Vial adapter having a needle-free valve for use with vial closures of different sizes

A vial adapter for interconnecting with drug vial closures of different diameters, each closure having a seal, the vial adapter comprising:

• an adapter housing having a first end with an inner periphery and a circular array of claws extending radially inward from the periphery, and a second end, the adapter housing having a thickness at the inner periphery;
• the first end including a base, a central cannula extending from the base;
• a sharpened cannula located at the first end to perforate a vial's rubber stopper and provide fluid communication between the vial and the first end;
• wherein the circular array of claws comprises a first set of claws, each claw of the first set of claws having a first surface extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the inner periphery, and a second surface extending from the first surface upwardly and radially outwardly towards the inner periphery, each of the claws in the first set of claws having a first length so as to cause the inner periphery to expand outwardly when the vial adapter is placed over a closure exceeding a first diameter, the second surface preventing withdrawal of the closure from the vial adapter without expanding the inner periphery outwardly;
• wherein the circular array of claws comprises a second set of claws, each of which has a second length that is longer than the first length of the first set of claws, each of the second set of claws adapted to deflect and plastically deform when the adapter is placed over a closure exceeding the first diameter, thereby permitting the second set of claws to accommodate the larger closure size;
• and
• a resealable needle-free vial located at the second end of the body that opens to permit fluid flow upon insertion of a blunt cannula and closes to prevent fluid flow upon removal of such blunt cannula.

A vial adapter for interconnecting with drug vial closures of different diameters, each closure having a seal, the vial adapter comprising:

• an adapter housing having a first end with an inner periphery and a circular array of claws extending radially inward from the inner periphery, and having a second end, the adapter housing having a thickness at the inner periphery;
• wherein the circular array of claws comprises a first set of claws each of which has a first length and a second set of claws each of which has a second length that is longer than the first length;
• wherein each claw of the first set of claws has a first surface extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the inner periphery, and a second surface extending from the first surface upwardly and radially outwardly towards the inner periphery, each of the claws in the first set of claws having the first length so as to cause the inner periphery to expand outwardly when the vial adapter is placed over a closure exceeding a first diameter, the second surface preventing withdrawal of the closure from the vial adapter without expanding the inner periphery outwardly;
• wherein each claw of the second set of claws is thinner than the inner periphery and plastic deformation of the second set of claws occurs at a location at which the second set of claws are joined to the inner periphery such that when the adapter is placed over a closure exceeding the first diameter, each of the second set of claws deflects upon contact with the closure and plastically deforms permitting the claws to deflect sufficiently to accommodate the larger closure;
• and
• a needle-free vial comprising a vial housing within which is disposed a deformable piston element that provides a fluid flow path through its interior, the piston element having a naturally open bore wherein the bore is closed to prevent fluid flow when the needle-free vial is not accessed and wherein the bore opens to its naturally open shape to permit fluid flow when the vial is accessed.