Nest with unitary body for holding different types of pharmaceutical components

Abstract

Nests and systems with a nest for holding pharmaceutical components are described. A nest (10) includes a unitary body (11). The unitary body includes first receptacles (12), extending from the unitary body, that can hold first pharmaceutical components (20). The first pharmaceutical components are a first type of pharmaceutical component. The unitary body includes second receptacles (14), extending in the same direction from the unitary body as the first receptacles. The second receptacles can hold second pharmaceutical components (30). The second pharmaceutical components are a second type of pharmaceutical component that is different from the first type of pharmaceutical component.

Description

NEST WITH UNITARY BODY FOR HOLDING DIFFERENT TYPES OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPONENTSCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 569,798, filed March 26, 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated herein for any and all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure is generally directed to the field of containers for pharmaceutical components, and more particularly to nests with a unitary body for holding different types of pharmaceutical components.BACKGROUND

[0003] Small-volume, aseptic medicament containers can be used to contain various biologies and personalized medicaments produced in small batches. These medicament containers are typically comprised of different types of pharmaceutical components, such as for example stoppers, pistons, vials, syringe barrels, cartridges, etc. These different types of pharmaceutical components can be packaged separately in different nests for each respective type of pharmaceutical component.SUMMARY

[0004] Some existing systems for filling medicament containers can require large mechanisms to assemble the medicament containers from the different types of pharmaceutical components, which can increase manufacturing costs. Some current systems for filling medicament containers utilize bulk elastomer components stored and / or transported separately from the medicament containers, which can also be cumbersome and increase manufacturing costs. This can be challenging when the nests are stored in clean environments with limited space. Moreover, cumbersome existing nests can result in undesirable packaging waste.

[0005] These shortcomings of existing systems for filling medicament containers can be addressed by a nest according to some aspects of this invention. The nest includes a unitary body. The nest also includes first receptacles extending from the unitary body and configured to hold first pharmaceutical components. The first pharmaceutical components being a first type of pharmaceutical component. The nest also includes second receptaclesextending from the unitary body in a same direction as the first receptacles. The second receptacles are configured to hold second pharmaceutical components. The second pharmaceutical components are a second type of pharmaceutical component that is different from the first type of pharmaceutical component.

[0006] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The nest where the first type of pharmaceutical component is one of a cartridge, a vial, or a syringe barrel. The first type of pharmaceutical component is made of at least one of glass or polymer. The second type of pharmaceutical component is one of a stopper, a seal, a cap, a press-fit cap, a piston, a piston rod, or a vial adapter. The first receptacles together are configured to hold a first number of the first pharmaceutical components and the second receptacles together are configured to hold a second number of the second pharmaceutical components. The second number of the second pharmaceutical components is equal to or greater than the first number of the first pharmaceutical components. The first number of the first pharmaceutical components is a maximum number of the first pharmaceutical components that the first receptacles can hold, and the second number of the second pharmaceutical components is a maximum number of the second pharmaceutical components that the second receptacles can hold. There are more of the second receptacles than of the first receptacles. There are less of the second receptacles than of the first receptacles. Each of the first receptacles is configured to hold only one first pharmaceutical component. Each of the second receptacles is configured to hold only one second pharmaceutical component. Each of the second receptacles is configured to hold multiple second pharmaceutical components. The first pharmaceutical components are held in the first receptacles in a ready- to-use orientation, and the second pharmaceutical components are held in the second receptacles in a ready -to-use orientation. Each of the first receptacles defines a first opening, each of the second receptacles defines a second opening, and the first opening is larger than the second opening. Each of the first openings are the same size and each of the second openings are the same size. Each of the first openings and the second openings extend through the same surface of the unitary body. The first receptacles are spaced apart at regular intervals, and the second receptacles are spaced apart at regular intervals. The unitary body is made of a material that is sterilizable. The material may include at least one of a polymer, polypropylene, or high density polyethylene. The unitary' body is rigidly connected to the first receptacles and the second receptacles. The unitary body, the first receptacles, and the second receptacles are unitary. At least one of the first receptacles or the second receptacles are configured to hold one or more other types of pharmaceutical components, the one or moreother types of pharmaceutical components being different than each of the first type of pharmaceutical components and the second type of pharmaceutical components.

[0007] Another general aspect includes a system that includes first pharmaceutical components. The first pharmaceutical components are a first type of pharmaceutical component. The system also includes second pharmaceutical components and the second pharmaceutical components are a second type of pharmaceutical component that is different from the first type of pharmaceutical component. The system also includes a nest. The nest may include a unitary body and first receptacles connected to the unitary body and that extend from the unitary body. The first receptacles hold the first pharmaceutical components. The nest may include second receptacles connected to the unitary body and that extend from the unitary body in a same direction as the first receptacles. The second receptacles hold the second pharmaceutical components.

[0008] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The first type of pharmaceutical component is one of a cartridge, a vial, or a syringe barrel. The first type of pharmaceutical component is made of at least one of glass or polymer. The second type of pharmaceutical component is one of a stopper, a seal, a cap, a press-fit cap, a piston, a piston rod, or a vial adapter.

[0009] Various additional features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The following detailed description is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, examples are shown in the drawings; however, the subject matter is not limited to the specific elements and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a top schematic view of a first embodiment of a nest;

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the nest of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a first type of pharmaceutical component;

[0014] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the first type of pharmaceutical component;

[0015] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the first type of pharmaceutical component;

[0016] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a second type of pharmaceutical component;

[0017] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the second type of pharmaceutical component;

[0018] FIG. 8 shows a top schematic view of a second embodiment of the nest;

[0019] FIG. 9 shows a side view of the nest of FIG. 8; and

[0020] FIG. 10 shows a side view of a third embodiment of a nest according to aspects of this disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Some aspects of this invention are directed to nests and systems for storing different types of pharmaceutical components of medicament containers together. In one aspect, a nest can include an integral body with first and second receptacles extending from the integral body. The first receptacles can be configured to hold first pharmaceutical components of a first type of pharmaceutical component such as a vial, prefilled syringe, or cartridge. The second receptacles can be configured to hold second pharmaceutical components of a second type of pharmaceutical component that is different from the first type of pharmaceutical component such as a stopper or a piston. In embodiments, the second receptacles can have different dimensions (e.g., greater or smaller in diameter) than the first receptacles. In embodiments, the only pharmaceutical components that the nest can hold are the first type of pharmaceutical components and the second type of pharmaceutical components. In alternative embodiments, three or more different types of pharmaceutical components can be held by the nest. For example, at least one of the first receptacles or the second receptacles can hold one or more other types of pharmaceutical components. The one or more other types of pharmaceutical components can be different than each of the first type of pharmaceutical components and the second type of pharmaceutical components.

[0022] The nests and systems according to aspects of this invention can hold a quantity of first and second pharmaceutical components that is proportional to the number of medicament containers to be filled. The integral body can hold a greater quantity of the second type of pharmaceutical components so that spares would be available should any be required due to mishandling.

[0023] The nests and systems according to aspects of this invention can store the different types of pharmaceutical components together in ready -to-use orientations and in asterilized integral body that can be used in flex filler equipment designed to process the pharmaceutical components.

[0024] In some embodiments, the second receptacles of the integral body can be arranged in one or more rows adjacent to the first receptacles. Additionally, or alternatively, the second receptacles can be dispersed among the first receptacles.

[0025] The nests and systems according to aspects of this invention can address the needs of pharmaceutical manufacturers of high value, small volume products such as cell / gene and autologous therapies as well as those producing smaller batches of biologic products or other medicaments. For example, the nests and systems according to aspects of this invention can reduce the footprints and costs associated with the filling lines for medicament containers. The nests and systems according to aspects of this invention can eliminate the need for some equipment associated with current filling lines such as vibratory stopper / piston sorting bowls and format parts. Elimination of this equipment can improve the quality of the pharmaceutical components by reducing particulate formation generated by the vibratory sorting process and further reduce costs associated with the filling lines for the medicament containers. Moreover, sustainability can be improved.

[0026] Some typical units for filling medicament containers for high value, low volume products are enclosed in an isolator, which controls the environment the medicaments are exposed to. The nests and systems according to some aspects of the invention can help to reduce the number of access points for these isolators and thereby reduce the risk of contamination of the medicament. For example, the nests and system according to aspects of this invention can eliminate the need for a rapid transport port of the isolator that typical filling systems need for adding stoppers / pistons to the fill line.

[0027] Component waste is also a concern of manufacturers. At the end of batch production for typical fill lines, there can be a larger number of excess pharmaceutical components, which cannot be re-used. But since the nests and systems according to aspects of this invention can hold a quantity of first and second pharmaceutical components that is proportional to the number of medicament containers to be filled, waste can be significantly reduced. These and other aspects of this invention are shown in FIGS. 1-9 and described further below.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a top schematic view of a first embodiment of a nest 10 according to some aspects of the invention. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the nest of FIG. 1. The term “nest,” as used herein, can include the plain and ordinary meaning, which can include a receptacle for holding a group of objects close together. Moreover, the term “nest”can also be commensurate with the plain and ordinary meaning of the term “container.” The nest 10 can include a unitary body 11. The term “unitary,” as used herein, can include the plain and ordinary meaning, which can include having the character of a unit including undivided and whole. The unitary body 11 can be made of a material that is sterilizable such as for example polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), other sterilizable polymers, among other possibilities.

[0029] The nest 10 can include first receptacles 12 extending from the unitary body 11. For example, and in embodiments, the unitary body 11 can be planar and the first receptacles 12 can extend in a direction perpendicular to or generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the unitary body 11. The first receptacles 12 can be structured and arranged to hold first pharmaceutical components 20. That is, the first receptacles 12 can be dimensioned so as to securely hold the first pharmaceutical components 20. The first pharmaceutical components 20 can be a first type of pharmaceutical component. The first type of pharmaceutical component can be, for example, cartridges, vials, syringe barrels, stoppers, seals, caps (e.g., press-fit caps, among other caps), pistons, piston rods, vial adapters, among other possibilities. Each of the first receptacles 12 can have the same dimensions such that each of the first receptacles 12 can securely hold the same type of first pharmaceutical component 20. The first receptacles 12 can be spaced apart at regular intervals. The first pharmaceutical components 20 can be made of glass, polymer (e.g., cyclic olefin polymer, cyclic olefin copolymer), combinations thereof, among other possibilities. In embodiments, the first receptacles 12 can each hold only one first pharmaceutical component 20. Alternatively, the first receptacles 12 can each hold more than one first pharmaceutical component 20. In embodiments, the first receptacles 12 can each hold at least one first pharmaceutical component 20 in a ready -to-use orientation. The ready-to-use orientation can be dependent upon the type of first pharmaceutical component 20, as discussed further later.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the first type of pharmaceutical component, which can be a vial 201. The first receptacles 12 can be dimensioned to securely hold the vial 201. In embodiments, a diameter D of the first receptacles 12 (including of an opening of the first receptacles 12) can be greater than an outer diameter D of the vial 201 (dimension shown in FIG. 3). In embodiments the diameter D of the first receptacles 12 can be between 1% and 10% greater than the outer diameter D of the vial 201, between 2% and 5% greater than the outer diameter D of the vial 201, among other possibilities.

[0031] In embodiments, a depth d of the first receptacles 12 (dimension shown in FIG. 2, i.e., a distance between the bottom of the first receptacles 12 and the unitary body 11) can be sufficient to prevent the vial 201 from tipping over and / or bouncing out of the first receptacle 12 when the nest 10 is transported or moved. For example, the depth d of the first receptacles 12 can be between a quarter of a height H (dimension shown in FIG. 3) of the vial 201 and a third of the height H of the vial 201, between a third of the height H of the vial 201 and a half of the height H of the vial 201, between a half of the height H of the vial 201 and two thirds of the height H of the vial 201, between two thirds of the height H of the vial 201 and three quarters of the height H of the vial 201, between three quarters of the height H of the vial 201 and the full height H of the vial 201, greater than the full height H of the vial 201, among other possibilities.

[0032] In embodiments, each of the first receptacles 12 can hold one vial 201 in a ready -to-use orientation, which for the vial 201 can be an upright onentation in which an opening 211 of the vial 201 can be accessed while the vial 201 is held by the first receptacles 12. This can be advantageous by enabling filling of the vial 201 with medicament and / or sealing the opening 211 of the vial 201 with a stopper while the vial 201 is held in a respective one of the first receptacles 12.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the first type of pharmaceutical component, which can be a syringe barrel 202. The first receptacles 12 can be dimensioned to securely hold the syringe barrel 202. In embodiments, a diameter D of the first receptacles 12 can be greater than an outer diameter D of the syringe barrel 202 (dimension shown in FIG. 4). In embodiments the diameter D of the first receptacles 12 can be between 1% and 10% greater than the outer diameter D of the syringe barrel 202, between 2% and 5% greater than the outer diameter D of the syringe barrel 202, among other possibilities. In embodiments, the depth d of the first receptacles 12 can be sufficient to prevent the syringe barrel 202 from tipping over and / or bouncing out of the first receptacle 12 when the nest 10 is transported or moved. For example, the depth d of the first receptacles 12 can be between a quarter of a length L (dimension shown in FIG. 4) of the syringe barrel 202 and a third of the length L of the syringe barrel 202, between a third of the length L of the syringe barrel 202 and a half of the length L of the syringe barrel 202, between a half of the length L of the syringe barrel 202 and two thirds of the length L of the syringe barrel 202, between two thirds of the length L of the syringe barrel 202 and three quarters of the length L of the syringe barrel 202, between three quarters of the length L of the syringe barrel 202 andthe full length L of the syringe barrel 202, greater than the full length L of the syringe barrel 202, among other possibilities.

[0034] In embodiments, each of the first receptacles 12 can hold one syringe barrel202 in a ready-to-use orientation, which for the syringe barrel 202 can be an upright orientation in which a proximal opening 222 of the syringe barrel 202 can be accessed while the syringe barrel 202 is held by the first receptacles 12. This can be advantageous by enabling filling of the syringe barrel 202 with medicament and / or arranging a piston within the syringe barrel 202 while the syringe barrel 202 is held in a respective one of the first receptacles 12.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a first type of pharmaceutical component, which can be a cartridge 203. The first receptacles 12 can be dimensioned to securely hold the cartridge 203. In embodiments, a diameter D of the first receptacles 12 can be greater than an outer diameter D of the cartridge 203 (dimension shown in FIG. 5). In embodiments the diameter D of the first receptacles 12 can be between 1% and 10% greater than the outer diameter D of the cartridge 203, between 2% and 5% greater than the outer diameter D of the cartridge 203, among other possibilities.

[0036] In embodiments, the depth d of the first receptacles 12 can be sufficient to prevent the cartridge 203 from tipping over and / or bouncing out of the first receptacle 12 when the nest 10 is transported or moved. For example, the depth d of the first receptacles 12 can be between a quarter of a length L (dimension shown in FIG. 5) of the cartridge 203 and a third of the length L of the cartridge 203, between a third of the length L of the cartridge203 and a half of the length L of the cartridge 203, between a half of the length L of the cartridge 203 and two thirds of the length L of the cartridge 203, between two thirds of the length L of the cartridge 203 and three quarters of the length L of the cartridge 203, between three quarters of the length L of the cartridge 203 and the full length L of the cartridge 203, greater than the full length L of the cartridge 203, among other possibilities.

[0037] In embodiments, each of the first receptacles 12 can hold one cartridge 203 in a ready-to-use orientation, which for the cartridge 203 can be an upright orientation in which an opening 233 of the cartridge 203 can be accessed while the cartridge 203 is held by the first receptacles 12. This can be advantageous by enabling filling of the cartridge 203 with medicament, arranging a piston within the cartridge 203, and / or sealing the opening 233 of the cartridge 203 with a stopper while the cartridge 203 is held in a respective one of the first receptacles 12.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the nest 10 can include second receptacles 14 extending from the unitary body 11. For example, the unitary body 11 can be a planar and the second receptacles 14 can extend in a direction perpendicular to or generally perpendicular to the planar unitary body 11. The direction that the second receptacles 14 extend from the unitary body 11 can be the same as the direction that the first receptacles 12 extend from the unitary body 11. The second receptacles 14 can be structured and arranged to hold second pharmaceutical components 30. That is, the second receptacles 14 can be dimensioned so as to securely hold the second pharmaceutical components 30. The second pharmaceutical components 30 can be a second type of pharmaceutical component. The second type of pharmaceutical component can be, for example, cartridges, vials, syringe barrels, stoppers, seals, caps (e.g., press-fit caps, among other caps), pistons, piston rods, vial adapters, among other possibilities. The second type of pharmaceutical component can be a different type than the first type of pharmaceutical component. In embodiments, the second type of pharmaceutical component can be different than the first type of pharmaceutical component and complimentary to the first type of pharmaceutical component. For example, the first type of pharmaceutical component can be a medicament receptacle (e.g., cartridges, vials, syringe barrels, among other possibilities) and the second type of pharmaceutical component can be a seal, closure, or other structure (e.g., stoppers, seals, caps (e.g., press-fit caps, among other caps), pistons, piston rods, vial adapters, among other possibilities) complimentary to the medicament receptacle.

[0039] In embodiments, the unitary body 11 (e.g., the first receptacles 12 and / or the second receptacles 14) can hold one or more other type of pharmaceutical components. The one or more other type of pharmaceutical component can be, for example, cartridges, vials, syringe barrels, stoppers, seals, caps (e.g., press-fit caps, among other caps), pistons, piston rods, vial adapters, among other possibilities. In embodiments, the one or more other type of pharmaceutical component can be different than the first type of pharmaceutical component and different from the second type of pharmaceutical component. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more other type of pharmaceutical component can be complimentary to one or both of the first type of pharmaceutical component and the second type of pharmaceutical component. For example, the first type of pharmaceutical component can be a medicament receptacle (e.g., cartridges, vials, syringe barrels, among other possibilities) and the one or more other type of pharmaceutical component can be a seal, closure, or other structure (e.g., stoppers, seals, caps (e.g., press-fit caps, among other caps), pistons, pistonrods, vial adapters, among other possibilities) complimentary to the medicament receptacle but different than the second type of pharmaceutical component.

[0040] Each of the second receptacles 14 can have the same dimensions such that each of the second receptacles 14 can securely hold the same type of second pharmaceutical component 30. In embodiments, the second receptacles 14 can be spaced apart at regular intervals.

[0041] In embodiments, openings of the first receptacles 12 can be bigger than openings of the second receptacles 14. The openings of the first receptacles 12 and the openings of the second receptacles 14 can extend through the same surface of the unitary body 11. The first receptacles 12 and the second receptacles 14 can each be rigidly connected to the unitary body 11. For example, in embodiments the unitary body 11, the first receptacles 12, and the second receptacles 14 are unitary and can be formed together. Alternatively, the first receptacles 12 and / or the second receptacles 14 can be formed separately and rigidly fixed to the unitary body 11 with a fastener or adhesive, among other possibilities.

[0042] The second pharmaceutical components 30 can be made of polymer, elastomer, with or without coatings, combinations thereof, among other possibilities. In embodiments, the second receptacles 14 can each hold only one second pharmaceutical component 30. Alternatively, the second receptacles 14 can hold more than one second pharmaceutical component 30. In embodiments, the second receptacles 14 can each hold at least one second pharmaceutical component 30 in a ready-to-use orientation. The ready-to- use orientation can be dependent upon the type of second pharmaceutical component 30, as discussed further later.

[0043] The first type of pharmaceutical component and the second type of pharmaceutical component can be configured for use together. For example, and in embodiments, the first type of pharmaceutical component can be a vial and the second type of pharmaceutical component can be a stopper for sealing the vial to form a container that can contain a medicament. In embodiments, the first type of pharmaceutical component can be a syringe barrel and the second type of pharmaceutical component can be a piston that can be received within the syringe barrel to force medicament from the syringe barrel. In embodiments, the first type of pharmaceutical component can be a cartridge and the second type of pharmaceutical component can be a piston that can be received within the cartridge to force medicament from the cartridge.

[0044] The first receptacles 12 can together hold a first number of first pharmaceutical components 20 and the second receptacles 14 can together hold a secondnumber of second pharmaceutical components 30. The first number of first pharmaceutical components 20 can be a maximum number of first pharmaceutical components 20 that the first receptacles 12 can hold. The second number of second pharmaceutical components 30 can be a maximum number of second pharmaceutical components 30 that the second receptacles 14 can hold. In embodiments, the second number of second pharmaceutical components 30 can be equal to the first number of first pharmaceutical components 20, which can ensure that there can be at least one second pharmaceutical component 30 for each first pharmaceutical component of the nest 10.

[0045] In embodiments, the second number of second pharmaceutical components 30 can be greater than the first number of first pharmaceutical components 20. Accordingly, the nest 10 can hold spare second pharmaceutical components 30 to account for mishandling or loss of one or more second pharmaceutical components 30, which can occur for example during filling. In embodiments, the nest 10 can include more second receptacles 14 than first receptacles 12 and accordingly the second number of second pharmaceutical components 30 can be greater than the first number of first pharmaceutical components 20. In embodiments, the nest can include less second receptacles 14 than first receptacles 12. In such embodiments, one or more of the second receptacles 14 can hold more multiple second pharmaceutical components 30 such that the second number of second pharmaceutical components 30 can be greater than the first number of first pharmaceutical components 20 held in the first receptacles 12.

[0046] In embodiments such as shown in FIG. 2, each second receptacle 14 can hold more than one second pharmaceutical component 30, such as two, three, four, five, six, or more second pharmaceutical components 30. In such embodiments, the nest 10 can include less second receptacles 14 than first receptacles 12 while still being capable of holding a greater number of second pharmaceutical components 30 than first pharmaceutical components 20.

[0047] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the nest 10 can include eight second receptacles 14 and thirty -two first receptacles 12, though other combinations of first receptacles 12 and second receptacles 14 are possible. In embodiments, each first receptacle 12 can accommodate one first pharmaceutical component 20 while each second receptacle 14 can accommodate more than one second pharmaceutical components 30 (e.g., six) such that the total number of second pharmaceutical components 30 held together by all second receptacles 14 is greater than the total number of first pharmaceutical components 20 held by all first receptacles 12 thereby providing spare second pharmaceutical components 30. Inembodiments such as shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the nest 10 can hold thirty -two first pharmaceutical components 20 and forty -eight second pharmaceutical components 30, though other combinations are possible.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a second type of pharmaceutical component, which can be a stopper 301. The second receptacles 14 can be dimensioned to securely hold the stopper 301. In embodiments, a diameter D of the second receptacles 14 (including of an opening of the second receptacles 14) can be greater than an outer diameter D of the stopper 301 (dimension shown in FIG. 6). In embodiments the diameter D of the second receptacles 14 can be between 1% and 10% greater than the outer diameter D of the stopper 301, between 2% and 5% greater than the outer diameter D of the stopper 301, among other possibilities. In embodiments, a depth d of the second receptacles 14 (dimension shown in FIG. 2, i.e., a distance between the bottom of the second receptacles 14 and the unitary body 11) can be sufficient to prevent the stopper 301 from tipping over and / or bouncing out of the second receptacles 14 when the nest 10 is transported or moved. For example, the depth d of the second receptacles 14 can be greater than a full-length height (dimension shown in FIG. 6) of the stopper 301, and in embodiments can be greater than a combined height of each of the stoppers 301 intended to be held within the second receptacles 14 (e.g., greater than six full heights of the stopper 301), among other possibilities.

[0049] In embodiments, each of the second receptacles 14 can hold one or more stoppers 301 in a ready -to-use orientation, which for the stopper 301 can be an upright orientation (as show n in FIG. 6) in which a flange 311 of the stopper 301 is oriented upwards. This orientation can be advantageous by allowing the stopper 301 to be lifted out of a respective second receptacle 14 in an orientation that can be placed on top of a corresponding first pharmaceutical component 20 (e.g., the vial 201) held in a first receptacle 12 to seal the first pharmaceutical component 20.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a second type of pharmaceutical component, which can be a piston 302. The second receptacles 14 can be dimensioned to securely hold the piston 302. In embodiments, a diameter D of the second receptacles 14 can be greater than an outer diameter D of the piston 302 (dimension shown in FIG. 7). In embodiments the diameter D of the second receptacles 14 can be between 1% and 10% greater than the outer diameter D of the piston 302, between 2% and 5% greater than the outer diameter D of the piston 302, among other possibilities.

[0051] In embodiments, the depth d of the second receptacles 14 can be sufficient to prevent the piston 302 from tipping over and / or bouncing out of the second receptacles 14 when the nest 10 is transported or moved. For example, the depth d of the second receptacles 14 can be greater than a full-length length (dimension show n in FIG. 7) of the piston 302, and in embodiments can be greater than a combined length of each of the piston 302 intended to be held within the second receptacles 14 (e.g., greater than six full heights of the piston 302), among other possibilities. In embodiments, each of the second receptacles 14 can hold one or more pistons 302 in a ready-to-use orientation, which for the piston 302 can be an upright orientation (as shown in FIG. 6) with a face 322 of the piston 302 is oriented downwards. This orientation can be advantageous by allowing the piston 302 to be lifted out of a respective second receptacle 14 in an orientation that can be placed within a corresponding first pharmaceutical component 20 (e.g., the syringe barrel 202 or the cartridge 203) with the face 322 facing medicament in the first pharmaceutical component 20.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a system 1 according to aspects of this invention can include the nest 10 with the unitary body 11, the first receptacles 12, the second receptacles 14 as well as any combination of first pharmaceutical components 20 and second pharmaceutical components 30 described herein. In a first example of the system 1, the nest 10 can hold vials 201 together with stoppers 301. The vials 201 can be made of glass, polymer (e.g., cyclic olefin polymer or cyclic olefin copolymer), combinations thereof, among other possibilities. The stopper 301 can, in embodiments, include an integrated seal. In embodiments of the first example of the system 1, vials 201 and stoppers 301 are the only types of pharmaceutical components held by the nest 10, which can be advantageous to reduce sources of contamination.

[0053] In a second example of the system 1, the nest 10 can hold syringe barrels 202 together with pistons 302. The syringe barrels 202 can be made of glass or polymer (e.g., cyclic olefin polymer or cyclic olefin copolymer), combinations thereof, among other possibilities. In embodiments of the second example of the system 1, the syringe barrels 202 and pistons 302 are the only types of pharmaceutical components held by the nest 10, which can be advantageous to reduce sources of contamination.

[0054] In a third example of the system 1, the nest 10 can hold cartridges 203 together with pistons 302. The cartridges 203 can be made of glass or polymer (e.g., cyclic olefin polymer or cyclic olefin copolymer), combinations thereof, among other possibilities. In embodiments of the third example of the system 1, the cartridges 203 and pistons 302 arethe only types of pharmaceutical components held by the nest 10, which can be advantageous to reduce sources of contamination.

[0055] FIG. 8 shows a top schematic view of a second embodiment of the nest 101 according to some aspects of the invention. FIG. 9 shows a side view of the nest 101 of FIG. 8. The nest 101 can include any of the structures, relationships, functions, etc. described above in reference to the nest 10, and vice versa. In embodiments, the second receptacles 14 of the nest 101 can be interspersed with first receptacles 12. Moreover, in embodiments the first receptacles 12 can hold only one first pharmaceutical component 20 and the second receptacles 14 can hold only one second pharmaceutical component 30. In such embodiments, the nest 101 can include more second receptacles 14 than first receptacles 12 to accommodate spare second pharmaceutical components 30, as described previously. For example, the nest 101 can include twenty-eight first receptacles 12 and thirty-five second receptacles 14. Other combinations and arrangements of first receptacles 12 and second receptacles 14 are possible.

[0056] FIG. 10 shows a side view of another embodiment of a nest 401 according to some aspects of this invention. The nest 401 can include any of the structures, relationships, functions, etc. described above in reference to the nests 10, 101 and vice versa. The nest 400 can include a unitary body 11 that includes first receptacles 12 and second receptacles 14 extending from the unitary body 11. As shown in FIG. 10, the second receptacles 14 and the first receptacles 12 can extend from the unitary body 11 in the same direction. In some aspects, the second receptacles 14 can each be disposed on a pedestal 404 extending from the unitary body 11 and disposed between each second receptacle 14 and the unitary body 11. The pedestal 404 has a height h measured between the unitary body 11 and the second receptacle 14. The height h can be such that the top surfaces of the first pharmaceutical components 20 and the second pharmaceutical components 30 are substantially in the same plane (depicted as plane 401 in FIG. 10) when the first pharmaceutical components are in the first receptacles 12 and the second pharmaceutical components are in the second receptacles 14. A liner 412 can be placed onto the unitary body 11 to cover all the first pharmaceutical components 20 and the second pharmaceutical components 30 within the nest 400. When the surfaces of the first and second pharmaceutical components 20 and 30 are within the same plane, the liner 412 can be applied more uniformly to the top of the nest 400. This helps secure all of the first and second pharmaceutical components 20 and 30 within their respective first and second receptacles 12 and 14.

[0057] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the invention. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the invention may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the invention or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the invention more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the invention entirely unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A nest comprising: a unitary body; first receptacles extending from the unitary body and configured to hold first pharmaceutical components, the first pharmaceutical components being a first type of pharmaceutical component; and second receptacles extending from the unitary body in a same direction as the first receptacles, the second receptacles are configured to hold second pharmaceutical components, the second pharmaceutical components being a second type of pharmaceutical component that is different from the first type of pharmaceutical component.

2. The nest of claim 1, wherein the first type of pharmaceutical component is one of a cartridge, a vial, or a sy ringe barrel.

3. The nest of claim 1, wherein the first type of pharmaceutical component is made of at least one of glass or polymer.

4. The nest of claim 1, wherein the second type of pharmaceutical component is one of a stopper, a seal, a cap, a press-fit cap, a piston, a piston rod, or a vial adapter.

5. The nest of claim 1, wherein: the first receptacles together are configured to hold a first number of the first pharmaceutical components, the second receptacles together are configured to hold a second number of the second pharmaceutical components, and the second number of the second pharmaceutical components is equal to or greater than the first number of the first pharmaceutical components.

6. The nest of claim 5, wherein: the first number of the first pharmaceutical components is a maximum number of the first pharmaceutical components that the first receptacles can hold, and the second number of the second pharmaceutical components is a maximum number of the second pharmaceutical components that the second receptacles can hold.

7. The nest of claim 1, wherein there are more of the second receptacles than of the first receptacles.

8. The nest of claim 1, wherein there are less of the second receptacles than of the first receptacles.

9. The nest of claim 1, wherein each of the first receptacles is configured to hold only one first pharmaceutical component.

10. The nest of claim 1, wherein each of the second receptacles is configured to hold only one second pharmaceutical component.

11. The nest of claim 1, wherein each of the second receptacles is configured to hold multiple second pharmaceutical components.

12. The nest of claim 1, wherein: the first pharmaceutical components are held in the first receptacles in a ready -to-use orientation, and the second pharmaceutical components are held in the second receptacles in a ready - to-use orientation.

13. The nest of claim 1, wherein: each of the first receptacles defines a first opening, each of the second receptacles defines a second opening, and the first opening is larger than the second opening.

14. The nest of claim 1, wherein: each of the first openings are the same size, and each of the second openings are the same size.

15. The nest of claim 1, wherein each of the first openings and the second openings extend through the same surface of the unitary body.

16. The nest of claim 1, wherein: the first receptacles are spaced apart at regular intervals, and the second receptacles are spaced apart at regular intervals.

17. The nest of claim 1, wherein the unitary body is made of a material that is sterilizable.

18. The nest of claim 1, wherein the material comprises at least one of a polymer, polypropylene, or high density polyethylene.

19. The nest of claim 1, wherein the unitary body is rigidly connected to the first receptacles and the second receptacles.

20. The nest of claim 1, wherein the unitary body, the first receptacles, and the second receptacles are unitary.

21. The nest of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first receptacles or the second receptacles are configured to hold one or more other types of pharmaceutical components, the one or more other ty pes of pharmaceutical components being different than each of the first type of pharmaceutical components and the second type of pharmaceutical components.

22. A system comprising: first pharmaceutical components, the first pharmaceutical components being a first type of pharmaceutical component; second pharmaceutical components, the second pharmaceutical components being a second type of pharmaceutical component that is different from the first ty pe of pharmaceutical component; and a nest comprising: a unitary body; first receptacles connected to the unitary body and that extend from the unitary body, the first receptacles hold the first pharmaceutical components; and second receptacles connected to the unitary body and that extend from the unitary body in a same direction as the first receptacles, the second receptacles hold the second pharmaceutical components.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first type of pharmaceutical component is one of a cartridge, a vial, or a syringe barrel.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first type of pharmaceutical component is made of at least one of glass or polymer.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the second type of pharmaceutical component is one of a stopper, a seal, a cap, a press-fit cap, a piston, a piston rod, or a vial adapter.

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