# US 10,441,711 B2 · Device for connecting a vial to a container or to a fluid line and transferring the contents of a vial to a container or a fluid line as well as a method for doing so and use of such a device

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- Number: US 10,441,711 B2
- Document ID: US10441711B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/512,772
- Filed: 2015-09-15
- Published: 2017-10-26
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-18
- Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
- Applicants: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
- Inventors: Winfried Brehm; Martin Kaiser; Massimo Fini; Alain Veneroni
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441711B2

## CPC

- A61M 5/1417: {Holders or handles for hanging up infusion containers}
- A61J 1/20: Arrangements for transferring {or mixing} fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe
- A61J 1/2013: {having two piercing ends}
- A61J 1/2037: {having valve means}
- A61J 1/2072: {for internal venting}
- A61J 1/2089: {Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents (combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096)}
- A61M 1/3655: {Arterio-venous shunts or fistulae}
- A61M 5/1415: {Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories}
- A61M 5/162: Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube
- A61M 5/1689: {Drip counters}
- A61M 1/36225: {with blood pumping means or components thereof}
- A61M 1/362262: {Details of incorporated reservoirs}
- A61M 1/362265: {Details of valves}
- A61M 1/362266: {Means for adding solutions or substances to the blood}
- A61M 2205/3317: Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
- A61M 2205/6063: Optical identification systems
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE

## Abstract

A device and a method facilitate connecting a vial to a container or to a fluid, line, and transferring the contents of the vial to the container or to the fluid line. The device has a connecting device, a first holder for accommodating the connecting device, a second holder for accommodating the vial, and an actuating means. The connecting device includes an annular housing, an inside part having at least one puncture device, and a tube connection. The annular housing is configured to be rotatable about the inside part so as to function as a valve, so that by rotation of the annular housing, flow paths of the connecting device can be opened and closed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for connecting a vial to a container or to a fluid line, and for transferring the contents of the vial to the container or to the fluid line, said device comprising:
a connecting device, including an annular housing, flow paths, an inside part having a puncture device, and a tube connection;
a first holder configured to accommodate the connecting device;
a second holder configured to accommodate the vial; and
an actuator, with the actuator being connected to a lift rod to which the second holder is attached, for moving the vial from a first position a punctured position,
the annular housing of the connecting device being rotatable about the inside part so as to function as a valve, with the flow paths of the connecting device being openable and closeable by rotation of the annular housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the first holder has a rotary disk.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device according to claim 2, wherein the rotary disk has at least one undercut and catch noses for accommodating the connecting device, and wherein the connecting device is secured by the undercut in a vertical direction and by the catch noses in a horizontal direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein when the vial is connected, the inside part is mechanically secured by the second holder in a starting position thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The device according to claim 2, wherein an adjusting element secures the rotary disk when the vial is disconnected, and thus prevents the annular housing from rotating, and when the vial is connected and the connecting device is open, the adjusting element secures the lift rod and thus prevents the vial and the connecting device from being separated.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device has a gasket with at least one valve.

### Claim 7

A method of connecting a vial to a container or to a fluid line, and of transferring the contents of the vial into the container or the fluid line, with a device that includes a connecting device having an annular housing, a flow path, an inside part having a puncture device, and a tube connection, a first holder, a second holder, and an actuator connected to a lift rod to which the second holder is attached, said method comprising the following steps:
catch engaging the connecting device in the first holder;
catch engaging the vial in the second holder;
combining the vial and the connecting device by activating the actuator to move the lift rod so as to move the vial from a first position to a punctured position, with the puncture device puncturing a septum of the vial;
opening the flow path by rotation of the annular housing of the connecting device about the inside part;
closing the flow path by rotation of the annular housing of the connecting device about the inside part;
activating the actuator to disconnect the vial and the connecting device; and
removing the vial from the second holder and the connecting device from the first holder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein in combining the vial and the connecting device, the actuator moves the lift rod, which moves the second holder and the vial in an axis X toward the connecting device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein when opening the flow path by rotation of the annular housing, a rotary disk accommodating the annular housing also rotates, and the inside part remains in a starting position thereof, due to a form-fitting connection with the second holder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A tube set or cassette set having a device according to claim 1.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A medical technical treatment unit having a device according to claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A use of a device according to claim 1 in a medical technical method.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An evaluation unit for a device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit employs at least one sensor to detect a position of the vial and/or a position of the connecting device and/or the opening of the connecting device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The medical technical treatment unit according to claim 11, wherein the medical technical treatment unit is an infusion device or an extracorporeal treatment unit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The medical technical treatment unit according to claim 14, wherein the extracorporeal treatment unit is a hemodialysis machine.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The use of the device according to the medical technical method of claim 12, wherein the method is for an infusion or an extracorporeal treatment.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The use of the device according to the medical technical method of claim 16, wherein the extracorporeal treatment is a hemodialysis process.