A method for lyophilizing a substance is provided which may include placing at least one vial containing the substance in a lyophilization chamber, the at least one vial having an opening in which a stopper is inserted in a closed state not allowing gas exchange between the interior and exterior of the vial; providing mechanical means external to the stopper and arranged at the opening for restricting an upward movement of the stopper; lowering the temperature within the lyophilization chamber to a predefined value below the freezing temperature of the substance and reducing the pressure within the lyophilization chamber to a predefined pressure at a predefined temperature, the predefined pressure being chosen such that the force exerted by it on the stopper lifts the stopper from the closed state to an exchange state in which the stopper is only partly inserted in the opening of the vial allowing gas exchange between the interior and exterior of the vial, wherein the lowering of the temperature within the lyophilization chamber to the predefined value is performed before reducing the pressure within the lyophilization chamber to the predefined pressure and wherein lifting the stopper from the closed state abruptly lowers the pressure within the at least one vial which initiates nucleation in the substance within that vial. In addition, mechanical means is provided which may be used in order to perform the method for lyophilizing a substance.

Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.

Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.

A closure (1) for a container (9), or for an ampoule (9), in which a medicament is accommodated, having a closure cap (2) and a closure stopper (5) accommodated in the closure (2). Detent moldings (6) are formed on the closure cap (2) for latchingly holding the closure (1) on the ampoule (9), and a sliding part (3) is provided which is movable relative to the closure cap (2) in order to displace the closure stopper (5) into the closed position. In order to advantageously provide, with respect to carrying out a freeze-drying process, a closure for a container, or for an ampoule, in which a medicament is accommodated, the closure stopper (5) is displaceable relative to the cap (2) by means of the sliding part (3) in order to move the closure stopper into the closed position. There is also a method for carrying out a freeze-drying process for a medium, or for a medicament, which is accommodated in a container, or in an ampoule (9).

A locking cap for a container comprising a neck comprises: an outer body, defined by an upper face and a cylindrical wall, and including a breakable strip extending from the upper face to a free end of the cylindrical wall, a capsule, arranged on the upper face and rigidly connected to the breakable strip, a cage, locked in the outer body, having a generally cylindrical shape, and comprising a plurality of bridges connecting neighboring branches, and a flexible member, one end of which is rigidly connected to a bridge and another free end of which is oriented upward, the flexible member being adjacent to a weak point of the bridge. The flexible member of the cage is rigidly connected to the breakable strip of the outer body.