According to the invention, there is provided a medical apparatus including: one or more sterile pre-filled syringe; one or more first protective container including the one or more sterile pre-filled syringe, wherein the one or more first protective container is impermeable to moisture and/or sterilizing agents; a second protective container including one or more medical components and the one or more first protective container; and a package impermeable to bacteria including the second protective container.

According to the invention, there is provided a medical apparatus including: one or more sterile pre-filled syringe; one or more first protective container including the one or more sterile pre-filled syringe, wherein the one or more first protective container is impermeable to moisture and/or sterilizing agents; a second protective container including one or more medical components and the one or more first protective container; and a package impermeable to bacteria including the second protective container.

A microwave heating system configured for heating a plurality of articles is provided. One or more of the microwave launchers can be offset slightly, such that the microwave energy introduced into the heating chamber is discharged at a launch tilt angle of at least 2. Additionally, each launcher can include a microwave-transparent window disposed between the microwave chamber and the one or more launch openings and at least 50 percent of the chamber-side surface of the window can be oriented at an angle of at least 2 from the horizontal.

A microwave heating system configured for heating a plurality of articles is provided. One or more of the microwave launchers can be offset slightly, such that the microwave energy introduced into the heating chamber is discharged at a launch tilt angle of at least 2. Additionally, each launcher can include a microwave-transparent window disposed between the microwave chamber and the one or more launch openings and at least 50 percent of the chamber-side surface of the window can be oriented at an angle of at least 2 from the horizontal.

To sterilize a sterilization filter unit with heated steam, minimize the heat load on the sterilization filter unit and extend the service life of the sterilization filter unit.

Heated steam is supplied to a sterilization filter unit that sterilizes supplied air, the temperature of the heated steam discharged from the sterilization filter unit is measured at predetermined time intervals, the F value is calculated from the measured temperature, and sterilization of the sterilization filter unit is ended when the F value reaches a target value.

According to embodiments, there is provided a medical apparatus including one or more sterile pre-filled syringe, one or more first protective container including the one or more sterile pre-filled syringe, wherein the first protective container may be completely or partially filled with an inert or non-inert gas, wherein the one or more first protective container is impermeable to moisture and/or sterilizing agents, and a second protective container including one or more medical components and the one or more first protective container, wherein the second protective container may be, but is not necessarily, completely or partially filled with an inert or non-inert gas. In some aspects, a package mostly impermeable to bacteria including the first and second protective containers is also completely or partially filled with an inert or non-inert gas.

According to embodiments, there is provided a medical apparatus including one or more sterile pre-filled syringe, one or more first protective container including the one or more sterile pre-filled syringe, wherein the first protective container may be completely or partially filled with an inert or non-inert gas, wherein the one or more first protective container is impermeable to moisture and/or sterilizing agents, and a second protective container including one or more medical components and the one or more first protective container, wherein the second protective container may be, but is not necessarily, completely or partially filled with an inert or non-inert gas. In some aspects, a package mostly impermeable to bacteria including the first and second protective containers is also completely or partially filled with an inert or non-inert gas.

A packaging system for the storage of an ophthalmic device is disclosed. The packaging system comprises a sealed container containing one or more unused ophthalmic devices immersed in an aqueous packaging solution comprising one or more hydrophilic polymers or copolymers comprising hydrophilic units and endcapped with a hydrophobic end group and a hydrophilic end group, wherein the solution has an osmolality of at least about 200 mOsm/kg, a pH of about 6 to about 9 and is heat sterilized.

A system for filling nested pharmaceutical containers with a pharmaceutical fluid is disclosed. In one general aspect, it comprises a sterilizable chamber containing a planar rotary stage with a fiducial locating structure for holding a pharmaceutical container nest. The chamber has a rotatable cover removal station, a rotatable filling station with a dispenser head, and camera guided vacuum pickup facilities for handling container and closure nests. An associated method for filling the containers comprises establishing an aseptic condition within the chamber; removing covers from a container tub and a container closure tub by operating both the rotary stage and the cover removal station. The vacuum pickup facility transfers into the fiducial locating structure a container nest bearing pharmaceutical containers. The fluid is dispensed into the containers by operating both the rotary stage and the filling station. A container closure nest is placed on the container nest in the fiducial locating structure with closures in correspondence with containers. A ram in the chamber forces the closures into the containers.

A method for filling packages with changing products in a filling machine is disclosed. Packages are successively transported through a filling machine, and the packages are each successively filled with a first product in a sterile environment via a filling outlet connected to a product tank. To empty the product tank, at least one outlet means is brought into an emptying position, and a residue of the first product is discharged at least partially from the sterile environment, via the outlet means located in the emptying position. The outlet means is removed from the emptying position following the emptying of the product tank. Packages are subsequently each successively filled with a second product in a sterile environment, via a filling outlet connected to a product tank.