Abstract: A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath.

Abstract: The system of the invention involves a gloveless aseptic processing system. The automated system is for filling nested pharmaceutical containers with a pharmaceutical fluid substance. A closed sterilizable gloveless isolator chamber is capable of maintaining an aseptic condition, having a sterilization system. The container filling system has a dispensing head for filling the containers, and a container closing system disposed within the gloveless isolator chamber with rams for pushing closures into openings of the nested containers. The container manipulation mechanism is disposed within the gloveless isolator chamber and is capable of positioning the nested pharmaceutical containers within the gloveless isolator chamber including operably disposing the nested pharmaceutical containers with the container filling system and the container closing system. Container tubs sealed by removable covers and contain a container nest bearing a plurality of pre-sterilized pharmaceutical containers.

Abstract: The present invention involves a fill needle system for aseptically dispensing a pharmaceutical fluid in an aseptic chamber comprises a fill needle tubing in fluid communication with a pharmaceutical fluid source via flexible tubing and extending through a fill needle hub; a fill needle dispensing tip disposed at a dispensing end of the fill needle tubing; a fill needle sheath shaped and arranged to removably mate with and seal aseptically to the fill needle hub to form an aseptically sealed volume enclosing the dispensing tip; and a fluid pressure pulse induction system disposed and configured to compress the flexible tubing in order to dislodge droplets of pharmaceutical fluid retained on the dispensing tip after halting dispensing of the pharmaceutical fluid. An associated method of dispensing pharmaceutical fluid comprises operating the fluid pressure pulse induction system to dislodge the droplets. The system may comprise a controller for automatically controlling the dispensing and droplet dislodging.

Abstract: The present invention involves a fill needle system for aseptically dispensing a pharmaceutical fluid in an aseptic chamber comprises a fill needle tubing in fluid communication with a pharmaceutical fluid source via flexible tubing and extending through a fill needle hub; a fill needle dispensing tip disposed at a dispensing end of the fill needle tubing; a fill needle sheath shaped and arranged to removably mate with and seal aseptically to the fill needle hub to form an aseptically sealed volume enclosing the dispensing tip; and a fluid pressure pulse induction system disposed and configured to compress the flexible tubing in order to dislodge droplets of pharmaceutical fluid retained on the dispensing tip after halting dispensing of the pharmaceutical fluid. An associated method of dispensing pharmaceutical fluid comprises operating the fluid pressure pulse induction system to dislodge the droplets. The system may comprise a controller for automatically controlling the dispensing and droplet dislodging.

Abstract: A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath.

Abstract: The present invention involves a fill needle system for aseptically dispensing a pharmaceutical fluid in an aseptic chamber comprises a fill needle tubing in fluid communication with a pharmaceutical fluid source via flexible tubing and extending through a fill needle hub; a fill needle dispensing tip disposed at a dispensing end of the fill needle tubing; a fill needle sheath shaped and arranged to removably mate with and seal aseptically to the fill needle hub to form an aseptically sealed volume enclosing the dispensing tip; and a fluid pressure pulse induction system disposed and configured to compress the flexible tubing in order to dislodge droplets of pharmaceutical fluid retained on the dispensing tip after halting dispensing of the pharmaceutical fluid. An associated method of dispensing pharmaceutical fluid comprises operating the fluid pressure pulse induction system to dislodge the droplets. The system may comprise a controller for automatically controlling the dispensing and droplet dislodging.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aseptically filling pharmaceutical containers with pharmaceutical fluid are disclosed. In one general aspect, these are based on an aseptically sealable chamber that includes a transfer wall to which pre-sealed pharmaceutical source and receiving containers are mounted aseptically. A robotic arm and a syringe store are disposed within the chamber along with a sterilizing facility for establishing in the chamber an aseptic condition. The robotic arm can grip and operate syringes to inject and/or extract pharmaceutical products from the containers by piercing their closures with the needles of the syringes.

Abstract: A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath.

Abstract: A reconfigurable nest handling system for handling nests of objects arranged in a predetermined pattern is presented and applied to a system for filling nested pharmaceutical containers with a pharmaceutical fluid. In one general aspect, the system comprises a sterilizable chamber containing a planar rotary stage with tub and nest positioning systems that may be reconfigurable for holding differently sized pharmaceutical container tubs and nests and pharmaceutical closure tubs and nests. The chamber has a rotatable cover removal station, a rotatable filling station with a dispenser head, and camera guided vacuum pickup facilities for handling container and closure nests. The vacuum pickup facilities may be reconfigurable for handling differently sized nests. An associated method for filling the containers comprises establishing an aseptic condition within the chamber; removing covers from a container tub and a container closure tub by operating both the rotary stage and the cover removal station.

Abstract: A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection molded polymeric fill needle sheath.

Abstract: A system for filling nested pharmaceutical containers with a pharmaceutical fluid is disclosed. In one general aspect, it comprises a sterilizable chamber containing a planar rotary stage with a fiducial locating structure for holding a pharmaceutical container nest. The chamber has a rotatable cover removal station, a rotatable filling station with a dispenser head, and camera guided vacuum pickup facilities for handling container and closure nests. An associated method for filling the containers comprises establishing an aseptic condition within the chamber; removing covers from a container tub and a container closure tub by operating both the rotary stage and the cover removal station. The vacuum pickup facility transfers into the fiducial locating structure a container nest bearing pharmaceutical containers. The fluid is dispensed into the containers by operating both the rotary stage and the filling station.

Abstract: A reconfigurable nest handling system for handling nests of objects arranged in a predetermined pattern is presented and applied to a system for filling nested pharmaceutical containers with a pharmaceutical fluid. In one general aspect, the system comprises a sterilizable chamber containing a planar rotary stage with tub and nest positioning systems that may be reconfigurable for holding differently sized pharmaceutical container tubs and nests and pharmaceutical closure tubs and nests. The chamber has a rotatable cover removal station, a rotatable filling station with a dispenser head, and camera guided vacuum pickup facilities for handling container and closure nests. The vacuum pickup facilities may be reconfigurable for handling differently sized nests. An associated method for filling the containers comprises establishing an aseptic condition within the chamber; removing covers from a container tub and a container closure tub by operating both the rotary stage and the cover removal station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aseptically filling pharmaceutical containers with pharmaceutical fluid are disclosed. In one general aspect, these are based on an aseptically sealable chamber that includes a transfer wall to which pre-sealed pharmaceutical source and receiving containers are mounted aseptically. A robotic arm and a syringe store are disposed within the chamber along with a sterilizing facility for establishing in the chamber an aseptic condition. The robotic arm can grip and operate syringes to inject and/or extract pharmaceutical products from the containers by piercing their closures with the needles of the syringes.

Abstract: A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath.

Abstract: A speaker unit for a communications system includes a housing having a front and a back. The front has a plurality of spaced-apart recesses. A circuit board is fitted to the back of the housing. There is a push to talk switch mounted on the circuit board. There is a grill having a plurality of outwardly extending tabs. The tabs slidably engaged in the recesses of the housing to permit the grill to move in a direction extending between the front and the back of the housing. One of the tabs of the grill contacts the push to talk switch, whereby pushing the grill towards the back of the housing actuates the switch. There is an annular retainer fitted over the grill to retain the grill on the housing.