Packaged products, inserts and compartments for aseptic mixing of substances, along with methods for use therewith

Abstract

A package comprising a container for holding a first sub-stance, and a product insert for holding a second substance, at least partially inserted info said container, and where the first product and the second product can be allowed to merge by external manipulation of said package. Packaged products and methods are also provided.

1 - 155 . (canceled) 
     
     
         156 . A packaged product, comprising:
 a container comprising a first compartment containing a first substance therein;   a substance insert disposed within the first compartment, the substance insert comprising a second compartment containing a second substance, wherein the substance insert comprises a flexible barrier sealed onto itself to form a fluid seal between the first compartment from the second compartment;   a first portion of the flexible barrier supported by a first portion of the container;   a second portion of the flexible barrier supported by a second portion of the container; and   wherein relative movement between the first portion of the container and the second portion of the container causes the fluid seal to separate to establish fluid communication between the first compartment and the second compartment.   
     
     
         157 . The packaged product of  claim 156 , wherein the first portion of the flexible barrier is supported by a housing and the second portion of the flexible barrier is supported by a plug, and wherein a portion of the container extending between the housing and the plug is flexible to accommodate the relative movement between the housing and the plug. 
     
     
         158 . The packaged product of  claim 157 , wherein the container comprises bellows formed in the container to facilitate flexibility of the container. 
     
     
         159 . The packaged product of  claim 157 , wherein the housing and the plug are moveable apart to elongate the first compartment and cause the fluid seal to separate to establish fluid communication between the first compartment and the second compartment to define a merged compartment comprising a combined substance including the first substance and the second substance. 
     
     
         160 . The packaged product of  claim 159 , wherein, subsequent to the fluid seal separating to establish fluid communication between the first compartment and the second compartment, the housing and the plug are moveable in a direction toward each other to collapse the merged compartment. 
     
     
         161 . The packaged product of  claim 160 , wherein collapsing the merged compartment forces the combined substance through a fluid transport device insert disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         162 . The packaged product of  claim 161 , wherein the fluid transport device insert comprises at least one of a topical applicator, a spray head, a squirt nozzle, a dropper nozzle, a nasal applicator, an oral applicator, an aural applicator, an invasive applicator, or a connector. 
     
     
         163 . The packaged product of  claim 161 , wherein the fluid transport device insert comprises a needle assembly supported by the housing, the needle assembly comprising a needle and a needle hub that mechanically engages the housing to preclude proximal movement of the needle assembly relative to the housing and facilitates distal movement of the needle assembly relative to the housing. 
     
     
         164 . The packaged product of  claim 163 , wherein the plug mechanically engages the needle hub to retract the needle hub distally into the container such that the needle does not extend proximally beyond the housing. 
     
     
         165 . The packaged product of  claim 163 , further comprising:
 a needle protector attached to the housing to aseptically enclose the needle extending distally beyond the housing.   
     
     
         166 . A method of operation of a packaged product, comprising:
 supporting a first portion of a flexible barrier with a first portion of a container having a first compartment containing a first substance;   supporting a second portion of a flexible barrier with a second portion of the container, wherein the flexible barrier defines a substance insert comprising a second compartment containing a second substance;   moving the first portion of the container relative to the second portion of the container;   separating a fluid seal formed by the flexible barrier being sealed onto itself in response to the moving; and   establishing fluid communication between the first compartment and the second compartment to define a merged compartment comprising a combined substance including the first substance and the second substance in response to the separating.   
     
     
         167 . The method of  claim 166 , wherein the moving further comprises:
 imparting relative movement between a housing of the package and a plug of the package.   
     
     
         168 . The method of  claim 167 , further comprising:
 collapsing the merged compartment by moving the housing and the plug toward each other; and   dispensing the combined substance from a fluid transport device insert supported by the housing in response to the collapsing.   
     
     
         169 . The method of  claim 168 , wherein the fluid transport device insert comprises at least one of a topical applicator, a spray head, a squirt nozzle, a dropper nozzle, a nasal applicator, an oral applicator, an aural applicator, an invasive applicator, or a connector. 
     
     
         170 . The method of  claim 168 , further comprising:
 engaging the housing with the plug upon completion of the collapsing; and   retracting the fluid transport device insert distally relative to the housing.   
     
     
         171 . The method of  claim 170 , wherein the fluid transport device insert comprises a needle assembly having a needle hub and a needle, and wherein the retracting draws the needle assembly into the container such that the needle does not extend proximally beyond the housing. 
     
     
         172 . The method of  claim 171 , wherein the retracting comprises disabling the packaged product. 
     
     
         173 . The method of  claim 166 , wherein the moving comprises:
 rotating the first portion of the container relative to the second portion of the container to separate the fluid seal.   
     
     
         174 . A syringe device, comprising:
 a barrel accommodating a packaged product according to  claim 157 , wherein the housing is supported by a front wall of the barrel; and   an actuator engaged with the plug and extending proximally beyond the barrel.   
     
     
         175 . The syringe device of  claim 174 , further comprising:
 a biasing member disposed between the barrel and the actuator to bias the actuator and the plug away from the housing and the front wall of the barrel.