Coaxial needle adapter and guide bracket for robotic liquid handling platform

A method of reconstituting a drug via a robotic arm movable between a plurality of positions, the method comprising:

• operably coupling at least one bracket member with the robotic arm, the at least one bracket member including a support surface;
• operably coupling at least one coaxial needle with the robotic arm, the at least one coaxial needle being fluidly coupled with a reconstituting fluid;
• operably coupling a spring-loaded support rod with the robotic arm and the at least one bracket member, the spring-loaded support rod adapted to apply an urging force to the at least one bracket member;
• lowering the robotic arm to a lowered position whereby the at least one bracket member and the at least one coaxial needle move to a lowered position adjacent to a drug vial such that the support surface of the at least one bracket member engages the drug vial;
• reconstituting the drug by causing the reconstituting fluid to flow through at least a portion of the at least one coaxial needle;
• raising the at least one coaxial needle to a raised position while the spring-loaded support rod retains the at least one bracket member in the lowered position whereby the support surface of the at least one bracket member remains against the drug vial;
• and
• raising the at least one bracket member to a raised position.

A system comprising:

• a drug product vial containing a drug product, the drug product vial including a seal member to retain the drug product within the drug product vial;
• a robotic arm adapted to move between a plurality of positions;
• at least one bracket member operably coupled with the robotic arm via a mounting plate, the at least one bracket member including a mounting region, a support surface, an upper surface, and a throughbore extending through the support surface and the upper surface;
• a spring-loaded support rod extending between and coupled with the robotic arm and the upper surface of the at least one bracket member, the spring-loaded support rod adapted to apply an urging force to the at least one bracket member;
• and
• at least one coaxial needle operably coupled with the robotic arm and being at least partially disposed between the throughbore of the at least one bracket member and movable relative thereto, the at least one coaxial needle including a first end, a second end operably coupled with the robotic arm, an outer member, an inner member at least partially disposed within the outer member, a piercing tip positioned at the first end, and at least one venting hole disposed on the outer member;
• wherein upon moving the robotic arm to a lowered position, the piercing tip of the at least one coaxial needle is adapted to pierce at least a portion of the seal member of the drug product vial and the support surface of the at least one bracket member is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the seal member of the drug product vial, and upon raising the at least one coaxial needle to a raised position, the spring-loaded support rod is adapted to retain the at least one bracket member in the lowered position whereby the support surface of the at least one bracket member remains positioned adjacent to the seal member of the drug product vial.