IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0061290
(2005-02-18)
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등록번호 |
US-8177768
(2012-05-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
91 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A vial adapter having a needle-free valve, a sharpened cannula used to perforate a vial's rubber stopper, and a circular array of claws of different lengths to engage vial closures of different diameters. The array of claws includes a first set of claws each having a first length extending inwardly
A vial adapter having a needle-free valve, a sharpened cannula used to perforate a vial's rubber stopper, and a circular array of claws of different lengths to engage vial closures of different diameters. The array of claws includes a first set of claws each having a first length extending inwardly from the periphery of the housing of the adapter and a second set of claws alternating with the first set of claws and each having a longer length. The second set of claws are mounted so that they deflect and plastically deform out of the way in the case where the adapter is engaged with a vial that exceeds a predetermined size. The housing includes a shroud that is at least as long as the sharpened cannula to protect medical personnel who use the adapter from inadvertent punctures. The needle-free valve includes a resiliently deformable piston element with a naturally open bore. The interior of the piston provides a fluid flow path through the adapter. In one embodiment, the first set of claws of the adapter may be used with a vial closure of at approximately 20 mm in diameter and the second set of claws may be used with a vial closure of approximately 13 to 17 mm in diameter.
대표청구항
▼
1. A vial adapter for interconnecting with vial closures of different diameters, each closure having a seal, comprising: an adapter housing having a first end with an inner periphery with a circular array of claws, and having a second end, the housing having a thickness at the inner periphery; anda
1. A vial adapter for interconnecting with vial closures of different diameters, each closure having a seal, comprising: an adapter housing having a first end with an inner periphery with a circular array of claws, and having a second end, the housing having a thickness at the inner periphery; anda sharpened cannula extending from the first end of the adapter housing for penetrating a seal of a vial closure to establish fluid communication between the vial and the first end;wherein the array of claws comprises:a first set of claws, each claw of the first set of claws having a first surface extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the inner periphery, and a second surface extending from the first surface upwardly and radially outwardly towards the inner periphery, each of the claws in the first set of claws having a first length so as to cause the inner periphery to expand outwardly when the vial adapter is placed over a closure exceeding a first diameter, the second surface preventing withdrawal of the closure from the vial adapter without expanding the inner periphery outwardly; anda second set of claws extending radially inwardly from the inner periphery, each of the second set of claws having a second length that is longer than the first length of the first set of claws, each of the second sect of claws adapted such that when the vial adapter is placed over a closure exceeding the first diameter, each of the second set of claws will deflect and plastically deform thereby permitting the second set of claws to accommodate the larger closure. 2. The vial adapter of claim 1 wherein the length of each of the first set of claws is selected to engage a vial closure with at least the first diameter. 3. The vial adapter of claim 1 wherein the length of each of the second set of claws is selected to engage a vial closure with at least a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. 4. The vial adapter of claim 1 wherein the second set of claws are thinner than the adapter housing at the inner periphery and plastic deformation of the second set of claws occurs at a location along the length of the thinner second claws. 5. The vial adapter of claim 4 wherein the thickness of the second set of claws is selected so that when plastically deformed, the second set of claws do not apply a force sufficient to decouple the vial adapter from the closure. 6. The vial adapter of claim 1 wherein the second set of claws comprises a narrowed segment at which the plastic deformation takes place. 7. The vial adapter of claim 1 wherein the length of each of the second set of claws is selected such when that the adapter engages the second diameter vial closure, each of the second set of claws deforms elastically to engage the second diameter vial closure. 8. The vial adapter of claim 7 wherein the second set of claws deflect elastically as a result of a force directed axially through the center line of the vial adapter so that the second set of claws will snap under a crimped retaining cap surrounding a rubber stopper placed in the opening of the vial. 9. The vial adapter of claim 1 wherein the second set of claws are located at the inner periphery so that they are alternating with the first set of claws about the inner periphery. 10. The vial adapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter housing further comprises a shroud forming a part of the adapter housing at the first end, the shroud extending from the first end far enough to surround the sharpened portion of the sharpened cannula to protect an operator of the vial adapter from inadvertent puncture by the sharpened cannula. 11. The vial adapter of claim 1 wherein each of the first set of claws has a terminal end and each of the second set of claws has a terminal end and the terminal ends of the first set of claws and the terminal ends of the second set of claws are located in a common plane. 12. The vial adapter of claim 1 further comprising a resealable needle-free vial located in the second end of the adapter housing, wherein the needle-free vial opens to permit fluid flow upon insertion of a blunt cannula and closes to prevent fluid flow upon removal of such blunt cannula. 13. The vial adapter of claim 12 wherein the resealable needed-free vial comprises a vial housing within which is disposed a deformable piston element that provides a fluid flow path through its interior, the piston element having a naturally open bore wherein the bore is closed to prevent fluid flow when the needle-free vial is not accessed and wherein the bore opens to its naturally open shape to permit fluid flow when the vial is accessed. 14. The vial adapter of claim 13 wherein: the housing of the resealable needle-free vial comprises a connection port, an exit orifice, a first section of a first cross-sectional size disposed adjacent the connection port, and a second section of a second cross-sectional size that is larger than the first section; andthe piston element comprises a deformable piston head in which the bore is formed, the piston head being movable from the first section of the vial housing as the needle-free vial is accessed and movable to the second section of the vial housing when the needle-free vial is not accessed, the first section having a size that deforms the piston head so as occlude the bore, the second section having a size that allows the piston head to assume its natural shape in which the bore is open to provide a fluid flow path between the connection port and the exit orifice. 15. The vial adapter of claim 13 wherein: the housing of the resealable needle-free vial comprises a connection port and an exit orifice; andwhen the needle-free vial is accessed, the interior of the deformable piston element provides the fluid flow path through the needle-free vial between the connection port and the exit orifice. 16. A vial adapter for interconnecting with drug vial closures of different diameters, each closure having a seal, the vial adapter comprising: an adapter housing having a first end with an inner periphery and a circular array of claws extending radially inward from the periphery, and a second end, the adapter housing having a thickness at the inner periphery;the first end including a base, a central cannula extending from the base;a sharpened cannula located at the first end to perforate a vial's rubber stopper and provide fluid communication between the vial and the first end;wherein the circular array of claws comprises a first set of claws, each claw of the first set of claws having a first surface extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the inner periphery, and a second surface extending from the first surface upwardly and radially outwardly towards the inner periphery, each of the claws in the first set of claws having a first length so as to cause the inner periphery to expand outwardly when the vial adapter is placed over a closure exceeding a first diameter, the second surface preventing withdrawal of the closure from the vial adapter without expanding the inner periphery outwardly;wherein the circular array of claws comprises a second set of claws, each of which has a second length that is longer than the first length of the first set of claws, each of the second set of claws adapted to deflect and plastically deform when the adapter is placed over a closure exceeding the first diameter, thereby permitting the second set of claws to accommodate the larger closure size; anda resealable needle-free vial located at the second end of the body that opens to permit fluid flow upon insertion of a blunt cannula and closes to prevent fluid flow upon removal of such blunt cannula. 17. The vial adapter of claim 16 wherein the length of each of the first set of claws is selected to engage a vial closure with at least a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. 18. The vial adapter of claim 16 wherein the length of each of the second set of claws is selected to engage a vial closure with at least a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. 19. The vial adapter of claim 16 wherein the second set of claws are thinner than the inner periphery and plastic deformation of the second set of claws occurs at a location along the length of the thinner second claws. 20. The vial adapter of claim 16 wherein each of the second set of claws comprises a narrowed segment at which the plastic deformation takes place. 21. The vial adapter of claim 16 wherein the length of each of the second set of claws is selected such that when the adapter engages a vial closure with at least the second diameter, each of the second set of claws deforms elastically to engage the closure. 22. The vial adapter of claim 21 wherein the second set of claws deflect elastically as a result of a force directed axially through the center line of the vial adapter and the claws snap under the vial cap. 23. The vial adapter of claim 16 wherein each of the second set of claws is located at the periphery such that they are alternating with the first set of claws. 24. The vial adapter of claim 16 wherein the adapter housing further comprises a shroud forming a part of the housing at the first end, the shroud extending from the first end far enough to surround the sharpened portion of the sharpened cannula to protect an operator of the vial adapter from inadvertent puncture by the sharpened cannula. 25. The vial adapter of claim 16 wherein the resealable needle-free vial comprises a vial housing within which is disposed a deformable piston element that provides a fluid flow path through its interior, the piston element having a naturally open bore wherein the bore is closed to prevent fluid flow when the needle-free vial is not accessed and wherein the bore opens to its naturally open shape to permit fluid flow when the vial is accessed. 26. The vial adapter of claim 25 wherein: the housing of the resealable needle-free vial comprises a connection port, an exit orifice, a first section of a first cross-sectional size disposed adjacent the connection port, and a second section of a second cross-sectional size disposed adjacent the connection port, and a second section of a second cross-sectional size that is larger than the first section; andthe piston element comprises a deformable piston head in which the bore is formed, the piston head being movable from the first section of the vial housing as the needle-free vial is accessed and movable to the second section of the vial housing when the needle-free vial is not accessed, the first section having a size that deforms the piston head so as to occlude the bore, the second section having a size that allows the piston head to assume its natural shape in which the bore is open to provide a fluid flow path between the connection port and the exist orifice. 27. The vial adapter of claim 25 wherein: the housing of the resealable needle-free vial comprises a connection port and an exit orifice; andwhen the needle-free vial is accessed, the interior of the deformable piston element provides the fluid flow path through the needle-free vial between the connection port and the exit orifice. 28. A vial adapter for interconnecting with drug vial closures of different diameters, each closure having a seal, the vial adapter comprising: an adapter housing having a first end with an inner periphery and a circular array of claws extending radially inward from the inner periphery, and having a second end, the adapter housing having a thickness at the inner periphery;wherein the circular array of claws comprises a first set of claws each of which has a first length and a second set of claws each of which has a second length that is longer than the first length;wherein each claw of the first set of claws has a first surface extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the inner periphery, and a second surface extending from the first surface upwardly and radially outwardly towards the inner periphery, each of the claws in the first set of claws having the first length so as to cause the inner periphery to expand outwardly when the vial adapter is placed over a closure exceeding a first diameter, the second surface preventing withdrawal of the closure from the vial adapter without expanding the inner periphery outwardly;wherein each claw of the second set of claws is thinner than the inner periphery and plastic deformation of the second set of claws occurs at a location at which the second set of claws are joined to the inner periphery such that when the adapter is placed over a closure exceeding the first diameter, each of the second set of claws deflects upon contact with the closure and plastically deforms permitting the claws to deflect sufficiently to accommodate the larger closure; anda needle-free vial comprising a vial housing within which is disposed a deformable piston element that provides a fluid flow path through its interior, the piston element having a naturally open bore wherein the bore is closed to prevent fluid flow when the needle-free vial is not accessed and wherein the bore opens to its naturally open shape to permit fluid flow when the vial is accessed.
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