Delivery system for pharmaceuticals packed in pharmaceutical vials

An activation assembly for preparing a prefilled syringe from separately prepackaged components of a multicomponent pharmaceutical preparation, the assembly comprising a two part tubular body;

• the body defining in a first part a first cylindrical recess at one end with a diameter to receive, as a sliding fit, a discharge end of a cylindrical body of a protosyringe at which end is located a closure, broachable on activation of the protosyringe, the recess also receiving a substantial portion of the cylindrical body of the protosyringe, which contains a first liquid component of the pharmaceutical preparation and which is provided at its opposite end with a piston displaceable longitudinally of the cylindrical body and forming a hermetic seal therewith;
• a second cylindrical recess defined in an opposite end of the tubular body by a second detachable part to receive a cap securing a penetrable closure at the neck of a pharmaceutical vial containing a second component of the pharmaceutical preparation;
• the tubular body defining in said first part a passage connecting the cylindrical recesses;
• a hub movable longitudinally of the tubular body within the passage;
• a transfer cannula extending longitudinally of the tubular body from said hub to a distal end directed towards the second recess;
• a penetrable shield member covering the distal end of the cannula and located to contact a penetrable closure of a pharmaceutical vial inserted in the second cylindrical recess and a hollow cylindrical overcap concentric with the hub and located within the tubular body in the first cylindrical recess, the overcap being connected to the hub to limit movement of the latter into the passage;
• the depth of the cylindrical recesses, the length of the passage connecting the recesses, the extent of the transfer cannula from the hub, and the location of the overcap in the first cylindrical recess being such that upon a protosyringe received in the first cylindrical recess and a vial received in the second recess being displaced towards each other, the overcap is displaced onto the discharge end of the protosyringe and the hub moves longitudinally so that the transfer cannula penetrates the penetrable shield member and the penetrable closure of the vial to place the protosyringe and the vial in fluid communication through the transfer cannula;
• wherein the protosyringe and the vial can be driven directly towards each other to effect penetration of the shield member and the penetrable closure of the vial, wherein a portion of the hub supporting the transfer cannula is separately formed and detachable from the hub, the hub having a luer on which said separately formed portion is releasably lodged, and wherein means is provided within the detachable part of the tubular body to detain, within the tubular body, said portion of the hub and the transfer cannula when the cannula is driven into a position penetrating the cap of the pharmaceutical vial.