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 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 and lubricity coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed. A vessel processing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A syringe or other vessel having a substrate surface coated by PECVD is provided. The PECVD coating is made by generating plasma from a gaseous reactant comprising an organosilicon precursor and optionally O2. The lubricity, hydrophobicity and/or barrier properties of the coating are set by setting the ratio of the O2 to the organosilicon precursor in the gaseous reactant, and/or by setting the electric power used for generating the plasma. In particular, a lubricity coating made by said method is provided. Vessels coated by said method and the use of such vessels protecting a compound or composition contained or received in said coated vessel against mechanical and/or chemical effects of the surface of the uncoated vessel 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 and lubricity coatings and coated vessels, for example syringes and medical sample collection tubes are disclosed. A vessel processing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus may include a support surface configured to conduct air along a top face of the support surface so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the support surface are drawn away from the top face of the support surface. An opening may be formed in a side of the support surface. A cavity may extend from the opening into the support surface. An inlet port may be positioned within the cavity and fluidly coupled to the top face. A blower assembly may be configured to position within the cavity. The blower assembly may have an outlet port that couples to the inlet port when the blower assembly is positioned within the cavity. The blower assembly may conduct air through the inlet port to the top face of the support surface.

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: 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 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 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: The invention is directed to a non-destructive method of detecting whether a coating or deposit (30, 34) of (a) SiOxCy or SiNxCy and/or (b) of SiOx is present on or near a surface of an article (12), such as a disposable thermoplastic medical article. The method includes impinging infrared light (216) having a wave number in at least a portion of a desired range onto at least a first surface being examined for the presence of the one or more coatings or deposits. At least a portion (224) of the infrared light impinged on the first surface is collected (at 222) and the response output, which may include for example the maximum intensity and/or peak area of the collected infrared light at an infrared spectroscopy peak, is used to indicate the presence of the one or more coatings or deposits.

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 method for coating a substrate surface such as a syringe part by PECVD is provided, the method comprising generating a plasma from a gaseous reactant comprising an organosilicon precursor and optionally an oxidizing gas by providing plasma-forming energy adjacent to the substrate, thus forming a coating on the substrate surface by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The plasma-forming energy is applied in a first phase as a first pulse at a first energy level followed by further treatment in a second phase at a second energy level lower than the first energy level. The lubricity, hydrophobicity and/or barrier properties of the coating are set by setting the ratio of the O2 to the organosilicon precursor in the gaseous reactant, and/or by setting the electric power used for generating the plasma.

Abstract: A reflectometry method and other methods for detecting discontinuities in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coating are disclosed. The method includes several steps. A thermoplastic vessel wall (710) is provided having an outside surface, an inside surface, and a CVD coating on at least one of the inside and outside surfaces. The vessel wall and the CVD coating have different indices of refraction. Electromagnetic energy (718) is impinged on multiple positions of the CVD coating under conditions effective to cause energy to reflect from the multiple positions of the CVD coating. The reflected energy is analyzed to determine whether the reflected energy includes at least one artifact of a discontinuity in the CVD 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 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.