Prefilled ampoules and manufacture thereof

Abstract

A syringe type ampoule having a) a barrel with a front end and a rear end defining an axis therebetween, the barrel having substantially constant cross-section between the front end and the rear end, at least the front end ending in an opening, b) a sealer attached to the front end and sealing the opening, c) at least one piston movably and sealingly arranged within the barrel and d) a sleeve extending along at least a part of the barrel, the sleeve having a front part and a rear part, the front part being connected to the sealer. The barrel has a front end terminating in an edge surrounding the opening, the edge having an outer circumference substantially equal to the barrel outer circumference. The invention relates to methods and means for manufacture of pre-filled such ampoules or other ampoules.

1 . A syringe type ampoule having a) a barrel with a front end and a rear end defining an axis therebetween, the barrel having substantially constant cross-section between the front end and the rear end, at least the front end ending in an opening, b) a sealer attached to the front end and sealing the opening, c) at least one piston movably and sealingly arranged within the barrel, and d) a sleeve extending along at least a part of the barrel, the sleeve having a front part and a rear part, the front part being connected to the sealer, wherein the barrel has a front end terminating in an edge surrounding the opening, the edge having an outer circumference substantially equal to the barrel outer circumference.  
   
   
       2 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel is substantially cylindrical and the edge and barrel outer circumferences are substantially circular.  
   
   
       3 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel cross-section is constant to a deviation of less than 2 mm, when measured as maximum to minimum outer diameter or generally between diametrical points on the outer circumference.  
   
   
       4 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the sealer at least somewhere extends outside the outer diameter of the front end outer diameter and the barrel outer diameter.  
   
   
       5 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel is of dual or multi chamber type incorporating at least one mixing arrangement between chambers.  
   
   
       6 . The ampoule of  claim 5 , the mixing arrangement is a non-sealing section for the piston distributed substantially around the barrel circumference.  
   
   
       7 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel has a rear end terminating in an rear edge surrounding a rear opening, the rear edge having an outer circumference substantially equal to the barrel outer circumference.  
   
   
       8 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the edge is rounded.  
   
   
       9 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all edge material is kept within the barrel external circumference.  
   
   
       10 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all edge material is kept outside the barrel internal circumference.  
   
   
       11 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the sealer has a part penetrating into the opening and having radial contact with the barrel interior surface.  
   
   
       12 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the sealer has a flange part extension larger than the barrel circumference at the opening and/or larger than the barrel largest circumference.  
   
   
       13 . The ampoule of  claim 12 , wherein the extension is at least 0.05 mm, larger but smaller than 10 mm.  
   
   
       14 . The ampoule of  claim 12 , wherein the flange has said extension around substantially its entire circumference.  
   
   
       15 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the sealer is resilient.  
   
   
       16 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is attached to the barrel.  
   
   
       17 . The ampoule of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment is made to the rear part of the barrel.  
   
   
       18 . The ampoule of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment comprises at least one structure extending radially inwards behind barrel rear end.  
   
   
       19 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve front part is connected to the sealer by at least one structure extending radially inwards in front of a sealer part.  
   
   
       20 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises auxiliary structures selected from the group consisting of fastening structures, guiding structures, plunger and fingergrip structures, dosing mechanism structures, needle attachment structures, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       21 - 96 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       97 . An ampoule having a barrel with a front end and a rear end defining an axis therebetween, the barrel having substantially constant cross-section between the front end and the rear end, at least the front end ending in an opening with a rounded edge, wherein substantially all edge material is kept within the barrel external circumference and/or outside the barrel internal circumference, the circumference relating to the opening barrel part close to the edge.  
   
   
       98 . The ampoule of  claim 97 , wherein the rear barrel end has a rear opening with a rounded edge having the material distribution stated.  
   
   
       99 . The ampoule of  claim 97 , wherein at least one opening is equipped with a sealer.  
   
   
       100 . The ampoule of  claim 97 , wherein the barrel comprises one of a by-pass arrangement, a piston or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       101 - 102  (Cancelled).  
   
   
       103 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel cross-section is constant to a deviation of less than 1 mm, when measured as maximum to minimum outer diameter or generally between diametrical points on the outer circumference.  
   
   
       104 . The ampoule of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel cross-section is constant to a deviation of less than 0.5 mm, when measured as maximum to minimum outer diameter or generally between diametrical points on the outer circumference.  
   
   
       105 . The ampoule of  claim 12 , wherein the extension is at least 0.1 mm larger but smaller than 5 mm.  
   
   
       106 . The ampoule of  claim 12 , wherein the extension is at least 0.2 mm larger but smaller than 2 mm.