Sealing of Plastic Containers

Abstract

An ampoule contains a solution, e.g. an inhalation or injectable pharmaceutical, and an outer surface of the ampoule is coated with a metal or metal compound so as to reduce moisture egress from the ampoule and reduce contamination of ampoule contents from external sources. Labels are easily applied to the coating.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method of making an ampoule, comprising:
 (i) forming the ampoule by a blow-fill-seal process;   (ii) filling the ampoule during said blow-fill-seal process with from 0.5 ml to 10 ml of (a) an inhalation pharmaceutical in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, or (b) an injection pharmaceutical in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;   (iii) sealing the filled ampoule during said blow-fill-seal process; and   (iv) applying via arc deposition a coating of a metal to at least 70% of the outer surface of the ampoule.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising applying the coating to at least 90% of the outer surface of the ampoule. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising applying the coating to at least 95% of the outer surface of the ampoule. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising applying the coating to substantially all of the outer surface of the ampoule. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the metal is selected from aluminum, titanium, and chromium. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 50 microns. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 25 microns. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 10 microns. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising applying the coating via filtered cathode arc deposition. 
     
     
         36 . A method of making an ampoule, comprising:
 (i) forming the ampoule by a blow-fill-seal process;   (ii) filling the ampoule during said blow-fill-seal process with from 0.5 ml to 10 ml of (a) an inhalation pharmaceutical in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, or (b) an injection pharmaceutical in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;   (iii) sealing the filled ampoule during said blow-fill-seal process; and   (iv) applying via arc deposition a coating of tetrahedral amorphous carbon to at least 70% of the outer surface of the ampoule.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising applying the coating to at least 90% of the outer surface of the ampoule. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising applying the coating to at least 95% of the outer surface of the ampoule. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising applying the coating to substantially all of the outer surface of the ampoule. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 50 microns. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 25 microns. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 10 microns. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising applying the coating via filtered cathode arc deposition. 
     
     
         44 . A method of sealing a container, wherein the container contains a solution of an inhalation pharmaceutical or an injection pharmaceutical in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and wherein the container is made of polymer consisting essentially of polyethylene or polypropylene, comprising applying to an outer surface of the container a coating comprising a metal or a metal compound. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the metal is selected from aluminum, titanium, chromium and tetrahedral amorphous carbon. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the container is an ampoule. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , comprising forming the ampoule by a blow-fill-seal process. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising applying the coating over at least 90% of the outer surface of the container. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising applying the coating by physical vapor deposition or arc deposition. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 50 microns. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 25 microns. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the coating has a thickness of up to 10 microns.