# US 2016/0250100 A1 · Disposable vial holder and method to prevent needle stick injuries

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- Number: US 2016/0250100 A1
- Document ID: US20160250100A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/148,678
- Filed: 2016-05-06
- Published: 2016-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-10
- Assignees: National Jewish Health
- Applicants: National Jewish Health
- Inventors: Ali I. Musani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160250100A1

## CPC

- A61J 1/16: Holders for containers
- A61B 17/3494: {with safety means for protection against accidental cutting or pricking, e.g. limiting insertion depth, pressure sensors (for the peridural space A61B17/3401)}
- A61B 17/3496: {Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips (for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612)}
- A61B 50/36: for collecting or disposing of used articles
- A61B 50/362: {for sharps}
- A61J 1/1406: {Septums, pierceable membranes}
- A61J 1/2003: {Accessories used in combination with means for transfer or mixing of fluids, e.g. for activating fluid flow, separating fluids, filtering fluid or venting}
- A61M 5/1782: {Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ (combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003)}
- A61M 5/3202: {Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001)}
- A61M 5/3205: {Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles (for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00)}
- A61M 5/321: {Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles}
- A61M 5/3213: {Caps placed axially onto the needle, e.g. equipped with finger protection guards (axially-extensible protective sleeves A61M5/3243)}
- B65B 3/003: {Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like}
- A61B 5/15003: {for venous or arterial blood}
- A61B 2090/0801: {Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking}
- A61M 5/1785: {comprising radioactive shield means (syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018)}
- G21F 5/018: Syringe shields or holders (syringe shielding for applying radioactive material to the body {A61M5/1785})
- 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
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)}
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02)

## Abstract

A vial holder is provided to protect a user's hand from needle sticks. The holder includes a handle and a shield attached to a distal end of the handle. An opening is formed in the distal end of the handle to receive a vial. The vial is placed through the opening and into a passageway of the handle with the upper end of the vial exposed. A user grasps the handle which holds the vial in a stabilized manner. A needle may then safely approach the vial in which inadvertent slippage or movement of the needle results in contact with the needle against the shield and not contact with the user's hand.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vial holder comprising:
a handle having an opening formed at distal end thereof, and a passageway communicating with the opening, the passageway extending a depth within a portion of the handle from the distal end toward a proximal end of the handle;
a shield attached to a distal end of the handle, the shield being substantially planar and extending substantially perpendicular to an axis of the handle;
a flange connected to and protruding from the opening, and the flange extending radially inward into the passageway;
the passageway is tapered commencing at a larger diameter at the opening to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle; and
wherein the vial holder is made as a single member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A vial holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the shield is made from a needle impenetrable plastic having a first stiffness, and the handle is made from a plastic having a second lesser stiffness.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A vial holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the shield is substantially circular shaped.

### Claim 4

A method of preventing needle stick injuries during use of a needle in withdrawing contents of a vial, the method comprising:
providing a vial holder including a handle having a passageway extending partially through the handle, the handle having a proximal and distal end;
providing a shield attached to a distal end of the handle, the shield extending substantially perpendicular to an axis of the handle, and the shield having a shape to substantially cover an edge of user's hand grasping the handle;
providing a vial with contents therein, and frictionally holding the vial within the passageway of the vial holder, the passageway being tapered with a larger diameter at the opening to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle;
the vial having a base and a cylindrical sidewall extending from the base, wherein a lower portion of the cylindrical sidewall contacts an interior-surface of the passageway, and an upper portion of the cylindrical sidewall located within the passageway can be spaced from and not in contact with the interior surface of the passageway;
grasping and holding the handle of the vial holder;
moving a needle toward the upper end of the vial; and
withdrawing contents within vial.

### Claim 5

In combination, a vial holder and vial comprising:
a handle having a passageway extending at least partially through the handle, the handle further having a proximal end and a distal end;
the passageway having an interior tapered surface commencing with a larger diameter at an opening of the passageway at the distal end of the handle, to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle;
a shield attached to the distal end of the handle and the shield being substantially planar;
a vial secured in the passageway, the vial having a base and a sidewall extending from the base; and
wherein a lower portion of the sidewall contacts the interior surface of the passageway, and an upper portion of the sidewall can be spaced from and not in contact with the interior surface of the passageway.