Double Chamber Container Preparation Using Upright Holder

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Solution Overview

Problem

The preparation of double chamber containers, such as syringes, for pharmaceuticals is cumbersome and costly due to the complexity of aligning and processing the syringes in multiple positions during the filling and freeze-drying process, which complicates the formation of distinct chambers and increases the risk of contamination and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a holder that maintains the double chamber container in an upright position throughout the process, allowing for efficient filling, freeze-drying, and sealing of the substance and reconstitution medium in separate chambers without the need for complex positional changes, utilizing a middle plunger to create sealed chambers and a holder that aligns the container for precise processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the syringe is turned around multiple times during preparation, then the chambers can be filled and processed in sequence, but the preparation process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreparation processVSAvoidpreparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The distal chamber is pre-filled with substance and pre-freeze-dried before the syringe is assembled. This preliminary action eliminates the need to turn the syringe around multiple times during the preparation process, as the substance is already in place and dried in the distal chamber before the proximal chamber is filled and the plunger is inserted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the syringe is positioned in multiple orientations during filling and freeze-drying, then both chambers can be processed, but the process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The substance is filled into and freeze-dried in the distal chamber while the syringe is in a single upright position, before the proximal chamber is filled. This preliminary processing of the distal chamber eliminates the need to reposition or turn the syringe around, thereby reducing process complexity while maintaining the ability to process both chambers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the syringe is turned around multiple times, then the chambers can be properly filled and sealed, but the risk of contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing qualityVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The distal chamber is filled and sealed with a distal closure member before the syringe is turned around to fill the proximal chamber. This preliminary sealing action prevents contamination by ensuring the distal chamber is closed before any subsequent handling or filling operations are performed on the proximal chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Manufacturing precision

If complex positional changes are made during preparation, then both chambers can be filled correctly, but processing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechamber filling accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The distal chamber is pre-filled and pre-freeze-dried while the syringe remains in a single upright position, eliminating the need for multiple positional changes. This preliminary action maintains manufacturing precision for the distal chamber while significantly improving processing efficiency by avoiding repeated repositioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method simplifies the preparation of double chamber containers by maintaining the container in a single position, reducing contamination risks, and enhancing efficiency by ensuring the substance is freeze-dried to a high quality, thus improving the overall processing efficiency and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

freeze-drying the substance inside the double chamber container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreeze-drying: Freeze Drying

Data Source

PatentEP3227186B1Preparing a double chamber container
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 F HOFFMANN LA ROCHE & CO AG
  • EP3227186B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3227186B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3227186B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of preparing a double chamber container (1) comprises the steps of: filling a substance in the interior of the double chamber container (1), freeze-drying the substance inside the double chamber container(1), inserting a middle plunger (81) in the interior of the double chamber container (1) such that a distal chamber and a proximal chamber are formed, wherein the middle plunger (81) seals the distal chamber from the proximal chamber and wherein the freeze-dried substance is inside the distal chamber, filling a reconstitution medium in the proximal chamber of the double chamber container (1), and sealing a distal opening (14) of the double chamber container (1) and a proximal opening (13) of the double chamber container (1). The method particularly also comprises the steps of providing a holder (2) having a seat (21) designed to receive the double chamber container (1) in an upright position and arranging the double chamber container (1) in the seat (21) of the holder (2) such that, in the upright position, a distal end side (12) of the double chamber container (1) extends downwardly and a proximal end side (13) of the double chamber container (1) extends upwardly. Thereby, the double chamber container (1) is arranged in the seat (21) of the holder (2) while the substance is filled in the interior of the double chamber container (1), while the substance is freeze-dried inside the double chamber container (1), while the middle plunger (81) is inserted in the interior of the double chamber container (1), while the reconstitution medium is filled in the proximal chamber of the double chamber container (1), and while the proximal opening (13) of the double chamber container (1) is sealed.