Sliding reconstitution device for a diluent container
The present invention provides a connector device or reconstitution device (10) for placing a first container (12), such as a liquid container (e.g. flexible container or syringe), in fluid communication with a second container (14), such as a drug vial. The connector device (10) has a first sleeve (32) having a first end (36) and a second end (38). The first sleeve (32) has at the first end (36), a first attaching member (30) adapted to attach to the liquid container (12). The connector device (10) also has a second sleeve (34) having a first end (48) and a second end (50). A second attaching member (28) is attached on the second end (50) of the second sleeve (34) and is adapted to attach to the second container (14). The second attaching member (28) has a sealing member (84). A piercing member (76) projects within the sleeves (32,34) for providing a fluid flow path from the first container (12) to the second container (14). The connector device (10) is movable from the inactivated position to the activated position wherein the second sleeve (34) moves axially with respect to the first sleeve (32) and wherein the piercing member places the first container (12) and the second container (14) in fluid communication. The connector device (10) includes structure for preventing premature activation of the connector device (10).
The present invention relates generally to the delivery of a beneficial agent to a patient. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved device for reconstituting a beneficial agent to be delivered to a patient.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany drugs are unstable even for a short period of time in a dissolved state and therefore are packaged, stored, and shipped in a powdered or lyophilized state to increase their shelf life. In order for powdered drugs to be given intravenously to a patient, the drugs must first be placed in liquid form. To this end, these drugs are mixed or reconstituted with a diluent before being delivered intravenously to a patient. The diluents may be, for example, a dextrose solution, a saline solution, or even water. Typically the drugs are stored in powdered form in glass vials or ampules.
Other drugs, although in a liquid state, must still be diluted before administering to a patient. For example, some chemotherapy drugs are stored in glass vials or ampules, in a liquid state, but must be diluted prior to use. As used herein, reconstitution means to place the powdered drug in a liquid state, as well as, the dilution of a liquid drug.
The reconstitution procedure should be performed under sterile conditions. In some procedures for reconstituting, maintaining sterile conditions is difficult. Moreover, some drugs, such as chemotherapy drugs, are toxic and exposure to the medical personnel during the reconstitution procedure can be dangerous. One way of reconstituting a powdered drug is to inject the liquid diluent directly into the drug vial. This can be performed by use of a combination-syringe and syringe needle having diluent therein. In this regard, drug vials typically include a pierceable rubber stopper. The rubber stopper of the drug vial is pierced by the needle, and liquid in the syringe is then injected into the vial. The vial is shaken to mix the powdered drug with the liquid. After the liquid and drug are mixed, a measured amount of the reconstituted drug is then drawn into the syringe. The syringe is then withdrawn from the vial and the drug can then be injected into the patient. Another method of drug administration is to inject the reconstituted drug, contained in the syringe, into a parenteral solution container. Examples of such containers include a MINI-BAG™ flexible parenteral solution container or VIAFLEX® flexible parenteral solution container sold by Baxter Healthcare Corporation of Deerfield, Ill. These parenteral solution containers may already have therein dextrose or saline solutions. The reconstituted drug is injected into the container, mixed with the solution in the parenteral solution container and delivered through an intravenous solution administration set to a vein access site of the patient.
Another method for reconstituting a powdered drug utilizes a reconstitution device sold by Baxter Healthcare Corporation, product code No. 2B8064. That device includes a double pointed needle and guide tubes mounted around both ends of the needle. This reconstitution device is utilized to place the drug vial in fluid communication with a flexible-walled parenteral solution container. Once the connection is made by piercing a port of the flexible container with one end of the needle and the vial stopper with the other end of the needle, liquid in the solution container may be forced through the needle into the drug vial by squeezing the sidewalls of the solution container. The vial is then shaken to mix the liquid and drug. The liquid in the vial is withdrawn by squeezing air from the solution container into the vial. When compression of the flexible walled solution container is stopped, the pressurized air in the vial acts as a pump to force the liquid in the vial back into the solution container.
An improvement to this product is the subject of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,671 to Aalto et al. The device of the '671 patent includes a series of bumps on the inside of a sheath to grip a drug vial. These bumps hinder the inadvertent disconnection of the device with the vial.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,756 discloses a reconstitution device which, in an embodiment, includes an improved vial adaptor and bag adaptor that permit the permanent coupling of a vial and liquid container. The bag adaptor is rotatable relative to the vial adaptor to either block fluid communication in a first position or effect fluid communication in a second position.
Another form of reconstitution device is seen in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,073 to Quick et al. Yet another type of reconstitution device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,802 to Curley et al., entitled “Wet-Dry Syringe Package” which includes a vial adaptor having inwardly directed retaining projections to firmly grip the retaining cap lip of a drug vial to secure the vial to the vial adaptor. The package disclosed by Curley et al. is directed to reconstituting a drug by use of a liquid-filled syringe.
Other methods for reconstituting a drug are shown, for example, in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,321 to Pearson et al., entitled “Close Drug Delivery System”; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,411,662 and 4,432,755 to Pearson, both entitled “Sterile Coupling”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,733 to Lyons entitled “Mixing Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,209 to Zdeb entitled “Sliding Reconstitution Device With Seal.”
Other related patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,867 to Kilinger entitled “Wet-Dry Additive Assembly”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,329 to Kilinger entitled “Compact Syringe”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,261 to Kilinger entitled “Vial and Syringe Assembly”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,260 to Kilinger entitled “Vial and Syringe Combination”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,369 to Kilinger entitled “Apparatus for Transferring Liquid Between a Container and a Flexible Bag”; and German specification DE OS 36 27 231.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,209 to Zdeb (the '209 Patent), discloses a sliding reconstitution device which solved some of the problems discussed above. For example, the connector allowed for preattaching the device to a vial without piercing a closure of the vial. However, no seal was provided on the opposite end of the connector so the vial and device assembly had to be used immediately after connection or stored in a sterile environment, such as under a hood.
The '209 Patent discloses a first sleeve member that is mounted concentrically about a second sleeve member. The sleeve members can be moved axially with respect to each other to cause a needle or cannula to pierce a drug container and a diluent container to place the containers in fluid communication with each other.
The process for using the '209 connector required three distinct steps. The sleeves had to be rotated with respect to one another to move the device into an unlocked position. The sleeves were then moved axially with respect to one another to an activated position to pierce closures of the containers. The sleeves had to be rotated again to lock the sleeves in the activated position.
However, it is possible for the device of the '209 Patent to be easily and inadvertently disassembled when being moved to the activated position. The second sleeve is capable of sliding entirely though the first sleeve member and becoming disassociated into separate parts. This would require the medical personnel to either reassemble the device or dispose of it due to contamination.
Also, the device of the '209 Patent did not provide for a visual indication that the device was in the activated position. It was also possible for the device to be inadvertently moved to the inactivated position, by rotating the first and second sleeve members in a direction opposite of the third step described above.
Additionally, it was possible for the second container, which is frequently a vial, to rotate within the device. This could cause coring of the vial stopper which could lead to leakage of the vial stopper. Additionally it was possible for a vial to be misaligned while being attached to the device causing the attachment process to be difficult for medical personnel. Further, the connector only releasably attached to the vial. Removal of the vial could remove all tamper evident indications that the reconstitution step has occurred and could lead to a second unintended dosage of medicine to be administered. Finally, the seal had a sleeve that covered only a portion of the cannula. The sleeve of the seal was relatively resilient and had the tendency of pushing the connector away from the drug container when docked thereto.
Yet another connector for attaching a drug vial to a parenteral solution container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,020 (“the '020 patent”). The '020 patent discloses a connector having an end that docks to a drug vial and an opposite end that connects to the solution container. A shoulder and an end surface of the vial are held between first and second jaws of the vial end of the connector. The second jaws 71 terminate in a relatively sharp point that digs into and deforms the outermost end surface 94 of the vial sufficiently to accommodate dimensional variations between the shoulder and the outermost end surface of the vial. The marks that are left in the deformable end surface of the vial are intended to provide a tamper evident feature. However, tamper evident marks will not be left in vials that have a cap that is too short to impinge upon the sharp points.
The connector has a spike 25 that penetrates stoppers on the vial and on the solution container to place these containers in fluid communication. However, because the spike 25 extends outward beyond skirt sections 57, the connector of the '020 patent cannot be preattached to the fluid container or the drug container without piercing the stoppers of each. (The '020 patent states that the connector may be preassembled onto a drug vial, but there is no explanation of the structure of such a device. (Col. 6, lines 40-49)). This is undesirable as it initiates the time period in which the drug must be used, and typically this is a short period relative to the normal shelf-life of the product.
Also, the connector of the '020 patent does not provide a structure for preventing a docked vial from rotating. A closure of the vial can become damaged or cored upon rotation, which in turn, can lead to particles from the closure from entering the fluid that eventually passes to a patient. It can also lead to leakage of the closure of the vial.
Another connector for attaching a drug vial to a flexible container is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/986,580, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,270. This connector has a piercing member mounted between two sleeves slidably mounted to one another. The bag connecting end is sealed by a peelable seal material. The seal material must be removed before connecting to the flexible container. Removal of the seal material exposes the piercing member to the outside environment thereby breaching the hermetic seal of the piercing member.
Another connector for attaching a drug vial to a flexible solution container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,191 (“the '191 Patent”). The connector has a communicating portion having a communicating passage disposed at a top portion of the flexible container wherein one end of the communicating portion extends into the flexible container. The drug vial is fitted partially or wholly into an opposite end of the communicating portion. A membrane is disposed in the communicating passage for closing the passage. The connector also includes a puncturing needle unit mounted in the communicating passage for enabling the drug vial and flexible container to communicate with each other. When the puncturing needle unit is pressed externally through the flexible container, the needle breaks the membrane and opening of the drug vial to enable the drug vial and container to communicate with each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,315 and EP 0843992 disclose another connector for attaching a drug vial to a flexible solution container. Similar to the '191 patent, this patent and patent application have a communication device in the form of spike that is mounted within the flexible container. The communication device is externally pressed towards a drug vial to puncture the drug vial and communicate the drug vial with the flexible container.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,478,337 discloses a device for connecting a vial to a flexible container. This patent requires the vial to be shipped pre-assembled to the connector, and, therefore, does not allow for medical personnel to selectively attach a vial to the connector.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,386 discloses a device for connecting a vial to a medical fluid container. The device includes a screw cap 32 that must be removed before inserting the vial. Removing the screw cap, however, potentially exposes the piercing member 48 to contaminants as the piercing member is not hermetically sealed.
While the reconstitution devices of the prior art provide a number of advantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The present invention is provided to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks and problems of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a fluid reconstitution device for placing a first container, such as a diluent or liquid container (e.g. flexible container or syringe), in fluid communication with a second container, such as a drug vial. To this end, there is provided a connector device for establishing fluid communication between the liquid container and the drug vial. The connector has a piercing member having a first end and a second end and a central fluid pathway. The piercing member is mounted to the liquid container and has fluid accessing portions hermetically sealed from an outside environment. A vial receiving chamber is associated with the piercing member and is dimensioned to connect to the vial. The vial may be selectively attached to the device without piercing the closure of the vial and without breaching the hermetic seal of the fluid accessing portions of the piercing member. Means are provided for connecting the vial receiving chamber to the liquid container. The device is movable from an inactivated position, where the piercing member is outside the sidewalls and no fluid flows between the liquid container and the drug vial, to an activated position, where fluid flows through the fluid pathway between the liquid container and the drug vial. The device is movable from the inactivated position to the activated position by a force applied to the device outside the liquid container.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hub mounting the piercing member within the means for connecting the vial receiving chamber to the liquid container and a protuberance attached to the means for connecting the vial receiving chamber to the liquid container and dimensioned for allowing movement of the hub from a first position to a second position wherein the hub moves past the protuberance. When the device is moved from the activated position to a deactivated position, the protuberance prevents the hub from returning to the first position.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tamper evident strip associated with the device for indicating when the device has been moved from the inactivated position to the activated position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the device has a first attaching member in the form of a port connector having a port snap connected to a port sleeve. The port snap has a flange extending from an outer surface and is connected to a first sleeve member wherein the flange engages a protrusion on the first sleeve member. The port sleeve is adapted to attach to the liquid container. The port sleeve preferably has a membrane at one end.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the device includes a gripper assembly attached to the second end of the second sleeve. The gripper assembly has a base and an annular wall portion extending from the base and a plurality of fingers circumjacent the wall portion. The fingers are circumferentially spaced defining a vial receiving chamber adapted to receive the vial, wherein one finger has a tab adapted to engage an underside of the neck and one finger has a standing rib adapted to engage a side portion of the vial closure. A first annular rim extends from the base and a second annular rim extends collectively from the fingers and in spaced relation to the first annular rim.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the gripper assembly has a disk-shaped panel extending to bottom portions of the fingers. The panel has a center opening therethrough and supports an annular rim extending from the panel. The annular rim is adapted to form a fluid tight seal against a target site of a closure of a container.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sealing member preferably in the form of a septum having a disk having opposing first and second surfaces. The disk has a center hub having a generally thickened cross-section. The first surface has a first annular groove receiving the first annular rim. The second surface has a second annular groove receiving the second annular rim. The second surface further has an annular ridge having a sidewall tapering axially-outwardly, so that the annular ridge is capable of forming a fluid tight seal with the vial when the vial is received by the fingers of the gripper assembly.
According to another aspect of the invention, the thickened center hub substantially blocks the central fluid passageway of the piercing member as the center hub is penetrated by the piercing member but before the piercing member completely penetrates the piercing center hub.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a septum is provided that includes a cap positioned within the annular ridge. The cap is adapted to provide a fluid tight seal against a target site of a closure of a container.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the septum could include structure to provide a dual seal against the closure of the container.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the septum can take various forms and have rigid or flexible portions.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a connector is provided for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container. A first sleeve is adapted to be connected to the first container. A second sleeve is adapted to be connected to the second container. The second sleeve is associated with the first sleeve and is movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position. Means are provided for preventing premature activation of the connector.
According to another aspect of the invention, a locking device is provided for use in connection with a medical connector for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container. The medical connecter includes a first sleeve, a second sleeve and a piercing member for placing the first and second containers in fluid communication. The locking device includes a means for preventing premature activation of the medical connector.
According to another aspect of the invention, a locking device is provided for use in connection with a medical connector for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container. The medical connector includes a first sleeve, a second sleeve and a piercing member for placing the first and second containers in fluid communication. The device includes a member removably positioned on the first sleeve and abutting the second sleeve and a structure associated with the first sleeve or first container.
According to another aspect of the invention, a connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container includes a first sleeve member having a first end and a second end. It further includes a second sleeve member having a first end and a second end. The second sleeve is associated with the first sleeve member and is movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position. A piercing member is positioned in a sleeve for providing a fluid flow pathway between the first container and second container when the device is in the activated position. A locking member is associated with the first sleeve for preventing premature activation of the device.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container includes a first sleeve member having a first end and a second end. A port connector has a port snap connected to a port sleeve, and the port snap has a flange extending from an outer surface. The port connector is connected to the first sleeve at the first end of the sleeve and to the first container. A second sleeve member has a first end and a second end. The second sleeve member is associated with the first sleeve member and is movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position. An attaching member on the second end of the second sleeve is adapted to attach the second sleeve member to the second container. A piercing member is positioned in a sleeve for piercing a closure of a container and providing a fluid flow pathway between the first container and second container when the device is in the activated position. A clip is removably secured to the first sleeve and abuts the flange, or other structure associated with the first sleeve, and the second sleeve for preventing premature activation of the device.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container includes a first sleeve member having a first end, a second end and at least one raised protuberance proximate to the second end. A second sleeve member has a first end, a second end and an annular rim with at least one opening, the second sleeve member is associated with the first sleeve member and is movable rotationally and axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position. The raised protuberance and the opening of the rib may be misaligned by rotational movement of the sleeves when in the inactivated position. The sleeve members may be moved axially to the activated position when the raised protuberance and the opening of the rib are aligned. A piercing member is positioned in the sleeve members and projects from one of the first and second sleeve members for providing a fluid flow path between the first container and the second container.
According to another aspect of the invention, a connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container includes a first sleeve member having a first end and a second end. A second sleeve member has a first end and a second end. The second sleeve member is associated with the first sleeve member and is movable rotationally and axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position. The device includes integral means for preventing premature activation of the device. A piercing member is positioned in the sleeve members and projects from one of the first and second sleeve members for providing a fluid flow path between the first container and the second container.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container includes a first sleeve member having a first end and a second end. A second sleeve member has a first end and a second end. The second sleeve member is associated with the first sleeve member and is movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position. A locking member is arranged on the first and second sleeve member which cooperatively engages to provide resistance when the first and second sleeve members are axially moved from the inactivated position to the activated position. A piercing member is positioned in the chamber and projects from one of the first and second sleeve members for providing a fluid flow path between the first container and the second container.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a septum is provided for a connector wherein the connector has an end to attach to a closure of a container. The closure of the container has a target site, the connector further has a piercing member therein for piercing the target site of the closure. The septum includes a disk having opposing first and second surfaces. The disk further has a center portion. A rigid annular ring is supported by the center portion of the disk and extends from the second surface of the disk, the annular ring being capable of forming a fluid tight seal with the target site of the closure. An annular flexible collar is secured to the first surface of the disk.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of activating a connector device includes the steps of providing a connector device having first and second sleeve members wherein the first sleeve member is attached to a first container and the second sleeve member is attached to a second container wherein the first container contains a fluid and the second container contains a drug. The second container is positioned on a hard surface. A force is applied to the connector device in the direction of the second container such that the first sleeve member of the connector device moves in the direction of the second container and places the connector device into an activated position.
According to another aspect of the invention, when the connector is activated, the piercing member first pierces the closure of the vial and then pierces the closure of the flexible container.
According to another aspect of the invention, one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve may contain a lubricant additive that assists in providing a more uniform activation force. In one preferred embodiment, the first sleeve has a sleeve ridge and the second sleeve has a sleeve rib. One of the sleeve ridge and the sleeve rib has the lubricant additive. The second sleeve may have a discontinuous annulus to further assist in providing a more uniform activation force.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the connector utilizes a finger assembly dimensioned to conform to a vial to be attached to the connector. In one embodiment, the connector can be structured to utilize a first finger assembly adapted to connect to a vial of a first size, or to utilize a second finger assembly adapted to connect to a vial of a size different from the first size.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the connector provides a sealed fluid pathway when the connector is in the activated position.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. This disclosure is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the illustrated embodiments.
The present invention provides a connector device that is used to mix two substances within separate containers. More particularly, the invention provides a device to reconstitute a drug with a diluent. To accomplish the reconstitution of the drug, the invention provides an improved connecting device for attaching to a first container, commonly a flexible bag or a syringe, containing a diluent, to a second container, commonly a vial containing a drug to be reconstituted. The connector provides fluid communication between the two containers through a hermetically sealed piercing member so that the drug may be reconstituted, and delivered to a patient. What is meant by hermetically sealed is that the portions of the piercing member that contact the fluid and that pierce the closures of the two containers are sealed from the outside environment.
While the diluent will be a liquid, the beneficial agent may be either a powder or a lyophilized drug to be dissolved or a liquid drug to be reduced in concentration. The devices of the present invention provide the benefit of allowing medical personnel to selectively attach a vial of their choice to the connector. Thus, hospitals and pharmacies do not have to stock pre-packaged drug vial and connector assemblies. Further, the connectors of the present invention allow for docking a vial to the connector without breaching the hermetic seal of a piercing member associated with the connector and without piercing the closure of the vial. Thus, a vial may be pre-docked to the device of the present invention for essentially the full period the drug is active. Further, the device of the present invention can be activated by applying a force directly to the connector without necessarily contacting sidewalls of the first and second containers.
Referring to
The first container 12 is typically a flexible bag and is used to contain solutions for a patient to be received intravenously. Flexible containers are typically constructed from two sheets of a polymeric material forming sidewalls that are attached at their outer periphery to define a fluid tight chamber therebetween. In a preferred form of the invention, the fluid container is a coextruded layered structure having a skin layer of a polypropylene and a radio frequency susceptible layer of a polymer blend of 40% by weight polypropylene, 40% by weight of an ultra-low density polyethylene, 10% by weight of a dimer fatty acid polyamide and 10% by weight of a styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene block copolymer. These layered structures are more thoroughly set forth in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,527 which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. At one point on the periphery of the container 12 a tubular port 16 is inserted between the sidewalls to provide access to the fluid chamber. A second port 18 is shown for allowing access by a fluid administration set to deliver the reconstituted drug to a patient. However, the first container 12 can be any type of container, including, for example, a syringe barrel, suitable for containing a liquid to be used to reconstitute a drug.
The second container 14 (
The connector 10, as stated above, is adapted to connect to both the flexible bag 12 and the vial 14 and place the contents of the flexible bag 12 and the vial 14 into fluid communication with one another. As shown in
As is further shown in
The first sleeve 32 has a first end 36 and a second end 38. The first end 36 is adapted to receive and be connected to the port connector 30 as described in greater detail below. The second end 38 of the first sleeve 32 has a partial annular groove 40. The annular groove 40 receives a sealing member 42, preferably in the form of an o-ring. The sealing member 42 provides a seal between the first sleeve 32 and the second sleeve 34 and in a preferred form of the invention is disposed between the first sleeve 32 and the second sleeve 34. Of course, other sealing members such as gaskets, washers and similar devices could be used to achieve a seal between the sleeves 32,34 as is well known in the art and without departing from the present invention. Optionally, the second sleeve 34 could incorporate the annular groove 40 for retaining the sealing member 42. The first sleeve 32 further has a guide 44 at an inner surface of the sleeve 32, intermediate of the first end 36 and the second end 38. The guide 44 has an opening 46 adapted to receive a portion of the piercing assembly 26 during activation. As shown in
Additionally, as shown in
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Referring again to
The fingers 98a are spaced inwardly from the wall portion 90 to allow the fingers 98a to flex when a drug vial 14 is inserted into the gripper assembly 28. The fingers 98b have a rear portion contacting the wall portion 90 and generally do not flex as will be described in greater detail below. The fingers 98a,98b are generally trapezoidal in shape and are separated by gaps to define a vial receiving chamber that corresponds to the central opening 96 of the gripper assembly 28 for receiving a top of the vial 14. Though the present device utilizes six fingers 98a, 98b, it can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that more or fewer fingers could be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, eight fingers could be used.
What is meant by “fixedly attached” is that in order to remove the vial 14 from the connector 10, one would have to exert a force considerably in excess of that normally used to operate the device 10. Such a force likely would break, detach or noticeably deform one or more of the segmented fingers 98 or other portions of the connector 10 in the process.
As further shown in
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While three fingers 98a with resilient tabs 104 and three fingers 98b with standing ribs 106 is preferred, providing more or fewer fingers with resilient tabs 104 or standing ribs 106 would not depart from the scope of the invention. It is also preferable that the fingers 98a with the tabs 104 and the fingers 98b with the standing ribs 106 are disposed in alternating order. It may also be desirable to place a flexible restraining member, such as shrink wrap or the like, around the fingers 98a,98b to assist in gripping the vial 14.
The wall portion 90 further has a first annular rim 108 extending from the base 91. The finger assembly 92 has a bottom portion 93, or base portion, having a second annular rim 110 extending therefrom and towards the first annular rim 108. The second annular rim 110 is coradial with the first annular rim 103 and is longitudinally displaced therefrom. The rims 108,110 cooperate with the sealing member 84 to be described in greater detail below. In other embodiments disclosed herein, the base portion 93 of the finger assembly 92 could be substantially planar to cooperate with a substantially planar surface of a respective sealing member 84. The finger assembly 92 is ultrasonically welded to the inner surface of the wall portion 90. In this manner, the sealing member 84 is positioned between the base 91 of the wall portion 90 and the bottom portion 93 of the finger assembly 92 wherein the sealing member 84 hermetically seals the central passageway 35 and the piercing member 26 disposed therein.
As further shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the sealing member 84 could have a central opening. The central opening receives the piercing member 76 when the connector 10 is moved from its inactivated position to the activated position. The central opening would also allow for steam sterilization past the sealing member 84.
As also shown in
Alternatively, a seal material can be releasably secured to the wall portion 90 such as by heat sealing wherein the material can be peeled away by pulling a tab formed on the seal material. The wall portion 90 provides for a solid surface to mount the seal material therefore hermetically sealing the connector 10. The seal material can be made of aluminum foil, or of polymeric based material such as TYVEK®, and more preferably TYVEK® grade 1073B, or spun paper or other material that is capable of being peelably attached to the wall portion 90 and capable of providing a barrier to the ingress of contaminants. It is also contemplated that sealing can be accomplished through induction welding or other sealing techniques.
The container sleeve 126 is inserted into the port snap 124 and connected thereto preferably by solvent bonding an outer surface of the sleeve 126 to an inner surface of the port snap 124, thus forming a port connector sub-assembly. The membrane 128 of the sleeve 126 is positioned at the flange end of the port snap 124. As shown in
As shown in
In one preferred embodiment, the overall connection between the first container 12 and first sleeve 31 via the port connector assembly 30 is performed using an electron-beam process as disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application. Ser. No. 09/294,964 entitled “Method and Apparatus For Manipulating Pre-Sterilized Components In An Active Sterile Field,” which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Other methods of connection are also possible such as solvent bonding.
It is understood that in a preferred embodiment, the protrusion 49 and flange 130 are formed around a full periphery of the first sleeve 32 and port snap 124 respectively. These structures can also be in the form of an interrupted annular ridge, a plurality of bumps or even a single bump.
Typically, the connector 10 is connected to the flexible bag 12 prior to shipping. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the connector 10 could be connected to the first container 12 at different times.
In another embodiment, it is understood that the flexible bag 12 can be pre-attached to a portion of the port connector assembly 30 wherein further connection to the connector 10 is performed in a separate manufacturing process. This separate manufacturing process may be performed at a separate time. For example, in a first process, the port snap 126 is solvent bonded to the membrane tube 126. The flexible bag 12 is filled with the appropriate diluent. The membrane tube 126, with attached port snap 124, is then solvent bonded to the container port 16 of the flexible bag 12. It is understood that the flexible container 12 is then sealed because the membrane 128 of the membrane tube 126. This flexible bag subassembly can then be attached to the first sleeve 32, after the port septum 136 is inserted into the first sleeve 32, in a separate manufacturing process. This attachment may preferably be performed using the electron-beam process as described above.
Referring to
As also shown in
It is understood that when the connector 10 is in the inactivated position, the central passageway 35 is sealed in a substantially air-tight fashion at one end by the sealing member 84, at an opposite end by the second sealing member 136 and at the interface between the sleeves 32,34 by the sealing member 42. As the vial 14 and second sleeve 34 advance towards the flexible container 12 during the activation process, the volume of the central passageway 35 necessarily decreases thus pressurizing the air located in the central passageway 35. This pressurized air must be relieved before the connector 10 reaches the final activated position. Accordingly, when the o-ring 42 moves past the first section 56 of the second sleeve 34 to the larger diameter of the second section 58 of the second sleeve 34, the sealing member 42 no longer contacts the inner surface of the second sleeve 34 (
In the activated position shown in
The resulting mixture can then be delivered to a patient through appropriate tubing sets (not shown) attached to the second port 18 on the flexible container 12.
In both the sealing structures disclosed in
As generally shown in
The diaphragm member 304 is generally a flexible member that extends from the second surface 310 of the base 302. The diaphragm member 304 extends from a generally central portion of the base 302. The diaphragm member 304 may be considered to be frustoconical in shape. The diaphragm member 304 has a frustoconical or annular sidewall 312 and a membrane 316 extending across and connected to the annular sidewall 312. The membrane 316 of the diaphragm member 304 is adapted to confront the closure member of the vial 14. As shown in
The annular ridge 306 extends from the second surface 310 of the disk 302. The annular ridge 306 is circumjacent the diaphragm 304 and is positioned outwardly of the diaphragm member 304. The annular ridge 306 tapers axially-outwardly from a proximal end to a distal end. As explained in greater detail below, the annular ridge 306 is capable of forming a second fluid tight seal with the closure of the container. As shown in
When the vial 14 is connected to the connector 10, the sealing member 300 provides a dual seal on the vial 14. In particular, the diaphragm member 304 abuts the closure to provide a first fluid tight seal with the closure of the vial 14, and the annular ridge 306 abuts the closure to provide a second fluid tight seal with the closure of the vial 14. Specifically, the rounded protrusion 314 of the diaphragm member 304 indents the rubber stopper 20 at the target site 23 to form the first seal. A space 330 is maintained between the crimp ring 22 and the annular wall 312 and membrane 316 of the diaphragm member 304. The membrane 316 confronts the rubber stopper 20. The annular ridge 306 deflects outwardly against the crimp ring 22 to form the second seal. It is understood that other variations are possible to form a dual-seal such as with an o-ring.
As further shown in
As generally shown in
As the annular ring 406 is preferably integrally molded with the base 402, the annular ring 406 is a rigid member. The annular ring 406 extends from the second surface 410 of the base 402. The annular ring 406 is positioned at generally a central portion of the base 402. The ring 406 defines an opening 412, preferably a center opening 412, in the base 402. A membrane 414 is positioned in the center opening 412. In one embodiment, the membrane 414 may be considered a portion of the base 402 and integrally molded with the base 402. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane 414 is axially spaced from the base 402. This placement provides for enhanced sterilization and helps prevent the piercing member from coring a hole in the membrane 414 wherein the cored portion would block the piercing member 76. The membrane 414 is also designed to be spaced from the closure 20 of the vial 14 when the vial 14 is connected to the connector 10.
The rigid annular ring 406 has a protrusion 416 at a distal end. The protrusion 416 is tapered to a rounded end 418. The rigid annular ring 406 is capable of forming a fluid tight seal with the closure 20 of the vial 14.
With some vials 14, the rubber stoppers 20 used may have imperfections across a top surface of the stoppers 20 The stoppers 20 may have bumps at locations that would correspond to the target site on the stopper. The stoppers 20 may also have identification markings. These imperfections or markings can vary the height of the stopper 20. The rigidity of the septum 400 sufficiently deforms the stopper 20 without piercing the stopper 20 and helps provide a sufficient fluid tight seal regardless of such imperfections or markings across the rubber stopper 20.
As shown in
As generally shown in
The membrane 504 is positioned in the center opening 512 and closes the opening 512. The membrane has a generally planar section 518 with a depending leg 520. The leg 520 is connected to the inner surface 513 of the base 502.
As further shown in
As discussed, the septum 500 is formed in one preferred embodiment by a two-shot injection molded process. The base 502 of the septum 500 is a rigid plastic material. The membrane 504 and collar 522 of the septum 500 are a softer rubber material. The components are molded together simultaneously in a two-shot injection molded process as is known in the art. The septum 500 possesses the rigidity from the plastic material that provides a fluid tight seal with the closure while also possessing a soft material in the membrane for the piercing member to easily pierce through.
The locking device 602 preferably includes the gripping portion 605 for facilitating the securing and removal of the locking device onto, or off of, the sleeve 612. The gripping portion 605 generally includes a handle, which as shown in
The locking device 602 is shown secured to the connector device 600 in
The locking device 602 is preferably constructed of a semi-rigid polymeric material. The material preferably has rigidity sufficient so that when the locking device 602 is attached to the connector device 600 it prevents premature activation by not allowing axial movement of the first sleeve 612 and second sleeve 622 relative to one another. However, the material preferably is flexible enough such that the extensions 610 flex outward when the cylindrical first sleeve 612 is inserted or withdrawn in a latitudinal direction from the locking device 602 as shown in
In use, the locking device 602 is preferably applied to the first sleeve 612, where it remains until a user is prepared to activate the connector 600. The locking device 602 may be used in conjunction both with connectors 600 having first and second containers preattached, or in conjunction with connectors 600 which have means for attaching to the first and second containers. Preferably, at least the first container 12 is preattached. When it is desired to activate the connector 600, the user ensures the first and second containers 12,14 are attached, or attaches them as necessary. At that point the connector device 600 is ready to operate, as shown in
The use of the locking device 602 of the present embodiment in conjunction with the connector device 600 attached to the first container 12 and second container 14 has numerous benefits. The locking device 602 prevents premature or inadvertent activation of the connector 600. The locking device 602 maintains the connector 600 in an inactivated position even when a force, a force which would otherwise commence the activation process or result in activation of the connector device, is applied. A typical user would be unable to activate the connector device without first removing the locking device 602 because they would be unable to generate sufficient force to break the locking device 602. In addition, the locking device 602 according to the present embodiment is a highly visible indicator that the connector device is not in the activated position. In one preferred embodiment, the sleeves of the connector 600 could have a first color or colors. The locking device 602 could have a color perceptively different from the sleeves or other portions of the connector 600 so that one would readily see that the locking device 602 is installed on the connector 600 and has yet to be removed. The locking device 602 is furthermore inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use.
In this embodiment and as shown in
As further shown in
The second sleeve 644 preferably includes visual means for indicating the position of the openings 648 when the first sleeve 650 is mounted within the second sleeve 644, and would otherwise obscure a user from seeing where the openings 648 are located. One visual means for indicating the location of the openings 648, and hence, the proper relative rotational positions of the sleeves is shown in
In the embodiment depicted in
The second sleeve 644 is preferably associated with the first sleeve 650 as shown in
It is preferable that the cylindrical portion of the first sleeve 650 continue beyond the terminal end of the step to provide a constant annular surface 658 having a constant diameter which a machine can grasp consistently regardless of the rotational orientation of the first sleeve 650. This is useful in some machine manufacturing and sterilization processes because the machine can more easily grasp a cylinder having a constant diameter than an irregularly shaped cylinder having protuberances.
When the first sleeve member 650 and second sleeve member 644 are in an inactivated position as shown in
The rim 640 of the second sleeve member 644 and the raised protuberance 652 of the first sleeve member 650 operate cooperatively to maintain the sleeve members 650,644 in the inactivated position and to prevent premature activation of the connector device 10,600. The protuberance 652 and rim 640 can also be considered radial extensive elements. In one preferred embodiment, the radially extensive elements are integral with the sleeves 650,644. In the inactivated position the relative axial movement of the first sleeve 650 in the direction of arrow A is restricted by the engagement of the flange 660 of the first sleeve 650 and the shelve 649 of the second sleeve 644. The relative axial movement of the first sleeve 650 in the direction of arrow B is also restricted unless the raised protuberance 652 of the first sleeve 650 is aligned with the opening 648 of the rim 640 on the second sleeve 644. When they are not aligned, the raised protuberance 652 contacts the rim 640 and prevents axial movement of the sleeves 644,650. Even though the axial movement is restricted when the sleeves are misaligned, rotational movement is still possible. When the sleeves 644,650 have been rotated such that they are properly aligned, a user need only apply that force which is required to pierce the closures of the containers 12,14 to which the sleeves 644,650 are attached in order to move the sleeves 644,650 to the activated position.
The proper alignment of the sleeves 644,650 includes aligning the raised protuberances 652, or steps, with the openings 648 of the rim 640 as shown for one embodiment in
The visual means of indicating alignment of the sleeves 644, 650 may also be used during manufacturing of the connector device to ensure misalignment of the sleeves. During manufacture and shipping of the connector device it is preferable to have the sleeves 644, 650 misaligned to prevent premature activation. Therefore, when the first and second sleeve members 644, 650 are joined during manufacture they are intentionally misaligned. This may be accomplished in a number of different ways. One method of insuring misalignment is to assemble the first and second sleeve members 644, 650 without respect to the alignment or misalignment of the sleeves. The alignment is then checked, preferably using a visual indicator. The visual indicator may include the cut outs 662 or raised segments 664 which are described above and are commonly referenced by a user to check for alignment. The checking of the alignment is preferably automated in the manufacturing process, and may be performed by a programmed camera system. When the camera system detects sleeves which are misaligned, they are allowed to pass through. When the camera system detects aligned sleeves, they are purposefully misaligned, and preferably rechecked, before being allowed to pass through.
Another acceptable method of ensuring misalignment during manufacture is to initially position the sleeves 644, 650 such that they are purposefully misaligned. The misalignment may then be checked using a camera or other automated means if desired.
As discussed with respect to prior embodiments, a first sleeve member 702 has a first end preferably attached to a first container and a second end 706 preferably associated with and operably connected to the second sleeve member 704. Here, the second end 706 includes a flange 708, or stop. A piercing member 710 is positioned within the first and second sleeves 702, 704. The first sleeve member 702 preferably includes an sleeve groove 712 and a sleeve ridge 714 which generally extend about an exterior surface of the first sleeve 702. The sleeve ridge 714 may be considered a radial extension or radially extensive member. The sleeve groove 712 is spaced from the sleeve ridge 714 along the axial length of the first sleeve 702. The first sleeve 702 preferably also includes an elevated sealing surface 716 which is generally in contact with a sealing member 742, preferably an o-ring, similar to the structure described in previous embodiments.
The second sleeve 704 is associated with the first sleeve 702 and is arranged so the sleeves 702,704 may move axially with respect to one another from an inactivated position to an activated position. The second sleeve 704 preferably includes a sleeve rib 720 proximate to a first end 722. The sleeve rib 720 may also be considered a radial extension or a radially extensive member. The second sleeve 704 also preferably includes a sealing surface 724 which contacts the o-ring and provides a hermetic seal between the first sleeve 702 and the second sleeve 704 when the connector device 700 is in the inactivated position as shown in
The sleeve ridge 714 on the first sleeve 702 in conjunction with the sleeve rib 720 of the second sleeve 704 together form a locking member 726. The locking member 726 prevents the premature activation of the connector device 700 by providing mechanical resistance to the axial movement of the first sleeve member 702 and second sleeve member 704. The sleeve ridge 714 and sleeve rib 720, forming the locking member 726, are coactive to provide a resistance force that prevents relative movement of the sleeves 702,704. The structure of the members 714,720 will provide a predetermined resistance force. This resistance force can be altered based on the structure of the members 714,720. The locking members 714,720 are disassociated when a force greater than the resistance force is provided to the sleeves 702,704 wherein the sleeves 702,704 are movable to the activated position. The first sleeve 702, therefore, has a localized portion that generates a force in cooperation with a member on the second sleeve 704 when the sleeves 702,704 are moved from the inactivated position. The localized portion and member, upon engagement, provide a localized and distinct force at the engagement point at the sleeves 702,704 to prevent premature activation of the device. The second sleeve 704 could also be considered to have a localized portion that cooperates with a member on the first sleeve 702.
It is further understood that the sleeve ridge 714 and sleeve rib 720 can be complete annular structures on the respective sleeves 702,704, thus extending around a full circumference of the sleeves 702,704. It is also understood that one or both of the sleeve ridge 714 and sleeve rib 720 could not extend around a full circumference and be segmented. For example,
The connector device 700 of the present embodiment is preferably activated, in the same manner as described in conjunction with
As shown in
When the connector device 700 is moved from an inactivated position to an activated position, it goes through a transitional position. The transitional position includes any position wherein the sleeves 702,704 have been moved towards the activated position from the inactivated position, but have not yet reached the point of no return. It is preferable that the hermetic seal between the first sleeve member 702 and the second sleeve member 704 is maintained throughout the entire transitional position. The hermetic seal is preferably provided by the sealing member 742 positioned between the first and second sleeve members 702,704. The seal formed by the o-ring is preferably maintained throughout the transitional position by keeping the o-ring in contact with the sealing surface 716 of the first sleeve 702 and the sealing surface 724 of the second sleeve 704 throughout the transitional position. The o-ring slides along the sealing surface 724 when the first sleeve 702 is moved axially with respect to the second sleeve 704. Some movement of the o-ring along sealing surface 716 may also occur. The length of the sealing surface 724 is preferably greater than the distance traveled by the first sleeve 702 relative to the second sleeve 704 in going from the inactivated position to the point of no return. Therefore, throughout the movement of the sleeves 702,704 through the transitional position, the hermetic seal is preserved by the o-ring. It is not until the sleeve ridge 714 of the first sleeve 702 and the sleeve rib 720 of the second sleeve 704 have moved past one another that the o-ring moves clear of the sealing surface 724, and the hermetic seal at the junction of the first and second sleeves is broken. Accordingly, as shown in
As discussed above, several structures are possible and contemplated to prevent premature activation of the connector device. It is understood that these structures could be combined as desired in alternative embodiments of the device. For example, a connector device could include both the locking clip of
As generally shown in
The membrane 803 is positioned in the center opening 808 and closes the opening 808. The membrane 803 has a generally planar section 816 with a depending leg 818. The leg 818 is connected to the inner surface 810 of the base 802.
As further shown in
As discussed, the septum 800 is formed in one preferred embodiment by a two-shot injection molding process. The base 802 of the septum is a rigid plastic material. The collar 822 of the septum 800 is a softer rubber-like material. The components are molded together simultaneously in a two-shot injection molding process as is known in the art. The septum 800 of this embodiment therefore possesses the rigidity from the plastic material that provides rigidity to the septum 800 when it is pierced, and also posses the softness or flexibility of the rubber-like material where it contacts the connector to provide a fluid tight seal.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the device 10 of the present invention can be equipped with features that provide a generally consistent activation force among devices manufactured by an automated process.
In one feature, the device 10 can be configured to reduce friction between the sliding sleeves 32,34 and therefore, allow the first sleeve 32 and the second sleeve 34 to slide more easily with respect to one another. It is understood that this feature can also be utilized in the sleeves of the other embodiments such as sleeves 702,704 of
For example, as shown in
In one preferred embodiment, the first sleeve 32 is injected molded wherein a plastic lubricant additive is used such as Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polysiloxane. The lubricant additive will generally help in the sliding movement of the sleeves 32,34. In particular, the surface lubricity is useful for the portions of the sleeves 32,34 that engage one another such as the sleeve ridge 714 and the sleeve rib 720 as described above. Consequently, the sleeves 32,34,702,704 slide with respect to each other more uniformly therefore providing a more uniform activation force.
The polysiloxane lubricant used can be any known organosiloxane, or its chemical derivatives, and is preferably a polyalkylsiloxane, more preferably polydimethylsiloxane, and even more preferably ultra-high molecular weight (“UHMW”) polydimethylsiloxane. The polysiloxane may comprise a high molecular weight polysiloxane (e.g., multibase siloxane masterbatch), low molecular silicone oil (e.g., fluorinated silicone) and mixtures thereof. Other suitable polysiloxanes include vinyl terminated siloxanes, hydroxyl terminated siloxanes, hydride terminated siloxanes, silanol terminated siloxanes, aminopropyl terminated siloxanes, carbinol(hydroxyl) siloxanes, acryloxy terminated siloxanes, polydimethylsiloxanes and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the polysiloxane comprises polymethylphenylsiloxane, polydiphenylsiloxane, vinylmethylsiloxane, vinyldimethyl-siloxane, vinylmethoxysiloxane, and mixtures thereof.
It is understood that other different types of plastic lubricant additives can be used in the present invention. The lubricant additive could include fatty amides (e.g., eurucamide), metallic stearates (e.g., zinc stearate), waxes/powders (e.g., PTFE or polyethylene wax), esters (e.g., sucrose ester, glyclerol ester), high molecular weight polysiloxane, low molecular silicone oil (e.g., fluorinated silicone) and process oil (e.g., mineral oil) and blends thereof. The sleeves 32,34 can be also be formed from a variety of different plastics, including polycarbonate. The lubricant additive could take various different physical forms such as a powder, bead, pellet, or liquid depending on process, condition or material requirements of the component. In addition to an injection molding process, other processes can be used such as compression and transfer molding and casting and Reaction Injection Molding (RIM). Extrusion methods could also be used.
Using the plastic lubricant additive provides several advantages. First, the surface lubricity assists in the sliding movement of the sleeves 32,34,702,704, particularly, for example, during the interaction of the sleeve ridge 714 and sleeve rib 720, providing a more uniform activation force. The lubricant additive further allows for moderating the activation force. Using the lubricant additive during the injection molding process is simple and efficient. This process further accelerates part assembly and lowers manufacturing costs. The lubricant additive, such as UHMW polysiloxane, is essentially non-migratable, thus minimizing contamination and functionality degradation concerns. Using the lubricant additive in the injection molding process also provides complete and uniform surface coverage. This process also eliminates the need for a solvent such as in silicone coating, making the process more environmentally friendly.
It is further understood that the plastic lubricant additive could be used in just one of the first sleeve 32 and the second sleeve 34. Lubricant additives could also be used in both sleeves 32,34 if desired. It is further understood that the plastic lubricant additive could be used in other components of the device 10. In one example, a lubricant additive could be utilized in the process forming the plastic spike of the piercing assembly. Alternatively, the plastic spike may have a silocone coating separately applied. In either case, the lubricant can help in facilitating spike insertion into the first container 12.
Lubricants can also be associated with the sleeve 32 via other methods. For example, as shown in
This feature allows devices 10 to be generally mass-produced and that are generally identical, but with a change in a single part, the finger assembly 92,862, the device can then accept vials of different sizes. While two different sized finger assemblies 92,862 and vials 14 are shown in
As further shown in
As also shown in
It is understood that when the connector 10 is in the inactivated position, the central passageway 35 is hermetically sealed from an outside environment at one end by the sealing member 84, at an opposite end by the second sealing member 136 and at the interface between the sleeves 32,34 by the sealing member 42. As the vial 14 and second sleeve 34 advance towards the flexible container 12 during the activation process, the volume of the central passageway 35 necessarily decreases thus pressurizing the air located in the central passageway 35. This pressurized air must be relieved before the connector 10 reaches the final activated position. Accordingly, when the o-ring 42 moves past the first section 56 of the second sleeve 34 to the larger diameter of the second section 58 of the second sleeve 34, the sealing member 42 no longer contacts the inner surface of the second sleeve 34 (
In the activated position shown in
As discussed, the diluent from the flexible bag 12 is passed through the piercing member 76 and into the vial 14 to reconstitute the drug contained in the vial 14. Once the drug is reconstituted, the resulting mixture is then passed completely back through the piercing member 76 and into the flexible container 12, the drug vial 14 and second sleeve 34 can be pulled back away from the flexible container 12. As shown in
The resulting mixture then resides in the flexible container 12. The resulting mixture can then be delivered to a patient through appropriate administration line sets (not shown) attached to the second port 18 on the flexible container 12.
As described above, the devices of the present invention contain many different features. It is understood that the different features of the several different embodiments described can be interchanged or combined as desired to form a device of the present invention that can also be used in the methods of the present invention.
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. A locking device for use in connection with a medical connector for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container, the medical connecter including a first sleeve, a second sleeve and a piercing member for placing the first and second containers in fluid communication, the locking device comprising a means for preventing premature activation of the medical connector.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing premature activation comprises means for preventing movement of the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing premature activation comprises a member adapted to be positioned on a sleeve.
4. The.device of claim 3 wherein the member comprises a means for connecting the member to the sleeve and a means for locking the sleeve in an inactivated position.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the connecting means is adapted to extend about a portion of the sleeve when the member is positioned on the sleeve.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the connecting means further comprises extensions adapted to extend about a portion of an exterior surface of the sleeve when the member is positioned on the sleeve.
7. The device of claim 4 wherein the locking means comprises a member adapted to abut the other sleeve and a structure associated with the first container to restrict movement of the second sleeve with respect to the first sleeve.
8. The device of claim 4 wherein the connecting means and the locking means are integral.
9. The device of claim 2 wherein the means for preventing movement of the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve is a member adapted to be associated with the sleeves so as to maintain the sleeves in an essentially fixed relative position.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing premature activation comprises a clip adapted to be attached to the first sleeve, the clip having structure adapted to abut the second sleeve and a structure associated with the first container.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the clip comprises a penannular cylinder that flexes to allow the clip to be removably connected to the first sleeve.
12. The device of claim 10 wherein the clip has a gripping device.
13. A locking device for use in connection with a medical connector for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container, the medical connecter including a first sleeve, a second sleeve and a piercing member for placing the first and second containers in fluid communication, the device comprising a member adapted to be removably positioned on the first sleeve and further adapted to be associated with the second sleeve so as to maintain the second sleeve in an essentially fixed position relative to the first sleeve.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the member has a first portion adapted to abut the second sleeve and a second portion adapted to abut a structure associated with the first container.
15. The device of claim 13 wherein the member comprises a clip.
16. The device of claim 13 wherein the member comprises a securing portion for securing the member to the first sleeve.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein the securing portion is adapted to extend about a portion of the first sleeve.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein the securing portion is a penannular cylinder having an opening sized to allow the first sleeve to be snapped into the penannular cylinder.
19. The device of claim 17 wherein the securing portion is a penannular cylinder having an opening sized to allow the first sleeve to be snapped out of the penannular cylinder
20. The device of claim 18 wherein the penannular cylinder has lead-in sections.
21. The device of claim 14 further comprising a handle connected to the securing portion.
22. The device of claim 21 wherein the handle comprises two fins extending from the securing portion.
23. The device of claim 22 wherein the fins are positioned such that they may be gripped simultaneously by a user.
24. The device of claim 22 wherein the fins extend at an angle away from one another from the securing portion of the device.
25. The device of claim 13 wherein the device has a color perceptively different from a color associated with the second sleeve.
26. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve;
- a second sleeve, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position; and
- a locking member associated with the sleeves to maintain the sleeves in a fixed position operative to prevent premature activation of the device.
27. The connector device of claim 26 further comprising a piercing member positioned in the sleeves for providing a fluid flow pathway between the first container and second container when the device is in the activated position.
28. The connector device of claim 26 wherein the locking member comprises means for preventing premature activation of the connector device.
29. The connector device of claim 28 wherein the means for preventing premature activation of the connector device includes means for preventing axial movement of the first sleeve and second sleeve relative to one another.
30. The connector device of claim 28 wherein the means for preventing premature activation comprises a clip adapted to be attached to the first sleeve.
31. The connector device of claim 30 wherein the clip has means for connecting the clip to the first sleeve and means for locking the sleeves in an inactivated position.
32. The connector device of claim 31 wherein the connecting means is adapted to extend about a portion of the first sleeve.
33. The device of claim 32 wherein the connecting means comprises extensions which are adapted to extend about a portion of an exterior surface of the first sleeve.
34. The device of claim 31 wherein the locking means comprises a member adapted to abut the second sleeve and a structure associated with the first sleeve to restrict axial movement of the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve.
35. The device of claim 26 wherein the locking member has a color perceptively different from the second sleeve.
36. The device of claim 30 wherein the clip is a penannular cylinder.
37. The device of claim 30 wherein the clip flexes to allow the member to be snapped onto and off of the first sleeve.
38. The device of claim 30 wherein the clip further has a gripping means.
39. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve;
- a second sleeve, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position;
- a piercing member positioned in the sleeves for providing a fluid flow pathway between the first container and second container when the device is in the activated position; and
- means for selectively preventing movement of the piercing member to establish the fluid flow pathway in the activated position.
40. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve having a first end and a second end;
- a port connector adapted to be connected to the first container and being connected to the first end of the first sleeve;
- a second sleeve having a first end and a second end, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and is movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position;
- an attaching member on the second end of the second sleeve adapted to attach the second sleeve to the second container;
- a piercing member positioned in a sleeve to provide a fluid flow pathway between the first container and second container when the device is in the activated position; and
- a clip removably secured to the first sleeve and abutting the port connector and the second sleeve for preventing premature activation of the device.
41. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve having a first end and a second end, the first sleeve having a protuberance proximate the second end, the first end adapted to connect to the first container; and
- a second sleeve having a first end and a second end, the second sleeve having a rim with an opening, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable rotationally and axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position, the second end adapted to connect to the second container,
- wherein the protuberance and the opening of the rim are misaligned in the inactivated position to prevent relative movement of the sleeves, wherein the sleeves can be rotated to align the protuberance with the opening in the rim wherein the sleeves can be moved axially to the activated position.
42. The connector device of claim 41 further comprising a piercing member positioned in the sleeves to provide a fluid flow path between the first container and the second container when the device is in the activated position.
43. The connector device of claim 41 wherein the protuberance is a raised segment extending along an outer surface of the first sleeve and having a planar surface
44. The connector device of claim 43 wherein the raised segment has a ramp at one end.
45. The connector device of claim 41 wherein the rim extends radially inwardly from an inner surface of the second sleeve.
46. The connector device of claim 41 wherein the rim is annular.
47. The connector device of claim 41 wherein the opening of the rim comprises a pair of openings.
48. The connector device of claim 41 wherein the rim has a detent proximate the opening.
49. The connector device of claim 41 further comprising means for visually indicating that the protuberance and the opening are aligned.
50. The connector device of claim 49 wherein the means for visually indicating comprises a cut-out in the second sleeve.
51. The connector device of claim 49 wherein the means for visually indicating comprises a raised segment on the second sleeve.
52. The connector device of claim 41 further comprising tactile means for indicating the protuberance and the opening are aligned.
53. The connector device of claim 52 wherein the tactile means for indicating alignment comprise detents located on the rim proximate to the opening which contact the protuberance when the sleeves are rotated.
54. The connector device of claim 41 wherein the protuberance is a step that slides through the opening when the second sleeve is moved from the inactivated to the activated position.
55. The connector device of claim 54 wherein the step terminates in a ramp.
56. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve having a first end and a second end, the first sleeve having a pair of protuberances proximate the second end, the first end adapted to connect to the first container;
- a second sleeve having a first end and a second end, the second sleeve having an annular rim having a pair of openings, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable rotationally and axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position, the second end adapted to connect to the second container; and
- wherein the protuberances and the openings of the rim may be misaligned by rotational movement of the sleeves to define the inactivated position, and the sleeves may be rotated wherein a respective protuberance is aligned with a respective opening wherein the sleeves may be moved axially to the activated position.
57. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container through a fluid flowpath wherein there is no flow in the flowpath when the device is in an inactivated position and wherein there is flow in the flowpath when the device is in an activated position, the device comprising:
- a first sleeve;
- a second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and is movable with respect thereto from the inactivated position to the activated position; and
- integral means associated with the sleeves for preventing premature activation of the device.
58. The connector device of claim 57 further comprising a piercing member positioned in the sleeve members and projecting from one of the first and second sleeve members for providing a fluid flow path between the first container and the second container;
59. The connector device of claim 57 wherein the integral means for preventing premature activation comprises a locking member allowing axial movement of the first and second sleeve members from the inactivated position to the activated position only when the first sleeve and the second sleeve are in a predetermined position.
60. The connector device of claim 57 wherein the integral means for preventing premature activation comprises a raised protuberance on the first sleeve and a rim having an opening on the second sleeve wherein axial movement of the first and second sleeves from the inactivated position to the activated position may occur only when the raised protuberance and opening of the rim are aligned.
61. The connector device of claim 60 further comprising visual means for indicating the raised protuberance and the opening are aligned.
62. The connector device of claim 61 wherein the visual means comprises a cut-out in the second sleeve.
63. The connector device of claim 61 wherein the visual means comprises a ridge on the second sleeve.
64. The connector device of claim 60 further comprising tactile means for indicating the raised protuberance and the opening are aligned.
65. The connector device of claim 64 wherein the tactile means comprises a detent located on the rim proximate to the opening, wherein the detent contacts the raised protuberance when the sleeves are moved rotationally.
66. The connector device of claim 57 wherein the integral means for preventing premature activation comprises a locking member positioned on the first sleeve and the second sleeve, the locking members being coactive to provide a resistance force that prevents relative movement of the sleeves, wherein the locking members are disassociated when a force greater than the resistance force is provided to the sleeves wherein the sleeves are movable to the activated position.
67. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container through a fluid flowpath wherein there is no flow in the flowpath when the device is in an inactivated position and wherein there is flow in the flowpath when the device is in an activated position, the device comprising:
- a first sleeve;
- a second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and is movable with respect thereto from the inactivated position to the activated position; and
- a radially extensive element integral on each sleeve, the elements configured to interact wherein the interaction prevents premature activation of the device.
68. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container;
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position; and
- a locking member positioned on the first sleeve and the second sleeve, the locking members being coactive to provide a resistance force that prevents relative movement of the sleeves, wherein the locking members are disassociated when a force greater than the resistance force is provided to the sleeves wherein the sleeves are movable to the activated position.
69. The connector device of claim 68 further comprising a piercing member positioned within the sleeves for providing a fluid flow path between the first container and the second container.
70. The connector device of claim 68 wherein the locking members comprise annular bumps on the first sleeve and the second sleeve.
71. The connector device of claim 68 wherein the locking members include an annular groove on the first sleeve member.
72. The connector device of claim 68 further comprising a sealing member disposed between the first and second sleeves.
73. The connector device of claim 72 wherein the sealing member is an o-ring.
74. The connector device of claim 72 wherein sealing member hermetically seals the junction of the first and second sleeves when the locking ridges are cooperatively engaged.
75. The connector device of claim 74 wherein the second sleeve comprises a shelve upon with which the sealing member is sealingly engaged when the locking ridges are cooperatively engaged.
76. The connector device of claim 74 wherein axial movement of the second sleeve with respect to the first sleeve moves the locking ridges from a cooperatively engaged position to an unengaged position.
77. The connector device of claim 75 wherein the length of axial movement of the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve to move the locking ridges from a cooperatively engaged position to an non-engaged position is less than the length of the shelve with which the sealing member is sealingly engaged.
78. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container, the first sleeve having a radial extension; and
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve having a radial extension, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position,
- wherein the radial extensions are coactive to provide a resistance force that prevents relative movement of the sleeves, wherein the radial extensions are disassociated when a force greater than the resistance force is provided to the sleeves wherein the sleeves are movable to the activated position.
79. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container; and
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position,
- wherein the first sleeve has a localized portion that generates a force in cooperation with a member on the second sleeve when the sleeves move from the inactivated position to the activated position.
80. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container;
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position; and
- a locking member positioned on the first sleeve and the second sleeve, the locking members being cooperatively positioned such that upon movement from the inactivated position, the members engage to provide a localized and distinct force at the engagement wherein premature activation of the device is prevented.
81. The connector of claim 80 wherein the force magnitude is controlled by a length of the locking member.
82. The connector of claim 80 wherein the force magnitude is controlled by a pitch of the locking member.
83. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container, the first sleeve having a ridge;
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve being slidably mounted to the first sleeve, the second sleeve having a rib;
- a piercing member positioned within the sleeves, the piercing member having a fluid pathway for providing a fluid flow path from the first container to the second container;
- the sleeves being movable from an inactivated position wherein the piercing member is not in fluid communication with the containers, to an activated position wherein the piercing member is in fluid communication with the containers, wherein the ridge engages the rib to provide a predetermined amount of resistance with the sleeves are moved from the inactivated position to the activated position.
84. The connector device of claim 83 wherein the ridge is spaced from the rib when the sleeves are in the inactivated position.
85. The connector device of claim 84 wherein the first sleeve has a groove, the rib being received by the groove when the sleeves are in the inactivated position.
86. The connector device of claim 83 wherein the ridge and rib are engaged when the sleeves are in the inactivated position.
87. The connector device of claim 83 wherein the ridge and rib are in confronting relation when the sleeves are in the inactivated position.
88. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container, the first sleeve having a ridge;
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve being slidably mounted to the first sleeve, the second sleeve having a rib;
- a piercing member positioned within the sleeves, the piercing member having a fluid pathway for providing a fluid flow path from the first container to the second container; and
- a locking clip removably positioned on the first sleeve and adapted to abut the second sleeve and a structure associated with the first sleeve,
- wherein, after removal of the locking clip from first sleeve, the sleeves being movable from an inactivated position wherein the piercing member is not in fluid communication with the containers, to an activated position wherein the piercing member is in fluid communication with the containers, wherein the ridge engages the rib to provide a predetermined amount of resistance with the sleeves are moved from the inactivated position to the activated position.
89. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container, the first sleeve having a first radial extension;
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve having a second radial extension, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position,
- wherein in the inactivated position, the sleeves have a first relative position such that a seal is provided between the sleeves and wherein the radial extensions are coactive to provide a force to resist displacement of the sleeves from the first relative position, where upon movement of the sleeves from the inactivated position, such force is overcome so as to displace the sleeves from the first relative position wherein such displacement effects breaking such seal.
90. The connector of claim 89 wherein the seal is provided by an o-ring positioned between the first sleeve and the second sleeve.
91. A septum for a medical connector, wherein the connector has an end to attach to a closure of a container, the closure of the container having a target site, the connector further having a piercing member therein for piercing the target site of the closure, the septum comprising:
- a disk having opposing first and second surfaces, the disk further having a center portion;
- a rigid annular ring supported by the center portion of the disk and extending from the second surface of the disk, the annular ring being capable of forming a fluid tight seal with the target site of the closure; and
- a flexible collar secured to the first surface of the disk.
92. The septum of claim 91 wherein the first surface of the disk has a recessed portion and the collar is secured within the recessed portion.
93. The septum of claim 91 wherein the disk is constructed of a first material and the collar is constructed of a second material.
94. The septum of claim 91 wherein the first material is a relatively rigid material in relation to the second material.
95. The septum of claim 91 wherein the collar has an annular groove.
96. The septum of claim 91 wherein the disk and collar are generally annular.
97. The septum of claim 91 wherein the annular ring has a rounded distal end.
98. A septum for a medical connector, wherein the connector has an end to attach to a closure of a container, the closure of the container having a target site, the connector further having a piercing member therein for piercing the target site of the closure, the septum comprising:
- a rigid plastic base having opposing first and second surfaces and a groove in a recessed portion in the first surface, the base having an annular ring extending from the second surface of the disk, the annular ring having a rounded distal end capable of forming a fluid tight seal with the closure, the ring defining a center opening; and
- a rubber collar having an annular groove for positioning and sealing the septum on the connector,
- wherein the base and rubber collar are formed simultaneously in a two-shot injection molded process.
99. A septum for a medical connector, wherein the connector has an end to attach to a closure of a container, the closure of the container having a target site, the connector further having a piercing member therein for piercing the target site of the closure, the septum comprising:
- a rigid plastic base having opposing first and second surfaces and a groove in a recessed portion in the first surface, the base having an annular ring extending from the second surface of the disk, the annular ring having a rounded distal end capable of forming a fluid tight seal with the closure, the ring defining a center opening; and
- a rubber collar having an annular groove for positioning and sealing the septum with the connector,
- wherein the base and rubber collar are formed in an insert-molding process.
100. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container;
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve being slidably mounted to the first sleeve;
- a lubricant associated with one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve;
- the sleeves being movable from an inactivated position to an activated position wherein the piercing member is adapted to be in fluid communication with the first container and the second container.
101. The connector device of claim 100 further comprising a piercing member positioned in the sleeves, the piercing member having a fluid pathway adapted to provide fluid communication between the first container and the second container.
102. The connector device of claim 100 wherein the one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve is formed in an injecting molding process, the lubricant being added to the one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve during the injecting molding process.
103. The connector device of claim 100 wherein the lubricant is polysiloxane.
104. The connector device of claim 100 wherein the lubricant is associated with the first sleeve.
105. The connector device of claim 100 wherein the first sleeve has an ridge that engages and passes a rib on the second sleeve when the sleeves move from the inactivated position to the activated position, the lubricant being associated with the ridge.
106. The connector device of claim 100 wherein the lubricant is an ink member applied to one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve.
107. The connector device of claim 100 wherein the lubricant is separately applied to the one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve.
108. A connector for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to be connected to the first container;
- a second sleeve adapted to be connected to the second container, the second sleeve being associated with the first sleeve and movable axially with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position; and
- means for preventing premature activation of the connector.
109. The connector of claim 108 wherein one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve contains a lubricant.
110. The connector of claim 108 wherein one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve is formed from an injection-molded process wherein a lubricant additive is utilized in the process.
111. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container, the first sleeve further having a radial extension;
- a second sleeve adapted to attach to the second container, the second sleeve having a discontinuous annulus and a radial extension positioned proximate the discontinuous annulus, the second sleeve being slidably mounted to the first sleeve;
- the sleeves being movable from an inactivated position to an activated position wherein as the device is moved to the activated position, the radial extensions engage wherein the discontinuous annulus deflects wherein the radial extensions become displaced wherein said discontinuity enhances radial delectability.
112. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve having a first end and a second end, the first sleeve further having a ridge;
- a first attaching member connected to the first end of the first sleeve and adapted to attach to the first container;
- a second sleeve having a first end and a second end, the second sleeve being slidably mounted to the first sleeve, the second sleeve having a rib positioned on an end flange of the second sleeve, the flange having a notch;
- a second attaching member connected to the second end of the second sleeve and adapted to attach to the second container;
- a piercing member positioned within the sleeves, the piercing member having a first end and a second end and a fluid pathway for providing a fluid flow path from the first container to the second container;
- the sleeves being movable from an inactivated position wherein the piercing member is adapted to not be in fluid communication with the first container and the second container, to an activated position wherein the piercing member is adapted to be in fluid communication with the first container and the second container, wherein as the device is moved to the activated position, the ridge engages the rib and passes by the rib.
113. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising a sleeve having a gripper element for connecting to one of the containers, the gripper element sized to conform to the dimensions of the one container.
114. A connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container comprising:
- a first sleeve adapted to attach to the first container;
- a second sleeve having a first end and a second end, the second sleeve being slidably mounted to the first sleeve,
- the second sleeve having structure to receive one of a primary second attaching member or a secondary second attaching member, the primary second attaching member adapted to attach to a primary second container and the secondary second attaching member adapted to attach to a secondary second container, the primary second container being a different size than the secondary second container;
- a piercing member positioned within the sleeves, the piercing member having a first end and a second end and a fluid pathway for providing a fluid flow path from the first container to the second container;
- the sleeves being movable from an inactivated position wherein the piercing member is adapted to not be in fluid communication with the first container and the second container, to an activated position wherein the piercing member is adapted to be in fluid communication with the first container and the second container.
115. The connector device of claim 114 wherein the primary second attaching member comprises a finger assembly having six segmented fingers.
116. The connector device of claim 114 wherein the primary second attaching member is adapted to receive a 20 mm vial.
117. The connector device of claim 114 wherein the secondary second attaching member comprises a finger assembly having three segmented fingers.
118. The connector device of claim 114 wherein the secondary second attaching member is adapted to receive a 13 mm vial.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 23, 2003
Publication Date: Jun 23, 2005
Inventors: Thomas Fowles (McHenry, IL), Robert Weinberg (Richmond, IL), Yann-Per Lee (Vernon Hills, IL), James Rose (Antioch, IL)
Application Number: 10/746,238