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 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: 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: A package including a vessel wherein at least a portion of the vessel wall is made of a double wall material is disclosed. The double wall material comprises an interior polymer layer enclosed by an exterior polymer layer and one of the polymer layers is a layer made of cyclic olefin polymer (COP) resin. The package comprising the double wall, a CVD coating set on the wall, and a medicament comprising at least one protein, peptide, and/or DNA sequence is disclosed. Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide lubricity or hydrophobicity, are also disclosed. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by PECVD. Vessel barrier, lubricity and hydrophobic coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed.

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 dimensional film to which was applied a PECVD SiOx coating.

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 dimensional film to which was applied a PECVD SiOx coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for testing the integrity of a barrier coating on a vessel. An off gas test fixture includes a face seal positioned about an opening of the vessel. A side seal is positioned about a portion of the vessel's wall and separated from the face seal by a space. Additionally, a cover may be secured to the fixture that encompasses an interface portion of the fixture and the vessel. Before and/or during testing, gas in the space between the side and face seals may be evacuated, as well as gas present in an interior area of the vessel. The vessel may be exposed to test gas(es) that is soluble by the plastic material of the vessel before and/or after being secured to the fixture. During testing, test gas(es) desorbed by the vessel may be evacuated, with the molecular flow being measured using a mass extraction unit.

Abstract: A package including a vessel made of cyclic olefin polymer (COP) resin, a CVD coating on a vessel, and a medicament comprising at least one protein, peptide, and/or DNA sequence is disclosed. Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide lubricity or hydrophobicity, are also disclosed. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by PECVD. Vessel barrier, lubricity and hydrophobic coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed.

Abstract: A three-position plunger is provided including a sleeve having an opening at a distal end, a pre-load cavity proximal to and in communication with the opening, a first cavity proximal to and in communication with the pre-load cavity, a second cavity proximal to and in communication with the pre-load cavity, and at least one rib. The rib(s) is generally aligned with the first cavity. The plunger further includes an insert configured to be displaced from the pre-load cavity to the first cavity and from the first cavity to the second cavity. The insert is configured to provide support for the compression of the rib(s) when the insert is positioned in the first cavity.

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: Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide a gas barrier or lubricity, are disclosed. First and second PECVD or other vessel processing stations or devices and a vessel holder comprising a vessel port are provided. An opening of the vessel can be seated on the vessel port. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by the first and second processing stations or devices. Vessel barrier and lubricity coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed. A vessel processing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide a gas barrier or lubricity, are disclosed. First and second PECVD or other vessel processing stations or devices and a vessel holder comprising a vessel port are provided. An opening of the vessel can be seated on the vessel port. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by the first and second processing stations or devices. Vessel barrier, lubricity and hydrophobic coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed. A vessel processing system and vessel inspection apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

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 convertible plunger is provided comprising an internal portion and a generally cylindrical exterior surface. At least a portion of the exterior surface is maintained in an initial expanded state by a property of the internal portion. The expanded state is reducible to a constricted state by an operation that is applied to the internal portion of the plunger to alter the property. A film coating may also be applied to a sidewall of the sleeve to reduce a sliding friction between the sleeve and barrel. A film coating may also be applied to a nose cone of the plunger to provide a barrier between the plunger and product in the barrel.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for testing the integrity of a barrier coating on a vessel. An off gas test fixture includes a face seal positioned about an opening of the vessel. A side seal is positioned about a portion of the vessel's wall and separated from the face seal by a space. Additionally, a cover may be secured to the fixture that encompasses an interface portion of the fixture and the vessel. Before and/or during testing, gas in the space between the side and face seals may be evacuated, as well as gas present in an interior area of the vessel. The vessel may be exposed to test gas(es) that is soluble by the plastic material of the vessel before and/or after being secured to the fixture. During testing, test gas(es) desorbed by the vessel may be evacuated, with the molecular flow being measured using a mass extraction unit.

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: 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: Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide a gas barrier or lubricity, are disclosed. First and second PECVD or other vessel processing stations or devices and a vessel holder comprising a vessel port are provided. An opening of the vessel can be seated on the vessel port. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by the first and second processing stations or devices. Vessel barrier, lubricity and hydrophobic coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for processing a vessel, for example to provide a gas barrier or lubricity, are disclosed. First and second PECVD or other vessel processing stations or devices and a vessel holder comprising a vessel port are provided. An opening of the vessel can be seated on the vessel port. The interior surface of the seated vessel can be processed via the vessel port by the first and second processing stations or devices. Vessel barrier, lubricity and hydrophobic coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed. A vessel processing system and vessel inspection apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A chromatography vial is disclosed comprising a thermoplastic wall and a coating on the wall. The coating comprises a PECVD barrier coating or layer of SiOx, where x is from 1.5 to 2.9, on the interior surface of the vial wall. Also disclosed is a method of applying the barrier coating of SiOx, in which x is from about 1.5 to about 2.9, on a chromatography vial as identified above. Other functional layers, such as a pH protective layer and a tie layer, can also be included as part of the coating on the wall.