METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR FILLING PHARMACEUTICAL CONTAINERS

• Main Author: GUERRERO, Carlos Alberto Diaz
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 05.05.2021
• Subjects: BABY COMFORTERS; CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICALPURPOSES; CONVEYING; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGINGPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL ORADMINISTERING FORMS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGINGARTICLES OR MATERIALS; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; STORING; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; UNPACKING

The invention involves apparatus and method for confirming the presence/absence of closures (120) in a closure nest (100) inside an aseptic chamber (20). The apparatus comprises a topographical profiler (37, 41) disposed to monitor the closure nests. Vertical displacements in topographical maps obtained by the profiler are compared with information from a database about the nest and closure combinations. Vertical displacements falling outside predetermined upper and lower bounds are deemed absences of closures. The topographical profiler may be disposed outside the aseptic chamber. The system may be automated via a controller (51) and software. In some embodiments the nests are disposed in the monitored area by robotic articulated arms (22). In other embodiments the closure nests are moved by vacuum pickup systems (86). The system/method may also be employed to assess the suitability of a closure nest for closing in an aseptic chamber containers in a container nest (70).