Devices and methods for transferring medicinal fluid to or from a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016120754-A1
Application number	US-201514932813-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Apr 12, 2006
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial comprises 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 comprises 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.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . A device for transferring diluent to, or medicinal fluid from, a vial, wherein the device comprises:
a connector configured to couple the device with a vial containing a medicinal fluid; an extractor channel configured to be placed in fluid communication with an interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial, the extractor channel configured to allow fluid to be transferred to or from the vial when the device is coupled with the vial; a regulator channel configured to extend between a reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial, the regulator channel configured to allow a regulating fluid to move between the reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial; a filter configured to be located between the reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial, the filter configured to prevent liquid from entering the reservoir via the regulator channel; wherein the device is configured such that, when a diluent is added to the vial via the extractor channel, gas displaced by the diluent moves from the interior of the vial to the reservoir via the regulator channel; and wherein the device is configured such that, when medicinal fluid is removed from the vial via the extractor channel, gas moves from the reservoir to the interior of the vial via the regulator channel.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the reservoir is configured to automatically expand or contract as fluid is inserted into or removed from the vial, thereby equalizing pressure within the vial.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the reservoir is circularly symmetric.

5 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the filter is a hydrophobic filter.

6 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the reservoir contains an initial volume of a gas and is configured to contract when the medicinal fluid is withdrawn from the vial via the extractor channel.

7 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the reservoir comprises a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the extractor channel, and the reservoir is configured to contract when the medicinal fluid is withdrawn from the vial via the extractor channel.

8 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the reservoir is symmetric about a latitudinal plane passing through a center of the reservoir.

9 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the regulator channel comprises a proximal regulator aperture, the proximal regulator aperture located more than halfway up along the length of the regulator channel, and is configured to permit gas to flow between the reservoir and the regulator channel.

10 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the device is further configured to be upright when diluent is added to the vial.

11 . The combination of the device of claim 2 and the vial.

12 . A method of manufacturing a device for transferring diluent to, or medicinal fluid from, a vial, the method comprising:
molding a device comprising:
a connector configured to couple the device with a vial containing a medicinal fluid;
an extractor channel configured to be placed in fluid communication with an interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial, the extractor channel configured to allow fluid to be transferred to or from the vial when the device is coupled with the vial;
a regulator channel configured to extend between a reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial, the regulator channel configured to allow a regulating fluid to move between the reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial;
wherein the device is configured such that, when a diluent is added to the vial via the extractor channel, gas displaced by the diluent moves from the interior of the vial to the reservoir via the regulator channel; and
wherein the device is configured such that, when medicinal fluid is removed from the vial via the extractor channel, gas moves from the reservoir to the interior of the vial via the regulator channel; and
positioning a filter within the regulator channel, wherein the filter is configured to be located between the reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial, and wherein the filter is configured to prevent liquid from entering the reservoir via the regulator channel.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein molding comprises molding two or more parts.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein molding comprises ultrasonic welding two or more molded parts.

15 . A method of withdrawing medicinal fluid from a vial, the method comprising:
coupling a device to a vial containing a medicinal fluid, wherein the device comprises:
a connector configured to couple the device with a vial containing a medicinal fluid;
an extractor channel configured to be placed in fluid communication with an interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial, the extractor channel configured to allow fluid to be transferred to or from the vial when the device is coupled with the vial;
a regulator channel configured to extend between a reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial, the regulator channel configured to allow a regulating fluid to move between the reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial;
a filter configured to be located between the reservoir and the interior of the vial when the device is coupled with the vial;
wherein the device is configured such that, when a diluent is added to the vial via the extractor channel, gas displaced by the diluent moves from the interior of the vial to the reservoir via the regulator channel; and
wherein the device is configured such that, when medicinal fluid is removed from the vial via the extractor channel, gas moves from the reservoir to the interior of the vial via the regulator channel.
permitting gas to displace withdrawn medicinal fluid from the vial as the gas moves from the reservoir to the interior of the vial via the regulator channel, while the filter prevents liquid from entering the reservoir via the regulator channel.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising contracting the reservoir as the medicinal fluid is withdrawn from the vial.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising pushing gas bubbles back into the interior of the vial via the extractor channel.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising maintaining a generally constant pressure in the vial.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising transferring medicinal fluid to a syringe unit.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
disconnecting the device from the vial; coupling the device to a container, or an adaptor connected to the container; and injecting medicinal fluid into the container.

21 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising flushing the medicinal fluid from the device into the container.

Assignees

• Icu Medical Inc

Inventors

• Fangrow Thomas F
• Warren Dee E
• Lopez Dan

Classifications

• A61J2200/76

  for fluid level · CPC title

• Y10T29/49885

  with coating before or during assembling · CPC title

• A61J1/1412

  Containers with closing means, e.g. caps · CPC title

• A61J1/2082

  for gas filtration · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title