Patent ID: 6566144
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: A61M,F26B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for lyophilizing a pharmaceutical solution comprising:depositing the solution in one or more delivery containers; covering the one or more delivery containers with a cover plate, the cover plate resting on the top of the one or more delivery containers, the cover plate comprising a lid region and one or more protuberances which project perpendicularly from the lid region, wherein the one or more protuberances are adapted to fit in the one or more delivery containers, wherein the cover plate permits the escape of vapor from the one or more delivery containers during the lyophilization process, through an annular gap between each protuberance and a side wall of each container when the cover plate is resting on the top of the one or more delivery containers, and wherein the cover plate prevents the escape of lyophilizate from the one or more delivery containers during the lyophilization process; positioning the cover plate on the one or more delivery containers such that the one or more protuberances of the cover plate are positionally aligned with the one or more delivery containers, and placing the cover plate and the one or more delivery containers inside the lyophilizing apparatus or placing the one or more delivery containers and the cover plate inside the lyophilizing apparatus and positioning the cover plate on the one or more delivery containers such that the one or more protuberances of the cover plate are positionally aligned with the one or more delivery containers; and at least partially lyophilizing the solution comprising the pharmaceutical.