Container cap assembly having an enclosed penetrator

• US 6,635,043 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Verlee, Donald, Moore, John K., Norman, John S., Hellstrom, Steven P., Tanner, John C. II, Karas, Peter J., Daubert, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US09/754,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 604/82, 604/87, 604/88, 604/90, 604/91, 604/93.01, 604/403, 604/411-12, 604/414-416, 604/425, 604/905, 206/219, 206/220, 206/222, 215/247, 215/249, 215/250, 215/294, 215/316, 215/317, 215/324-329, 215/341, 215/355, 215/353-54, 215/320, 220/253, 220/260, 220/265-67, 220/277, 220/694, 141/329-30
• US Class Current: 604/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1412 Containers with closing means, e.g. caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/10 Coring prevention means, e.g. for plug or septum piecing members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A cap assembly for a container has a hollow housing with an upper end that receives a fluid transfer device and a lower end that engages a stopper on the container. The housing has an internal cavity open at the upper and lower ends and a radially outwardly extending portion at the lower end. A penetrator is received in the internal cavity. The penetrator has a pointed distal end opposite the stopper and an upper end constructed to be engaged by a fluid transfer device. A cap is constructed the hollow housing. The cap has a closed upper end, an open lower end, a radially outwardly extending portion at the open end, and a circumferential line of weakness connecting the upper and lower ends. A ferrule is over the radially outwardly extending portion of the hollow housing and the radially outwardly extending portion of the cap.

Claims

1. A cap assembly for a container having a stopper, said cap assembly comprising:

a hollow housing having an upper end portion adapted to receive a fluid transfer device in sealed communication and a lower end portion adapted to be mounted adjacent a top end of a stopper sealing a container, the lower end portion having a radially outwardly extending portion extending therefrom and a downwardly extending element to engage a stopper, and an internal cavity open at the upper end portion and at the lower end portion;

a penetrator received in the internal cavity, the penetrator having a pointed distal end opposite a stopper and an upper end constructed to be engaged by a fluid transfer device inserted into the internal cavity;

a removable cap constructed to cover the hollow housing, the cap having a closed end and an open end, the cap having a radially outwardly extending portion extending therefrom at the open end; and

a ferrule having a first portion disposed over the radially outwardly extending lower end portion of the hollow housing and over the radially outwardly extending portion of the cap.

2. The cap assembly for a container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the penetrator further includes a groove providing communication between the container and the housing when the penetrator penetrates the stopper.

3. The cap assembly for a container in accordance with claim 2 wherein the groove is v-shaped.

4. A cap assembly for a container having a stopper, said cap assembly comprising:

a hollow housing having an upper end portion adapted to receive a fluid transfer device in sealed communication and a lower end portion adapted to be mounted adjacent a top end of a stopper sealing a container, the lower end portion having a radially outwardly extending portion extending therefrom, and an internal cavity open at the upper end portion and at the lower end portion;

a penetrator received in the internal cavity, the penetrator having a pointed distal end opposite a stopper and an upper end constructed to be engaged by a fluid transfer device inserted into the internal cavity; and

a cap comprising an upper part having a closed end enclosing the upper and portion of the housing and the upper end of the penetrator, a lower part having an open end, the open end having a radially outwardly extending portion extending therefrom, and a circumferential line of weakness connecting the upper and lower parts of the cap for removing the upper part of the cap to expose the upper portion of the housing.

5. The cap assembly for a container in accordance with claim 4 further comprising:

a ferrule having a first portion disposed over the radially outwardly extending lower end portion of the housing and over the radially outwardly extending portion of the cap.

6. The cap assembly for a container in accordance with claim 4, wherein the lower end portion of the housing includes a downwardly extending element to engage a stopper.

7. The cap assembly for a container in accordance with claim 4, wherein the penetrator further includes an external groove providing communication between the container and the housing when the penetrator pierces the stopper.

8. A cap assembly for a container, said cap assembly comprising:

a hollow housing having an upper end portion adapted to receive a fluid transfer device in scaled communication and a lower end portion adapted to be mounted adjacent a top end of a stopper sealing the container, the lower and portion having a radially outwardly extending portion extending therefrom, and an internal cavity open at the upper end portion and at the lower end portion;

a penetrator received in the internal cavity, the penetrator having a pointed distal end opposite the stopper and an upper end constructed to be engaged by the fluid transfer device inserted into the internal cavity;

a cap comprising an upper part having a closed end enclosing the upper end portion of the housing and the upper end of the penetrator, a lower part having an open end, and a circumferential line of weakness connecting the upper and lower parts of the cap for removing the upper part of the cap to expose the upper portion of the housing.