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Publication Number
US-9545480-B2
Publication Date
2017-01-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for assembling a syringe includes supporting a syringe barrel having a stopper being movably disposed therein. A distal end of a plunger rod is inserted into the compartment of the syringe barrel. An initial digital image is taken of the stopper within the syringe barrel. The distal end of the plunger rod is coupled to the stopper located within the syringe barrel so that the plunger rod is secured to the stopper. A plurality of further digital images of the stopper within the syringe barrel are taken during or after coupling the distal end of the plunger rod to the stopper. Information determined from each of the further digital images is compared to information determined from the initial digital image using a computer processor to determine if the stopper in each of the further digital images has moved relative to the syringe barrel.
Core Innovation
The disclosed syringe assembly system and method support a syringe barrel bounding a compartment extending between a loading end and an opposing dispensing end, with a liquid dosage disposed within the compartment between a movably disposed stopper and the dispensing end. A distal end of a plunger rod is inserted into the compartment at the loading end and coupled to the stopper located within the compartment so that the plunger rod is secured to the stopper. To verify the coupling, the method takes an initial digital image of the stopper within the syringe barrel either before, during or after inserting the distal end of the plunger rod.
During or after coupling, the method takes a plurality of further digital images of the stopper within the syringe barrel and uses a computer processor to compare information determined from each further digital image to information determined from the initial digital image. The comparing determines whether the stopper in each further digital image has moved relative to the syringe barrel, including determining whether the stopper has moved relative to the initial position.
In additional verification, the method also determines whether a gap between a distal end face of the plunger rod and a proximal end face of the stopper is greater than a predefined gap tolerance. From a digital image of the gap, the method calculates an angle over which the plunger rod or syringe barrel with stopper therein must be rotated so the gap distance is decreased to within the predefined gap tolerance, and then rotates the plunger rod or syringe barrel relative to the other over the calculated angle. The method may also take digital images as first and second pairs that include simultaneous imaging of a needle shield secured to the dispensing end, and it may compare second pair images to the initial pair images to determine if the stopper has moved relative to the initial position.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims. Across these independent claims, the main inventive elements are image-based verification of stopper movement relative to the syringe barrel and image-based control of rotation to reduce a gap to within a predefined tolerance, with optional imaging of a needle shield.
Stopper movement determination by comparing initial and further stopper images
Taking an initial digital image of the stopper within the syringe barrel, taking a plurality of further digital images of the stopper during or after coupling, and comparing information from the further digital images to information from the initial digital image using a computer processor to determine if the stopper has moved relative to the syringe barrel.
Stopper movement determination using initial and second image pairs including needle shield
Taking a first pair of digital images recording an initial position of the stopper relative to the syringe barrel, where the first pair comprises a first digital image of the stopper and a first digital image of a needle shield secured to the dispensing end; taking a second pair of digital images during or after coupling comprising a second digital image of the stopper and a second digital image of the needle shield; and comparing the second pair of digital images to the initial pair using a computer processor to determine if the stopper has moved relative to the initial position.
Gap tolerance correction via image-derived rotation angle
Partially threading a distal end of a plunger rod into the stopper to form a gap greater than a pre-defined gap tolerance between a distal end face of the plunger rod and a proximal end face of the stopper; calculating from a digital image of the gap an angle over which the plunger rod or syringe barrel with stopper therein must be rotated so the gap distance is decreased to within the predefined gap tolerance; and rotating the plunger rod or syringe barrel relative to the other over the calculated angle.
Collectively, the independent claims cover image-based determination of stopper movement relative to the syringe barrel using an initial image and later images, including an arrangement that also images a needle shield, and image-based gap correction that calculates a rotation angle and rotates the plunger rod or syringe barrel to decrease a gap to within a predefined gap tolerance.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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