US 11,939,099 B2
Device for vacuum stoppering a medical container
Gwenn Le Dimet, Charavines (FR); and Julien Gagliano, Grenoble (FR)
Assigned to Becton Dickinson France, Le Pont de Claix (FR)
Filed by Becton Dickinson France, Le Pont de Claix (FR)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/876,155.
Application 17/876,155 is a continuation of application No. 16/629,692, granted, now 11,434,033, previously published as PCT/EP2018/068738, filed on Jul. 11, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 17305912 (EP), filed on Jul. 11, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0363424 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65B 67/02 (2006.01); A61M 5/31 (2006.01); B65B 7/28 (2006.01); B65B 31/02 (2006.01); B65B 31/04 (2006.01); B65B 59/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 67/02 (2013.01) [A61M 5/31 (2013.01); B65B 7/2821 (2013.01); B65B 31/027 (2013.01); B65B 31/047 (2013.01); B65B 59/003 (2019.05); A61M 2207/00 (2013.01); A61M 2207/10 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for vacuum stoppering a medical container, comprising:
a main body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall defining an internal volume comprising a variable pressure chamber configured to be connected to a vacuum pump;
a stopper holder system arranged in communication with the variable pressure chamber, wherein the stopper holder system comprises at least one blocking element that receives and holds a stopper in a fixed position relative to the main body and prevents movement of the stopper in a proximal direction within the main body;
a piston rod moveable inside the internal volume of the main body along a longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position wherein the piston rod is remote from the stopper and a distal operative position wherein the piston rod contacts and pushes the stopper; and
a container holder system, arranged distally relative to the stopper holder system and in communication with the variable pressure chamber, the container holder system being configured to receive an end of a medical container and to hold the medical container aligned with a direction of travel of the piston rod such that movement of the piston rod pushes the stopper from the stopper holder system into the medical container.