Method and device for assembling a stopper to a syringe barrel

Claim 1

Device for assembling a deformable stopper to a Syringe barrel having one open end and being filled to a predetermined level comprising: stopper holding means on said device to hold said stopper as the stopper is being inserted into the open end of said syringe barrel; air escape means on said device to permit air within said barrel located between the surface of the contents of the barrel and the open end to escape from the open end thereof as said stopper is being placed therein including means to deform said stopper during insertion into the barrel away from engagement with the barrel in at least one location to form a passageway therebetween; said stopper holding means releasably engaged with said stopper so that when said stopper is properly positioned within said barrel, said device may be removed from engagement with said stopper and said syringe barrel permitting said stopper substantially immediately to return to normal configuration in complete sealing engagement with and properly positioned within said syringe barrel.

Claim 6

A method of assembling a deformable stopper to a syringe barrel having one open end and being filled to a predetermined level by utilizing a device including stopper holding means to hold the stopper until it is properly positioned within the syringe barrel and then to release the stopper so that the stopper will remain in the proper position in the syringe barrel and air escape means on the device to permit air within the barrel to escape from the open end thereof while the stopper is being positioned therein comprising: positioning a deformable stopper into engagement with the stopper holding means of said device; passing the stopper into the barrel of the syringe from the open end thereof with the displaced air within said barrel located between the surface of the contents of the barrel and the open end being allowed to escape from the open end of the barrel by means of said air escape means which deform said stopper during insertion into the barrel away from engagement with the barrel in at least one location to form a passageway therebetween as said stopper and device are moved to the desired position within the syringe barrel; and removing said device from said stopper and said syringe barrel while said stopper holding means permits said stopper to substantially immediately return to normal configuration in complete sealing engagement with and properly positioned within said syringe barrel.

Claim 7

A method of assembling a deformable stopper to a syringe barrel having one open end and being filled to a predetermined level by utilizing a device including stopper holding means to hold the stopper until it is properly positioned within the syringe barrel and then to release the stopper so that the stopper will remain in the proper position in the syringe barrel and air escape means on the device to permit air within the barrel to escape from the open end thereof while the stopper is being positioned therein comprising: positioning a deformable stopper into engagement with the stopper holding means of said device; passing the stopper into the barrel of the syringe from the open end thereof with the displaced air within said barrel located between the surface of the contents of the barrel and the open end being allowed to escape from the open end of the barrel by means of said air escape means which deform said stopper during insertion into the barrel away from engagement with the barrel in at least one location to form a passageway therebetween as said stopper and device are moved to the desired position within the syringe barrel; and removing said device from said stopper and said syringe barrel while said stopper holding means permits said stopper to substantially immediately return to normal configuration in complete sealing engagement with and properly positioned within said syringe barrel.

Claim 9

A device for assembling a stopper to a syringe barrel having one open end comprising: stopper holding means on said device to hold said stopper as the stopper is being inserted into the open end of said syringe barrel; air escape means on said device to permit air within said barrel to escape from the open end thereof as said stopper is being placed therein; said stopper holding means releasably engaged with said stopper so that when said stopper is properly positioned within said syringe barrel, said device may be removed from engagement with said stopper and said syringe barrel leaving said stopper in sealing engagement with and properly positioned within said syring barrel; and indicating means on said device to facilitate determination of when said stopper is positioned at the desired depth within said barrel comprising a body portion on said device having an elongated shape of a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the syringe barrel, the body portion having a threaded outer surface, a nut having a threaded bore therethrough in interengagement with the threaded surface of said body portion so as to be movable in axial direction with respect thereto, said nut having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of said syringe barrel so that when said nut is axially positioned at the desired point on said body portion, said device can only be extended into said barrel until said nut contacts the rim of said barrel thereby indicating that said stopper is positioned at the desired depth.

Claim 10

A device for assembling a stopper to a syringe barrel having one open end comprising: stopper holding means on said device to hold said stopper as the stopper is being inserted into the open end of said syringe barrel; air escape means on said device to permit air within said barrel to escape from the open end thereof as said stopper is being placed therein; said stopper holding means releasably engaged with said stopper so that when said stopper is properly positioned within said syringe barrel, said device may be removed from engagement with said stopper and said syringe barrel leaving said stopper in sealing engagement with and properly positioned within said syring barrel; and indicating means on said device to facilitate determination of when said stopper is positioned at the desired depth within said barrel comprising a body portion on said device having an elongated shape of a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the syringe barrel, the body portion having a threaded outer surface, a nut having a threaded bore therethrough in interengagement with the threaded surface of said body portion so as to be movable in axial direction with respect thereto, said nut having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of said syringe barrel so that when said nut is axially positioned at the desired point on said body portion, said device can only be extended into said barrel until said nut contacts the rim of said barrel thereby indicating that said stopper is positioned at the desired depth.