In-line transfer unit

• US 4,392,850 A
• Filed: 11/23/1981
• Issued: 07/12/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Genese, Joseph N., Elias, Allen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US06/324,194
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 604/82, 604/83, 604/84, 604/85, 604/86, 604/87, 604/88, 604/244, 604/251, 604/252, 604/255, 604/262, 604/403, 604/405, 604/408, 604/411, 604/413, 604/414, 604/415, 604/416, 604/56 , 604/246, 141/329, 141/330
• US Class Current: 604/82
• 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 1/2075 for external venting
• 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: A61M 5/1409 in series, e.g. first substance passing through container holding second substance, e.g. reconstitution systems needle sets A61M5/162

Abstract

A sterile container for a medicinal material which is to be intermixed in an I.V. solution wherein the container serves as a mixing device as well as a portion of an I.V. administration apparatus. The device of this invention includes a container which is closed at opposing ends by pierceable diaphragm portions. Extending from one end is a piercing pin having a diaphragm piercing portion which can pierce the diaphragm when it is moved inwardly into the container and also provide a fluid passageway for the container contents. At the opposing end a diaphragm is housed in a closure with a flexible end wall and a tubular guide section for the piercing pin of an I.V. administration set. The container therefore serves a dual function of holding a fluid material such as a powder in a sterile condition yet serving as a component of an I.V. set to thereby afford a quick and simple procedure for mixing additive components into an I.V. administration set.

Claims

1. An in-line transfer unit for mixing a sterile fluid material from a first container into a second container with the contents of both containers to be subsequently delivered through said second container, said unit comprising;

a container having opposing passageways for storing a fluid material to be transferred;

first and second closures sealing the passageways in said container, said closures defined in part by pierceable diaphragm portions;

a transfer member having a passage therethrough with a piercing end on one end and a diaphragm piercing portion on the other end;

retentive movement means operatively associated with said first closure and said transfer member to permit sufficient movement of said transfer member so that said piercing portion thereof can pierce said diaphragm of said first closure; and

a flexible end wall defining a portion of said second closure;

so that when the piercing end of the transfer member is in fluid communication with said first container, said diaphragm piercing portion can be moved to pierce said diaphragm portion of said second container and permit in part the intermixing of the material therein with the contents of said first container by an inward movement of said flexible end wall, and subsequently, the opposing diaphragm portion of said second closure will be pierced by another piercing member and the contents of both containers will flow through and out of said second container by means of said other piercing member.

2. The in-line transfer unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said closures sealing the passageways in the containers are defined by guide members for said transfer member and said other piercing member with said diaphragm portions placed inwardly therein.

3. The in-line transfer unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible end wall is integrally connected to said guide member in said second closure.

4. The in-line transfer unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said first closure includes a closure portion defining an inner cavity means for frictionally receiving a portion of said guide member of said second closure and thereby providing an interlock therebetween.

5. The in-line transfer unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said second closure is defined by a wall portion extending outwardly and spaced from said guide member, said wall portion providing securing means to receive a removable cap member.

6. The in-line transfer unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said first closure includes an outwardly extending wall portion and spaced from said guide member, said wall portion defining said retentive movement means for said associated transfer member.

7. The in-line transfer unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said transfer member associated with said first closure includes means integrally associated therewith to vent said first container when said transfer member is in fluid communication therewith.

8. The in-line transfer device as defined in claim 5 wherein said first closure is formed separately from said container and said second closure is formed integrally therewith.

9. The in-line transfer device as defined in claim 8 wherein said container is formed in part from a flexible wall member.

10. The in-line transfer device as defined in claim 2 wherein said guide members are defined by tubular members and include internal frictional engagement ribs for contact with said transfer member and said other piercing member.

11. The in-line transfer device as defined in claim 2 wherein said other piercing member comprises a portion of an intravenous solution administration set.

12. A container for the sterile fluid material which can be later interconnected into an intravenous solution administration set including a solution container to administer the fluid material thereby, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical container having opposing openings for storing a fluid material to be transferred;

first and second closures sealing the openings in said container, said closures defined in part by tubular guide members integrally formed with pierceable diaphragm portions with said second closure further including a flexible end wall integrally connected to said guide member;

a transfer member in the form of a channeled piercing pin having a diaphragm piercing portion at one end; and

means operatively associated with said first closure and said transfer member to permit movement of said transfer member so that said diaphragm piercing portion can pierce said diaphragm portion of said cylindrical container and permit in part intermixing of the fluid material therein with the contents of said solution container by an inward movement of said flexible end wall, and subsequently, the opposing diaphragm portion of said second closure will be pierced by another piercing pin member and the contents of both containers will be administered by said administration set.

13. The container for a sterile fluid material as defined in claim 12 wherein said fluid material is a sterile powder and said flexible end wall is finger pressible.

14. The container for a sterile fluid material as defined in claim 13 wherein said pierceable diaphragm portions are positioned within the confines of said cylindrical container.

15. The container for a sterile fluid material as defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of said closures is integrally formed with said cylindrical container.

16. The container for a sterile fluid material as defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of said piercing pins includes integral venting means.