Airtight Container for Storing a Product, and in Particular a Medicament, and Aseptic Process for Filling Said Container

Abstract

The airtight container ( 1 ) for storing a product (liquid, powder, granulates) comprises a rigid vial ( 2 ) with at least one filling hole ( 2 c ), an external filling pipe ( 5 ) for filling the vial ( 2 ) through the filling hole ( 2 c ), said filling pipe ( 5 ) airtightly sealing the filling hole ( 2 c ) of the vial ( 2 ), and a housing cap ( 12 ) designed to be assembled to the vial ( 2 ) and forming an housing ( 12 a ) for the filling pipe ( 5 ) once assembled to the vial ( 2 ). The container is particularly suitable for storing prior to use a product, such as for example a medicament (vaccines or the like), under sterile conditions.

1 . An airtight container comprising a rigid vial with at least one filling hole, an external filling pipe for filling the vial through the filling hole, said filling pipe airtightly sealing the filling hole of the vial, and a hosing cap designed to be assembled to the vial and forming an housing for the filling pipe once assembled to the vial.  
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the filling pipe is flexible.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the filling pipe can be opened by exerting a pressure on the pipe.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the filling pipe is airtightly sealed by a removable cap.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the filling pipe is airtightly sealed by a removable clip.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the vial comprises an opening for emptying the vial, said opening being closed by a closure element.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said closure element is a made of a material that can be easily pierced by a sharp element such as a syringe or a needle.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said closure element is made of a resilient material.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein said closure element is made of an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said closure element is made of vulcanized rubber.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the vial comprises an opening for emptying the vial the filling pipe is fixed on a bottom end of the vial, said bottom end being opposite to the opening, and said bottom end comprising said filling hole.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the vial is cylindrical.  
   
   
       13 . The container  claim 1  wherein the hosing cap forms a stable base for the vial once the hosing cap is assembled to the vial.  
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the vial is containing a product and the filling pipe is definitely airtightly sealed.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein the housing cap is definitely assembled to the vial, and forms a protective housing for the filling pipe.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 14  wherein the stored product is selected from the group: liquid, powder, granulates.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 14  wherein the product is a medicament, and in particular a vaccine.  
   
   
       18 . Aseptic process for filling a container according to  claim 1  with a product, said process comprising the following steps: 
 sterilizing the empty container,    temporarily opening the filling pipe and introducing the product inside the vial through the filling pipe,    definitely and airtightly sealing the filling pipe.    
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 18  wherein the housing cap is definitely assembled to the vial, said cap forming a protective housing for the filling pipe.