Packages facilitating convenient mixing and delivery of liquids

• US 20030032935A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Delaney, James P., Croteau, John L., Damiano, Louis F. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/158,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032935A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12186 liquid materials adapted to be injected
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/065 Rigid ampoules, e.g. glass ampoules
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2024 having peelable seals
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2093 Containers having several compartments for products to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/0031 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/36 for embolization or occlusion, e.g. vaso-occlusive compositions or devices artificial blood vessels A61L27/507
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 26/008 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids

Abstract

Embolic devices and methods for mixing and delivering embolic material in a sterile environment facilitate delivery of the embolic material directly into a patient thereby preventing the embolic material from becoming contaminated. Such devices include a sealable container couplable to a syringe, a dissolvable caplet or gel-cap including a solid or liquid embolic material, a sealed vial with a breakable neck containing an embolic material, and a flexible container including internal compartments separated by breakable membranes.

Claims

1. A method of mixing and dispensing an embolic material, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a container having a luer fitting and containing an embolic material;

b. transferring at least one fluid from a syringe into the container via the luer fitting;

c. agitating the container to mix the embolic material and the at least one fluid; and

d. transferring at least a portion of the mixed material into a syringe; and

e. administering the mixed material from the syringe.

2. A method of mixing and dispensing an embolic material, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a flexible container comprising (i) a plurality of internal compartments separated by breakable membranes and (ii) a sealed fluid connection, one of the compartments containing an embolic material and each other compartment containing a material to be mixed therewith;

b. applying pressure so as to break at least one of the seals;

c. kneading the flexible container to mix contents from the compartments separated by the at least one broken seal; and

d. unsealing the fluid connection and dispensing the mixed contents therethrough for administration.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the container comprises a plurality of breakable membranes, the pressure-applying and kneading steps being repeated in a sequential manner so as to mix the contents of two adjacent compartments before another breakable membrane is broken.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the container comprises a plurality of breakable membranes, the pressure-applying step being repeated so as to combine the contents of all compartments prior to the kneading step.

5. A method of mixing and dispensing an embolic material, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a caplet comprising an embolic material surrounded by an inert dissolvable material;

b. dissolving the caplet in a fluid to form a mixture; and

c. administering the mixture.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the caplet is dissolved in a liquid comprising saline.

7. A method of mixing and dispensing an embolic material, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a caplet comprising an embolic material in solid form;

b. dissolving the caplet in a fluid to form a mixture; and

c. administering the mixture.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the caplet is dissolved in a liquid comprising saline.

9. A method of mixing and dispensing an embolic material, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a sealed vial comprising a luer connector and, thereover, a breakable fitting providing a fluid seal over the luer connector, the vial containing an embolic material;

b. transferring the embolic material to a syringe via the luer fitting; and

c. administering the mixed material from the syringe.

10. A medical device comprising:

a. a container for holding an embolic material; and

b. a cap comprising a luer fitting, the cap facilitating removable coupling of a syringe barrel to the container to selectively seal and unseal the container.

11. A medical device comprising:

a. a flexible outer package;

b. a plurality of membranes disposed within the flexible outer package and positioned to define therein a plurality of compartments, at least one of the plurality of membranes being breakable when pressure is applied to a compartment bounded by the at least one membrane, thereby allowing contents from the compartment to mix with contents of an adjacent compartment; and

c. a sealable outlet for dispensing the mixed contents.

12. A medical device comprising:

a. a dissolvable solid material defining an enclosed cavity; and

b. one of a solid and liquid embolic material disposed within the enclosed cavity.

13. A medical device comprising:

a. a sealed vial comprising an interior, a connector and a flexible and breakable seal over the connector, breaking of the neck affording access to the interior of the vial via the connector; and

b. an embolic material disposed in the interior of the vial