CAP ADAPTERS FOR MEDICAMENT VIAL AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20100204670A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Y. Kraushaar, Willard K. Kelsey
• Original Assignee: Timothy Y. Kraushaar, Willard K. Kelsey
• Inventors: Kelsey, Willard K., Kraushaar, Timothy Y.
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/414
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2075 for external venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2082 for gas filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents

Abstract

Cap adapters for a medicament vial configured to facilitate the transfer of liquid medicament from the vial and into a syringe. In one embodiment the cap adapter comprises a wall portion with a first lumen passing through it. A vial-engaging portion secures the cap adapter to the vial. A spike extends from the wall portion and defines a second lumen passing through the wall portion. A cone-shaped shield extends from the first lumen. The shield is configured to guide a hypodermic needle toward the first lumen to thereby reduce a risk of needlestick to a user handling the vial. In certain embodiments, a light source cooperates with the cap adapter to illuminate at least a portion of the cap adapter to reduce a risk of needlestick to a user handling the vial in a darkened environment. In certain embodiments, a secondary sealing member abuts a first face of the wall portion and seals an end of the first lumen. In certain embodiments, a locking sleeve resists or prevents removal of the cap adapter from the medicament vial.

Claims

1. A cap adapter for a medicament vial configured to facilitate the transfer of liquid medicament front the vial and into a syringe, the cap adapter comprising:

a transverse wall portion;

a first lumen passing through the wall portion;

a vial-engaging portion extending distally from the wall portion and configured to secure the cap adapter to the vial;

a spike extending distally from the wall portion, the spike defining a second lumen passing through the wall portion, the second lumen being spaced from and not in fluid communication with the first lumen, the spike including a sharp distal tip configured to pierce a sealing stopper on the vial;

a cone-shaped shield extending proximally from a vertex defining an inlet port in fluid communication with the first lumen and tapering radially outwardly from the inlet port;

wherein the shield is configured to guide a hypodermic needle toward the first lumen to thereby reduce a risk of needlestick to a user handling the vial.

2. The cap adapter of claim 1, wherein the first lumen extends proximally from the wall portion.

3. The cap adapter of claim 1, further comprising a secondary sealing member abutting a distal face of the wall portion and sealing a distal end of the first lumen.

4. The cap adapter of claim 3, wherein the secondary sealing member abuts the sealing stopper on the vial when the cap adapter is snap fit about the mouth portion of the vial.

5. The cap adapter of claim 1, further comprising a vent passage in fluid communication with the second lumen and including a one-way valve configured to allow air to flow into the vial through the second lumen and the vent passage and further configured to prevent the liquid medicament from escaping the cap adapter through the second second lumen and the vent passage.

6. The cap adapter of claim 5, further comprising a filter located in the vent passage and configured to filter out pathogens from air passing through the second lumen and the vent passage and into the vial.

7. The cap adapter of claim 6, wherein the filter is treated with an anti-microbial substance.

8. The cap adapter of claim 1, further comprising a light source cooperating with the cap adapter and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the cap adapter to enhance the visibility of the vial in a darkened environment.

9. The cap adapter of claim 8, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

10. The cap adapter of claim 9, wherein the LED is selectively connectable to a power source so that the LED may be repeatedly illuminated and darkened.

11. The cap adapter of claim 1, wherein the vial-engaging portion comprises a plurality of clamping members that are circumferentially spaced about an edge of the wall portion and cantilevered distally from the wall portion, the clamping members being configured to snap fit about a mouth portion of the vial to secure the cap adapter to the vial.

12. The cap adapter of claim 1, further comprising a locking sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the cap adapter, including a vial-engaging element.

13. The cap adapter of claim 12, wherein an inner surface of the locking sleeve includes at least one elevated surface configured to engage the vial-engaging element.

14. The cap adapter of claim 13, wherein the vial-engaging element and the locking sleeve are rotatable with respect to one another between an unlocked position and a locked position.

15. The cap adapter of claim 13, wherein the locking sleeve includes at least one locking surface configured to bear against the vial-engaging element to prevent relative rotation of the vial-engaging element and the locking sleeve from the locked position to the unlocked position.

16. The cap adapter of claim 13, wherein the locking sleeve includes at least one lip configured to bear against the vial-engaging element to resist, but not prevent, relative rotation of the vial-engaging element and the locking sleeve from the locked position to the unlocked position.

17. A cap adapter for a medicament vial configured to facilitate the transfer of liquid medicament from the vial and into a syringe, the cap adapter comprising:

a transverse wall portion;

a first lumen passing through the wall portion;

a vial-engaging portion extending distally from the wall portion and configured to secure the cap adapter to the vial; and

a secondary sealing member abutting a distal face of the wall portion and sealing a distal end of the first lumen.

18. The cap adapter of claim 17, wherein the secondary sealing member abuts a sealing stopper on the vial when the cap adapter is snap fit about the mouth portion of the vial.

19. The cap adapter of claim 17, further comprising a spike extending distally from the wall portion, the spike defining a second lumen passing through the wall portion, the second lumen being spaced from and not in fluid communication with the first lumen, the spike including a sharp distal tip configured to pierce a sealing stopper on the vial.

20. The cap adapter of claim 17, further comprising a cone-shaped shield extending proximally from an inlet port in fluid communication with the first lumen and flaring radially outwardly from the inlet port.

21. The cap adapter of claim 20, wherein the shield is configured to guide a hypodermic needle toward the first lumen to thereby reduce a risk of needlestick to a user handling the vial.

22. The cap adapter of claim 17, wherein the vial-engaging portion comprises a plurality of clamping members that are circumferentially spaced about an edge of the wall portion and cantilevered distally from the wail portion, the clamping members being configured to snap fit about a mouth portion of the vial to secure the cap adapter to the vial.