The present invention relates to dispensers for containing and dispensing fluids and other substances, such as medicaments, and more particularly, to dispensers for holding multiple doses of fluids and other substances, and to apparatus and methods for filling such dispensers with fluids and other substances.
A typical medicament dispenser includes a body defining a storage chamber, a fill opening in fluid communication with the body, and a stopper or cap for sealing the fill opening after filling the storage chamber to hermetically seal the medicament within the dispenser. In order to fill such prior art dispensers with a sterile fluid or other substance, such as a medicament, it is typically necessary to sterilize the unassembled components of the dispenser, such as by autoclaving the components and/or exposing the components to gamma radiation. The sterilized components then must be filled and assembled in an aseptic isolator of a sterile filling machine. In some cases, the sterilized components are contained within multiple sealed bags or other sterile enclosures for transportation to the sterile filling machine. In other cases, the sterilization equipment is located within the isolator of the sterile filling machine. In the isolator, the storage chamber is filled with the fluid or other substance, and then the sterilized stopper is assembled to the dispenser to plug the fill opening and hermetically seal the fluid or other substance in the dispenser.
One of the drawbacks of such prior art dispensers, and processes and equipment for filling such dispensers, is that the filling process is time consuming, and the processes and equipment are expensive. Further, the relatively complex nature of the filling processes and equipment can lead to more defectively filled dispensers than otherwise desired.
The present inventor has recognized the advantages of sterilizing a sealed, empty dispenser, and then filling the sterilized, sealed, empty dispenser under a laminar flow to maintain aseptic conditions during filling. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,561, entitled “Medicament Vial Having a Heat-Sealable Cap, and Apparatus and Method for Filling the Vial”, which is assigned to the Assignee of the present invention and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference as part of the present disclosure, discloses a vial including a resealable stopper. The resealable stopper is first sealed to the empty vial, and then the empty vial/stopper assembly is sterilized, such as by applying gamma radiation thereto. The sterilized, sealed, empty vial/stopper assembly is then filled by piercing the resealable stopper with a needle, and introducing the fluid or other substance through the needle and into the chamber of the vial. Then, the needle is withdrawn, and laser radiation is transmitted onto the penetrated region of the stopper to seal the needle hole and hermetically seal the sterile fluid or other substance within the vial/stopper assembly.
Although this resealable stopper, apparatus and method overcome many of the drawbacks and disadvantages associated with prior art equipment and processes for sterile filling, in certain instances it may not be desirable to employ a resealable stopper, a needle for piercing the stopper, and/or a laser for resealing the penetrated region of a stopper.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of the above-described drawbacks and/or disadvantages, and to provide a dispenser, and an apparatus and method for filling the dispenser, wherein the dispenser may be sealed and sterilized in an empty condition, and the sterilized, sealed, empty dispenser may be filled without disassembling the dispenser to hermetically seal the sterilized fluid or other substance within the dispenser.
In one embodiment, a dispenser comprises a body; a variable-volume storage chamber formed within the body; and a filling valve coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber. The filling valve defines (1) a normally closed, fluid-tight position hermetically sealing the storage chamber from the ambient atmosphere, and (2) an open position allowing the passage of fluid through the valve to withdraw fluid therethrough to evacuate the storage chamber and/or to introduce fluid therethrough to fill the storage chamber. A pump is coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for pumping fluid out of the storage chamber; and a dispensing valve is coupled in fluid communication with the pump and defines (1) a normally closed, fluid-tight position preventing the passage of fluid therethrough, and (2) an open position for dispensing pumped fluid therethrough.
In one embodiment, the filling valve includes a flexible valve member, and a valve seat engagable with the flexible valve member. The flexible valve member is movable into the closed position in engagement with the valve seat to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and is movable into the open position spaced away from the valve seat to form a valve opening for the passage of fluid therebetween. The filling valve also may include a spring that urges the valve member toward the closed position. In one embodiment, the spring is formed integral with the flexible valve member. Also in an embodiment, the spring is approximately dome-shaped and applies both radially directed and axially directed forces to the flexible valve member to urge the valve member toward the closed position. At least one flow aperture is formed through the spring and is coupled in fluid communication between an inlet to the filling valve and the storage chamber.
Also in an embodiment, the filling valve includes a first valve seat and a first sealing surface movable relative to the first valve seat between the closed and open positions. The first sealing surface is engagable with the first valve seat in the closed position to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and is spaced away from the first valve seat in the open position to form a valve opening for the passage of fluid therethrough.
Also in an embodiment, the filling valve includes a second sealing surface and a second valve seat formed between the storage chamber and the dispensing valve. The second sealing surface is movable between an open position spaced away from the second valve seat for allowing the flow of fluid therethrough, and a closed position engagable with the second valve seat and forming a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The filling valve may include a flexible valve member defining the first sealing surface on one side thereof and the second sealing surface on another side thereof.
Another embodiment is directed to an apparatus for sterile filling a dispenser. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a fill tube coupled in fluid communication with the filling valve. The apparatus for sterile filling includes at least one probe or filling member connectable in fluid communication with the filling valve to open the valve and withdraw fluid from the dispenser through the filling valve to evacuate the dispenser, and/or to introduce fluid from the probe and into the storage chamber of the dispenser.
The sterile filling apparatus may further comprise a vacuum source that is connectable in fluid communication with the probe for drawing a vacuum through the probe and, in turn, through a dispenser coupled in fluid communication with the probe, or that is otherwise connectable in fluid communication with the interiors of the dispensers, such as through the dispensing valves. The sterile filling apparatus also comprises a fluid source coupled in fluid communication with at least one probe for introducing fluid therethrough and into the storage chamber of a dispenser coupled in fluid communication with the probe. The sterile filling apparatus may further comprise a laminar flow source for introducing a substantially laminar flow of fluid over the at least one probe and dispenser coupled in fluid communication therewith.
Embodiments are also directed to a method for filling a dispenser, wherein the dispenser includes a body; a variable-volume storage chamber formed within the body; a filling valve coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber and defining (1) a normally closed, fluid-tight position hermetically sealing the storage chamber from the ambient atmosphere, and (2) an open position allowing the passage of fluid through the valve to withdraw fluid therethrough to evacuate the storage chamber, and/or to introduce fluid therethrough to fill the storage chamber; a pump coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for pumping fluid out of the storage chamber; and a dispensing valve coupled in fluid communication with the pump and defining (1) a normally closed, fluid-tight position preventing the passage of fluid therethrough, and (2) an open position for dispensing pumped fluid therethrough. The method comprises the following steps:
(i) providing a filling probe or member coupled in fluid communication with a fluid source;
(ii) connecting the filling probe in fluid communication with the filling valve and, in turn, moving the filling valve from the closed to the open position;
(iii) introducing a fluid from the probe through the open filling valve and into the storage chamber; and
(iv) withdrawing the probe from the filling valve and, in turn, moving the filling valve from the open to the closed position and hermetically sealing the fluid within the storage chamber.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of evacuating the interior of the dispenser prior to filling. In one such embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of:
connecting a probe coupled in fluid communication with a vacuum source in fluid communication with the filling valve and, in turn, moving the filling valve from the closed to the open position;
drawing a vacuum through the probe and, in turn, evacuating the storage chamber of the dispenser;
providing a substantially laminar flow of fluid over the probe and dispenser coupled in fluid communication therewith; and
sealing the pump and dispensing valve from the storage chamber during filling of the storage chamber to prevent a flow of fluid through the dispensing valve during filling of the storage chamber.
In another embodiment, the interior of the dispenser is evacuated by connecting a vacuum source in fluid communication with the interior of the dispenser through the dispensing valve. Then, after evacuating the dispenser, filling the variable-volume storage chamber through the filling valve.
One advantage of the present invention is that the dispenser may be assembled, sealed and sterilized empty. Then, the sterilized dispenser may be filled with a sterile fluid or other substance through the filling valve and without disassembling the dispenser.
Other advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent in view of the following detailed description of embodiments and accompanying drawings.
In
The dispensing nozzle 18 includes a relatively rigid valve seat 22 and a flexible valve cover 24 mounted over the valve seat and defining an axially elongated, annular seam 26 therebetween. As described further below, the pump 20 forces a metered dose of fluid or other substance at sufficient pressure to open the valve (the “valve opening pressure”) and force the fluid through the valve seam 26 and out of the dispenser. The valve cover 24 may form an interference fit with the valve seat 22 to thereby form a fluid-tight seal in the normally closed position and, in turn, maintain the fluid or other substance within the dispenser in a sterile and hermetically sealed condition. Further, as shown typically in
The valve cover 24 and the valve seat 22 may take any of numerous different shapes and/or configurations that are currently known, or that later become known, such as any of the shapes and/or configurations disclosed in the following co-pending patent applications that are assigned to the Assignee of the present invention and are hereby expressly incorporated by reference as part of the present disclosure: U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 10/640,500, filed Aug. 13, 2003, entitled “Container and Valve Assembly for Storing and Dispensing Substances”; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/528,429, filed Dec. 10, 2003, entitled “Valve Assembly and Tube Kit for Storing and Dispensing Substances”; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/539,602, filed Jan. 27, 2003, entitled “Tubular Container and One-Way Valve Assembly for Storing and Dispensing Substances”.
The pump 20 includes a rigid slide 28 defining therein an axially elongated bore 30. A piston 32 is slidably received within the bore 30 and includes a piston tip 34 on the free end thereof. The piston 32 and tip 34 define a fluid conduit 36 extending therethrough. A dosage chamber 38 is formed between the piston tip 34 and an interior surface of the valve seat 22. The fluid conduit 36 is coupled in fluid communication between the dosage chamber 38 and storage chamber 16 for dispensing fluid from the storage chamber into the dosage chamber upon actuation of the pump.
The slide 28 defines a reduced cross-sectional portion 40 that cooperates with the piston tip 34 to define the volume of the dosage chamber 38 and thus the dosage volume of the dispenser. The axial extent of the reduced portion 40 defines a compression zone within which the fluid or other substance is compressed by the piston and, in turn, forced through the dispensing nozzle 18. On the downward stroke of the piston 32, and prior to the piston tip 34 slidably engaging the reduced portion 40, fluid is permitted to flow both forwardly in front of the piston, and rearwardly back over the sides of the piston tip. Then, when the piston tip 34 slidably engages the reduced portion 40, a fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, thus trapping a precise volume of fluid within the compression zone and forcing the precise volume of fluid through the valve. The valve seat 24 defines one or more apertures (not shown) extending between the dosage chamber and the seam 26 to allow the fluid to flow therethrough and out of the valve. The valve tip 34 may be made of an elastomeric material that is relatively soft in comparison to the slide 28 and reduced portion 40 thereof. For example, the valve tip 34 may be made of a polymeric material, such as the material sold under the trademark Kraton™, or a vulcanized rubber or other polymeric material. As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, these materials are only exemplary, however, and numerous other materials that are currently or later become known for performing the function of the valve tip equally may be used.
A spring portion or bellows 42 is formed integral with the valve cover 24 and extends between the base of the valve cover and the vial 12. As can be seen, the piston 32 is formed integral with the vial 12 and extends axially therefrom. The spring 42 is fixedly secured at one end to the vial 12 at a first annular flange 44, and is fixedly secured at another end to a second annular flange 46 extending outwardly from the base of the valve seat 22. The pump 20 is actuated by moving at least one of the piston 32 and slide 30 relative to the other to cause the piston tip 34 to move axially within the slide to load the dosage chamber 38 and, in turn, dispense the metered dose of fluid or other substance from the dosage chamber and through the valve.
As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, the construction of many aspects of the dispenser 10, including aspects of the vial, variable-volume storage chamber, pump and nozzle, may be the same as or similar to that described in any of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/001,745, filed Oct. 23, 2001, entitled “Fluid Dispenser Having A Rigid Vial And Flexible Inner Bladder”, similarly titled U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/691,270, filed Oct. 21, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/519,961, filed Nov. 14, 2003, entitled “Delivery Device And Method Of Delivery”, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/539,814, filed Jan. 27, 2004, entitled “Piston-Type Dispenser With One-Way Valve For Storing And Dispensing Metered Amounts Of Substances”, each of which is assigned to the Assignee of the present invention, and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference as part of the present disclosure. In addition, the dispenser 10 may be mounted within any of the cartridges and/or housings shown in U.S. Patent Application No. 60/420,334, filed Oct. 21, 2002, entitled “Dispenser”, and/or U.S. Patent Application No. 60/443,524, filed Jan. 28, 2003, entitled “Dispenser”, each of which is assigned to the Assignee of the present invention, and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference as part of the present disclosure.
The dispenser 10 further comprises an end cap 46 including a mounting flange 48 that is received within the open end of the vial 12 and fixedly secured thereto, a filling tube 50 extending axially inwardly from the flange 48 and defining a fluid conduit 52 therein, and a substantially dome-shaped valve seat 54 formed at the other end of the filling tube and engaging the base of the bladder 14. The flexible bladder 14 defines an annular sealing flange 51 that is compressed between the flange 48 of the end cap 46 and the vial 12 to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The flange 48 of the cap 46 defines a peripheral lobe 53 that is snap-fit into a corresponding annular recess 55 of the vial to fixedly secure the cap to the vial with the sealing flange 51 of the bladder compressed therebetween.
As shown in
As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, the spring 60 of the filling valve 56 may take any of numerous different shapes and/or configurations, or may be formed of any of numerous different materials, that are currently, or later become known for performing the function of the spring as described herein. For example, the spring may define a shape other than a dome shape, or may not be formed integral with the bladder or the valve member. Also, the shape and/or material of construction of the spring may be selected to control the spring force applied to the valve member. One advantage of the substantially dome-shaped configuration, however, is that the dome shape imparts lateral (or radial) and axial forces to the flexible valve member 58 to facilitate maintaining a fluid-tight seal throughout the shelf-life and usage of the dispenser 10. The bladder 12 (including the integral valve member 58) may be made of an elastomeric material that is relatively soft in comparison to the vial 12 and valve seat 54. For example, the bladder 12 may be made of a polymeric material, such as the material sold under the trademark Kraton™, or a vulcanized rubber or other polymeric material. However, as may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, these materials are only exemplary, and numerous other materials that are currently, or later become known for performing the functions of the bladder and/or valve member equally may be used.
As shown in
Turning to
The sterilized, sealed, evacuated dispensers then may be filled with a fluid or other substance, such as a medicament. As indicated in
In order to fill the dispenser 10 with a fluid or other substance from the fluid source 80, the tip 78 of the filling member is moved axially inwardly against the valve member 58 of the filling valve 56 to open the valve. As shown in the embodiment of
In sum, and as shown typically in
With reference to
Prior to installing the dispensers on the infeed unit 86, the sealed empty dispensers may be sterilized, such as by exposing the containers to gamma radiation, in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. In addition, the sealed, empty dispensers may be enclosed, sterilized, and transported to the sterile filling assembly in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,772, entitled “Method of Transferring Articles, Transfer Pocket And Enclosure”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/421,249, entitled “Transfer Port and Method for Transferring Sterile Items”, each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference as part of the present disclosure.
Once loaded into the sterile filling assembly, the dispensers may be sterilized again (or alternatively, sterilized for the first time) by transmitting radiation from a radiation source 88 onto the sealed, empty dispensers in order to further ensure absolute sterility of the requisite surfaces prior to filling. The radiation may take the form of any of numerous different types of radiation that are currently or later become known for performing this function, such as gamma, e-beam and/or laser radiation.
A conveyor 90 is coupled to the infeed unit 86 for receiving the dispensers delivered by the infeed unit and for transporting the dispensers at a predetermined rate through the sterile filling assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor 90 transports the dispensers in a single file relative to each other. The conveyor 90 may take the form of any of numerous different types of conveyers that are currently, or later become known, for performing the functions of the conveyor described herein. For example, the conveyor may take the form of a vibratory feed drive, or may take the form of an endless conveyor belt, or a plurality of star wheels, including, for example, a plurality of receptacles, such as cleats, for receiving or otherwise holding the dispensers at predetermined positions on the conveyor. The conveyor is drivingly connected to a motor or other suitable drive source (not shown), which is controlled by a computer or other control unit (not shown) to start, stop, control the speed, and otherwise coordinate operation of the conveyor with the other components of the sterile filling assembly.
In one embodiment, the radiation source 88 includes at least one e-beam source mounted within an e-beam housing 87 containing therein a filling station 77 including a bank or plurality of filling members 74. The e-beam source 88 may be any of numerous different types of e-beam sources that are currently, or later become known, for performing the function of the e-beam source described herein. E-beam radiation is a form of ionizing energy that is generally characterized by its low penetration and high dose rates. The electrons alter various chemical and molecular bonds upon contact with an exposed product, including the reproductive cells of microorganisms, and therefore e-beam radiation is particularly suitable for sterilizing dispensers or other containers for medicaments or other sterile substances. As indicated by the arrows in
The e-beam housing is constructed in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art to define an e-beam chamber and means for preventing leakage of the electrons out of the chamber in accordance with applicable safety standards. In one embodiment, the conveyor 90 defines an approximately U-shaped path within the e-beam chamber 87, wherein the first leg of the U defines an inlet section and the portion of the chamber onto which the e-beam is directed. However, as may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, the e-beam may be directed throughout the chamber and/or to other portions of the chamber. The current, scan width, position and energy of the e-beam 89, the speed of the conveyor 90, and/or the orientation and position of any reflective surfaces, may be selected to achieve at least a 3 log reduction, and in some embodiments about a 6 log reduction in bio-burden testing on the requisite surfaces of the dispensers and/or filling members. In addition, as an added measure of caution, one or more of the foregoing variables also can be selected to achieve at least a 3 log reduction on the sides or other non-contact surfaces of the dispensers and non-contact surfaces of the filling members. These specific levels of sterility are only exemplary, however, and the sterility levels may be set as desired or otherwise required to validate a particular product under, for example, United States FDA or applicable European standards, such as the applicable Sterility Assurance Levels (“SAL”).
The sterile filling assembly 84 also may include means for visually inspecting the filling station 77. This means may take the form of a beta-barrier window (i.e., a window that blocks any e-beam radiation but permits visual inspection therethrough), and/or a CCD, video or other camera mounted within the housing for transmitting to an external monitor images of the filling station. As may be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, these particular devices are only exemplary, and any of numerous other devices that are currently known, or later become known, for performing the function of permitting visual inspection equally may be employed.
The filling station 77 is located on the opposite leg, or outlet side of the U-shaped conveyor path within the e-beam chamber. In one embodiment, the filling station 77 includes a plurality of filling members 74 mounted over the conveyor 90, wherein each filling member is drivingly mounted over the conveyor in the same manner as described above. The same filling member may be used to evacuate and to fill the dispensers, or the station may include separate banks of filling members for first evacuating and then filling the dispensers. In this configuration, the filling members used to evacuate the dispensers may be located on the inlet leg of the chamber, and the filling members used to fill the dispensers may be located on the outlet leg of the chamber. Accordingly, each filling member 74 is movable into and out of engagement with the valve members 58 of the dispensers received within the filling station to evacuate and/or fill the dispensers with a medicament or other substance to be contained therein, and to then withdraw the filling member upon filling the dispensers. In one embodiment, the filling station includes a bank of six filling members 74 mounted in line with each other and overlying the conveyor 90 to allow the simultaneous in-line evacuation and then filling of six dispensers. The filling members 74 may be mounted to a common drive unit (not shown), or each filling member may be individually actuatable into and out of engagement with the valve members of the dispensers. As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, the filling station may include any desired number of filling members, or may be mounted or driven in any of numerous different ways that are currently known, or later become known, for performing the functions of the filling station described herein. Similarly, the sterile filling assembly may include a plurality of filling stations mounted within the same e-beam chamber, or a plurality of e-beam and filling assemblies, in order to increase or otherwise adjust the overall throughput of the sterile filling assembly. In certain embodiments, the e-beam housing 87 defines a port or other removable passageway (not shown) to allow access to and/or repair and replacement of the filling station 77.
As described above, the e-beam and filling station is configured so that the filling members 74 are mounted within the e-beam chamber 87. As a result, the free electrons within the e-beam chamber will impinge upon the filling members. This, in combination with operation of the e-beam 89 which sterilizes the air throughout the e-beam chamber 87, functions to sterilize the filling members and/or maintain the sterility of the filling members throughout the filling process. Accordingly, since the containers or other dispensers are evacuated and filled within the e-beam chamber 87, there is virtually no risk that the dispensers will become contaminated between e-beam sterilization and filling. If desired, the air within the e-beam chamber may be ionized to promote multiplication of the free electrons and further enhance the sterility of the filling station 77. Furthermore, this feature obviates any need for an isolator, as found in many prior art sterile filling machines.
The e-beam source 88 and other applicable components of the e-beam chamber, conveyor systems, and filling assembly may be the same or similar to that disclosed in the following co-pending patent applications which are assigned to the Assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference as part of the present disclosure: U.S. application Ser. No. 10/600,525, entitled “Sterile Filling Machine Having Needle Filling Station Within E-Beam Chamber”; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/518,267, filed Nov. 7, 2003, entitled “Needle Filling and Laser Sealing Station”; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/518,685, filed Nov. 10, 2003, entitled “Needle Filling and Laser Sealing Station”.
As shown in
A significant advantage of the certain embodiments is that they enable true sterile filling and not only aseptic filling. Yet another advantage of certain embodiments is that the medicament or other substance is filled after subjecting the dispensers to gamma and direct e-beam radiation, thus preventing the radiation from degrading the medicament or other substance to be contained within the dispenser.
Yet another advantage of certain embodiments of the dispensers is that they may hold multiple doses of fluids or other substances, such as medicaments. A further advantage of various dispensers is that the fluids may be preservative free.
In
As shown in
As indicated by the arrow in
In
As shown in
The flexible valve cover 258 may define a substantially tapered or progressively reduced wall thickness when moving axially in the direction of the inlet to the valve toward the interior of the dispenser. This configuration requires progressively less energy to open each respective annular portion of the valve when moving axially from the inlet to the valve to the interior of the dispenser. As a result, once the base of the valve 256 is opened, the pressure is sufficient to cause the respective axial segments of the valve cover 258 to progressively open and then close after passage of fluid therethrough when moving in the axial direction. In some embodiments a substantially annular segment of the valve cover 258 substantially always engages the valve seat 254 to maintain the fluid-tight seal across the valve 256 and thereby prevent ingress through the valve of germs, bacteria or other substances.
The dispenser 210 is filled by initially evacuating the dispenser as described above, and then slidably receiving a probe (not shown) within the fill tube 250 such that the tip of the probe is located adjacent to the inlet to the filling valve 256. Then, fluid is introduced through the probe, through the seam 255 of the filling valve 256, and into the storage chamber 216. The fluid is introduced through the probe at a pressure greater than the valve opening pressure of the filling valve 256 to open the valve and allow the fluid to flow therethrough. As the storage chamber 216 is filled with fluid, the exterior wall 215 of the bladder 214 correspondingly collapses toward the interior wall 217 to allow the variable volume chamber 216 to correspondingly expand and receive the fluid. Once the storage chamber 216 is filled with fluid, the probe is released, and the flexible valve cover 258 seals against the valve seat 254 to hermetically seal the fluid within the dispenser.
A significant advantage of the illustrated embodiments is that the dispensers may hold multiple doses of substances and store the substance remaining within the dispenser in a hermetically sealed, sterile condition between doses. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the substance shown is a non-preserved product. Because the variable-volume storage chamber maintains the substance in a sterile, hermetically sealed condition, from the first to the last dose, the use of preservatives may be avoided.
As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above-described and other embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, the components of the dispensers may be made of any of numerous different materials that are currently or later become known for performing the functions of such components. Similarly, the components of the dispensers may take any of numerous different shapes and/or configurations. Also, the dispensers may be used to dispense any of numerous different types of fluids or other substances for any of numerous different applications, including, for example, ophthalmic, nasal, dermatological, or other pharmaceutical or OTC applications. Further, the sterile filling machine used to fill the dispensers of the present invention may take any of numerous different configurations that are currently, or later become known for filling the dispensers in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Such sterile filling machines may vary significantly from the filling machine disclosed herein. For example, the filling machines may have any of numerous different mechanisms for sterilizing, feeding, evacuating and/or filling the dispensers. Further, as indicated above, the same filling members or probes may be equipped to both evacuate the dispensers and fill the dispensers in the same station. Further, the filling valve need not be formed through the bladder, but may extend through the vial body or otherwise may be coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber to evacuate and/or fill the storage chamber. Alternatively, the dispenser may include one valve for evacuating the interior of the dispenser and another valve for filling the storage chamber of the dispenser. Similarly, the pump and/or dispensing valve each may take a configuration that is different than that disclosed herein. In addition, the variable-volume storage chamber may not be formed by a flexible bladder, but rather may be formed by a piston slidably received within the vial body, as described, for example, in the above-mentioned co-pending patent application. Accordingly, this detailed description of embodiments is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to a limiting sense.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/984,482, entitled “Dispenser and Apparatus and Method for Filling a Dispenser,” filed Jan. 4, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,861, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/025,362, entitled “Dispenser and Apparatus and Method for Filling a Dispenser,” filed Feb. 4, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,750, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/349,873, entitled “Dispenser and Apparatus and Method for Filling a Dispenser,” filed Feb. 8, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,328,729, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/843,902, filed May 12, 2004, entitled “Dispenser and Apparatus and Method for Filling a Dispenser,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,219, which claims priority to similarly-titled U.S. Application No. 60/469,677, filed May 12, 2003; and to similarly-titled U.S. Application No. 60/471,592, filed May 19, 2003, and to U.S. Application No. 60/488,355, filed Jul. 17, 2003, titled “Piston-Type Dispenser with One-Way Valve for Storing and Dispensing Metered Amounts of Substances, and Pivoting Cover for Covering Dispensing Portion Thereof,” and to U.S. Application No. 60/539,814, filed Jan. 27, 2004, entitled “Piston-Type Dispenser with One-Way Valve for Storing and Dispensing Metered Amounts of Substances,” the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference as part of the present disclosure.
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