Vial holder

• US 5,669,502 A
• Filed: 04/17/1995
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schering Ag (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Berlex Laboratories Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Schmid, Paul, Wood, Cliff, Ong, Holly, Bragin, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/422,829
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 206/438, 206/363, 206/446, 206/222, 206/528, 206/530, 206/538, 206/539, 141/383, 141/386, 604/403
• US Class Current: 206/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2013 having two piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2051 having tap means, e.g. tap means activated by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2055 having gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2065 having aligning and guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/585 having magnification means, e.g. magnifying glasses

Abstract

A vial holder is provided which is easily loaded with a vial, retains the vial in a rigid manner and permits the vial to be discharged in a simple manner. The vial holder can also exhibit two vial retention sections for simultaneously rigidly holding two vials.

Claims

1. A vial holder comprising:

a handle portion having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, wherein at least said first end of said handle portion is closed by a wall member;

a hollow vial retention section having a hollow interior, attached to said first end of said handle portion, said vial retention section having a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrically shaped internal wall, a first open end adjacent said first end of said handle portion, and a second open end;

at least one retention member for preventing passage of a vial, when positioned within said vial retention section, through said second open end of said vial retention section; and

means for displacing said wall member of said handle portion and said vial retention section from one another whereby access is provided into the hollow interior of said vial retention section for introduction of a vial.

2. A vial holder according to claim 1, wherein said handle portion is substantially cylindrically shaped.

3. A vial holder according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of aligning elements positioned on said internal wall of said vial retention section for the alignment of a vial within said vial retention section.

4. A vial holder according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of aligning elements are a plurality of positioning vanes which extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said vial retention section.

5. A vial holder according to claim 1, wherein said vial retention section is transparent.

6. A vial holder according to claim 1, further comprising a magnifying lens integral with said vial retention section.

7. A vial holder according to claim 1, wherein said handle portion exhibits a concave surface extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said handle portion.

8. A vial holder according to claim 1, wherein said handle portion exhibits a flat surface extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said handle portion.

9. A vial holder according to claim 1, wherein means for displacing is provided by a pivotal hinge connecting said vial retention section with said handle portion, whereby said vial retention section is pivotally attached to said handle portion to permit access into the interior of said vial retention section through said first open end.

10. A vial holder according to claim 9, further comprising a locking tab extending from said first end of said handle portion, said locking tab having a locking protrusion and said handle portion having a recess in the external surface thereof adjacent said first end of said handle portion for receiving said locking protrusion in snap-fit arrangement.

11. A vial holder according to claim 1, further comprising spring elements attached to the internal wall of said vial retention section wherein said spring elements are capable of engaging a vial positioned within said vial retention section.

12. A vial holder according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second hollow vial retention section having a hollow interior attached to said second end of said handle portion, said second end of said handle portion being closed by a second wall member, said second hollow vial retention section having a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrically shaped internal wall, a first open end adjacent said second end of said handle portion and a second open end;

at least one additional retention member for preventing passage of a vial, when positioned within said second vial retention section, through said second open end of said second vial retention section; and

means for displacing said second wall member of said handle portion and said second vial retention section from one another whereby access is provided into the hollow interior of said second vial retention section for introduction of a vial.

13. A vial holder according to claim 2, further comprising:

a second hollow vial retention section having a hollow interior attached to said second end of said handle portion, said second end of said handle portion being closed by a second wall member, said second hollow vial retention section having a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrically shaped internal wall, a first open end adjacent said second end of said handle portion and a second open end;

at least one additional retention member for preventing passage of a vial, when positioned within said second vial retention section, through said second open end of said second vial retention section; and

means for displacing said second wall member of said handle portion and said second vial retention section from one another whereby access is provided into the hollow interior of said second vial retention section for introduction of a vial.

14. A vial holder according to claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of aligning elements positioned on said internal wall of said vial retention section for the alignment of a vial within said vial retention section; and

a plurality of additional aligning elements positioned on said internal wall of said second vial retention section for alignment of a vial within said second vial retention section.

15. A vial holder according to claim 1, wherein said handle portion is hollow and said means for displacing comprises:

a door in said handle portion, connected thereto by a hinge and said wall member of said handle portion is connected to said door,

wherein, when said door is in an open position, access is provided into the interior of said vial retention section for introduction of a vial, and

when said door is in a closed position, a vial retention zone is defined between said second open end of said vial retention section and said wall member.

16. A vial holder according to claim 15, wherein said handle portion is substantially cylindrically shaped.

17. A vial holder according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of aligning elements positioned on said internal wall of said vial retention section for alignment of a vial within said vial retention section.

18. A vial holder according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of aligning elements are a plurality of positioning vanes which extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said vial retention section.

19. A vial holder according to claim 15, wherein said vial retention section is transparent.

20. A vial holder according to claim 15, further comprising a magnifying lens integral with said vial retention section.

21. A vial holder according to claim 15, wherein said handle portion exhibits a flat surface extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said handle portion.

22. A vial holder according to claim 15, wherein said handle portion exhibits a concave surface extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said handle portion.

23. A vial holder according to claim 15, further comprising spring elements attached to the internal wall of said vial retention section wherein said spring elements are capable of engaging a vial positioned within said vial retention section.

24. A vial holder according to claim 15, further comprising:

a second hollow vial retention section having a hollow interior attached to said second end of said handle portion, said second end of said handle portion being closed by a second wall member, said second hollow vial retention section having a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrically shaped internal wall, a first open end adjacent said second end of said handle portion and a second open end;

at least one additional retention member for preventing passage of a vial, when positioned within said second vial retention section, through said second open end of said second vial retention section;

means for displacing said second wall member of said handle portion and said second vial retention section from one another whereby access is provided into the hollow interior of said second vial retention section for introduction of a vial; and

said second wall member of said handle portion is connected to said door;

wherein, when said door is in an open position, access is provided into the interior of said second vial retention section for introduction of a vial; and

when said door is in a closed position, a vial retention zone is defined between said second open end of said second vial retention section and said second wall member.

25. A vial holder according to claim 24, further comprising:

a plurality of aligning elements positioned on said internal wall of said vial retention section for alignment of a vial within said vial retention section; and

a plurality of additional aligning elements positioned on said internal wall of said second vial retention section for alignment of a vial within said second vial retention section.

26. A vial holder according to claim 1 in combination with at least one vial, and at least one syringe, to define a vial holder kit.

27. A vial holder according to claim 15 in combination with at least one vial, and at least one syringe, to define a vial holder kit.

28. A vial holder according to claim 1, wherein said means for displacing permits movement of said vial retention section, while attached to said handle portion, between a first position, in which its longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with said longitudinal axis of said handle portion and a second position in which its longitudinal axis is displaced from that of said handle portion.

29. A vial holder according to claim 4, wherein said at least one retention member is a tab positioned at the end of each of said positioning vanes adjacent said second open end of said vial retention section.

30. A vial holder according to claim 18, wherein said at least one retention member is a tab positioned at the end of each of said positioning vanes adjacent said second open end of said vial retention section.

31. A vial holder comprising:

a hollow vial retention section having a hollow interior and a longitudinal axis, substantially cylindrically shaped internal wall, a first open end, a second open end, and at least one retention member for preventing passage of a vial through said second open end of said vial retention section;

a handle portion having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end;

said vial retention section being attached to said handle portion wherein said handle portion is positioned beneath said vial retention section in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said vial retention section;

a wall member provided at said first end of said handle portion wherein said wall member separates said handle portion from said vial retention section; and

means for displacing said wall member of said handle portion and said vial retention section from one another, whereby access is provided into the hollow interior of said vial retention section for introduction of a vial.

32. A vial holder comprising:

a handle portion having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, wherein at least said first end of said handle portion is closed by a wall member;

a hollow vial retention section having a hollow interior, attached to said first end of said handle portion, said vial retention section having a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrically shaped internal wall, a first open end adjacent said first end of said handle portion, and a second open end;

at least one retention member for preventing passage of a vial, when positioned within said vial retention section, through said second open end of said vial retention section; and

means for displacing said wall member of said handle portion and said vial retention section from one another whereby access is provided into the hollow interior of said vial retention section for introduction of a vial;

wherein said means for displacing is a pivotal hinge connecting said vial retention section with said handle portion, whereby said vial retention section is pivotally attached to said handle portion to permit access into the interior of said vial retention section through said first open end.

33. A vial holder comprising:

a handle portion having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, wherein at least said first end of said handle portion is closed by a wall member;

a hollow vial retention section having a hollow interior, attached to said first end of said handle portion, said vial retention section having a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrically shaped internal wall, a first open end adjacent said first end of said handle portion, and a second open end;

at least one retention member for preventing passage of a vial, when positioned within said vial retention section, through said second open end of said vial retention section;

a second hollow vial retention section having a hollow interior attached to said second end of said handle portion, said second end of said handle portion being closed by a second wall member, said second hollow vial retention section having a longitudinal axis, a substantially cylindrically shaped internal wall, a first open end adjacent said second end of said handle portion and a second open end;

at least one additional retention member for preventing passage of a vial, when positioned within said second vial retention section, through said second open end of said second vial retention section; and

means for displacing said wall member of said handle portion and said vial retention section from one another and for displacing said second wall member and said second vial retention section from one another, whereby access is provided into the hollow interior of said vial retention section and into the hollow interior of said second vial retention section for introduction of vials.