Claims for Patent: 6,280,410

Summary for Patent: 6,280,410

Title:	Method of filling a drug capsule and article produced thereby
Abstract:	A needleless injector drug capsule assembly comprising a container, housing therefor, a piston, and resilient seals to permit filling and sealing thereafter to maintain sterility of the contents.
Inventor(s):	Weston; Terence Edward (Eye, GB), Walker; John Nicholas (Frodsham Cheshire, GB)
Assignee:	Weston Medical Limited (Suffolk, GB) Medeva Europe Limited (London, GB)
Application Number:	09/169,922
Patent Claims:	1. A filled and sealed drug-containing article for attachment to a needleless injector power source, which comprises a needleless injector capsule defining a chamber having a drug in liquid form therein, the capsule having an orifice through a wall thereof, a seal carrier having therein a seal in which is formed an orifice communication with the capsule orifice, the seal being in sealing contact with the capsule wall around the orifice in the capsule wall, and closing means for closing the seal carrier to the exterior whereby to seal off the drug in the chamber from the exterior, the capsule being retained in a housing and the seal carrier being removably attached to one of the housing and the capsule, and connecting means for connecting said article to a needleless injector power source wherein the closing means comprises a plug inserted in the seal carrier wherein the closing means comprises a plug inserted in the seal carrier. 2. An article according to claim 1, wherein the seal carrier is frangibly attached to the housing or capsule. 3. An article according to claim 1, wherein the housing is present and is molded onto the capsule. 4. An article according to claim 1, wherein the seal carrier is in the form of a tube. 5. An article according to claim 1, wherein a piston is received within the capsule chamber, the drug being between the piston and the capsule wall through which the capsule orifice extends. 6. An article according to claim 1, comprising an attachment element for enabling said attachment to a needleless injector power source. 7. An article according to claim 6, wherein said attachment element is in the form of a thread. 8. An article according to claim 1, wherein the seal carrier is integral with one out of the housing and the capsule. 9. A filled and sealed drug-containing article for attachment to a needleless injector power source, which comprises a needleless injector capsule defining a chamber having a drug in liquid form therein, the capsule having an orifice through a wall thereof, a seal carrier having a seal in which is formed an orifice communicating with the capsule orifice, the seal being in sealing contact with the capsule wall around the orifice in the capsule wall, and closing means for closing the seal carrier to the exterior whereby to seal off the drug in the chamber from the exterior, the capsule being retained in a housing and the seal carrier being removably attached to one of the housing or the capsule, and connecting means for connecting said article to a needleless injector power source, wherein the seal carrier is frangibly attached to the housing or capsule. 10. An article according to claim 9, wherein the closing means is a plug inserted in the seal orifice. 11. An article according to claim 9, wherein the closing means is provided by a deformed wall portion of the seal carrier. 12. An article according to claim 9, wherein the housing is present and is molded onto the capsule. 13. An article according to claim 9, wherein the seal carrier is in the form of a tube. 14. An article according to claim 9, wherein a piston is received within the capsule chamber, the drug being between the piston and the capsule wall through which the capsule orifice extends. 15. An article according to claim 9, comprising an attachment element for enabling said attachment to a needleless injector power source. 16. An article according to claim 15, wherein said attachment element is in the form of a thread. 17. An article according to claim 9, wherein the seal carrier is integral with one out of the housing of the capsule.