SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYRINGE AND PISTON ROD ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include a holder comprising a receptacle having a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly and an opening portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod. A drive device may be operatively coupled to the holder and adapted to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position, thereby coupling the plunger rod to the syringe assembly. The holder may be selected from separate and interchangeable first and second holders, wherein the first holder includes a receptacle adapted to receive a syringe assembly of a first size, and the second holder includes a receptacle sized to receive a syringe assembly of a second size different from the first size.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYRINGE AND PISTON ROD ASSEMBLY CROSS-REFERENCED WITH RELATED APPLICATION Priority is claimed over provisional US patent application no. 62 / 477,521, filed on March 28, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to medical syringes and, more particularly, to mechanisms and methods for attaching a plunger stem to a syringe assembly of a medical syringe. BACKGROUND A standard medical syringe includes a syringe assembly containing a fluid, such as a medication or pharmaceutical product, and a plunger stem attached to the syringe assembly. The plunger stem can be attached to a plunger located inside the syringe barrel after the syringe is filled with fluid. The plunger may include internal threads sized to engage with the external threads on the distal end of the plunger stem. When the distal end of the plunger stem is screwed onto the plunger, the plunger stem is engaged with the syringe assembly. Thus, force applied to the plunger stem can actuate the plunger through the syringe barrel to dispense the fluid contained within the syringe. The plunger stem includes a proximal section with a flange that the operator can push with their thumb while simultaneously grasping the syringe barrel between two fingers.Syringe assemblies come in sizes to hold different amounts of fluid, and plunger stems may also be sized to match the opposite end of the syringe assembly. When attaching a plunger stem to a plunger, care must be taken to avoid applying excessive pressure that could expel fluid prematurely and / or compromise the integrity of the sealed prefilled syringe barrel. In prefilled syringes, the fill level of the fluid inside the syringe barrel may vary between batches, and therefore, the plunger position within the syringe barrel may also differ. Thus, existing systems that attach plunger stems to prefilled syringes must be adaptable to accommodate different fill levels and prevent premature fluid expulsion. A typical machine for attaching plunger rods to syringe assemblies is fully automated and designed to perform several process steps, including loading the plunger rods and syringe assemblies into the machine, operating the machine, attaching the plunger rod to the plunger, and discharging the finished product from the machine. The fully automated technology is particularly useful for preparing large batches of 2000 or more attached plunger rods and syringe assemblies. To adjust the fully automated machine and assemble plunger rods and syringe assemblies of different sizes—referred to herein as the “transition process”—the machine must be partially disassembled, adjusted, and / or reassembled before operation.This transition process typically requires a skilled operator to handle the various components involved in disassembling, adjusting, equipping, and reassembling the machine, which can be a rather lengthy procedure. Furthermore, the machine itself is quite large and is not usually portable once installed in a manufacturing laboratory. Using such a machine may not be practical for easily assembling small batches and sets of syringes of varying sizes. SUMMARY According to a first exemplary aspect, a machine for coupling a plunger rod and a syringe assembly may include a selected support comprising a receptacle having a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly and an opening portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod. A drive device may be operatively coupled to the selected support and adapted to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position, thereby coupling the plunger rod to the syringe assembly. The selected support may be chosen from separate and interchangeable first and second supports, wherein the first support includes a receptacle adapted to receive a syringe assembly of a first size, and the second support includes a receptacle that receives a syringe assembly of a second size different from the first size. According to a second exemplary aspect, a method of using a machine to couple a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include detaching a second support from the drive device and attaching a first support to the drive device after detaching the second support from the drive device, the first support including a first movable receptacle adapted to receive a syringe assembly of a first size. The method may then include placing a first syringe assembly onto the first movable receptacle of the first support, the first syringe assembly including a distal end and a proximal end, a syringe barrel, and a plunger disposed inside the syringe barrel.The method may then include placing a first plunger stem onto the first receptacle of the first holder, the first plunger stem comprising a distal stem end and a proximal stem end, wherein the distal stem end is positioned above the proximal end of the first syringe assembly and is axially aligned with the plunger. The method may also include activating the drive device coupled to the first holder to move the first receptacle from a first position to a second position, thereby applying a force to the first plunger stem, causing the first plunger stem to engage with the first syringe assembly. Pursuant to a third exemplary aspect, a machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include a holder having a movable receptacle comprising a seat portion, sized to receive a syringe assembly, and an opening portion, disposed above the seat portion, sized to receive a plunger rod. A drive device may be operatively coupled to the holder and adapted to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position, thereby coupling the plunger rod to the syringe assembly. The machine may further include an elongated pressure plate, positioned adjacent to the holder and defining an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being sized to receive a proximal end of the plunger rod and to apply a downward force on the proximal end of the plunger rod as it moves from the inlet to the outlet.A constant tension spring can be attached to the pressure plate, the constant tension spring providing a downward force on the pressure plate, so that the downward force is transmitted to the plunger rod through the pressure plate, as the receptacle moves between the first position and the second position. Pursuant to a fourth exemplary aspect, a machine for attaching a plunger stem to a syringe assembly may include a holder having a movable receptacle, which includes a seat portion for receiving a syringe assembly, and an opening portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger stem. The machine may include an actuating device operatively coupled to the holder and adapted to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position, thereby attaching the plunger stem to the syringe assembly.A pressure plate may be positioned adjacent to the support, such that the receptacle moves beneath the pressure plate when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The pressure plate is adapted to apply a downward force on the plunger rod, disposed in the opening portion of the receptacle, when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The actuating device may include a lever, operatively coupled to the support and adapted to manipulate and index the receptacle from the first position to the second position. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi Pursuant to a fifth exemplary aspect, a machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include a holder having a movable receptacle, which includes a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly, and an opening portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod. An actuating device may be operatively coupled to the holder and adapted to index the receptacle from a first position to a second position only when an actuation action occurs to couple the plunger rod to the syringe assembly. Pursuant to a sixth exemplary aspect, a method for using a machine to couple a plunger stem to a syringe assembly may include placing a syringe assembly onto a movable receptacle of a holder, wherein the syringe assembly includes a distal end and a proximal end, a syringe barrel, and a plunger disposed within the syringe barrel at the proximal end of the syringe assembly. The method may then include placing a plunger stem onto the receptacle, wherein the plunger stem may include a distal stem end and a proximal stem end, and wherein the distal stem end of the plunger stem is disposed above the proximal end of the syringe assembly and is axially aligned with the plunger. The method may include actuating a drive device operatively connected to the holder.Likewise, the method may include indexing the receptacle from the first position to the second position, only in response to activation of the actuating device, where a force may be applied to either one or both of the syringe assembly and the plunger stem as the receptacle is indexed from the first position to the second position, thereby coupling the plunger stem to a plunger of the syringe assembly. According to a seventh exemplary aspect, a machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include a holder having a movable receptacle, which includes a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly, and an opening portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod. A drive device may be operatively coupled to the holder and adapted to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position, thereby coupling the plunger rod to the syringe assembly.Likewise, a friction element can be arranged adjacent to the support and below the pressure plate, where the friction element can be adapted to interact with a syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly that carries the receptacle as it moves from the first position to the second position, thereby applying a rotary force on the syringe assembly and causing the syringe assembly to rotate about the plunger stem when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. Pursuant to an eighth exemplary aspect, a method of using a machine to couple a plunger stem to a syringe assembly may include placing a syringe assembly on a movable receptacle of a holder, wherein the syringe assembly includes a distal end and a proximal end, a syringe barrel, and a plunger disposed inside the syringe barrel at the proximal end of the syringe assembly. The method may include placing a plunger stem on the receptacle, the plunger stem including a distal stem end and a proximal stem end, and wherein the distal stem of the plunger stem is disposed above the proximal end of the syringe assembly and is axially aligned with the plunger.Thus, the method may include activating a drive device, operatively connected to the support, to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position, and rotating the syringe assembly with respect to the plunger stem when the receptacle moves between the first and second positions, thereby causing a first threaded portion on the distal end of the plunger stem to engage in a threaded manner with a second threaded portion of the plunger of the syringe assembly. Pursuant to a ninth exemplary aspect, a machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include a holder with a movable receptacle, comprising a seat portion for receiving a syringe assembly, and an opening portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod. The machine may include an actuating device operatively coupled to the holder and adapted to index the receptacle from a first position to a second position only when an actuation action occurs to couple the plunger rod to the syringe assembly.A pressure plate may be positioned adjacent to the support, such that the receptacle moves beneath the pressure plate when it moves from the first position to the second position. The pressure plate is adapted to apply a downward force on the plunger rod, disposed in the opening portion of the receptacle, when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The drive device may include a servomotor and an operating switch for controlling the servomotor. The servomotor is coupled to the support to index the receptacle by means of the support. According to a tenth aspect of the invention, a machine for attaching a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include a base and a support connected to and movable relative to the base, the support including a movable receptacle having a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly, and an opening portion disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod. A drive device may be attached to the support and adapted to index the receptacle from a first position to a second position.The machine may include a pressure plate, supported by the base and positioned adjacent to the support, such that the receptacle moves beneath the pressure plate when it moves from the first position to the second position, the pressure plate being adapted to apply a downward force on the plunger rod disposed in the opening portion of the receptacle. The receptacle may include a receptacle shaft, which is coaxial with the longitudinal axes of the syringe assembly and the plunger rod, when the syringe assembly and plunger rod are disposed in the receptacle, the receptacle shaft being disposed at an angle of more than zero degrees with respect to the vertical. In accordance with an eleventh exemplary aspect, a machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly may include a holder having a movable receptacle, which includes a seat portion, sized to receive a syringe assembly, and an opening portion, disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod; an actuating device, operatively coupled to the holder and adapted to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position, thereby coupling the plunger rod to the syringe assembly; and a pressure plate, positioned adjacent to the holder, such that the receptacle moves beneath the pressure plate when the receptacle is moved from the first position to the second position, the pressure plate being adapted to apply a downward force on the plunger rod, disposed in the opening portion of the receptacle.when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The machine may include at least one of the following aspects, from a) to e). In aspect a), a constant-tension spring may be operatively coupled to the pressure plate, and the pressure plate may define an inlet portion, adapted to receive a proximal end of the plunger rod, when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The constant-tension spring may provide the downward force on the plunger rod, applied through the pressure plate, when the receptacle moves between the first and second positions. In aspect b), a friction element may be disposed adjacent to the support and below the pressure plate. The friction element may be adapted to interact with a syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly carried by the receptacle.as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The friction element can be adapted to apply a rotary force to the syringe cylinder, to rotate the syringe assembly relative to the plunger rod, when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. In aspect (c), the actuating device can be operatively connected to the support and adapted to index the receptacle between the first and second positions in response to an actuation action. In aspect (d), the receptacle can include a receptacle shaft that is coaxial with the longitudinal axes of the syringe assembly and the plunger rod when the syringe assembly and plunger rod are disposed in the receptacle. The receptacle shaft can be disposed at an angle of more than zero degrees with respect to the vertical. Finally, in aspect (e),The holder can be selected from a first and second separate and interchangeable holder. The first holder can include a receptacle having a seating portion sized to receive a syringe assembly of a first size, and the second holder can include a receptacle having a seating portion sized to receive a syringe assembly of a second size. Pursuant to a twelfth exemplary aspect, a method for using a machine to couple a plunger stem to a syringe assembly may include placing a syringe assembly onto a movable receptacle of a holder, wherein the syringe assembly includes a distal end and a proximal end, and a plunger disposed inside the syringe barrel at the proximal end of the syringe assembly. The method may then include placing a plunger stem onto the receptacle, wherein the plunger stem may include a distal stem end and a proximal stem end, and wherein the distal stem end of the plunger stem is disposed above the proximal end of the syringe assembly and is axially aligned with the plunger. The method may include actuating a drive device operatively connected to the holder.Likewise, the method may include indexing the receptacle from the first position to the second position more than once, in response to activation of the actuating device, where a force may be applied to one or both of the syringe assembly and the plunger stem as the receptacle is indexed from the first position to the second position, thereby coupling the plunger stem to the plunger of the syringe assembly. In accordance, moreover, with any one or more of the first through twelfth aspects and method above, the machine for attaching a plunger stem and syringe assembly and the method for using the machine may include any one or more of the following forms or steps of the method. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a selected pressure plate, positioned above the receptacle, such that the receptacle moves beneath the selected pressure plate when it moves from the first position to the second position. The selected pressure plate may be adapted to apply a downward force on the plunger rod, disposed in the opening portion of the receptacle, when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the first support may include a first pressure plate, coupled to the first support, and a second support may include a second pressure plate, coupled to the second support, such that the selected pressure plate is coupled to the selected support. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a quick-change clamp and a table, the selected support being removable and attachable to the table by means of the quick-change clamp. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the first support may include a first base and the second support may include a second base, and the drive device may include a servomotor, adapted to be operatively connected to the first and second bases. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a selected friction element arranged adjacent to the selected support. The selected friction element may be adapted to interact with a syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly that carries the receptacle as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The friction element may be adapted to apply a rotary force to the syringe cylinder, thereby rotating the syringe assembly about the plunger stem as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the first support may include a first guide plate, attached to the first support and carrying a first friction element, and the second support may include a second guide plate, attached to the second support and carrying a second friction element, such that the selected friction element is carried by the selected guide plate attached to the selected support. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a constant-tension spring operatively coupled to the selected pressure plate. The selected pressure plate, which defines an inlet portion, may be adapted to receive a proximal end of the plunger rod when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The selected constant-tension spring may provide the downward force on the plunger rod, applied by means of the selected pressure plate, when the receptacle moves between the first and second positions. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a servomotor and an operating switch to operationally control the servomotor, the servomotor being coupled to the support to move the receptacle by means of the support. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the inlet may include a ramped surface, positioned above the outlet with respect to the support. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include at least one guide pin and the pressure plate is slidably coupled to at least the guide pin in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a threaded stem for adjustable mounting of the pressure plate relative to the support, so that the pressure plate can be adjusted in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support to accommodate the piston rods at different heights. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a friction element disposed adjacent to the support and below the pressure plate. The friction element may be adapted to interact with a syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly supported by the receptacle, as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The friction element may be adapted to apply a rotational force on the syringe cylinder to rotate the syringe assembly about the plunger stem. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the friction element can be fixed immobile with respect to the receptacle. In a preferred form, the machine may include a guide plate and the friction element may be attached to the guide plate. In a preferred form of the machine, the friction element can be an elongated cable. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the friction element may be an elastomeric material. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the drive device may be adapted to index the receptacle between the first position and the second position, in response to an actuation action. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the drive device can index the receptacle only when an actuation action occurs. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the drive device can index the receptacle two or more times following an actuation action. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the drive device may include a lever for a user to manually index the receptacle from the first position to the second position. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the lever can be movably connected to a support base, and wherein the lever can be arranged to perform the activation action when the lever is moved from a rest position to an activated position. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the drive device may include a motor-operated clamp, disposed adjacent to the lever and which may be adapted to move the lever between the rest position and the activated position. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the drive device may include a sliding clamp arranged to move the lever. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a pressure plate, positioned adjacent to the support, such that the receptacle moves under the pressure plate when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position, the pressure plate being adapted to apply a downward force on the plunger rod, disposed in the opening portion of the receptacle, when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. In a preferred form, the machine may include a two-hand safety operating switch, arranged to perform the activation action. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the drive device may include a lever, operatively coupled to the support, the lever being arranged to be manually manipulated and perform the activation action. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the drive device may include a lever for a user to manually index the receptacle from the first position to the second position. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the seating portion of the receptacle may include a first roller and a second roller, separated by a gap. The first and second rollers of the seating portion may be adapted to interact with the syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly and retain the syringe cylinder in the gap when it is carried by the receptacle, allowing the first and second rollers to rotate the syringe assembly as the receptacle indexes from the first position to the second position. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, each of the first and second rollers may include a rotating shaft, the first roller being rotatable around the rotating shaft of the first roller and the second roller being rotatable around the rotating shaft of the second roller. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the servomotor can be programmed to respond to a triggering action that moves the support, including the triggering action of actuating the operating switch. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the servo motor can be programmed to index the receptacle more than once in response to the trigger action. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the servomotor can be adapted to be operationally coupled to a different support. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the receptacle may include a receptacle shaft that is coaxial with the longitudinal axes of the syringe assembly and plunger stem when the syringe assembly and plunger stem are arranged within the receptacle, the receptacle shaft being arranged at an angle of more than zero degrees with respect to the vertical. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the support may include a rotating carousel with a rotating axis that is parallel to the axis of the receptacle, such that the rotating axis of the carousel is arranged at an angle of more than zero degrees with respect to the vertical. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the base may include a lower surface disposed at a first angle with respect to the horizontal, wherein the longitudinal axis of the receptacle is deviated from the vertical at the first angle. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a movable plunger stem base coupled to the support. The plunger stem may be positioned above the receptacle and may include a bore sized to receive a flanged proximal end of the plunger stem, the bore being aligned coaxially with the opening portion of the receptacle. The plunger stem base may move with the receptacle from the first position to the second position. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a retaining plug having an outwardly extending tab arranged to extend into the bore in the base of the plunger rod, the retaining plug being removably connected to the base of the plunger rod. The retaining plug may be fixed relative to the support and is positioned in the bore when the receptacle is in the first position. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include a selected movable piston rod base coupled to the selected support. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the plunger stem base can be selected from separate and interchangeable first and second plunger stem bases, the first plunger stem base including a bore sized to receive a flanged plunger rod end of a first size, and the second plunger stem base being sized to receive a flanged plunger rod end of a second size other than the first size. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the support can be rotatably arranged with respect to the pressure plate. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the support may include a plurality of receptacles carried on the support. In a preferred embodiment, the machine may include an outlet conduit, arranged adjacent to the support and in the second position of the receptacle. The outlet conduit may be adapted to receive the plunger rod and syringe assembly from the receptacle after the plunger rod has been coupled to the syringe assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the first support may include a first outlet conduit coupled to the first support and the second support may include a second outlet conduit coupled to the second support, such that the selected outlet conduit is coupled to the selected support. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the outlet conduit may include a slope, including the slope a groove, sized to receive the plunger stem and syringe assembly after the receptacle is moved to the second position. In a preferred embodiment, the method may include applying a downward force on the proximal stem end of the first plunger stem as the first receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. In a preferred form, the method may include indexing the receptacle from the first position to the second position two or more times, in response to activation of the actuating device. In a preferred embodiment, the method may include attaching the first support to a board by means of a quick-change clamp, wherein the board is connected to the drive device. In a preferred form of the method, uncoupling the second support from the drive device may include uncoupling the quick-change clamp that is securing the second support to the table. In a preferred form of the method, decoupling the second support from the drive device may include decoupling a drive device servo motor from a receiving element of the second support. In a preferred form of the method, the coupling of the first support to the drive device may include coupling a servomotor of the drive device to a receiving element of the first support. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi In a preferred embodiment, the method may include, before detaching the second holder from the drive device, placing a second syringe assembly onto a second receptacle of the second holder, the second receptacle being adapted to receive the second syringe assembly of a second size, the second syringe assembly including a distal end and a proximal end, a syringe barrel and a plunger disposed inside the syringe barrel, wherein the second receptacle of the second holder is sized to receive a second syringe barrel of a second size.Likewise, the preferred embodiment of the method may include placing a second plunger stem onto the second receptacle of the second holder, the second plunger stem comprising a distal stem end and a proximal stem end, wherein the distal stem end is positioned above the proximal end of the second syringe assembly and is axially aligned with the plunger. In the preferred embodiment, the method may include activating the drive device coupled to the second holder to move the second receptacle from a first position to a second position, thereby applying a force to the second plunger stem, causing the second plunger stem to engage with the second syringe assembly. In a preferred form of the method, indexing the receptacle may include rotating the holder about a rotating axis of the holder. In a preferred form of the method, the rotation of the support may include rotating the support by more than zero degrees, so as to index the receptacle from the first position to the second position. In a preferred form of the method, activation of the actuating device may include moving a lever, wherein the lever causes the support to index the receptacle from the first position to the second position. In a preferred form of the method, activation of the actuating device may include activating an operating switch, coupled to a servo motor, wherein the servo motor is arranged to slide a clamp and move the lever. In a preferred form of the method, activation of the drive device may include activating an operating switch on a servo motor, wherein the servo motor is operatively coupled to the support. In a preferred embodiment, the method may include applying a downward force on the proximal stem end of the plunger stem as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. In a preferred form of the method, applying a downward force on the proximal stem end of the plunger stem may include moving the plunger stem below a pressure plate, positioned adjacent to the support, as the receptacle is moved from the first position to the second position. In a preferred embodiment, the method may include applying a rotary force on the syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the application of the rotary force may involve interacting the syringe assembly with a friction element, arranged adjacent to the support, as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position. The syringe assembly may be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the receptacle. In a preferred form, the method may include rotating the support around a rotating axis of the support in a first direction, thereby indexing the receptacle from the first position to the second position. In a preferred form of the method, the rotation of the syringe assembly may include rotating the syringe assembly in a direction opposite to the first direction of the support, wherein the rotational axis of the support is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is believed that the disclosure will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Some of the drawings may have been simplified by omitting selected elements in order to show other elements more clearly. Such omissions of elements in some drawings are not necessarily indicative of the presence or absence of particular elements in any of the example embodiments, except as may be explicitly defined in the corresponding written description. Furthermore, none of the drawings are necessarily to scale. Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first example of a plunger rod assembly machine with a plunger rod and syringe assembly placed inside it in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. Figure 2 is a partial front perspective view of the first example of the plunger rod assembly machine of Figure 1 with the plunger rod and syringe assembly in an intermediate arrangement. Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the first example of the plunger rod assembly machine of Figure 1, with the plunger rod and syringe assembly in a coupled arrangement. Figure 4 is a front view of the first example of the plunger rod assembly machine of Figure 1, with one plunger rod and syringe assembly in a decoupled arrangement and a second plunger rod and syringe assembly in a coupled arrangement. Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the first example of the piston rod assembly machine of Figure 1, illustrating a first example of the piston rod mounting base, a first example of the piston rod clamping plug, and a clamping device. Figure 6 is a top perspective view of the first example of the piston rod assembly machine of Figure 1, with a second example of the piston rod placement base and a second piston rod clamping plug without the clamp. Figure 7 is a top view of the first example of the piston rod retaining plug of Figure 5. Figure 8 is a top view of the second example of the piston rod retaining plug from Figure 6. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a guide assembly of the first example of the piston rod assembly machine of Figure 1, including the guide assembly and a preforce piston unit. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the preforce piston unit of the guide assembly in Figure 9. Figure 11 is a top perspective view of an adaptable drive system for use with the first example of the piston rod assembly machine of Figure 1. Figure 12 is a perspective view of a second example of the system for a piston rod assembly, which includes the machine of Figure 1 coupled to the adaptable drive system of Figure 11. Figure 13 is a perspective view of a third example of the system for piston rod assembly in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. Figure 14 is a side view of the third example of the piston rod assembly system of Figure 13. Figure 15 is a front view of the third example of the piston rod assembly system of Figure 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This document illustrates and describes a plunger rod assembly system for coupling a plunger rod to a pre-filled syringe assembly. Figures 1-4 illustrate a first example of the plunger rod assembly machine 10 shown in various stages of coupling a plunger rod 14 to a pre-filled syringe assembly 18. Figures 5-10 illustrate various components of machine 10 in greater detail, and Figures 11 and 12 illustrate an adaptable system for converting the non-automated machine 10 of Figures 1-4 into a second, semi-automated example of the plunger rod assembly system. Figures 13-15 illustrate a third example of the plunger rod assembly system and may incorporate any or all of the various components of the previous illustrations to couple a plunger rod 14 to a syringe assembly 18.The term “syringe assembly” 18 may refer to a pre-filled syringe or an empty syringe. Figure 1 illustrates the first example of a plunger rod assembly system 10 for coupling a plunger rod 14 to a syringe assembly 18. The plunger rod assembly system 10 is a machine with a support 22 having a movable receptacle 26 and a drive device 30, operatively coupled to the support 22 and adapted to move the receptacle 26 from a first position to a second position. The receptacle 26 includes a seat portion 34, dimensioned to receive the syringe assembly 18, and an opening portion 38, disposed above the seat portion 34 and dimensioned to receive the plunger rod 14. In the illustrated example, the support 22 is a rotating carousel, the support 22 carrying a plurality of receptacles 26, these being arranged around the perimeter of the carousel 22.For ease of reference, a single receptacle 26 will be described as the support 22 rotates the receptacle 26 between the first and second positions. A “loaded receptacle” 26, as used herein, refers to the receptacle 26 with the plunger rod 14 and syringe assembly 18 placed inside. While the machine 10 provides several receptacles 26 in various positions, a “first position” P1 (shown in Figure 1) refers to the position in which the plunger rod 14 and syringe assembly 18 are placed on the receptacle 26 but are not yet coupled together. A “second position” P2 (shown in Figure 3) refers to any position of the loaded receptacle 26 when the plunger rod 14 is coupled to the syringe assembly 18.As used herein, a “coupled syringe and plunger stem assembly” 46 refers to an end product, wherein the plunger stem 14 is coupled to the syringe assembly 18. The plunger stem 14 and syringe assembly 18 may be loosely connected, removably secured, or fit snugly over the receptacle 26. The function and operation of machine 10 will be described when receptacle 26 is in three consecutive positions: the first position P1, a position between the first position P1 and a second position P2, and the second position P2. Machine 10 is configured to couple the plunger rod 14 and the prefilled syringe assembly 18 by moving the receptacle 26 from the first position P1, shown in Figure 1, through an intermediate position, shown in Figure 2, and finally to the second position P2, shown in Figure 3, where the plunger rod 14 is coupled to the syringe assembly 18. The drive device 30, arranged inside a base 48 of machine 10, drives the rotation of the support 22 and the loaded receptacle 26 about a rotating axis A of the support 22. As the support 22 rotates, the loaded receptacle 26 passes a guide assembly 50 connected to the base 48.The guide assembly 50 includes a preforce plunger unit 54, which is configured to apply a constant downward force on the plunger rod 14 as the plunger rod 14 interacts with a pressure plate 58. Simultaneously, a friction element 60 (Figure 9) of the guide assembly 50 interacts with and applies a rotational force (e.g., a torque) to the syringe assembly 18 to rotate the syringe assembly 18 relative to the plunger rod 14 as the loaded receptacle 26 passes under the pressure plate 58. The combination of the downward force, applied by the pressure plate 58, and the rotational force, applied by the friction element 60, effectively engages the plunger rod 14 with the syringe assembly 18 at the moment the loaded receptacle 26 reaches the second position P2.In Figure 3, the syringe and coupled plunger rod assembly 46 is in the second position P2, adjacent to an outlet channel 62 that receives the syringe and coupled plunger rod assembly 46. The receptacle 26 is configured to release the syringe and coupled plunger rod assembly 46 when the support 22 rotates again, and the receptacle 26 is configured to deposit the syringe and coupled plunger rod assembly 46 into the outlet channel 62, as shown in Figure 4. The support 22 described herein may be controlled or operated by a rotary actuator, but other embodiments may include a linear actuator. For example, the support 22 may be replaced by a linear assembly belt, such as a conveyor belt, where the receptacle 26 is linearly indexed.The support 22 may include one or more movable receptacles 26 that are coupled to a linear drive mechanism that moves the receptacles 26 linearly. In this example, the guide assembly 50 may be positioned relative to the linear conveyor belt or other linear transport method to interact with the movable receptacles 26 and couple the plunger rod 14 to the syringe assembly 18. As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, machine 10 is oriented at an angle when the base 48 of machine 10 rests on a flat surface. As shown in Figure 3, the rotary axis A of support 22 is arranged at an angle α with respect to the vertical V, and a lower surface 66 of base 48 is arranged at an angle β with respect to the horizontal H. The rotary and / or longitudinal axis A of support 22 is also parallel to the axis of receptacle B, which is coaxial with the longitudinal axes C of the plunger rod 14 and the syringe assembly 18 when the plunger rod 14 and syringe assembly 18 are arranged in receptacle 26. The axis of receptacle B and the rotary axis A are arranged at angle α, which is greater than zero degrees with respect to the vertical V.In one version, angle a can be between 1 degree and 10 degrees, between 5 degrees and 10 degrees, between 5 degrees and 15 degrees, between 5 degrees and 20 degrees, between 5 degrees and 30 degrees, or any other suitable angle. As mentioned above, the term “receptacle” 26 refers to the structure that receives the plunger rod 14 and the syringe assembly 18. Each receptacle 26 includes a seating portion 34, defined by a pair of rollers 68, a hole 70 in a plunger rod positioning base 72, and an opening portion 38 defined by a plunger rod gripping disc 74. The rollers 68, the plunger rod positioning base 72, and the plunger rod gripping disc 74 are connected to the support 22 and are rotatable about the rotating axis A when the support 22 is driven by the drive device 30. The positioning base 72 includes a plurality of evenly spaced holes 70, and the plunger rod gripping disc 74 includes a plurality of evenly spaced openings 38.The positioning base 72 and gripping disc 74 are separated and positioned with respect to the rollers 68, so that each receptacle 26 is defined by a bore 70, an opening 38, and a seating portion 34, which are coaxial and arranged to receive a plunger stem 14 aligned with a syringe assembly 18. Each roller 68 is rotatable about a pin 76, arranged through a central axis D of the roller 68, and each pin 76 is secured in a lower portion 24 of the support 22. Each roller 68 is separated from an adjacent roller 68 by a predetermined distance defining a gap G, so that a syringe cylinder 78 can fit inside the seating portion 34, between and interacting with two adjacent rollers 68.The first and second adjacent rollers 68 of the seat portion 34 are adapted to interact with the syringe cylinder 78 of the syringe assembly 18 and to retain the syringe cylinder 78 in the recess G when the receptacle 26 carries it inside. The rollers 68 are arranged to loosely hold the syringe cylinder 78 of the syringe assembly 18 when the syringe assembly 18 is connected to, or otherwise arranged on, the machine 10 in the first position P1, and to release the syringe cylinder 78 when the receptacle 26 moves toward the outlet channel 62. In disclosed versions, the inclined orientation of the support 22 allows the receptacle 26 to hold the syringe cylinder 78 at the same time as the receptacle 26 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2. Additionally, the inclined orientation of the machine 10 allows the receptacle 26 to release the coupled syringe and plunger rod assembly znzpnn / eznz / B / Yi 46 in the outlet channel 62 after the receptacle 26 passes the second position P2.When the support 22 rotates again, a groove 64 in the outlet channel 62 receives the syringe and coupled plunger rod assembly 46, and this 46 can slide down an incline 63 where the syringe and coupled plunger rod assembly 46 remains until it is removed. The groove 64 is sized to receive a syringe assembly 18 of a particular size, so that the coupled plunger rod and syringe assembly 46 can slide down the incline 63 to be stored in the outlet channel 62. The incline 63 can be sized and inclined to hold a batch of syringe assemblies of coupled plunger rod 46. The dimensions of receptacle 26 are based on the requirements of the syringe assembly 18 and the plunger stem 14. In particular, the seat portion 34 is sized to receive a specific type / size of syringe assembly 18, and the opening portion 38 and the orifice 70 of receptacle 26 are also sized to receive a specific type / shape of plunger stem 14. In the illustrated example, machine 10 is specifically designed to accommodate a plunger stem 14 and syringe assembly 18 of a particular size. In other embodiments, machine 10 can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of plunger stems 14 and syringe assemblies 18. Machine 10 can be designed to accommodate one size of syringe assembly, for example, a 2.25 ml glass syringe assembly 18. In this way, the separation between two adjacent rollers 68 is arranged so that the syringe assembly 18, which has a syringe cylinder 78 of 2.25 ml, can be loosely connected to the receptacle 26. Each opening 38 of the plunger stem gripping disc 74 is designed to accommodate a particular shape of plunger stem body 82 used with a 2.25 ml syringe assembly 18. For a plunger stem 14 with an X-shaped cross-section, the opening portion 38 may include a plurality of flanges to receive the plunger stem body 82 and to limit the rotary, angular, and lateral movement of the plunger stem 14 about axis C when the loaded receptacle 26 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2. On the other hand, the rollers 68 can rotate freely about axis D and allow the syringe cylinder 78 to rotate about axis B of the receptacle 26 when the friction element 60 makes contact with the syringe cylinder 78, as will be described in more detail later.The rollers 68, the piston rod gripping disc 74 and the piston rod positioning base 72 can be positioned to accommodate a specific height of a piston rod body 82. Machine 10 is configured to accommodate a variety of different fill levels of a syringe assembly 18 of a particular size by means of interchangeable plunger stem positioning bases 72 and 86. Figures 5-8 illustrate plunger stem positioning base 72, which is selected from separate and interchangeable first and second plunger stem positioning bases 72 and 86. The first plunger stem positioning base 72 includes a bore 70 sized to receive a proximal end 90 of a particular size of plunger stem 14, and the second plunger stem positioning base 86 includes a bore 104 sized to receive a proximal end 90 of a different size of plunger stem 14.In Figures 5 and 7, the first piston rod mounting base 72 and the corresponding piston rod retaining plug 84 can be interchanged with the different mounting base 86 and associated retaining plug 84 shown in Figures 6 and 8. The first and second piston rod mounting bases 72 and 86 can have different heights to accommodate different piston rod heights and can have different hole sizes 70 and 104 to accommodate two sizes of proximal ends 90 of the piston rod. In the illustrated embodiment, the holes 70 of the first mounting base 72 have a smaller radius than the holes 104 of the second mounting base 86. Although not illustrated, the machine 10 can be configured to operate with any number of different piston rod mounting bases, and the machine 10 is not limited to the two embodiments described and illustrated herein. Turning to Figures 5 and 6, the first plunger rod positioning base 72 and the retaining plug 84 are removably connected to the machine 10. The first plunger rod positioning base 72 is coupled to the support 22 and is arranged above the plunger rod gripping disc 74, such that the holes 70 positioned around the perimeter of the positioning base 72 are coaxial with the openings 38 of the gripping disc 74. Each hole 70 is sized to receive a flanged proximal end 90 of the plunger rod 14 and provides sufficient clearance to allow the flanged proximal end 90 of the rod to drop through the hole 70 when the receptacle 26 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2.The retaining plug 84 is disposed on top of the positioning base 72 and includes an outwardly extending tab 94, arranged to extend into the bore 70 when the positioning base 72 and retaining plug 84 are connected to the machine 10. Both the retaining plug 84 and the piston rod positioning base 72 are removably connected to the machine 10 via a threaded fitting 98. Although the positioning base 72 is movably coupled to the support 22 (so that the positioning base 72 rotates with the support 22), the retaining plug 84 and the threaded fitting 98 are fixed to the machine 10 and do not rotate with the support 22 about axis A. The retaining plug 84 provides a clamping function on the piston rod 14 when the piston rod 14 is first positioned over the receptacle. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi. 26. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flanged proximal end 90 of the plunger stem 14 is received in the hole 70 of the positioning base 72 and seats against a portion 96 of the flange 94 extending into the hole 70. The portion 96 of the flange 94 disposed in the hole 70 holds the plunger stem 14 in suspension above the syringe assembly 18 positioned on the seating portion 34. As the loaded receptacle 26 moves from the first position P1, the positioning base 72 rotates about the extension flange 94, and the hole 70 of the receptacle 26 moves away from the portion 96 to release the plunger stem 14 from it. The flanged proximal end 90 of the plunger stem 14 falls below the hole 70 of the placement base 72 and a distal end 156 of the plunger stem 14 makes contact with a plunger 158 disposed in the syringe cylinder 78, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 7 illustrates a first side 100a of the retaining plug 84 associated with the first mounting base 72 of the piston rod, and Figure 8 illustrates a second side 100b of the retaining plug 84 associated with the second mounting base 86 of the piston rod. In each illustrated embodiment, the extension flange 94 of the retaining plug 84 includes an asymmetric contoured edge 101a and 101b that can be shaped according to the variations of the flanged ends 90 of the different piston rods 14. Each side 100a and 100b of the retaining plug 84 includes a particular mark or marks 102a and 102b associated with the corresponding marks 103a and 103b of the mounting bases 72 and 86 of the piston rod. The gripping disc 74 also includes marks 105a and 105b that align with marks 102a and 102b to ensure alignment of holes 70 and 104 and openings 38 when receptacles 26 are assembled.As shown in Figure 5, marks 102a, 103a, and 105a can provide a visual indication that the plunger plug 84 is properly aligned with both the first plunger rod positioning base 72 and the gripping disc 74. To replace the plunger rod positioning base 72 with the second plunger rod positioning base 86, a threaded clamping device 98, which includes a hand-operated knurled handle, is removed from the machine 10, and the clamping cap 84 and the first positioning base 72 are removed. The second positioning base 86 is then placed on the support 22 so that marks 103b align with the corresponding marks 105b on the gripping disc 74.The retaining plug 84 is inverted so that the second side 100b faces away from the support 22 and is then placed on top of the second positioning base 86, so that the marks 102b on the retaining plug 84 align with the marks 103b on the second positioning base 86 and the marks 105b on the gripping disc 74. When properly assembled, the extension tab 94 is disposed within the hole 104 of the receptacle 26 in the first position P1. In the illustrated embodiments, the machine 10 includes the retaining plug 84 of the plunger stem znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi and the plunger stem positioning bases 72 and 86 to suspend the plunger stem 14 above the syringe assembly 18 when it is loaded into the receptacle 26 in the first position P1.In a different embodiment, the plunger stem 14 and the syringe assembly 18 can be loaded together, so that the plunger stem 14 is not held by the retaining plug 84 and the positioning bases 72 and 86, and instead, the distal end 156 can rest against the plunger 158 when the receptacle 26 is in the first position P1. In this case, the positioning base 72 and 86 and the retaining plug 84 can optionally be connected to the machine 10, so that the receptacle 26 is not defined by the orifice 70 and 104 of the positioning base 72 and 86. The guide assembly 50 of Figures 9 and 10 includes the preforce plunger unit 54 of machine 10, connected to an inlet guide assembly 110. The inlet guide assembly 110 includes a plurality of support rods 114 connecting a rod retainer guide 116, an upper inlet guide 118, a guide plate 120, a lower inlet guide 122, and a support base 126. Typically, the rod retainer guide 116, the upper inlet guide 118, the guide plate 120, and the lower inlet guide 122 are contoured to partially surround and match the outer perimeter of the support 22. The support base 126 is connected to the base 48 of machine 10, and the support rods 114 support the retaining elements of the inlet guide assembly 110 and the preforce plunger unit 54.The upper and lower inlet guides 118 and 120 include cut-out ends 119 and 121, respectively, to receive and guide the loaded receptacle 26 and prevent the support 22 from jamming as it rotates. A syringe cylinder guide 130, connected to the upper inlet guide 118, assists the inlet guides 118 and 120 by providing a barrier at a proximal end 132 of the syringe assembly 18 as the loaded receptacle 26 moves past the guide assembly 50 to the second position P2. As shown in Figure 2, the syringe cylinder guide 130 is an L-shaped clamp, sized to receive and guide the proximal end 132 of the syringe assembly 18. Figure 9 illustrates a friction element 60 fixed to an inner edge surface 134 of the guide plate 120 and arranged adjacent to the support 22 and below the pressure plate 58. The friction element 60 is adapted to interact with a syringe cylinder 78 of the syringe assembly 18 connected to the receptacle 26, when the receptacle 26 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2. The friction element 60 thus applies a rotational force to the syringe cylinder 78 to rotate the syringe assembly 18 about the plunger rod 14.In the illustrated example, the friction element 60 is an elongated cable extending along the inner edge surface 134 of the guide plate 120, such that the friction element 60 remains in contact with the syringe cylinder 78 as the syringe assembly 18 moves along at least part of its path from the first position P1 to the second position P2. As the receptacle 26 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the syringe assembly 18 passes through the guide assembly 50 and interacts with the friction element 60 protruding from the inner edge surface 134 of the guide plate 120. The friction element 60 makes contact with the syringe cylinder 78 and causes the syringe cylinder 78 and the syringe assembly 18 to rotate about the longitudinal axis B of the receptacle 26.Configured in this way, as the receptacle 26 carries the syringe assembly 18 in a first direction, the friction element 60 interacts with the syringe cylinder 78 and applies a rotary force on the syringe cylinder 78, causing the syringe cylinder 78 to rotate between the rollers 68 of the receptacle 26, in a direction opposite to the first rotary direction of the support 22. Meanwhile, the plunger rod 14, disposed in an opening portion 38 of the receptacle 26, does not rotate with respect to the receptacle 26 or the syringe assembly 18 and instead receives a downward force from the preforce plunger unit 54. In a preferred example, the pressure plate 58 of the preforce plunger unit 54 applies a constant force (for example, approximately 2 N in some versions) on the plunger stem 14, and the friction element 60 causes the syringe cylinder 78 to rotate a maximum of four times to engage the plunger stem 14 and the syringe assembly 18. The length of the friction element 60 can be determined based on the matching ratio between the plunger 158 of the syringe assembly 18 and the plunger stem 14. For example, the plunger 158 may complete three revolutions with respect to the plunger stem 14 before the threaded distal end 156 of the plunger stem 14 properly engages the plunger 158.If the friction element 60 causes the syringe assembly 18 to rotate more than necessary, the excessive rotational force applied to the syringe assembly 18 may adversely affect the plunger 158, the syringe cylinder 78, or some other component of the syringe assembly 18. Thus, the length of the friction element 60 is based on a minimum number of rotations that the syringe assembly 18 must make about axis B to sufficiently engage the plunger 158 on the plunger stem 14 during a single indexing without breaking. The friction element 60 may be an elastomeric material, such as silicone-based rubber, rubber, latex, or other suitable material, which causes the syringe assembly 18 to rotate about the receptacle 26 when it makes contact with the friction element 60. In another embodiment, the friction element 60 may be disposed on the rollers 68, instead of on the inner edge surface 134 of the guide plate 120.In this example, the guide plate 120 can be positioned so that a portion of the guide plate 120 makes contact with the friction element 60 arranged on the rollers 68, znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi, causing the rollers 68 to rotate the syringe assembly 18 when the receptacle 26 is moved past the guide assembly 50. In Figures 9 and 10, the preforce plunger unit 54 includes a base plate 136 connected to the rod retaining guide 116, the pressure plate 58, a constant tension spring 138 coupled to the pressure plate 58, and first and second guide pins 142. The elongated pressure plate 58 is positioned adjacent to the support 22, such that the receptacle 26 moves beneath the pressure plate 58 when the receptacle 26 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2. In other words, the support 22 is rotatably positioned with respect to the pressure plate 58. The pressure plate 58 is adapted to apply a downward force on the plunger rod 14, which is disposed in the opening portion 38 of the receptacle 26.In particular, the pressure plate 58 defines an inlet 144 (shown in Figure 2) and an outlet 148, where the inlet 144 is dimensioned to receive the proximal end 90 of the plunger rod 14 and apply a downward force on the proximal end 90 of the plunger rod 14 as the plunger rod 14 moves from the inlet 144 to the outlet 148. The constant-tension spring 138 is coupled to the pressure plate 58 and provides the downward force on the plunger rod 14 through the pressure plate 58 as the receptacle 26 moves between the first position R1 and the second position P2. The pressure plate 58 is elongated and has an inclined surface 145 at the inlet 144 to receive the proximal end 90 without it colliding with the body 82 of the plunger rod 14. The pressure plate 58 is slidably coupled to the first and second guide pins 142, allowing the pressure plate 58 to move along the pins 142 in a direction parallel to the rotating axis A. The guide pins 142 are arranged through the first and second openings in the pressure plate 58 and are mounted snugly against the pressure plate 58 with respect to the support 22, so that the pressure plate 58 can be adjusted to accommodate the piston rods 14 and the pistons 158 arranged at different heights. The tension spring 138 is arranged through a third opening in the pressure plate 58 and is fixed to the upper surface 150 of the pressure plate 58, so that a constant force, for example, 2 N, is always applied to the piston rod 14.That is, as the plunger rod 14 moves from the first position R1 to the second position P2, the proximal end of the plunger rod 14 exerts an upward force on the pressure plate 58, which can slightly raise the pressure plate 58. However, the tension spring 138 ensures that a sufficient non-zero force is applied to the plunger rod 14 to positively influence the engagement of the plunger rod 14 with the plunger 158. A threaded stem 152 is arranged through a hole in the base plate 136 and is adapted to interact with a lower surface 154 of the pressure plate 58 to adjust the height of the pressure plate 58 along the guide pins 142. The pressure plate 58 can be adjusted to accommodate different filling levels of the syringe assemblies 18, which correspond to different positions of the plunger 158 within the syringe cylinder 78. For example, it may be desirable to fill a syringe assembly 18 above the capacity of the syringe assembly marked with a fill line, causing the plunger 158 to be positioned higher than the fill line at a distal end 133 of the syringe assembly 18. In another example, it may be desirable to fill the syringe assembly 18 below the fill line of the syringe assembly's capacity, thus causing the plunger 158 to be positioned lower than the fill line.To accommodate different fill levels or plunger rod heights, the position of the pressure plate 58 relative to the receptacle 26 can be adjusted by rotating the threaded stem 152 clockwise or counterclockwise to raise or lower the pressure plate 58, respectively. A rule 153 can be attached to the guide assembly 50 and remain stationary relative to the pressure plate 58 when it is moved. The rule 153 can be used to measure the distance the pressure plate 58 must be adjusted to accommodate standard fill levels. For example, a syringe assembly 18 with a volume capacity of 1 ml can be filled to a level below or above a 1 ml fill line. The fill level determined by the measurements indicated on the syringe cylinder 78 can indicate how much the position of the pressure plate 58 needs to be adjusted from the standard fill levels.The machine 10 and the systems disclosed herein can be configured to operate with any number of different syringe assemblies 18 and are not limited to the 1 ml and 2.25 ml sizes described herein. According to this disclosure, the machine 10 is configured to index the receptacle 26 and engage the plunger stem 14 to the syringe assembly 18. In a single indexed rotation, the distal end 156 of the plunger stem 14 can be threaded into the internal threads of the plunger 158, disposed at the proximal end 132 of the syringe assembly 18. For example, the loaded receptacle 26 moves the plunger stem 14 to interact with the pressure plate 58, while the friction element 60 interacts with the syringe cylinder 78 to rotate the syringe assembly 18. The combination of the downward force applied to the plunger stem 14 by the pressure plate 58 and the rotational force applied to the syringe assembly 18, induced by the friction element 60, allows the threaded distal end 156 of the plunger stem 14 to engage the surface piston thread 158.In some versions, the machine does not necessarily include the pressure plate 58, and in these versions, the coupling of the plunger rod 14 to the plunger 158 can be effected solely by means of the friction element 60, which exerts a rotary force on the syringe cylinder 78. In still other versions, the machine does not necessarily include a friction element 60, and in these versions, the coupling of the plunger rod 14 to the plunger 158 can be effected solely by applying a downward force to the plunger rod 14 with the pressure plate 58. In the last configuration, the plunger rod 14 does not necessarily have to be screwed into the plunger 158, but can simply be friction-fitted. The machine 10 is arranged or programmed to index the receptacle 26, such that the loaded receptacle 26 moves between the first position P1 and the second position P2 in one movement of the support 22. The drive device 30, which is operatively connected to the support 22, is adapted to index the receptacle 26, such that the plunger rod 14 and syringe assembly 18 are engaged in less than three seconds. Each index of the receptacle 26 may involve rotating the support 22 approximately one-third of a full 360-degree rotation, such as 120 degrees around the rotation axis A. For example, the receptacle 26 in the first position P1 may rotate around the axis A of the support 22 approximately 120 degrees with respect to the first position P1 to reach the second position P2.Depending on the position of the guide assembly 50 and the size of the support 22, the support 22 can be configured to index the receptacle 26 in rotations of less than 120 degrees around axis A. In this way, machine 10 limits user error or repetitive start-stop cycles of a continuously operating machine. Machine 10 is configured to couple a plunger rod 14 to a syringe assembly 18 at a time. The drive device 30 can be arranged or programmed to index the receptacle 26 via the support 22 only when an activation action occurs. An activation action can be, for example, manually operating a lever 160 of the drive device 30 or actuating a switch. Pulling the lever 160, for example, activates a servo motor or other mechanically driven system of the drive device 30 to index the receptacle 26 between the first position R1 and the second position P2. The drive device 30 can also be programmed so that the support 22 does not rotate until the lever 160 has been pulled again or another activation action occurs. In other embodiments, the machine 10 can be operated using a suitable mechanism other than the lever 160. The lever 160 of the non-automated machine 10 illustrated in Figures 1-6 is operatively coupled to the support 22 and adapted to index the receptacle 26 between the first position P1 and the second position P2. Lever 160 is movably connected to base 48 and disposed within a slot 164. When lever 160 is pulled from a rest position to the leftmost end of slot 164, support 22 rotates until lever 160 returns to its initial rest position in slot 164. Lever 160 can be coupled to a mechanically operated device or electrically driven drive mechanism, housed in base 48, which converts the movement of lever 160 into rotary movement of support 22. In another embodiment, the drive device 30 can be arranged or programmed to index receptacle 26 more than once after the activation action.For example, slot 164 of lever 160 may have markings to indicate where lever 160 can be pulled to index receptacle 26 a specified number of times. For example, when lever 160 is pulled to a first activated position, receptacle 26 is indexed once, and when lever 160 is pulled to a second activated position along slot 164, receptacle 26 is indexed twice. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate an adaptable system 170 for converting the non-automated machine 10 of Figures 1-6 into a semi-automated piston rod assembly system 170. Figure 11 illustrates the adaptable system 170, and Figure 12 illustrates the machine 10 of Figures 1-6 mounted on a drive platform 172 of the adaptable system 170. The drive platform 172 receives and secures the base 48 of the machine 10 to a table 178. A rigid element 182 is movably connected to the table 178 and extends vertically from the table 178 via a semicircular clamp 186. The rigid element 182 carries the semicircular clamp 186, which is adapted to slide smoothly on the surface of the table 178 when the rigid element 182 is actuated to move the lever 160.As shown in Figure 12, the rigid element 182 is positioned adjacent to the lever 160 of machine 10 when the lever 160 is in the rest or disengaged position. The semicircular clamp 186 is shaped to match the contoured perimeter of the base 48. A servo motor 190, connected to the table 178, is operatively connected to the rigid element 182 via wiring arranged beneath the table 178. The first and second two-hand safety operating switches 194 are secured to opposite sides of the table 178 and are positioned to allow an operator to actuate the operating switches 194 simultaneously. The operating switches 194 are coupled to the servo motor 190 and are configured to activate the servo motor 190 only when the switches 194 are pressed simultaneously.In operation, the servo motor 194 drives the rigid element 182 to interact with the lever 160 of machine 10 and move the lever 160 inside the slot 164. The rigid element 182 moves in an arc-shaped path to interact with the lever 160 until the lever 160 reaches the leftmost end of the slot 164. The servo motor 190 can be programmed to move the rigid element 182 only once, when both operating switches 194 are activated to index the receptacle 26. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the servo motor 194 can be programmed to index more than once. In this case, a control panel coupled to the activation switches 194 and the servo motor 190 can be configured to index receptacle 26 more than once when a control panel switch is activated. The adaptable system 170 in Figures 11 and 12 illustrates a piston rod assembly system capable of converting the piston rod assembly system 10 into a semi-automated system using the existing machine 10 in Figures 1-6. Figures 13-15 below illustrate a semi-automated piston rod assembly system 310 in accordance with another embodiment of this disclosure. The piston rod assembly system 310 is similar to the machine 10 described above, except that system 310 is semi-automated and includes a different drive device 330. The elements of system 310 in Figures 13-15 that are similar to the elements of machine 10 are indicated by the same part numbers, but augmented by 300. The description of many of these elements is abridged or omitted for the sake of brevity. The plunger rod assembly system 310 of Figures 13-15 includes a machine 312 and an outlet conduit 362, secured to a removable base plate 472. The base plate 472 is removably connected to a table 478 by a plurality of quick-change clamps 480. A drive device 330 is operatively coupled to a support 322 and adapted to index a receptacle 326 carrying the support 322 from a first position P1 to a second position P2, thereby coupling a plunger rod 14 to a syringe assembly 18. The plunger rod 14 and syringe assembly 18 are not shown with the plunger rod assembly system 310, but may be positioned or connected to the machine 312 in the same or similar manner as described and illustrated in the preceding figures.The drive device 330 includes a servo motor 490 and first and second operating switches 494 for operationally controlling the servo motor 490. The servo motor 490, shown in Figures 14 and 15, is connected to the table 478 and positioned below the machine 312, so that the servo motor 490 can be directly connected to the support 322. To transition to a syringe assembly of a different size, holder 322 can be selected from separate, interchangeable first and second holders. System 310 is configured to allow an operator to easily remove the selected holder 322 and / or machine 312 from the servo motor 490, which is attached or removably connected to table 478, and replace the selected holder 322 with a first holder capable of receiving a syringe assembly of a different size. The first holder 322 includes a receptacle 326 having a seat portion 334 sized to receive a syringe assembly of a first size, such as a 1 ml syringe, and the second holder includes a receptacle with a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly of a second size, such as a 2.25 ml syringe.The servomotor 490 of the drive device 330 is adapted to engage a base portion 328 of the first support 322 and a base portion of the second support. For example, the servomotor 490 may include a splined shaft 332 or other suitable device extending to a receiving element 336 arranged on the base portion 328 of the support 322. The receiving element 336 of the first and second supports 322 is adapted to engage the splined shaft 332 of the servomotor 490 when the base 348 of the machine 312 is connected to the table 478. The machine 312 and the outlet conduit 362 may be interchanged with a second machine and a second outlet conduit. Each machine 312 may include a connected guide assembly 350 and a preforce plunger unit 354, adapted to interact with the support 322, as described above in relation to machine 10 of Figures 1-6. For example, the operator can select bracket 322 based on the size of the syringe assembly 18 to be assembled. Each selected bracket 322 can correspond to a selected pressure plate 358, a selected friction element 360, and a selected guide plate 420. The first bracket 322 includes a first pressure plate 358, attached to the bracket 322, and the second bracket includes a second pressure plate, attached to the second bracket. The first bracket 26 includes a first guide plate 420, attached to the first bracket 322 and carrying a first friction element 360, and the second bracket includes a second guide plate, attached to the second bracket and carrying a second friction element. Consequently, the selected pressure plate 358 is attached to the selected bracket 322, and the selected friction element 360 is carried by a selected guide plate 420 attached to the selected bracket 322. According to a preferred method of using the plunger rod assembly system 10 and 310, the method may include placing a syringe assembly 18 onto a receptacle 26 and 326 of a holder 22 and 322, wherein the receptacle 26 and 326 of the holder 22 and 322 is sized to receive a syringe assembly 18 of a specific size. The syringe assembly 18 includes a distal end 133 and a proximal end 132, a syringe barrel 78, and a plunger 158 disposed inside the syringe barrel 78. A plunger stem 14 is positioned over the receptacle 26 and 326 of the support 22 and 322, wherein the plunger stem 14 includes a distal stem end 156 and a proximal stem end 90, znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi wherein the distal stem end 156 is disposed over the proximal end 132 of the syringe assembly 18 and is axially aligned with the plunger 158.After the plunger stem 14 and the first syringe assembly 18 are placed over the receptacle 26 and 326, the method includes activating the drive device 30 and 330 coupled to the support 22 and 322 to move the receptacle 26 and 326 from a position P1 to a second position P2, thereby applying a force on the plunger stem 14, causing the plunger stem 14 to couple to the syringe assembly 18. Activation of the drive device 30 and 330 includes rotating the support 22 and 322 so that the receptacle 26 and 326 is indexed from the first position P1 to the second position P2, where the syringe assembly 18 and plunger stem 14 are placed over the receptacle 26 and 326 in the first position P1 and the plunger stem 14 engages the syringe assembly 18 in the second position P2. The method also includes rotating the support 22 and 322 about axis A. When the receptacle 26 and 326 is between the first and second positions P1 and P2, the method includes applying a downward force on the proximal end of the plunger stem 90 as the receptacle 26 and 326 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2.Applying a downward force to the proximal end 90 of the plunger stem 14 includes moving the plunger stem 14 beneath a pressure plate 58 and 358, positioned adjacent to the support 22 and 322, as the receptacle 26 and 326 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2. The method also includes applying a rotary force to a syringe cylinder 78 of the syringe assembly 18 as the receptacle 26 and 326 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2. Applying the rotary force includes engaging the syringe assembly 18 with a friction element 60 and 360 positioned adjacent to the support 22 and 322 as the receptacle 26 and 326 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2.As the support 22 and 322 rotates in a first direction, the rotation of the syringe assembly 18 includes interacting the syringe cylinder 78 with the friction element 60 and 360 and rotating the syringe assembly 18 in an opposite direction to the first rotation direction of the support 22 and 322. To transition from machine 10 and 312 to the second and third systems 170 and 310 of the piston rod assembly of Figures 11-15, the method further includes decoupling a support, for example, a second support, from the drive device 30 and 330. If necessary, the method may include decoupling the second support of Table 478 by unlocking a plurality of quick-release or quick-change clamps 480 to remove a second base plate of Table 478. Additionally, decoupling the second support from the drive device 330 includes decoupling a splined shaft 332 of the servo motor 490 from a receiving element of the second support. Likewise, the method znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi includes attaching the first support 22 and 322 to the drive device 30 and 330 after uncoupling the second support from the drive device 30 and 330.The coupling of the first support 22 and 322 to the drive device 30 and 330 may include coupling the splined shaft 332 of the servomotor 490 to the receiving element 336 of the first support 22 and 322. The first support 22 and 322 includes a first movable receptacle 26 and 326, adapted to receive a syringe assembly 18 of a first size. Additionally, the method may include securing the first support 22 and 322 to the table 478 and / or the base plate 472 by means of quick-change fasteners 480. The method further includes placing a first syringe assembly 18 and a first plunger rod 14 onto the first movable receptacle 26 and 326 of the first support 22 and 322.After the first plunger rod 14 and the first syringe assembly 18 are placed over the receptacle 26 and 326, the method includes activating the drive device 30 and 330, coupled to the first support 22 and 322, to move the first receptacle 26 and 326 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, thereby applying a force on the first plunger rod 14, causing the first plunger rod 14 to engage with the first syringe assembly 18. As discussed above, the method includes applying a downward force on the proximal end 90 of the first plunger rod 14 and / or a rotary force on the syringe cylinder 78 of the first syringe assembly when the first receptacle 26 and 326 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2. The steps of the method can be repeated to perform the transition from machine 10 and 312 to accommodate different sizes of syringe assemblies 18. Before operating the plunger rod assembly system 10, 170, and 310, the actuating device 30 and 330 can be programmed to index the receptacle 26 and 326 through the bracket 22 and 322 only when an actuation action occurs. Indexing the receptacle 26 and 326 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 includes rotating the bracket 22 and 322 around the rotary axis A to engage the plunger rod 14 and syringe assembly 18. Rotating the bracket 22 and 322 can include rotating the bracket 22 and 322 less than 120 degrees to move the receptacle 26 and 326 from the first position P1 to the second position P2. When operating the first example machine 10, activating the drive device 30 includes manually moving lever 160 to rotate support 22 and index receptacle 26 from the first position P1 to the second position P2.When operating machine 10 with the adaptable drive system 170 of Figures 11 and 12, activation of the drive device 30 includes activating the operating switch 194, coupled to the servomotor 190, to slide the rigid element 182 and the clamp 186 and interact with the lever 160. When operating the third example system 310, activation of the drive device 330 includes activating the operating switch 494, coupled to the servomotor 490 connected to the support 322. In other embodiments, the machine 10 and 312 can be adapted to couple a plunger rod and plunger of a syringe assembly according to the matching relationship of the plunger rod and plunger. For example, the illustrated machines 10 and 312 are designed to couple the threaded distal end 156 of the plunger rod 14 to the threaded surface of the plunger 158 by applying a downward force on the plunger rod 14 and a rotary force on the syringe cylinder 78. In another example, the plunger rod assembly system 10 and 310 can be adapted to couple a plunger rod 14 to a plunger 158 having a press-fit matching relationship. In this example, each machine 10 and 312 can be configured to apply a downward force on the plunger rod 14 to sufficiently engage the plunger rod 14 and plunger 158 without rotating the syringe assembly 18 with respect to the receptacle 26 and 326.The friction element 60 and 360 can be removed from the guide plate 120 and 420, so that the syringe assembly 18 does not rotate with respect to the receptacle 26 and 326 and the plunger stem 14. The plunger rod assembly systems disclosed herein offer considerable advantages over current plunger rod assembly methods. The non-automated or semi-automated systems occupy significantly less space compared to existing automated machines configured for large-batch assembly. The disclosed system is a cost-effective and efficient alternative to existing automated machines. Typically, a small demand for plunger rod and syringe assemblies cannot justify the large investment required to acquire, operate, and maintain expensive and complex automated machines designed for large-batch assembly. However, the disclosed systems 10 and 310 are particularly useful for assembling small batches of plunger rod and syringe assemblies where access to fully automated machines is limited or unavailable.Additionally, the disclosed systems are configured for indexing, so that one plunger rod and syringe assembly is placed on the holder and engaged before another plunger rod and syringe assembly is connected or placed on the holder. This indexing feature enhances safety and reduces operator error, as the systems are pre-configured to assemble plunger rod and syringe assemblies without requiring the operator to know each step of the operating sequence or to interfere with the machinery between assembly steps. Furthermore, two-hand safety operating switches ensure that machines 10 and 312 cannot operate at znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi unless both of the operator's hands activate the switches. In other words, accidental operation or startup of the machine would be greatly reduced, if not entirely prevented.The disclosed systems 10 and 310 are very easy to load, operate, and unload, and do not require complex training, specialized education, or technical skills to use the machinery. Both of these characteristics of the disclosed systems can promote affordability and access to syringe and plunger rod assembly technology. Semi-automated systems greatly simplify assembly operation and the process of adjusting and / or exchanging components to assemble syringe assemblies with different sizes, materials, and fill levels. For example, the transition process to adapt existing machines to assemble more than one syringe assembly of a given size is quite labor-intensive and requires disassembly, retooling, and reassembly before the machine can be operated. In contrast, certain components of the disclosed plunger-stem assembly systems can be easily replaced or adjusted in minutes without any additional tools to assemble a syringe assembly of a different size. These features reduce labor time and costs and increase ease and efficiency. DRUG INFORMATION The preceding description outlines various systems and methods for use with a syringe and plunger assembly system. It should be understood that the system, machine, or methods may also include the use of a drug listed below, with the exception that the following list should not be considered exhaustive or limiting. The drug will be contained in a reservoir within the syringe barrel of the syringe assembly. In some cases, the reservoir is a primary container that is filled or prefilled for drug administration. The primary container may be a prefilled syringe. For example, the syringe or syringe assembly can be filled with colony-stimulating factors, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Such G-CSF agents include, but are not limited to, Neupogen® (filgrastim) and Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim). In other embodiments, the drug delivery device can be used with various pharmaceutical products, such as an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA), which may be in liquid or lyophilized form.An ESA is any molecule that stimulates eñthropoiesis, such as Epogen® (epoetin alfa), Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa), Dynepo® (epoetin delta), Mircera® (methioxypolyethylene glycol-epoetin beta), Hematide®, MRK-2578, INS-22, Retacñt® (epoetin zeta), Neorecormon® (epoetin beta), Silapo® (epoetin zeta), Binocrit® (epoetin alfa), epoetin alfa Hexal, Abseamed® (epoetin znzAnn / eznz / e / Yi alfa), Ratioepo® (epoetin theta), Eporatio® (epoetin theta), Biopoin® (epoetin theta), epoetin alfa, epoetin beta, epoetin zeta, epoetin theta and epoetin delta, as well as the molecules or variants or analogues thereof as disclosed in the following patents or patent applications, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: U.S. Patent Nos. 4,703,008; 5,441,868; 5,547,933; 5,618,698; 5,621,080; 5,756,349; 5,767,078; 5,773,569; 5,955,422; 5,986,047; 6,583,272; 7,084,245; and 7,271,689; and PCT Publications Nos.osWO 91 / 05867; WO 95 / 05465; WO 96 / 40772; WO 00 / 24893; WO 01 / 81405; y WO 2007 / 136752. An ESA can be an erythropoiesis-stimulating protein. As used herein, erythropoiesis-stimulating protein means any protein that directly or indirectly causes activation of the erythropoietin receptor, for example, by binding to and causing receptor dimerization. Erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins include erythropoietin and variants, analogues, or derivatives thereof that bind to and activate the erythropoietin receptor; antibodies that bind to and activate the erythropoietin receptor; or peptides that bind to and activate the erythropoietin receptor. Erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins include, but are not limited to, epoetin alpha, epoetin beta, epoetin delta, epoetin omega, epoetin iota, epoetin zeta and analogues thereof, pegylated erythropoietin, carbamylated erythropoietin, mimetic peptides (including EMP1 / hematide) and mimetic antibodies.Erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins, by way of example, include erythropoietin, darbepoetin, erythropoietin agonist variants, and peptides or antibodies that bind to and activate the erythropoietin receptor (and include compounds reported in U.S. Publications Nos. 2003 / 0215444 and 2006 / 0040858, disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety), as well as molecules or variants or analogues of erythropoietin as disclosed in the following patents or patent applications, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: U.S. Patent Nos. 4,703,008; 5,441,868; 5,547,933; 5,618,698; 5,621,080; 5,756,349; 5,767,078; 5,773,569; 5,955,422; 5,830,851; 5,856,298; 5,986,047; 6,030,086; 6,310,078; 6,391,633; 6,583,272; 6,586,398; 6,900,292; 6,750,369; 7,030,226; 7,084,245; and 7,217,689; the US publications n.os2002 / 0155998; 2003 / 0077753; 2003 / 0082749; 2003 / 0143202; 2004 / 0009902; 2004 / 0071694; 2004 / 0091961; 2004 / 0143857; 2004 / 0157293; 2004 / 0175379; 2004 / 0175824; 2004 / 0229318; 2004 / 0248815; 2004 / 0266690; 2005 / 0019914; 2005 / 0026834; 2005 / 0096461; 2005 / 0107297; 2005 / 0107591; 2005 / 0124045; 2005 / 0124564; 2005 / 0137329; 2005 / 0142642; 2005 / 0143292; 2005 / 0153879; 2005 / 0158822; 2005 / 0158832; 2005 / 0170457; 2005 / 0181359; 2005 / 0181482; 2005 / 0192211; 2005 / 0202538; 2005 / 0227289; 2005 / 0244409; 2006 / 0088906; y2006 / 0111279; y las publicaciones PCT n.os WO 91 / 05867; WO 95 / 05465; WO 99 / 66054;. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi WO 00 / 24893; WO 01 / 81405; WO 00 / 61637; WO 01 / 36489; WO 02 / 014356; WO 02 / 19963; WO 02 / 20034; WO 02 / 49673; WO 02 / 085940; WO 03 / 029291; WO 2003 / 055526; WO 2003 / 084477; WO 2003 / 094858; WO 2004 / 002417; WO 2004 / 002424; WO 2004 / 009627; WO 2004 / 024761; WO 2004 / 033651; WO 2004 / 035603; WO 2004 / 043382; WO 2004 / 101600; WO 2004 / 101606; WO 2004 / 101611; WO 2004 / 106373; WO 2004 / 018667; WO 2005 / 001025; WO 2005 / 001136; WO 2005 / 021579; WO 2005 / 025606; WO 2005 / 032460; WO 2005 / 051327; WO 2005 / 063808; WO 2005 / 063809; WO 2005 / 070451; WO 2005 / 081687; WO 2005 / 084711; WO 2005 / 103076; WO 2005 / 100403; WO 2005 / 092369; WO 2006 / 50959; WO 2006 / 02646; y WO 2006 / 29094. Examples of other pharmaceutical products for use with the device may include, but are not limited to, antibodies such as Vectibix® (panitumumab), Xgeva™ (denosumab), and Prolia™ (denosumab); other biologic agents such as Enbrel® (etanercept, TNF / Fc receptor fusion protein, TNF blocker), Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim, pegylated filgrastim, pegylated G-CSF, pegylated hu-Met-G-CSF), Neupogen® (filgrastim, G-CSF, hu-Met-G-CSF), and Nplate® (romiplostim); and small-molecule drugs such as Sensipar® (cinacalcet). The device may also be used with a therapeutic antibody, polypeptide, protein, or other chemical compound, such as iron, for example, ferumoxitol, iron dextrans, ferric glyconate, and iron sucrose. The pharmaceutical product may be in liquid form, or reconstituted from a lyophilized form. Among the particular illustrative proteins are the specific proteins listed below, including fusions, fragments, analogues, variants or derivatives thereof: OPGL-specific antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like (also referred to as RANKL-specific antibodies, peptibodies and the like), including human and fully humanized OPGL-specific antibodies, particularly fully humanized monoclonal antibodies, including but not limited to the antibodies described in PCT publication no.aWO 03 / 002713, which is incorporated herein in its entirety as OPGL-specific antibodies and antibody-related proteins, particularly those having the sequences set forth herein, particularly, but not limited to, those indicated herein: 9H7; 18B2; 2D8; 2E11; 16E1; and 22B3, including OPGL-specific antibodies having either the light chain of SEQ ID NO:2 as set forth herein in Figure 2 and / or the heavy chain of SEO ID NO:4, as set forth herein in Figure 4, each of which is individually and specifically incorporated herein in its entirety as disclosed in the above publication;. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi myostatin-binding proteins, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, including myostatin-specific peptibodies, particularly those described in US publication n.s2004 / 0181033 and PCT publication n.sWO 2004 / 058988, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, particularly in parts relevant to specific myostatin peptibodies, including but not limited to peptibodies of the mTN8-19 family, including those of SEQ ID NOS:305-351, including TN819-1 to TN8-19-40, TN8-19 con1 and TN8-19 con2; peptibodies of the ml_2 family of SEQ ID NOS:357-383; the mL15 family of SEQ ID NQS:384-409; the mL17 family of SEQ ID NOS:410438; the mL20 family of SEQ ID NOS:439-446; the mL21 family of SEQ ID NOS:447-452; the mL24 family of SEQ ID NOS:453-454; and those of SEQ ID NOS:615-631, each of which is incorporated individually and specifically by reference herein in its entirety as disclosed in the above publication;. IL-4 receptor-specific antibodies, peptide bodies and related proteins, and the like, particularly those that inhibit activities mediated by the binding of IL-4 and / or IL-13 to the receptor, including those described in PCT publication no. sWO 2005 / 047331 or PCT application no. 3PCT / US2004 / 37242 and in US publication no. s2005 / 112694, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, particularly in parts relevant to IL-4 receptor-specific antibodies, particularly such antibodies are as described therein, particularly, and without limitation, those designated therein: L1H1; L1H2; L1H3; L1H4; L1H5; L1H6; L1H7; L1H8; L1H9; L1H10; L1H11; L2H1; L2H2; L2H3; L2H4; L2H5; L2H6; L2H7; L2H8; L2H9; L2H10; L2H11; L2H12; L2H13; L2H14; L3H1; L4H1; L5H1; L6H1, each of which is incorporated individually and specifically as a reference herein in its entirety as disclosed in the above publication; interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL1-R1) specific antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to those described in US publication no. s2004 / 097712, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety in parts relevant to IL1-R1 specific binding proteins, monoclonal antibodies in particular, especially, without limitation, those designated therein: 15CA, 26F5, 27F2, 24E12, and 10H7, each of which is individually and specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as disclosed in the above-mentioned publication; Specific antibodies against Ang2, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to those described in PCT publication no. 2WO 03 / 057134 and US publication no. 22003 / 0229023, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts relevant to znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi specific antibodies against Ang2 and peptibodies and the like, especially those of the sequences described therein and including but not limited to: L1(N); L1(N) WT; L1(N) 1K WT; 2xL1(N); 2xL1(N) WT; Con4(N); Con4(N) 1K WT; 2xCon4(N) 1K; L1C; L1C 1K; 2xL1C; Con4C; Con4C 1K; 2xCon4C 1K; Con4-L1 (N); Con4-L1C; TN-12-9 (N); 017 (N); TN8-8(N); TN8-14 (N); Con 1 (N), also including anti-Ang 2 antibodies and formulations such as those described in PCT publication n.sWO 2003 / 030833 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as the same, particularly Ab526; Ab528; Ab531; Ab533; Ab535; Ab536; Ab537; Ab540; Ab543; Ab544; Ab545; Ab546; A551; Ab553; Ab555; Ab558; Ab559; Ab565; AbFlAbFD; AbFE; AbFJ; AbFK; AbG1D4; AbGC1E8; AbH1C12; AblA1; AbIF; AbIK, AblP; and AblP, in their various permutations as described therein, each of which is individually and specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as disclosed in the above publication;. NGF-specific antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, including, in particular, but not limited to, those described in US Publication No. 2005 / 0074821 and US Patent No. 6,919,426, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, particularly as NGF-specific antibodies and related proteins in this sense, including, in particular, but not limited to, the NGF-specific antibodies therein designated 4D4, 4G6, 6H9, 7H2, 14D10 and 14D11, each of which is individually and specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as disclosed in the above publication; CD22-specific antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 35,789,554, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as CD22-specific antibodies and related proteins, particularly human CD22-specific antibodies, such as but not limited to humanized and fully human antibodies, including but not limited to humanized and fully human monoclonal antibodies, particularly including but not limited to human CD22-specific IgG antibodies, such as, for example, a disulfide-linked human-mouse monoclonal hl_L2 gamma chain dimer to a human-mouse monoclonal hl_L2 kappa chain, including, but not limited to, for example, the fully humanized human CD22-specific antibody in Epratuzumab, CAS Registry No. 501423-23-0; IGF-1 receptor-specific antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, such as those described in PCT publication n.sWO 06 / 069202, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as IGF-1 receptor-specific antibodies and related proteins, including but not limited to the IGF-1-specific antibodies therein designated L1H1, L2H2, L3H3, L4H4, L5H5, L6H6, L7H7, L8H8, L9H9, znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi L10H10, L11H11, L20H20, L21H21, L30H30, L31H31, L40H40, L41H41, L12H12, L13H13, L22H22, L23H23, L32H32, L33H33, L42H42, L43H43, L14H14, L15H15, L24H24, L25H25, L34H34, L35H35, L44H44, L45H45, L16H16, L17H17, L26H26, L27H27, L36H36, L37H37, L46H46, L47H47, L18H18, L19H19, L28H28, L29H29, L38H38, L39H39, L48H48, L49H49, znzpnn / eznz / B / Yi L50H50, L51H51, L52H52, and IGF-1R binding fragments and derivatives thereof, each of which is individually and specifically incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as disclosed in the above publication; Also, among the non-limiting examples of anti-IGF-1R antibodies for use in the methods and compositions of the present invention are each and every one of those described in: (i) US Publication No. 2006 / 0040358 (published on February 23, 2006), 2005 / 0008642 (published on January 13, 2005), 2004 / 0228859 (published on November 18, 2004), including but not limited to, for example, antibody 1A (DSMZ Depot No. DSM ACO 2586), antibody 8 (DSMZ Depot No. DSM ACC 2589), antibody 23 (DSMZ Depot No. DSM ACC 2588) and antibody 18 as described therein; i) PCT publication no. QWO 06 / 138729 (published on December 28, 2006) and document WO 05 / 016970 (published on February 24, 2005), and Lu et al. (2004), J. Biol. Chem. 279:2856-2865, including but not limited to antibodies 2F8, A12 and IMC-A12 as described therein; iii) PCT publication n.eWO 07 / 012614 (published on 1 February 2007), WO 07 / 000328 (published on 4 January 2007), WO 06 / 013472 (published on 9 February 2006), WO 05 / 058967 (published on 30 June 2005) and WO 03 / 059951 (published on 24 July 2003); (iv) US Publication n.a2005 / 0084906 (published on April 21, 2005), including but not limited to antibody 7C10, chimeric antibody C7C10, antibody h7C10, antibody 7H2M, chimeric antibody *7C10, antibody GM 607, humanized antibody 7C10 version 1, humanized antibody 7C10 version 2, humanized antibody 7C10 version 3 and antibody 7H2HM, as described therein; (v) US publications nos. 2005 / 0249728 (published November 10, 2005), 2005 / 0186203 (published August 25, 2005), 2004 / 0265307 (published December 30, 2004) and 2003 / 0235582 (published December 25, 2003) and Maloney et al. (2003), Cancer Res. 63:5073-5083, including but not limited to EM164 antibody, remodeled EM164, humanized EM164, huEM164 v1.0, huEM164 v1.1, huEM164 v1.2, and huEM164 v1.3 as described therein; vi) US patent no. 7,037,498 (issued on May 2, 2006), US publications no. 2005 / 0244408 (published on November 30, 2005) and 2004 / 0086503 (published on May 6, 2004), and Cohen, et al. (2005), Clinical Cancer Res. 11:2063-2073, for example, antibody CP-751,871, including but not limited to each of the antibodies produced by hybridomas having ATCC registration numbers PTA-2792, PTA-2788, PTA-2790, PTA-2791, PTA-2789, PTA-2793, and antibodies 2.12.1, 2.13.2, 2.14.3, 3.1.1, 4.9.2, and 4.17.3, as described therein; viii) US Publications Nos. 2005 / 0136063 (published on June 23, 2005) and 2004 / 0018191 (published on January 29, 2004), including but not limited to antibody 19D12 and an antibody comprising a heavy chain encoded by a polynucleotide in the plasmid 15H12 / 19D12 HCA (γ4), deposited with the ATCC under number PTA-5214, and a light chain encoded by a polynucleotide in the plasmid 15H12 / 19D12 LCF (k), deposited with the ATCC under number PTA-5220, as described therein; and viii) US Publication No.22004 / 0202655 (published on October 14, 2004), including but not limited to antibodies PINT-6A1, PINT-7A2, PINT-7A4, PINT-7A5, PINT-7A6, PINT-8A1, PINT-9A2, PINT-11A1, PINT-11A2, PINT-11A3, PINT-11A4, PINT-11A5, PINT-11A7, PINT-11A12, PINT-12A1, PINT-12A2, PINT-12A3, PINT-12A4, and PINT-12A5, as described therein; each and every one of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, particularly as the above-mentioned and similar antibodies, peptide bodies, and related proteins that select IGF-1 receptors as targets; specific antibodies against B-7-related protein 1, peptibodies, related and similar proteins (B7RP-1, also referred to in the literature as B7H2, ICOSL, B7h and CD275), particularly B7RP-specific fully human monoclonal IgG2 antibodies, particularly fully human IgG2 monoclonal antibody that binds to an epitope in the first immunoglobulin-like domain of B7RP-1, especially those that inhibit the interaction of B7RP-1 with its natural receptor, ICOS, on activated T cells in particular, especially, in all the foregoing respects, those disclosed in US Publication No. 2008 / 0166352 and PCT Publication No. sWO 07 / 011941, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as such antibodies and related proteins,including but not limited to antibodies designated therein as follows: 16H (having light chain variable and heavy chain variable sequences SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:7 respectively therein); 5D (having light chain variable and heavy chain variable sequences SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:9 respectively therein); 2H (having light chain variable and heavy chain variable sequences SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:10 respectively therein); 43H (having light chain variable and heavy chain variable sequences SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:14 respectively therein); 41H (having light chain variable and heavy chain variable sequences SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:13 respectively therein); and 15H (having light chain variable and heavy chain variable sequences SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:12 respectively therein),each of which is incorporated individually and specifically as a reference herein in its entirety as disclosed in the previous publication; IL-15-specific antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, such as, in particular, humanized monoclonal antibodies, particularly antibodies such as those disclosed in U.S. Publications Nos. 2003 / 0138421; 2003 / 023586; and 2004 / 0071702; and U.S. Patent No. 7,153,507, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as IL-15-specific antibodies and related proteins, including peptibodies, including particularly, for example, but not limited to, HuMax IL-15 antibodies and related proteins, such as, for example, 146B7; IFN-gamma-specific antibodies, peptibodies and related and similar proteins, especially human IFN-gamma-specific antibodies, particularly fully human anti-IFN-gamma antibodies, such as, for example, those described in US publication n.e2005 / 0004353, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as IFN-gamma-specific antibodies, particularly, for example, the antibodies designated therein 1118; 1118*; 1119; 1121;and 1121*. The complete heavy and light chain sequences of each of these antibodies, as well as the sequences of their heavy and light chain variable regions and complementarity-determining regions, are each individually and specifically incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as disclosed in the previous publication and in Thakur et al. (1999), Mol. ImmunoL 36:1107-1115. In addition, the description of the properties of these antibodies provided in the previous publication is also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The specific antibodies include those having the heavy chain of SEQ ID NO:17 and the light chain of SEQ ID NO:18; those having the heavy chain variable region of SEQ ID NO:6 and the light chain variable region of SEQ ID NO:8; and those having the heavy chain of SEQ ID NO:19 and the light chain of SEQ ID NO:20.those having the heavy chain variable region of SEQ ID NQ:10 and the light chain variable region of SEQ ID NO:12; those having the heavy chain of SEQ ID NO:32 and the light chain of SEQ ID NQ:20; those having the heavy chain variable region of SEQ ID NQ:30 and the light chain variable region of SEQ ID NO:12; those having the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 and the znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:22; those having the heavy chain variable region of SEQ ID NO:14 and the light chain variable region of SEQ ID NO:16; those having the heavy chain of SEQ ID NO:21 and the light chain of SEQ ID NO:33;and those having the heavy chain variable region of SEQ ID NO:14 and the light chain variable region of SEQ ID NO:31, as disclosed in the previous publication. One specific antibody contemplated is antibody 1119 as disclosed in the previous US publication, having a complete heavy chain of SEQ ID NO:17 as disclosed therein and a complete light chain of SEQ ID NO:18 as disclosed therein; TALL-1-specific antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and other TALL-specific binding proteins, such as those described in US Publications Nos. 2003 / 0195156 and 2006 / 0135431, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as TALL-1-binding proteins, particularly the molecules in Tables 4 and 5B, each of which is individually and specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as disclosed in the above publications; specific parathyroid hormone (PTH) antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 6,756,480, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts pertaining to PTH-binding proteins; thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R) specific antibodies, peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 6,835,809, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts pertaining to TPO-R-binding proteins; specific antibodies against hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), peptibodies and related proteins, and the like, including those that select the HGF / SF:cMet axis (HGF / SF:c-Met) as a target, such as the fully human monoclonal antibodies neutralizing hepatocyte growth factor / dispersion factor (HGF / SF) described in US Publication No. s2005 / 0118643 and PCT Publication No. sWO 2005 / 017107, huL2G7 described in US Patent No. s7,220,410 and OA-5d5 described in US Patent Nos. 5,686,292 and 6,468,529 and in PCT Publication No. sWO 96 / 38557, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts relevant to HGF-binding proteins; TRAIL-R2 specific antibodies, peptidebodies, related proteins and the like, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 7,521,048, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts pertaining to proteins that bind to TRAIL-R2; activin A specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to those described in US publication n.s2009 / 0234106, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts pertaining to proteins that bind to activin A; TGF-beta specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to those described in U.S. Patent No. 6,803,453 and U.S. Publication No. 2007 / 0110747, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts relevant to TGF-beta binding proteins; specific antibodies against amyloid-beta protein, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to those described in PCT publication n.sWO 2006 / 081171, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts relevant to proteins that bind to amyloid-beta proteins. An antibody contemplated is an antibody having a heavy-chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO:8 and a light-chain variable region having SEQ ID NO:6 as disclosed in the above publication; c-Kit-specific proteins, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to those described in US Publication No. 92007 / 0253951, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts pertaining to proteins that bind to c-Kit and / or other stem cell factor receptors; OX40L-specific antibodies, peptibodies, related proteins, and the like, including but not limited to those described in US Publication No. 92006 / 0002929, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, particularly in parts relevant to proteins that bind to OX40L and / or other OX40 receptor ligands; and Other proteins, by way of example, include Activase® (alteplase, tPA); Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa); Epogen® (epoetin alfa or erythropoietin); GLP-1, Avonex® (interferon beta-1a); Bexxar® (tositumomab, anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody); Betaseron® (interferon beta); Campath® (alemtuzumab, anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody); Dynepo® (epoetin delta); Velcade® (bortezomib); MLN0002 (anti-a4B7 mAb); MLN1202 (anti-CCR2 chemokine receptor mAb); Enbrel® (etanercept, TNF / Fc receptor fusion protein, TNF blocker); Eprex® (epoetin alfa); Erbitux® (cetuximab, anti-EGFR / HER1 / c-ErbB-1); Genotropin® (somatropin, human growth hormone); Herceptin® (trastuzumab, HER2 / neu (erbB2) receptor antagonist); Humatrope® (somatropin, human growth hormone); Humira® (adalimumab); insulin solution; Infergen® (interferon alfacon-1); Natrecor® (nesiritide; recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide (hBNP); Kineret® (anakinra);Leukine® (sargamostim, rhuGM-CSF); LymphoCide® (epratuzumab, AcM antiCD22); Benlysta™ (lymphostat B, belimumab, AcM anti-BlyS); Metalyse® (tenecteplase, t-PA analogue); Mircera® (methoxypolyethylene glycol-epoetin beta); Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamycin); Raptiva® (efalizumab); Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol, CDP 870); Soliris™ (eculizumab); pexelizumab (complement C5 antagonist); Numax® (MEDI-524); Lucentis® (ranibizumab); Panorex® (17-1 A, edrecolomab); Trabio® (lerdelimumab); TheraCim hR3 (nimotuzumab); Omnitarg (pertuzumab, 2C4); Osidem® (IDM-1); OvaRex® (B43.13); Nuvion® (vicilizumab); cantuzumab mertansine (huC242-DM1); NeoRecormon® (epoetin beta); Neumega® (oprelvekin, human interleukin-11); Neulasta® (pegylated filgastrim, pegylated G-CSF, pegylated hu-Met-G-CSF); Neupogen® (filgrastim, G-CSF, hu-MetG-CSF); Orthoclone OKT3® (muromonab-CD3, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody); Procrit® (epoetin alfa); Remicade® (infliximab, anti-TNFa monoclonal antibody);Reopro® (abciximab, anti-GP receptor monoclonal antibody llb / llia); Actemra® (IL6 antireceptor AcM); Avastin® (bevacizumab), HuMax-CD4 (zanolimumab); Rituxan® (rituximab, AcM anti-CD20 ); Tarceva® (erlotinib); Roferon-A®-(interferon alpha-2a); Simulect® (basiliximab); Prexige® (lumiracoxib); Synagis® (palivizumab); 146B7-CHO (anti-IL15 antibody, see US Patent n.s7,153,507); Tysabri® (natalizumab, AcM anti-a4integrin); Valortim® (MDX-1303, anti-B. anthracis protective antigen AcM); ABthrax™; Vectibix® (panitumumab); Xolair® (omalizumab); ETI211 (anti-MRSA mAb); IL-1 trap (the Fe portion of human lgG1 and the extracellular domains of both IL-1 receptor components (the type I receptor and receptor accessory protein)); VEGF trap (Ig domains of VEGFR1 fused to Fe of lgG1); Zenapax® (daclizumab); Zenapax® (daclizumab, AcM anti-IL-2Ra); Zevalin® (ibritumomab tiuxetano); Zetia® (ezetimibe); Orencia® (atacicept, TACI-lg);anti-CD80 monoclonal antibody (galiximab); AcM anti-CD23 (lumiliximab); BR2-Fc (huBR3 / huFc fusion protein, soluble BAFF antagonist); CNTO 148 (golimumab, AcM anti-TNFa); HGSETR1 (mapatumumab; human TRAIL antireceptor 1 AcM); HuMax-CD20 (ocrelizumab, AcM anti-human CD20); HuMax-EGFR (zalutumumab); M200 (volociximab, AcM antiintegrin α5β1); MDX-010 (ipilimumab, AcM anti-CTLA-4 and VEGFR-1 (BMI-18F1); AcM antiBR3; AcM antitoxin A and C. difficile toxin BC MDX-066 (CDA-1) and MDX-1388); anti-CD22 dsFv-PE38 conjugates (CAT-3888 and CAT-8015); AcM anti-CD25 (HuMax-TAC); AcM anti-CD3 (NI-0401); adecatumumab; AcM anti-CD30 (MDX-060); MDX-1333 (anti-IFNAR); AcM antiCD38 (HuMax CD38); AcM anti-CD40L; AcM anti-Crypto; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis phase I antifibrogen CTGF (FG-3019); AcM anti-CTLA4; antieotaxinal AcM (CAT-213); AcM znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi anti-FGF8; AcM antiganglioside GD2; AcM antiganglioside GM2; AcM human anti-GDF-8 (MYO-029);AcM antirreceptor de GM-CSF (CAM-3001); AcM anti-HepC (HuMax HepC); AcM anti-IFNa (MEDI-545, MDX-1103); AcM anti-IGF1R; AcM anti-IGF-1R (HuMax-Inflam); AcM anti-IL12 (ABT-874); AcM anti-IL12 / IL23 (CNTO 1275); AcM anti-IL13 (CAT-354); AcM antiIL2Ra (HuMax-TAC); AcM antirreceptor de IL5; AcM antirreceptores de integrina (MDX-018, CNTO 95); AcM anti-IP10 colitis ulcerosa (MDX-1100); anticuerpo anti-LLY; BMS-66513; AcM anti-receptor de manosa / hCGp (MDX-1307); conjugado anti-mesotelina dsFv-PE38 (CAT5001); AcM anti-PD1 (MDX-1106 (ONO-4538)); anticuerpo anti-PDGFRa (IMC-3G3); AcM anti-TGFB (GC-1008); AcM antirreceptor 2 de TRAIL humano (HGS-ETR2); AcM anti-TWEAK; AcM anti-VEGFR / Flt-1; AcM anti-ZP3 (HuMax-ZP3); anticuerpo NVS n.s1; y anticuerpo NVS n.s2.; An antibody against sclerostin, such as but not limited to romosozumab, blosozumab, or BPS 804 (Novartis), may also be included. Additional therapeutic products may include rilotumumab, bixalomer, trebananib, ganitumab, conatumumab, motesanib diphosphate, brodalumab, vidupiprant, panitumumab, denosumab, NPLATE, PROLIA, VECTIBIX, or XGEVA. Additionally, a monoclonal antibody (IgG) that binds to the human proprotein convertase subtilisin / kexin type 9 (PCSK9) can be included in the device, for example, U.S. patent no. 28,030,547, U.S. publication no. 22013 / 0064825, W02008 / 057457, W02008 / 057458, W02008 / 057459, W02008 / 063382, W02008 / 133647, W02009 / 100297, W02009 / 100318, WO2011 / 037791, WO2011 / 053759, WO2011 / 053783, W02008 / 125623, WO2011 / 072263, W02009 / 055783, WO2012 / 0544438, WO2010 / 029513, WO2011 / 111007, WO2010 / 077854, WO2012 / 088313, WG2012 / 101251, W02012 / 101252, W02012 / 101253, W02012 / 109530 and WO2001 / 031007. Talimogene laherparepvec or another oncolytic HSV may also be included for the treatment of melanoma or other cancers. Examples of oncolytic HSVs include, but are not limited to, talimogene laherparepvec (U.S. patents nos. 7,223,593 and 7,537,924); OncoVEXGALV / CD (U.S. patent no. 27,981,669); OrienXOlO (Lei et al. (2013), World J. Gastroenterol., 19:5138-5143); G207, 1716; NV1020; NV12023; NV1034 and NV1042 (Vargehes et al. (2002), Cancer Gene Ther., 9(12):967-978). TIMPs are also included. TIMPs are endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and are important in many natural processes. TIMP-3 is expressed by various cells and is present in the extracellular matrix; it inhibits all major cartilage-degrading metalloproteinases and may play a role in many connective tissue-degrading diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, as well as in cancer and cardiovascular conditions. The amino acid sequence of TIMP-3 and the nucleic acid sequence of a DNA molecule encoding TIMP-3 are disclosed in U.S. Patent 26,562,596, issued May 13, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. The description of TIMP mutations can be found in US publication n.Q2014 / 0274874 and PCT publication n.sWO 2014 / 152012. Also included are agonist antibodies for the human calcitonin-related peptide receptor (CGRP) and a bispecific antibody molecule that selects the CGRP receptor and other headache targets. Information regarding these molecules can be found in PCT application no. 2WO 2010 / 075238. Additionally, a bispecific T-cell coupling antibody (BiTe), such as blinotumomab, can be used in the device. Alternatively, a large-molecule APJ agonist, such as apelin or its analogues, can be included in the device. Information regarding such molecules can be found in PCT publication no. 2WO 2014 / 099984. In certain embodiments, the drug comprises a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) antibody or TSLP receptor. Examples of anti-TSLP antibodies that may be used in such embodiments include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,982,016 and 8,232,372, and U.S. Publication No. 2009 / 0186022. Examples of anti-TSLP receptor antibodies include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Patent No. 28,101,182. In particularly preferred embodiments, the drug comprises a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-TSLP antibody designated A5 in U.S. Patent No. 27,982,016. Although the piston rod assembly systems, machines, methods, and elements thereof have been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, they are not limited to these. The detailed description should be interpreted as illustrative only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention because describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still be within the scope of the claims defining the invention. It should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the texts of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The appended claims should be interpreted broadly to include other variants and embodiments thereof, which may be created by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and variety of equivalents of the systems, machines, methods, and their elements.

Claims

1. A machine for coupling a plunger rod to a syringe assembly, the machine comprising: a support having a movable receptacle including a seat portion, sized to receive a syringe assembly, and an opening portion, disposed above the seat portion and sized to receive a plunger rod; a drive device, operatively coupled to the support and adapted to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position for coupling the plunger rod to the syringe assembly;and a friction element, disposed adjacent to the support, the friction element being adapted to interact with a syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly, carried over the receptacle as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position, thereby applying a rotary force on the syringe cylinder and rotating the syringe assembly about the plunger stem as the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the friction element is fixed immobilely with respect to the receptacle.

3. The machine of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a pressure plate, positioned adjacent to the support, such that the receptacle moves under the pressure plate when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position, the pressure plate being adapted to apply a downward force on the plunger rod, disposed in the opening portion of the receptacle, when the receptacle moves from the first position to the second position.

4. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the seat portion of the receptacle comprises a first roller and a second roller, separated by a gap, the first and second rollers of the seat portion being adapted to interact with the syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly and to retain the syringe cylinder in the gap when carried by the receptacle, the first and second rollers allowing the syringe assembly to rotate as the receptacle is indexed from the first position to the second position.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second rollers includes a rotating shaft, the first roller being able to rotate around the rotating shaft of the first roller and the second roller being able to rotate around the rotating shaft of the second roller.

6. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a guide plate and the friction element fixed to the guide plate. znzRnn / eznz / e / Yi 7. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the friction element is an elongated cable.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the elongated cable is an elastomeric material.

9. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the drive device is operatively connected to the support and adapted to index the receptacle between the first position and the second position, in response to an activation action.

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the drive device indexes the receptacle only when the activation action occurs.

11. The machine of claim 9 or 10, wherein the drive device includes a servomotor and an operating switch for operationally controlling the servomotor, the servomotor being coupled to the support for moving the receptacle by means of the support.

12. The machine of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the drive device includes a lever, operatively coupled to the support, the lever being arranged to be manipulated and to perform the activation action.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the drive device includes a sliding clamp arranged to move the lever.

14. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a movable piston rod base coupled to the support, the piston rod base being disposed above the receptacle and including an orifice sized to receive a flanged proximal end of the piston rod, the orifice being coaxially aligned with the opening portion of the receptacle, the piston rod base being movable with the receptacle from the first position to the second position; a retaining plug having an outwardly extending flange disposed to extend into the orifice of the piston rod base, the retaining plug being removably connected to the piston rod base; and wherein the retaining plug is fixed with respect to the support and disposed in the orifice when the receptacle is in the first position.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the piston rod base is selected from a first and second separate and interchangeable piston rod bases, the first piston rod base including a bore sized to receive a flanged piston rod end of a first size, and the second piston rod base being sized to receive a flanged piston rod end of a second size, which is different from the first size.

16. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the receptacle includes a receptacle shaft that is coaxial with the longitudinal axes of the syringe assembly and the plunger stem when the syringe assembly and plunger stem are disposed in the receptacle, the receptacle shaft being disposed at an angle of more than zero degrees with respect to the vertical.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the support comprises a rotating carousel with a rotating axis that is parallel to the axis of the receptacle, such that the rotating axis of the support is arranged at an angle of more than zero degrees with respect to the vertical.

18. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the support is rotatably arranged with respect to the pressure plate.

19. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the support includes a plurality of receptacles carried by the support.

20. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising an outlet conduit arranged adjacent to the support in the second position of the receptacle, the outlet conduit being adapted to receive the plunger rod and syringe assembly from the receptacle after the plunger rod has been coupled to the syringe assembly.

21. The machine of claim 20, wherein the outlet conduit includes an incline, the incline including a groove sized to receive the plunger rod and syringe assembly after the receptacle is moved to the second position.

22. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the support is selected from a first and second separate and interchangeable supports, the first support including a receptacle having a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly of a first size, and the second support including a receptacle having a seat portion sized to receive a syringe assembly of a second size.

23. The machine of any one of claims 3 to 22, further comprising a constant tension spring coupled to the pressure plate, the constant tension spring providing a downward force on the pressure plate, such that the downward force is transmitted to the piston rod through the pressure plate, as the receptacle moves between the first and second positions.

24. A method for using a machine to couple a plunger stem to a syringe assembly, the method comprising: placing a syringe assembly on a movable receptacle of a holder, wherein the syringe assembly includes a distal end and a proximal end, a syringe barrel, and a plunger disposed inside the syringe barrel at the proximal end of the syringe assembly; placing a plunger stem on the receptacle, the plunger stem including a distal stem end and a proximal stem end, and wherein the distal stem end of the plunger stem is disposed above the proximal end of the syringe assembly and is axially aligned with the plunger; and actuating a drive device operatively connected to the holder to move the receptacle from a first position to a second position.and rotate the syringe assembly with respect to the plunger stem when the receptacle moves between the first and second positions, thereby causing a first threaded portion of the distal end of the plunger stem to engage threaded into a second threaded portion of the plunger of the syringe assembly.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising applying a downward force on the proximal end of the first plunger stem when the receptacle is moved from the first position to the second position.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the application of a downward force includes moving the piston rod under a pressure plate, positioned adjacent to the support between the first position and the second position, the pressure plate being adapted to apply the downward force on the piston rod.

27. The method of any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the rotation of the syringe assembly with respect to the plunger stem includes interacting the syringe cylinder of the syringe assembly carried by the receptacle with a friction element fixed adjacent to the support, the syringe assembly being able to rotate about a rotating axis of the receptacle.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising rotating the support about a rotating axis of the support in a first direction, to index the receptacle from the first position to the second position.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the rotation of the syringe assembly includes rotating the syringe assembly in a direction opposite to the first direction of the support, wherein the rotational axis of the support is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

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