Method For Reducing Or Eliminating Residue In A Glass Container And A Glass Container Made In Accordance Therewith

Abstract

A method of preparing a glass medical container is provided including the steps of providing a glass blank and forming a channel through a part of the glass blank, the channel being substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof. In a further aspect of the subject invention, a glass medical container is provided including a glass body having a channel extending through a part of the glass body, the channel being substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof. With the subject invention, tungsten or derivatives thereof can be generally or altogether completely avoided in glass medical containers.

1 . A method for preparing a glass medical container comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank; and   forming a channel through a part of said glass blank, said channel being substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof.   
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said forming step comprises providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank and manipulating a part of said glass blank about said pin to form said channel. 
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 2 , comprising providing a pin of a material which does not oxidize during said forming step. 
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 2 , comprising providing a pin of a material selected from the group consisting of metals or alloys containing platinum or platinum group metals, metals or alloys containing nickel, ceramics, silicides, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said pin does not contain tungsten. 
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said forming step comprises forming a channel that has a length and defines a diameter that is substantially constant along said length. 
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said forming step comprises forming a channel that has a length and defines a diameter that varies along said length. 
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein said forming step comprises forming a channel that has a first portion defining a first substantially constant diameter and a second portion defining a second substantially constant diameter, said first diameter being larger than said second diameter. 
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said forming step comprises forming a channel through a part of said glass blank, said channel having less than about 12 parts per billion of tungsten or derivatives in said channel. 
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said glass medical container is selected from the group consisting of a syringe barrel, vial, and drug cartridge body. 
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the amount of tungsten or derivatives thereof are determined before subsequent processing of said glass blank. 
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said glass blank is unwashed before or after said forming step. 
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said glass blank is unsterilized before or after said forming step. 
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said forming step includes two or more forming stages, each said forming stage including providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank and manipulating a part of said glass blank about said pin to form said channel. 
   
   
       15 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein each said pin is of a material which does not oxidize during said forming step. 
   
   
       16 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein each said pin is of a material selected from the group consisting of metals or alloys containing platinum or platinum group metals, metals or alloys containing nickel, ceramics, suicides, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       17 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein each said pin does not contain tungsten. 
   
   
       18 . A glass medical container comprising a glass body defining a reservoir for containing a substance and having a channel extending through a part of said glass body and in fluid communication with said reservoir, said channel defining an outlet of said container and being substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof. 
   
   
       19 . A container as in  claim 18 , wherein said channel has a length and defines a diameter that is substantially constant along said length. 
   
   
       20 . A container as in  claim 18 , wherein said channel has a length and defines a diameter that varies along said length. 
   
   
       21 . A container as in  claim 20 , wherein said channel has a first portion defining a first substantially constant diameter and a second portion defining a second substantially constant diameter, said first diameter being larger than said second diameter. 
   
   
       22 . A container as in  claim 18 , wherein the amount of tungsten or derivatives in said channel is 12 parts per billion or less. 
   
   
       23 . A container as in  claim 18 , wherein said glass medical container is selected from the group consisting of a syringe barrel, vial, and drug cartridge body. 
   
   
       24 . A method of producing a glass medical container comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank; and   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, wherein said pin is of a material which does not oxidize during said forming of said glass blank.   
   
   
       25 . A method as in  claim 24 , wherein said forming step comprises forming said glass blank to form a channel having a length and defining a diameter that is substantially constant along said length. 
   
   
       26 . A method as in  claim 24 , wherein said forming step comprises forming said glass blank to form a channel having a length and defining a diameter that varies along said length. 
   
   
       27 . A method as in  claim 26 , wherein said forming step comprises forming said glass blank to form a channel having a first portion defining a first substantially constant diameter and a second portion defining a second substantially constant diameter, said first diameter being larger than said second diameter. 
   
   
       28 . A method as in  claim 24 , wherein said glass medical container is selected from the group consisting of a syringe barrel, vial, and drug cartridge body. 
   
   
       29 . A method as in  claim 24 , wherein said forming step comprises thermally manipulating said glass blank. 
   
   
       30 . A method as in  claim 24 , wherein said forming step comprises mechanically manipulating said glass blank. 
   
   
       31 . A method as in  claim 24 , wherein said step of providing a pin comprises providing a pin of a material is selected from the group consisting of metals or alloys containing platinum or platinum group metals, metals or alloys containing nickel, ceramics, silicides, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       32 . A method as in  claim 24 , wherein said pin does not contain tungsten. 
   
   
       33 . A method as in  claim 24 , wherein said forming step comprises forming a channel in said glass blank, said channel being substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof. 
   
   
       34 . A method as in  claim 33 , wherein the amount of tungsten or derivatives thereof are determined before subsequent processing of said glass blank. 
   
   
       35 . A method as in  claim 33 , wherein said glass blank is unwashed before or after said forming step. 
   
   
       36 . A method as in  claim 33 , wherein said glass blank is unsterilized before or after said forming step. 
   
   
       37 . A glass medical container made in accordance with the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       38 . A glass medical container as in  claim 37 , wherein said container is a syringe barrel. 
   
   
       39 . A glass medical container made in accordance with the method of  claim 24 . 
   
   
       40 . A glass medical container as in  claims 39 , wherein said container is a syringe barrel. 
   
   
       41 . A method of producing a glass medical container comprising the steps of: providing a glass blank;
 providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank;   introducing a gas near said pin; and   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, said channel being substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof.   
   
   
       42 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said forming step comprises forming said glass blank to form a channel having a length and defining a diameter that is substantially constant along said length. 
   
   
       43 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said forming step comprises forming said glass blank to form a channel having a length and defining a diameter that varies along said length. 
   
   
       44 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said forming step comprises forming said glass blank to form a channel having a first portion defining a first substantially constant diameter and a second portion defining a second substantially constant diameter, said first diameter being larger than said second diameter. 
   
   
       45 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said glass medical container is selected from the group consisting of a syringe barrel, vial, and drug cartridge body. 
   
   
       46 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said forming step comprises thermally manipulating said glass blank. 
   
   
       47 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said forming step comprises mechanically manipulating said glass blank. 
   
   
       48 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein the amount of tungsten or derivatives thereof are determined before subsequent processing of said glass blank. 
   
   
       49 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said glass blank is unwashed before or after said forming step. 
   
   
       50 . A method as in  claim 41 , wherein said glass blank is unsterilized before or after said forming step. 
   
   
       51 . A glass medical container made in accordance with the method of  claim 41 . 
   
   
       52 . A glass medical container as in  claim 51 , wherein said container is a syringe barrel. 
   
   
       53 . A method of producing a glass syringe barrel comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank, said pin having a smaller diameter than said opening; and,   manipulating said glass blank transversely to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, wherein said pin is of a material which does not oxidize during said forming of said glass blank.   
   
   
       54 . A method of producing a glass medical container comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank; and,   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, wherein said pin is of a material selected from the group consisting of metals or alloys containing platinum or platinum group metals, metals or alloys containing nickel, silicides, and combinations thereof.   
   
   
       55 . A method of producing a syringe comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank;   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, wherein said pin is of a material which does not oxidize during said forming of said glass blank; and,   fixing a needle in said channel.   
   
   
       56 . A method of producing a glass medical container comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank; and,   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, said channel having a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a diameter smaller than said first diameter, wherein said pin is of a material which does not oxidize during said forming of said glass blank.   
   
   
       57 . A method as in  claim 56 , wherein said first diameter is about 0.6 mm and said second diameter is in the range of 0.2 to 0.4 mm. 
   
   
       58 . A method of producing a glass medical container comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank; and,   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, wherein said pin is of a material which does not oxidize when exposed to temperatures in the range of 600 C-900 C and elevated pressure during said forming of said glass blank.   
   
   
       59 . A method of producing a glass medical container comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank; and,   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, wherein said pin is of a platinum/rhodium alloy with 80%-90% platinum and 20%-10% rhodium.   
   
   
       60 . A method of producing a glass medical container comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank; and,   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, wherein said pin is of a material which does not oxidize during said forming of said glass blank, and, wherein, without washing, said channel is substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof.   
   
   
       61 . A method of producing a glass medical container comprising the steps of:
 providing a glass blank;   providing a pin at an opening in said glass blank; and,   forming said glass blank to conformingly engage said pin to form a channel, wherein said pin is of a material which does not oxidize during said forming of said glass blank, and, wherein, without washing, the amount of tungsten in said channel is 12 parts per billion or less.