MULTI-VIAL DISPENSING

• US 20130269825A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Healthcare Limited (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Healthcare Limited (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Pettitt, Roger, Osborn, Nigel J
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/20 Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2017 having three or more piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2068 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2079 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/06 by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means F16K7/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/015 for storing radioactive sources, e.g. source carriers for irradiation units; Radioisotope containers
• CPC Class Codes: G21G 1/0005 Isotope delivery systems use of radioisotopes as tracers G21H5/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 Systems

Abstract

A multi-vial dispensing cassette provides serial dispensement into a plurality of dispense vials. Needle holders may be provided for one or more vials in the cassette and at clip may be incorporated into the needle holder.

Claims

1. A multi-vial dispensing cassette, wherein each vial includes a vial body defining a vial cavity and is closed by an elastomeric septum, said cassette comprising:

a first fluid line for extending in fluid communication between the vial cavities of a first and second vial, said first fluid line comprising an elongate hollow conduit supporting an elongate hollow needle at each end thereof;

a second fluid line for extending in fluid communication between the vial cavities of the second vial and a third vial, said second fluid line comprising an elongate hollow conduit supporting an elongate hollow needle at each end thereof; and

a vent needle insertable into the vial cavity of third vial, said vent needle being connected to a filter so as to protect the contents of the vials from contamination;

wherein a fill needle is insertable into the vial cavity of the first vial, the fill needle being connected to a source of product fluid.

2. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 1, further comprising a clamp for pinching closed at least one of the conduits of the first and second fluid line.

3. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 1, further comprising a clamp pinching both the conduits of the first and second fluid line closed.

4. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 1, further comprising a needle holder for engaging each vial, each said needle holder including passageways therethrough for each needle to guide a tip of each needle through the septum of the connected vial.

5. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 2, wherein clamp actuation allows the vials to be removed from the cassette.

6. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 1, further comprising shields for each vial, each shield being disconnectably connected to the cassette.

7. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 4, wherein each needle holder allows its associated withdrawal needle to extend at least as low within a vial cavity as its associated fill needle.

8. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 6, wherein each shield is mechanically linked to the vial clamps, such that the vial clamps must be in the closed position about their respective fluid conduits to allow disconnection of the shields from the cassette.

9. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 1, further comprising a vial connection system which holds vials at an extended position wherein no needles penetrate into the vial cavities, and at a retracted position wherein the needles penetrate through the respective vial.

10. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 9, wherein each needle is capped by an elastomeric plug in the extended position.

11. A multi-vial dispensing cassette of claim 4, wherein said needle holder further comprising a pair of deflectable detent arms for releasably engaging the vial.

20. A method of dispensing into a multi-vial cassette of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

inserting a first fill needle into a first vial, the first fill needle being in connected to a source of product fluid;

inserting a vent needle into said third vial, said vent needle being in fluid communication with said fill needle inserted into said first vial; and

directing the product fluid through the first fill needle, and into the first, second and third vials.

12. A method of dispensing into multiple vials using a number of fluid lines, each vial including a vial body defining a vial cavity and sealed by an elastomeric septum and each fluid line comprising an elongate conduit supporting an elongate needle at each end thereof, comprising the steps of:

inserting a first fill needle into a first vial;

inserting the free end of a first withdrawal needle of a first fluid line into said first vial, said free end of said first withdrawal needle of said first fluid line extending at least as low into said vial cavity of said first vial as said first fill needle;

inserting a second fill needle of said first fluid line into a second vial;

inserting a second withdrawal needle of a second fluid line into said second vial, said second withdrawal needle of said second fluid line extending at least as low into said vial cavity of said second vial as second fill needle of said first fluid line;

inserting a third fill needle of said second fluid line into a third vial;

inserting a vent needle into said third vial, said vent needle being in fluid communication with said fill needle inserted into said first vial;

directing a fluid from a fluid source through said fill needle into said first vial, at least some of the fluid being further directed through said first fluid line to said second vial and through said second fluid line to said third vial.

13. A method of dispensing into multiple vials of claim 12, wherein said vent needle extends no lower into said vial cavity of said third vial as said second needle of said second fluid line

14. A method of dispensing into multiple vials of claim 12, wherein said directing step further comprises the step of applying a motive force to said fluid source to direct the fluid into said fill needle.

15. A method of dispensing into multiple vials of claim 12, wherein said directing step further comprising the step of applying a low pressure to said vent needle to draw fluid through said first fill needle into said first vial.

16. A method of dispensing into multiple vials using a number of fluid lines, each vial including a vial body defining a vial cavity and sealed by cap which includes an inlet port and an outlet port through which fluid may be provided into and out of said vial cavity, respectively, said inlet port being in fluid communication with a fill conduit extending into its respective vial cavity and said outlet port being in fluid communication with a withdrawal conduit extending at least as low into said vial cavity of said first vial as said fill conduit. and each fluid line comprising an elongate conduit supporting a first connector at one end for connection to the out port of a vial and a second connector at the opposite end for connection to the inlet port of a vial, comprising the steps of:

connecting a fill conduit to an inlet port of a first vial;

connecting the first connector of a first fluid line to an outlet port of said first vial;

connecting the second connector of the first fluid line to an inlet port of a second vial;

connecting the first connector of a second fluid line to the outlet port of said second vial;

connecting the second connector of said second fluid line to an inlet port of a third vial;

connecting a vent conduit to the outlet port of said third vial;

directing a fluid from a fluid source through said fill conduit into said first vial, at least some of the fluid being further directed through said first fluid line to said second vial and through said second fluid line to said third vial.

17. A method of dispensing into multiple vials of claim 16, wherein said directing step further comprises the step of applying a motive force to said fluid source to direct the fluid into said fill conduit.

18. A method of dispensing into multiple vials of claim 16, wherein said directing step further comprising the step of applying a low pressure to said vent conduit to draw fluid from said fluid source.

19. A needle holder for a vial, said needle holder comprising:

a needle holder body defining first and second elongate needle passageways therethrough, said needle passageways extending substantially normal to an end surface of the needle holder body which engages a pierceable septum of a vial, said needle passageways being in overlying registry with the septum of the attached vial; and

a clip mechanism positionable between a first position allowing fluid flow through the conduits attached to the needles a second position pinching the conduits attached to the needles closed so as to prevent fluid flow therethrough.