Cap adapters for medicament vial and associated methods

• US 8,123,736 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• 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: Kraushaar, Timothy Y., Kelsey, Willard K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): SU, SUSAN SHAN
• Application Number:
  US12/368,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20100204670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 604411-416
• 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 configured for the transfer of liquid from a medicament vial into a syringe, the vial having a mouth closed by a sealing stopper, the cap adapter comprising:

a transverse wall portion configured to fit over the mouth of the vial and having a proximal side and a distal side;

a first lumen passing through the transverse wall portion and terminating in a distal end, the first lumen defining a port on the proximal side of the transverse wall portion;

a vial-engaging element extending distally from the transverse wall portion and configured for removably attaching the cap adapter to the vial with the distal side of the transverse wall portion facing the sealing stopper;

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 being configured to pierce the sealing stopper;

a shield extending proximally from the port and configured so as to provide a guide for the insertion of a hypodermic needle into the port; and

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

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

3. The cap adapter of claim 1, wherein the secondary sealing member abuts the sealing stopper on the vial when the cap adapter is is attached to the vial.

4. 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 lumen and the vent passage.

5. The cap adapter of claim 4, 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.

6. The cap adapter of claim 5, wherein the filter is treated with an anti-microbial substance.

7. 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.

8. The cap adapter of claim 7, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

9. The cap adapter of claim 8, wherein the LED is selectively connectable to a power source so that the LED may be repeatedly illuminated and darkened.

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

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

12. The cap adapter of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the locking sleeve includes at least one elevated surface configured to engage the vial-engaging element.

13. The cap adapter of claim 12, wherein the vial-engaging element and the locking sleeve are rotatable with respect to one another between an unlocked position and a locked position.

14. 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.

15. 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.

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

a transverse wall portion having a proximal side and a distal side;

a first lumen passing through the transverse wall portion and terminating in a distal end on the distal side of the transverse wall portion;

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

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

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

17. The cap adapter of claim 16, wherein the secondary sealing member abuts the sealing stopper on the vial when the cap adapter secured to the vial.

18. The cap adapter of claim 16, wherein the first lumen defines a port on the proximal side of the transverse wall portion, the cap adapter further comprising a shield extending proximally from the port and configured to guide a hypodermic needle into the port.

19. The cap adapter of claim 16, wherein the vial-engaging portion comprises a plurality of clamping members that are circumferentially spaced about an edge of the transverse wall portion and cantilevered distally from the transverse 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.

20. A cap adapter configured for the transfer of liquid from a medicament vial into a syringe, the vial having a mouth closed by a sealing stopper, the cap adapter comprising:

a transverse wall portion configured to fit over the mouth of the vial and having a proximal side and a distal side;

a first lumen passing through the transverse wall portion and terminating in a distal end, the first lumen defining a port on the proximal side of the transverse wall portion;

a vial-engaging element extending distally from the transverse wall portion and configured for removably attaching the cap adapter to the vial with the distal side of the transverse wall portion facing the sealing stopper;

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 fluidly isolated from the first lumen, the spike being configured to pierce the sealing stopper;

a shield extending proximally from the port and configured so as to provide a guide for the insertion of a hypodermic needle into the port; and

a locking sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the vial-engaging element so as to be rotatable with respect to the vial-engaging element from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein the locking sleeve has an inner surface with a locking surface portion configured to engage the vial-engaging element so to prevent relative rotation of the vial-engaging element and the locking sleeve from the locked position to the unlocked position.