초록 ▼

Anti-vacuum-lock assemblies for preventing vacuum lock when withdrawing medicinal fluid from a vial comprising a multi-finger bung-type stopper in which the fingers are of sufficient length to protect a collapsing or expanding bladder in the vial from being punctured by the hypodermic needle. In a f

Anti-vacuum-lock assemblies for preventing vacuum lock when withdrawing medicinal fluid from a vial comprising a multi-finger bung-type stopper in which the fingers are of sufficient length to protect a collapsing or expanding bladder in the vial from being punctured by the hypodermic needle. In a first embodiment the vial includes one or more side or bottom wall holes to permit ambient air to enter in the space between an internal bladder containing a medicinal fluid and the inner wall of the vial. In another embodiment, an expanding bladder in communication with the exterior expands as fluid is withdrawn from the vial. In a third embodiment a fluted collar is inserted in the vial neck to provide air passages into the space between the medicinal fluid-containing bladder and the interior wall of the vial. The collapse of the medicinal bladder or expansion of the compensation bellows or bladder prevents vacuum lock.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A medicinal vial assembly including means for preventing vacuum-lock when withdrawing medicinal fluid therefrom via a hypodermic needle, comprising in operative combination: a) a medicinal vial including a generally tubular side-wall, a bottom wall spanning a first end, and a neck having an open

1. A medicinal vial assembly including means for preventing vacuum-lock when withdrawing medicinal fluid therefrom via a hypodermic needle, comprising in operative combination: a) a medicinal vial including a generally tubular side-wall, a bottom wall spanning a first end, and a neck having an opening terminating in a lip at an opposed, second end, said vial defining a volume for carrying a quantity of medicinal fluid in sanitary condition;b) an elastomeric bladder disposed in said vial volume permitting compensation for withdrawal of medicinal fluid from said vial;c) a vial stopper configured to fit tightly in said vial neck and seal against loss of medicinal fluid from said vial volume, said stopper having an upper flattened flange member and a body portion having a vertical axis and extending downwardly from one side of said flange member, said stopper body portion having an outer diameter sized to sealingly fit said vial neck opening and terminating in a plurality of depending stopper fingers, said stopper fingers having an annular thickness substantially less than the diameter of said stopper body and disposed around and spaced from said vertical axis of said body portion to form an open-bottom cavity in which said hypodermic needle can freely access said medicinal fluid; andd) said stopper fingers having a length longer than a suitable hypodermic needle inserted in said vial to withdraw said medicinal fluid, whereby said stopper fingers prevent needle puncture of said bladder by shielding said bladder from contact with said needle as medicinal fluid is withdrawn from said vial. 2. A vial assembly as in claim 1 wherein said bladder is disposed in said vial to be filled with medicinal fluid, conforms to the inner volume of said vial when filled with medicinal fluid, includes a neck portion that is fitted in the neck of said vial, and is secured in said vial with said stopper so that said stopper fingers extend downwardly into said medicinal volume fluid. 3. A vial assembly as in claim 2 wherein at least one of said vial side or bottom wall includes an aperture to permit ambient air entry to compensate for volume reduction of said medicinal fluid as said fluid is withdrawn from said bladder. 4. A vial assembly as in claim 2 which includes a collar member disposed in the neck of said vial and intermediate between said bladder and said vial neck, said collar member including means for passage of ambient air into said vial between said bladder and said vial side wall, said air compensating for volume reduction of said medicinal fluid as said fluid is withdrawn from said bladder. 5. A vial assembly as in claim 4 wherein said collar is generally cylindrical, includes a central bore into which the neck of said bladder is fitted, and the external surface of which is fluted or corrugated to provide said air passage. 6. A vial assembly as in claim 5 wherein said collar member includes lateral via structures extending outwardly from the external surface, and said vias include an air passage connected to said fluted or corrugated air passage. 7. A vial assembly as in claim 1 wherein said bladder is secured to an air passage member fitted into a side or bottom wall of said vial, said medicinal fluid is disposed directly in said vial, and said bladder expands to displace volume as said medicinal fluid is withdrawn from said vial. 8. A vial assembly as in claim 7 wherein said bladder is an expanable bellows structure, and said air passage member is sealable with a plug member which is removed so as to provide an unobstructed air passage to said bellows as said medicinal fluid is withdrawn by hypodermic. 9. A method of preventing vacuum lock during withdrawal of medicinal fluid by hypodermic syringe from a vial having a neck and an internal volume for retaining a medicinal solution that is dispensed to patients in aliquots by use of said hypodermic syringe, comprising the steps of: a) providing a vial having medicinal fluid carried in said volume, said vial including an elastomeric bladder in said volume, the change of volume of said bladder compensates for the change in volume of said medicinal fluid as it is withdrawn from said vial;b) providing a hypodermic syringe assembly including a tubular body, an injection needle and a plunger movable in said tubular body from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position to control the volume of fluid introduced into and dispensed from said hypodermic, said needle having a bore communicating with said tubular body;c) providing a vial stopper disposed in the neck of said vial and having annular depending fingers disposed at an inner end thereof to extend into the medicinal fluid volume of said vial to form an open-bottomed finger cavity, said fingers having a length selected to extend beyond the end of said hypodermic needle inserted through said stopper into said medicinal fluid volume so that said needle can access medicinal fluid in said finger cavity;d) inserting said hypodermic needle through said stopper into said medicinal fluid volume in said finger cavity with said plunger in said retracted position, said stopper fingers preventing said needle from puncturing said bladder, ande) withdrawing said medicinal fluid in said finger cavity without pre-pressurizing said vial, by moving said plunger from said retracted position to a preselected extended position defining a selected aliquot amount, said bladder changing in volume during said withdrawal of said aliquot to compensate for the volume of fluid aliquot withdrawn, thereby to prevent formation of vacuum lock and to prevent contamination of said medicinal fluid by introduction of external air containing contaminants. 10. A method as in claim 9 wherein said medicinal fluid is contained in said bladder which contracts in volume to compensate for the volume of fluid aliquot withdrawn. 11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said vial includes a via communicating to the exterior of said vial disposed to provide external air to a space between the exterior surface of said bladder and the interior wall of said vial. 12. A method as in claim 9 wherein said bladder is disposed in a collapsed condition in medicinal fluid contained in the volume of said vial, said bladder interior being in communication with the exterior of said vial to permit exterior air to enter said bladder as fluid is withdrawn by said hypodermic. 13. A method as in claim 11 wherein said via is provided as a fluted or corrugated collar disposed in the neck of said vial. 14. A method as in claim 12 wherein said bladder is secured to an air passage member fitted into a side or bottom wall of said vial, said medicinal fluid is disposed directly in said vial, and said bladder expands to displace volume as said medicinal fluid is withdrawn from said vial. 15. A method as in claim 14 wherein said bladder is an expanable bellows structure, and said air passage member is sealable with a plug member which is removed so as to provide an unobstructed air passage to said bellows as said medicinal fluid is withdrawn by hypodermic. 16. A method as in claim 13 wherein said collar is fitted in said neck of said vial intermediate between said bellows outer wall and the inner wall of said vial.