Patent ID: 6925780

Claim:
A method of aseptically filling an internally sterilized sealed container having a transfer port which comprises a tubular body which is sealed to the wall of the container and defines a flow passage therethrough, and a sealing plug engaged into the passage, the tubular body having an annular outer sealing face thereon which surrounds the flow passage, and the plug having a grippable formation and a sealing face surrounding the grippable formation, the method comprising the steps of: supporting the tubular body of the container in a selected orientation and position; providing a sterilization and filling head having at least an outer sealing ring thereon which is adapted to engage and seal with the annular outer sealing face, an inner sealing ring and a sterilization chamber located between and at least partially defined by the outer sealing ring and the inner sealing ring; bringing the sterilization and filling head and the tubular body into engagement with each other so that the outer sealing ring engages and seals with the annular sealing face and the inner sealing ring engages and seals with the sealing face of the plug; introducing a sterilization fluid into the sterilization chamber to sterilize at least the radially outer part of the plug and that part of the tubular body between the outer and inner sealing rings; gripping the grippable formation and withdrawing the grippable sealing plug out of the tubular body in a direction away from the container whilst maintaining the outer sealing ring in sealed contact with the sealing face and the inner sealing ring in sealed contact with the sealing face of the plug; introducing a flowable material into the container through the tubular body; reinserting the plug into the tubular body to thereby close the tubular body; and disengaging the sterilization and filling head and the tubular body from each other.