Filling system and method for syringes with short needles

• US 8,262,641 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Vedrine, Lionel, Alchas, Paul G., Cindrich, Christopher N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Philip R
• Application Number:
  US12/537,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20090299325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 604403-416, 604/90, 604/117, 604/239, 604/240, 604/257
• US Class Current: 604/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1406 Septums, pierceable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2055 having gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/042 Shrouds encircling the access needle preventing accidental needle-stick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003

Abstract

A filling system for syringes utilizing short needles to be filled from a vial having a thick septum is described. The system may be useful in any situation where the septum or vial stopper of a medication container is thicker than the usable length of the needle on the delivery device. Preferably, the syringe is filled just prior to use. The short needle includes an optional limiter which only permits a certain predetermined length of the needle cannula to protrude beyond the limiter a distance which limits penetration of the needle tip into both the skin and a vial stopper. The system and adapter may be useful for needles having a protrusion distance from approximately 0.5 mm to 3 mm, or any needle with a protrusion length shorter that the thickness of a septum to be accessed. Furthermore, a device is provided with shielding capabilities to shield the needle of the device.

Claims

1. A fluid transfer system for use in transferring a medical substance from a medication container having a septum with a thickness greater than 3 mm into a delivery device, comprising:

a reservoir within said delivery device adapted for storing a medical substance;

a needle cannula attached to said delivery device having a lumen in fluid communication to said reservoir and having a forward tip extending away from said delivery device a pre-selected usable length of less than 3 mm, such that said usable length is less than a thickness of said septum of said container;

an adapter body including;

a container receiving portion said container receiving portion having a septum access needle having a lumen, and

a longitudinal projection extending from said adapter body, said projection including an adapter septum having a distal portion and a thickness that is less than the usable length of said needle cannula, wherein said distal portion is in fluid communication with said septum access needle lumen and said adapter septum is located at a proximal portion of said longitudinal projection;

wherein when said container is received in said container receiving portion and said delivery device needle is penetrated through said adapter septum, fluid communication between said substance in said container and said reservoir of said delivery device is established.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a shield which is slidably disposed upon said delivery device having at least a first position and a second position, said first position concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula and said second position exposing said forward tip of said needle cannula.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a locking clip which is slidably disposed between said shield and said delivery device having at least a first position and a second position, said first position allowing proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device and said second position preventing proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein a first proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device into said second shield position engages said locking clip and moves said locking clip into said second position of said locking clip, thereby preventing proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device.

5. A method of transferring a medical substance from a medication container having a septum with a thickness greater than 3 mm into a delivery device having a reservoir in fluid communication to a needle cannula attached to said delivery device having a forward tip extending away from said delivery device a usable length less than 3 mm;

comprising the steps of;

providing an adapter including a septum access needle having a lumen, in fluid communication with a distal portion of an adapter septum having a thickness less than the usable length of said needle cannula;

penetrating said medication container septum with said septum access needle, wherein when said container septum is penetrated with said septum access needle fluid communication between said medical substance and said lumen occurs;

penetrating said adapter septum with said delivery device needle, wherein when said adapter septum is penetrated with said delivery device needle, fluid communication between said medical substance and said lumen occurs, whereby, fluid communication between said substance in said container and said reservoir of said delivery device is established; and

,

aspirating said medical substance into said delivery device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

shielding said delivery device needle with a needle shield, thereby concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula, wherein said shield is slidably engaged to said delivery device.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

performing an injection with said delivery device, and

locking said shield of said delivery device needle in a distal position after performing said injection step.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing said delivery device with said shield in an initial distal position concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula, wherein said forward tip is engageable to said adapter septum; and

moving said shield to a proximal position exposing said usable length of said needle cannula.

9. A method of transferring a medical substance from a medication container having a septum with a pre-determined thickness into a delivery device having a reservoir in fluid communication to a needle cannula attached to said delivery device having a forward tip extending away from said delivery device a pre-selected usable length;

wherein said usable length is less than said pre-determined thickness of said container septum comprising the steps of;

providing an adapter including a septum access needle having a lumen, in fluid communication with a distal portion of an adapter septum having a thickness less than the usable length of said needle cannula;

penetrating said medication container septum with said septum access needle, wherein when said container septum is penetrated with said septum access needle fluid communication between said medical substance and said lumen occurs;

penetrating said adapter septum with said delivery device needle, wherein when said adapter septum is penetrated with said delivery device needle, fluid communication between said medical substance and said lumen occurs, whereby, fluid communication between said substance in said container and said reservoir of said delivery device is established;

aspirating said medical substance into said delivery device;

shielding said delivery device needle with a needle shield, thereby concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula, wherein said shield is slidably engaged to said delivery device;

performing an injection with said delivery device, locking said shield of said delivery device needle in a distal position after performing said injection step;

providing said delivery device with said shield in an initial distal position concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula, wherein said forward tip is engageable to said adapter septum; and

moving said shield to a proximal position exposing said usable length of said needle cannula.