Closed-system drug-transfer devices for solid dosage forms

An apparatus comprising a closed-system grinding syringe for liquefying and delivering a solid dosage form, the closed-system grinding syringe comprising:

• a barrel, which is shaped so as to define (a) a lateral wall shaped so as to define a cylindrical inner surface, (b) a top barrel opening, and (c) a bottom barrel wall;
• a fluid port disposed on the bottom barrel wall;
• a plunger, which comprises (a) a plunger shaft;
• (b) a plunger head shaped so as to define a bottom plunger wall shaped so as to define a lower surface;
• and (c) a plunger-head annular seal, wherein the plunger head is insertable into and moveable within the barrel such that (a) a portion of the barrel defines a closed-system syringe chamber between the bottom barrel wall and the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall, and (b) the plunger-head annular seal forms a plunger-head fluid-tight seal between an outer surface of the plunger head and the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel;
• a barrel cap, which is (a) configured to be attachable to the top barrel opening so as to form a barrel-cap fluid-tight seal with the top barrel opening, and (b) shaped so as to define a cap opening through the barrel cap, wherein the plunger shaft is slidably disposed through the cap opening so as to form a plunger-shaft fluid-tight seal between the plunger shaft and a perimeter of the cap opening;
• a solid-dosage-form support disc, which (a) is disposed below the bottom plunger wall so as to define a grinding compartment between the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall and an upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc, and (b) is shaped so as to define a plurality of holes through the solid-dosage-form support disc;
• and
• a knob,
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is configured such that when (a) the solid dosage form is disposed in the grinding compartment, (b) the plunger head is inserted into the barrel, and (c) the closed-system grinding syringe is oriented upright, upon activation of the knob, the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form to a powder and at least 75% of the powder passes through the plurality of holes into a portion of the closed-system syringe chamber below the solid-dosage-form support disc,
• wherein the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall is shaped so as to define grinding protrusions, and
• wherein the holes of the solid-dosage-form support disc are aligned with the grinding protrusions, such that the grinding protrusions at least partially enter respective holes when the solid-dosage-form support disc moves closer to the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall.

An apparatus comprising a closed-system grinding syringe for liquefying and delivering a solid dosage form, the closed-system grinding syringe comprising:

• a barrel, which is shaped so as to define (a) a lateral wall shaped so as to define a cylindrical inner surface, (b) a top barrel opening, and (c) a bottom barrel wall;
• a fluid port disposed on the bottom barrel wall;
• a plunger, which comprises (a) a plunger shaft:
• (b) a plunger head shaped so as to define a bottom plunger wall shaped so as to define a lower surface;
• and (c) a plunger-head annular seal, wherein the plunger head is insertable into and moveable within the barrel such that (a) a portion of the barrel defines a closed-system syringe chamber between the bottom barrel wall and the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall, and (b) the plunger-head annular seal forms a plunger-head fluid-tight seal between an outer surface of the plunger head and the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel;
• a barrel cap, which is (a) configured to be attachable to the top barrel opening so as to form a barrel-cap fluid-tight seal with the top barrel opening, and (b) shaped so as to define a cap opening through the barrel cap, wherein the plunger shaft is slidably disposed through the cap opening so as to form a plunger-shaft fluid-tight seal between the plunger shaft and a perimeter of the cap opening;
• a solid-dosage-form support disc, which (a) is disposed below the bottom plunger wall so as to define a grinding compartment between the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall and an upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc, and (b) is shaped so as to define a plurality of holes through the solid-dosage-form support disc;
• and
• a knob,
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is configured such that when (a) the solid dosage form is disposed in the grinding compartment, (b) the plunger head is inserted into the barrel, and (c) the closed-system grinding syringe is oriented upright, upon activation of the knob, the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form to a powder and at least 75% of the powder passes through the plurality of holes into a portion of the closed-system syringe chamber below the solid-dosage-form support disc,
• wherein the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall is shaped so as to define grinding protrusions,
• wherein the grinding protrusions are bottom-plunger-wall grinding protrusions, and
• wherein the upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc is shaped so as to define support-disc grinding protrusions, which are not aligned with the bottom-plunger-wall grinding protrusions.

An apparatus comprising a closed-system grinding syringe for liquefying and delivering a solid dosage form, the closed-system grinding syringe comprising:

• a barrel, which is shaped so as to define (a) a lateral wall shaped so as to define a cylindrical inner surface, (b) a top barrel opening, and (c) a bottom barrel wall;
• a fluid port disposed on the bottom barrel wall;
• a plunger, which comprises (a) a plunger shaft;
• (b) a plunger head shaped so as to define a bottom plunger wall shaped so as to define a lower surface;
• and (c) a plunger-head annular seal, wherein the plunger head is insertable into and moveable within the barrel such that (a) a portion of the barrel defines a closed-system syringe chamber between the bottom barrel wall and the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall, and (b) the plunger-head annular seal forms a plunger-head fluid-tight seal between an outer surface of the plunger head and the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel;
• a barrel cap, which is (a) configured to be attachable to the top barrel opening so as to form a barrel-cap fluid-tight seal with the top barrel opening, and (b) shaped so as to define a cap opening through the barrel cap, wherein the plunger shaft is slidably disposed through the cap opening so as to form a plunger-shaft fluid-tight seal between the plunger shaft and a perimeter of the cap opening;
• a solid-dosage-form support disc, which (a) is disposed below the bottom plunger wall so as to define a grinding compartment between the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall and an upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc, and (b) is shaped so as to define a plurality of holes through the solid-dosage-form support disc;
• and
• a knob,
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is configured such that when (a) the solid dosage form is disposed in the grinding compartment, (b) the plunger head is inserted into the barrel, and (c) the closed-system grinding syringe is oriented upright, upon activation of the knob, the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form to a powder and at least 75% of the powder passes through the plurality of holes into a portion of the closed-system syringe chamber below the solid-dosage-form support disc,
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is configured to move the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall and the upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc closer to each other as the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form, and
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is configured to move the upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc with respect to the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel as the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form.

An apparatus comprising a closed-system grinding syringe for liquefying and delivering a solid dosage form, the closed-system grinding syringe comprising:

• a barrel, which is shaped so as to define (a) a lateral wall shaped so as to define a cylindrical inner surface, (b) a top barrel opening, and (c) a bottom barrel wall;
• a fluid port disposed on the bottom barrel wall;
• a plunger, which comprises (a) a plunger shaft:
• (b) a plunger head shaped so as to define a bottom plunger wall shaped so as to define a lower surface;
• and (c) a plunger-head annular seal, wherein the plunger head is insertable into and moveable within the barrel such that (a) a portion of the barrel defines a closed-system syringe chamber between the bottom barrel wall and the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall, and (b) the plunger-head annular seal forms a plunger-head fluid-tight seal between an outer surface of the plunger head and the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel;
• a barrel cap, which is (a) configured to be attachable to the top barrel opening so as to form a barrel-cap fluid-tight seal with the top barrel opening, and (b) shaped so as to define a cap opening through the barrel cap, wherein the plunger shaft is slidably disposed through the cap opening so as to form a plunger-shaft fluid-tight seal between the plunger shaft and a perimeter of the cap opening:
• a solid-dosage-form support disc, which (a) is disposed below the bottom plunger wall so as to define a grinding compartment between the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall and an upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc, and (b) is shaped so as to define a plurality of holes through the solid-dosage-form support disc;
• and
• a knob,
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is configured such that when (a) the solid dosage form is disposed in the grinding compartment, (b) the plunger head is inserted into the barrel, and (c) the closed-system grinding syringe is oriented upright, upon activation of the knob, the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form to a powder and at least 75% of the powder passes through the plurality of holes into a portion of the closed-system syringe chamber below the solid-dosage-form support disc,
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is shaped so as to define:
• a liquid channel having (a) a first liquid-channel opening in fluid communication with the fluid port and (b) a second liquid-channel opening in fluid communication with the closed-system syringe chamber, and
• a gas channel having a first gas-channel opening in fluid communication with the fluid port,
• wherein the barrel is shaped so as to define an upper compartment between the barrel cap and the bottom plunger wall, when the barrel cap is attached to the top barrel opening, wherein the upper compartment is fluid-isolated from the closed-system syringe chamber and the external environment,
• wherein the liquid channel has a second liquid-channel opening in fluid communication with the closed-system syringe chamber through the bottom barrel wall, and
• wherein the gas channel has a second gas-channel opening in fluid communication with the upper compartment.

A method of liquefying and delivering a solid dosage form, the method comprising:

• providing a closed-system grinding syringe including:
• a barrel, which is shaped so as to define (a) a lateral wall shaped so as to define a cylindrical inner surface, (b) a top barrel opening, and (c) a bottom barrel wall;
• a fluid port disposed on the bottom barrel wall;
• a plunger, which includes (a) a plunger shaft;
• (b) a plunger head shaped so as to define a bottom plunger wall shaped so as to define a lower surface;
• and
• (c) a plunger-head annular seal;
• a barrel cap, which is shaped so as to define a cap opening through the barrel cap, wherein the plunger shaft is slidably disposed through the cap opening so as to form a plunger-shaft fluid-tight seal between the plunger shaft and a perimeter of the cap opening;
• a solid-dosage-form support disc, which (a) is disposed below the bottom plunger wall so as to define a grinding compartment between the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall and an upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc, and (b) is shaped so as to define a plurality of holes through the solid- dosage-form support disc;
• and
• a knob;
• inserting the solid dosage form into the grinding compartment;
• thereafter, inserting the plunger head into the barrel such that (a) a portion of the barrel defines a closed-system syringe chamber between the bottom barrel wall and the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall, (b) the plunger-head annular seal forms a plunger-head fluid-tight seal between an outer surface of the plunger head and the cylindrical inner surface of the barrel;
• thereafter, attaching the barrel cap to the top barrel opening so as to form a barrel-cap fluid-tight seal with the top barrel opening;
• thereafter, while the closed-system grinding syringe is oriented upright, activating the knob such that the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form to a powder and at least 75% of the powder passes through the plurality of holes into a portion of the closed-system syringe chamber below the solid-dosage-form support disc;
• thereafter, introducing a liquid into the closed-system syringe chamber via the fluid port;
• thereafter, mixing the powder with the liquid to form a mixture;
• and
• thereafter, delivering the mixture via the fluid port by moving the plunger head downward within the barrel,
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is configured to move the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall and the upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc closer to each other as the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form, and
• wherein the closed-system grinding syringe is configured such that the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall does not rotate while the lower surface of the bottom plunger wall and the upper surface of the solid-dosage-form support disc move closer to each other as the grinding compartment grinds the solid dosage form.