Needleless injector drug capsule and filling method

Abstract

A needleless injector capsule for a liquid medicament has a filling adapter removably, and preferably frangibly, attached thereto. The capsule has a chamber for receiving injectate, the chamber being provided with an injection orifice, and having a piston located for movement therein. The adapter has a bore which communicates with the capsule chamber via the injection orifice. The capsule is filled by introducing injectate into the capsule chamber through the injection orifice and excess injectate into the bore of the adapter, and closing the bore of the adapter to the exterior by a sealing means, leaving the bore partly filled with excess injectate.

1 . A needleless injector capsule in combination with an adaptor used in filling the capsule, the capsule defining a chamber which has injectate therein and is provided with an injection orifice, a piston being located for movement within the chamber, the adapter being removably connected to the capsule and having a bore which communicates with the capsule chamber via the injection orifice and is partly filled with excess injectate, the bore being closed to the exterior by a sealing means.  
     
     
         2 . A combination according to    claim 1   , wherein the adaptor is frangibly connected to the capsule.  
     
     
         3 . A combination according to    claim 1   , wherein the adaptor is connected to the capsule by a snap-fit connection which does not permit reconnection after removal of the adaptor and capsule from one another.  
     
     
         4 . A combination according to    claim 1   ,    2    or  3 , wherein the capsule and/or adaptor is of glass.  
     
     
         5 . A combination according to any preceding claim, wherein the capsule and/or adaptor is of a plastics material.  
     
     
         6 . A combination according to    claim 1   ,    2    or  3 , wherein the capsule and/or adaptor is made of more than one material.  
     
     
         7 . A combination according to    claim 6   , wherein the capsule and/or adaptor is internally lined with a plastics material which is compatible with the injectate.  
     
     
         8 . A combination according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means is a sealing cap.  
     
     
         9 . A combination according to any one of    claims 1    to    7   , wherein the sealing means is a plug received within the said bore.  
     
     
         10 . A combination according to any one of    claims 1    to    7   , wherein the sealing means is constituted by portions of the adaptor which have been sealed to one another after filling of the capsule.  
     
     
         11 . A method of filling a needleless injector capsule with injectate, the capsule defining a chamber which is for receiving injectate and is provided with an injection orifice, a piston being located for movement within the chamber, the adapter being removably connected to the capsule and having a bore which communicates with the capsule chamber via the injection orifice, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) introducing injectate into the capsule chamber through the injection orifice and excess injectate into bore of the adaptor; and    (b) closing the bore of the adaptor to the exterior by a sealing means, leaving the bore partly filled with excess injectate.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to    claim 11   , wherein step (a) is effected by an injectate dispenser which sealingly engages with the internal wall of the bore of the adaptor.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to    claim 11    or    12   , wherein the sealing means is a sealing cap.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to    claim 11    or    12   , wherein the sealing means is a plug received within the said bore.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to any one of    claims 11    to    14   , wherein air is evacuated from the capsule through the injection orifice prior to step (a).  
     
     
         16 . A needleless injector capsule in combination with an adaptor for use in filling the capsule, the capsule defining a chamber which is for receiving injectate and is provided with an injection orifice, a piston being located for movement within the chamber, the adaptor being removably connected to the capsule and having a bore which communicates with the capsule chamber via the injection orifice, the adaptor bore having a first portion of smaller cross-section adjacent the injection orifice and a second portion of larger cross-section remote from the said orifice.  
     
     
         17 . A combination according to    claim 16   , wherein the adaptor is frangibly connected to the capsule.  
     
     
         18 . A combination according to    claim 16   , wherein the adaptor is connected to the capsule by a snap-fit connection which does not permit reconnection after removal of the adaptor and capsule from one another.  
     
     
         19 . A combination according to    claim 16   ,    17    or  18 , wherein the capsule and/or adaptor is of glass.  
     
     
         20 . A combination according to any one of    claims 16    to    19   , wherein the capsule and/or adaptor is of a plastics material.  
     
     
         21 . A combination according to any one of    claims 16    to    18   , wherein the capsule and/or adaptor is made of more than one material.  
     
     
         22 . A combination according to    claim 21   , wherein the capsule and/or adaptor is internally lined with a plastics material which is compatible with the injectate.