Adaptors for removing medicinal fluids from a container
AssigneeICU Medical, Inc.
InventorThomas F. Fangrow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial includes a piercing member and a bag. The bag can be contained within the piercing member such that the bag is introduced to the vial when the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial. In some embodiments, the bag expands within the vial as liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, thereby regulating pressure within the vial. In other embodiments, a vial includes a bag for regulating pressure within the vial as liquid is removed therefrom. In some embodiments, a vial adaptor is coupled with the vial in order to remove the liquid. In some embodiments, as the liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, the bag expands within the vial, and in other embodiments, the bag contracts within the vial.
Claims28
A vial adaptor capable of removing medicinal fluid from a vial, the adaptor comprising:
- a cap connector capable of coupling the adaptor to the vial;
- a piercing member having an outer surface extending from a base of the cap connector towards a tip at a distal end of the piercing member, wherein the piercing member is capable of being inserted into the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial;
- a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the piercing member, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve is forced toward a proximal end of the piercing member when the piercing member is inserted into the vial, and wherein the sleeve remains exterior to the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial;
- and
- an extractor aperture disposed along a sidewall of the outer surface, wherein at least a portion of the extractor aperture has an elongate dimension, and wherein the extractor aperture provides a fluid passageway to an extractor channel, even if the extractor aperture is partially obstructed by a septum of the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial;
- wherein the extractor aperture is positioned closer to the base than to the tip of the piercing member.
A method of withdrawing medicinal fluid from a vial, the method comprising:
- providing a vial adaptor for coupling to the vial, the adaptor comprising:
- a cap connector capable of coupling the adaptor to the vial;
- a piercing member having a sidewall extending from a base of the cap connector, the piercing member capable of being inserted into the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial;
- a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the piercing member, wherein the sleeve has a first opening on a distal end of the sleeve and a second opening on a proximal end of the sleeve opposite the distal end before the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial;
- and
- an extractor aperture disposed along the sidewall of the piercing member, wherein at least a portion of the extractor aperture has an elongate dimension, and wherein the extractor aperture provides a fluid passageway to an extractor channel, even if the extractor aperture is partially obstructed by a septum of the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial;
- coupling the adaptor to the vial, wherein the extractor aperture is in fluid communication with an interior of the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial, wherein coupling the adaptor to the vial forces at least a portion of the sleeve toward a proximal end of the sidewall, and wherein the sleeve remains exterior to the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial;
- and
- withdrawing medicinal fluid from the vial.
A method of manufacturing a vial adaptor capable of removing medicinal fluid from a vial, the method comprising:
- forming the adaptor comprising:
- a cap connector capable of coupling the adaptor to the vial;
- a piercing member having a sidewall extending from a base of the cap connector, the piercing member capable of being inserted into the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial;
- and
- an extractor aperture along the sidewall of the piercing member, wherein at least a portion of the extractor aperture has an elongate dimension, and wherein the extractor aperture provides a fluid passageway to an extractor channel, even if the extractor aperture is partially obstructed by a septum of the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial;
- and
- positioning a sleeve around at least a portion of the piercing member, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve is forced toward a proximal end of the sidewall when the piercing member is inserted into the vial, wherein the sleeve remains exterior to the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial, and wherein the sleeve is not pierced when the adaptor is coupled to the vial.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.