Abstract: Cycloolefin polymer (COP) containers, including vials or syringes, having a scratch-resistant and anti-static coating on the external wall results in a reduction or prevention of static charge on the articles. The combination of an anti-scratch and anti-static coating results in the reduction of the attraction of charged particles to the container, leading to decreased particulate contamination while providing scratch resistance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for plasma modifying a workpiece such as a syringe barrel, cartridge barrel, vial, or blood tube is described. Plasma is provided within the lumen of the workpiece. The plasma is provided under conditions effective for plasma modification of a surface of the workpiece. A magnetic field is provided in at least a portion of the lumen. The magnetic field has an orientation and field strength effective to improve the uniformity of plasma modification of the interior surface of the generally cylindrical wall. A vessel made according to the process or using the apparatus described above. A pharmaceutical package comprising the syringe barrel or vial containing a pharmaceutical preparation, secured with a closure.

Abstract: An article is described including an article surface, a primer coating of SiOx, SiOxCy or SiNxCy applied to the article surface, and optionally a deposit of lubricant applied to the primer coating or layer. The primer coating of SiOx, SiOxCy or SiNxCy is applied by PECVD of an organosiloxane precursor. A deposit of lubricant is applied to the primer coating or layer. The primer coating improves the adhesion or wetting of the lubricant on the surface to be lubricated, as well as the recovery of the liquid contained in the vessel. Examples of such an article are a prefilled syringe having a barrel with a lubricated interior portion and a plunger tip that slides along it. Another example of such an article is a vial having a lubricated opening to receive a septum. Another aspect of the invention is a method of making such an article.

Abstract: A container includes an external package and a sealed flexible bag, adapted to hold liquid contents, retained within the external package. The bag is made from a polymer film, which prior to being formed into a bag, was a two dimen-sional film to which was applied a PECVD SiOx coating.

Abstract: A method of reducing static charge of a plastic container is provided. The method includes providing a PECVD coating of SiCOH, SiOx or SiOH to an external support surface of the container. The PECVD coating reduces static charge of the container compared to a reference container that is essentially identical to the container except that the reference container is uncoated.

Abstract: An article is described including an article surface, a primer coating or layer of SiOx, SiOxCy or SiNxCy applied to the article surface, and a deposit of lubricant applied to the primer coating or layer. The primer coating or layer of SiOx, SiOxCy or SiNxCy is applied by chemical vapor deposition of a polysiloxane or polysilazane precursor in the presence of oxygen. A first deposit of lubricant is applied to the primer coating or layer. The primer coating or layer improves the adhesion or wetting of the lubricant on the surface to be lubricated. Examples of such an article are a prefilled syringe having a barrel with a lubricated interior portion and a plunger tip that slides along it. Another example of such an article is a vial having a lubricated opening to receive a septum. Another aspect of the invention is a method of making such an article.

Abstract: An article is described including an article surface and a coating set comprising a tie coating or layer of SiOxCy or Si(NH)xCy applied to the article surface, a barrier coating or layer of SiOx, and a pH protective layer of SiOxCy or Si(NH)xCy. The respective coatings or layers can be applied by chemical vapor deposition of a polysiloxane or polysilazane precursor in the presence of oxygen. Examples of such an article are a prefilled thermoplastic syringe or thermoplastic pharmaceutical vial with a coated interior portion containing a pharmaceutical preparation or other fluid with a pH of 4 to 8, alternatively 5 to 9. The barrier coating or layer prevents oxygen from penetrating into the thermoplastic syringe or vial, and the tie coating or layer and pH protective coating or layer together protect the barrier layer from the contents of the syringe or vial.

Abstract: An article is described including an article surface and a coating set comprising a tie coating or layer of SiOxCy or Si(NH)xCy applied to the article surface, a barrier coating or layer of SiOx, and a pH protective layer of SiOxCy or Si(NH)xCy. The respective coatings or layers can be applied by chemical vapor deposition of a polysiloxane or polysilazane precursor in the presence of oxygen. Examples of such an article are a prefilled thermoplastic syringe or thermoplastic pharmaceutical vial with a coated interior portion containing a pharmaceutical preparation or other fluid with a pH of 4 to 8, alternatively 5 to 9. The barrier coating or layer prevents oxygen from penetrating into the thermoplastic syringe or vial, and the tie coating or layer and pH protective coating or layer together protect the barrier layer from the contents of the syringe or vial.

Abstract: A method for providing a saccharide based lubricating or protective coating or layer on a substrate surface is provided. In particular, a lubricity and/or protective coating or layer made by said method is provided. Pharmaceutical packages or other vessels coated by said method and the use of such pharmaceutical packages or other vessels protecting a compound or composition contained or received in said vessel with a protective coating against mechanical and/or chemical effects of the surface of the vessel without a protective coating material are also provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which a vapor-deposited coating or layer is directly or indirectly applied to at least a portion of the internal wall of the barrel of a capped pre-assembly comprising a barrel, optionally a dispensing portion, and a cap. The cap is secured to the barrel and at least substantially isolates the distal opening of the dispensing portion from pressure conditions outside the cap. A vapor-deposited coating or layer is applied directly or indirectly to at least a portion of the internal wall of the barrel while the pre-assembly is capped. The coating or layer is applied under conditions effective to maintain communication from the barrel lumen to the exterior via the front opening, optionally further via the dispensing portion lumen if present, at the end of the applying step. The capped pre-assembly can be pressure tested easily and rapidly, for example with a test duration between 1 and 60 seconds, to determine whether it has container closure integrity.

Abstract: A syringe comprising a wall having a generally cylindrical interior surface defining a lumen with a primer coating or layer between 1 and 1000 nm thick of SiOx Cy Hz, in which x is from about 0.5 to about 2.4, y is from about 0.6 to about 3, and z is from about 2 to about 9, on at least a portion of the interior surface, the primer coating or layer having an outside surface facing the interior surface of the barrel and an inside surface facing the lumen. A deposit of fluid lubricant on the inside surface of the primer coating or layer is further provided.

Abstract: A vessel has an interior surface facing a lumen. The interior surface includes a tie coating or layer, a barrier coating or layer, and a pH protective coating or layer. The tie coating or layer can comprise SiOxCy or SiNxCy, where x is from about 0.5 to about 2.4 and y is from about 0.6 to about 3. The barrier coating or layer can comprise SiOx, wherein x is from 1.5 to 2.9. The barrier coating or layer reduces the ingress of atmospheric gas into the lumen. The pH protective coating or layer can comprise SiOxCy or SiNxCy, as well. In an embodiment, in the presence of a fluid composition contained in the lumen and having a pH between 5 and 9, the calculated shelf life of the package can be more than six months at a storage temperature of 4° C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for plasma modifying a workpiece such as a medical barrel, medical barrel, vial, or blood tube is described. Plasma is provided within the lumen of the workpiece. The plasma is provided under conditions effective for plasma modification of a surface of the workpiece. A magnetic field is provided in at least a portion of the lumen. The magnetic field has an orientation and field strength effective to improve the uniformity of plasma modification of the generally cylindrical interior surface 16 of the generally cylindrical interior surface 16.

Abstract: A vessel including a thermoplastic wall enclosing a lumen is disclosed. The wall supports an SiOx composite barrier coating or layer, for which x is from 1.8 to 2.4, between the wall and the lumen. High Resolution X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) shows the presence of an interface between the composite barrier coating or layer and the wall or substrate. In one aspect, the interface has at least 1 mol.% O3—Si—C covalent bonding, as a proportion of the O3—Si—C covalent bonding plus SiO4 bonding. In another aspect, the interface has an Si 2p chemical shift to lower binding energy (eV), compared to the binding energy of SiO4 bonding. The result is a tightly adherent composite barrier coating or layer having a high degree of adhesion to the substrate under practical use conditions. Methods of applying the composite barrier coating or layer are also disclosed.

Abstract: An article is described including an article surface and a coating set comprising an optional tie coating or layer, a barrier coating or layer, and a pH protective layer. The respective coatings or layers can be applied by chemical vapor deposition of a polysiloxane or polysilazane precursor in the presence of oxygen. Examples of such an article are a prefilled thermoplastic syringe or thermoplastic pharmaceutical vial with a coated interior portion containing a pharmaceutical preparation or other fluid with a pH of 4 to 8, alternatively 5 to 9. The barrier coating or layer prevents oxygen from penetrating into the thermoplastic syringe or vial. The tie coating or layer, if present, and the pH protective coating or layer protect the barrier layer from the contents of the syringe or vial.

Abstract: A method for providing a saccharide based lubricating or protective coating or layer on a substrate surface is provided. In particular, a lubricity and/or protective coating or layer made by said method is provided. Pharmaceutical packages or other vessels coated by said method and the use of such pharmaceutical packages or other vessels protecting a compound or composition contained or received in said vessel with a protective coating against mechanical and/or chemical effects of the surface of the vessel without a protective coating material are also provided.

Abstract: A method for inspecting the product of a coating process is provided. In certain embodiments, the release of at least one volatile species from the coated surface into the gas space adjacent to the coated surface is measured and the result is compared with the result for at least one reference object measured under the same test conditions. Microbalance weighing methods are also disclosed to detect and distinguish among PECVD coatings. Thus the presence or absence of the coating, and/or a physical and/or chemical property of the coating can be determined. The method is useful for inspecting any coated articles, e.g. vessels. Its application on the inspection of PECVD coatings made from organosilicon precursors, especially of barrier coatings, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for providing a passivation layer or pH protective coating on a substrate surface by PECVD is provided, the method comprising generating a plasma from a gaseous reactant comprising polymerizing gases. The lubricity, passivation, pH protective, hydrophobicity, and/or barrier properties of the passivation layer or pH protective coating are set by setting the ratio of the O2 to the organosilicon precursor in the precursor feed, and/or by setting the electric power used for generating the plasma. In particular, a passivation layer or pH protective coating made by the method is provided. Pharmaceutical packages coated by the method and the use of such packages protecting a composition contained in the vessel against mechanical and/or chemical effects of the surface of the package without a passivation layer or pH protective coating material are also provided.

Abstract: An article is described including an article surface and a coating set comprising a tie coating or layer of SiOxCy or Si(NH)xCy applied to the article surface, a barrier coating or layer of Six, and a pH protective layer of SiOxCy or Si(NH)xCy. The respective coatings or layers can be applied by chemical vapor deposition of a polysiloxane or polysilazane precursor in the presence of oxygen. Examples of such an article are a prefilled thermoplastic syringe or thermoplastic pharmaceutical vial with a coated interior portion containing a pharmaceutical preparation or other fluid with a pH of 4 to 8, alternatively 5 to 9. The barrier coating or layer prevents oxygen from penetrating into the thermoplastic syringe or vial, and the tie coating or layer and pH protective coating or layer together protect the barrier layer from the contents of the syringe or vial.

Abstract: An article is described including an article surface, a primer coating or layer of SiOx, SiOxCy or SiNxCy applied to the article surface, and a deposit of lubricant applied to the primer coating or layer. The primer coating or layer of SiOx, SiOxCy or SiNxCy is applied by chemical vapor deposition of a polysiloxane or polysilazane precursor in the presence of oxygen. A first deposit of lubricant is applied to the primer coating or layer. The primer coating or layer improves the adhesion or wetting of the lubricant on the surface to be lubricated. Examples of such an article are a prefilled syringe having a barrel with a lubricated interior portion and a plunger tip that slides along it. Another example of such an article is a vial having a lubricated opening to receive a septum. Another aspect of the invention is a method of making such an article.