly further comprises a seal manifold configured to releasably retain the at least one seal assembly. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said support and drive assembly includes at least one first support and at least one second support laterally spaced relative to said first support, and said first structure is supported between said at least one first support and said at least one second support.