Methods of venting, sealing, and dispensing from a medicament container

Abstract

A sealing assembly movable within an opening of a medicament container allows (1) gases to be vented from the container, (2) medication to be stored in the container, and (3) medication to be dispensed from the container. Methods of limiting exposure of the medication to oxygen to prevent degradation of the medication while in the medicament container are also disclosed.

1 . A method of storing and dispensing a dose of medication, the method comprising:
 filling a medicament container with a dose of medication;   positioning a sealing assembly in an open end of the medicament container at a first position to allow any gases from the medicament container to vent through a passageway in the sealing assembly to outside the medicament container;   positioning the sealing assembly at a second position in the open end of the medicament container to seal the dose of medication in the medicament container;   placing the medicament container in a dispensing assembly; and   positioning the sealing assembly at the first position to allow the dose of medication to pass through the passageway to the dispensing assembly during a dispensing operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to filling the medicament container with a dose of medication, the method further comprises purging the medicament container with an inert gas. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein placing the medicament container in a dispensing assembly comprises placing the medicament container in a syringe, an automatic injector, or a nasal sprayer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to positioning the sealing assembly at the second position, the method further comprises applying a vacuum to the medicament container while the sealing assembly is at the first position to withdraw any gases from the medicament container. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing a gas absorbing material in the dispensing assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein after placing the medicament container in a dispensing assembly and prior to positioning the sealing assembly at the first position, the method further comprises:
 placing the dispensing assembly in a package; and   sealing the package to limit exposure of the dispensing assembly to oxygen.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein sealing the package comprises sealing the package under vacuum to create a vacuum within the sealed package to limit exposure of the dispensing assembly to oxygen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein prior to placing the dispensing assembly in a package, the method further comprises flushing the package with an inert gas. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein prior to sealing the package, the method further comprises inserting or attaching an oxygen absorbing material in the package. 
     
     
         10 . A method of storing and dispensing a dose of medication, the method comprising:
 filling a medicament container with a dose of medication;   venting any gases present in the medicament container via a passageway formed in a sealing assembly positioned in an open end of the medicament container;   sealing the dose of medication in the medicament container with the sealing assembly;   placing the medicament container in a dispensing assembly; and   passing the dose of medication from the medicament container into the dispensing assembly via the passageway formed in the sealing assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein filling a medicament container comprises filling a medicament container having a neck portion with a dose of medication. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein venting any gases comprises venting any gases present in the medicament container via a passageway formed in a sealing assembly inserted into an open end of the neck portion of the medicament container. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein prior to passing the dose of medication, the method further comprises creating a pressure in the medicament container to move the sealing assembly to a dispensing position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein passing the dose of medication comprises creating a pressure to force the dose of medication from the medicament container into the dispensing assembly via the passageway formed in the sealing assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A method of storing and dispensing a dose of medication, the method comprising:
 filling a medicament container with a dose of medication;   forming a sealing assembly having a first end and a second end, the second end having a plurality of ribs or projections extending therefrom;   positioning the sealing assembly in an open end of the medicament container to allow gases to vent from the medicament container;   positioning the sealing assembly in the open end of the medicament container to seal the dose of medication in the medicament container;   placing the medicament container in a dispensing assembly; and   positioning the sealing assembly in the open end of the medicament container such that the ribs or projections contact an interior surface of the dispensing assembly to allow the dose of medication to flow out from the container into the dispensing assembly through a space created between the ribs or projections and the interior surface of the dispensing assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the respective positions to allow gases to vent from the medicament container and to allow the dose of medication to flow out from the container are the same position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein forming a sealing assembly further comprises forming a sealing assembly having an exterior surface between the first and second ends, the exterior surface having a passageway formed therein extending from the first end toward the second end, the passageway operable to vent there through gases from the container during a container filling operation and operable to pass there through the dose of medication from the container during a medication dispensing operation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising creating a pressure to position the sealing assembly such that the ribs or projections contact an interior surface of the dispensing assembly 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising creating a pressure to force the dose of medication to flow out from the container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein positioning the sealing assembly in an open end of the medicament container comprises frictionally engaging an inner surface of the medicament container with the sealing assembly.