Pressure-regulating vial adaptors

• US 9,089,475 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Fangrow, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): WENG, KAI H
• Application Number:
  US14/161,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20140230932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/22 with means for metering the amount of fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9029 With coupling

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor comprises a housing configured to couple the adaptor with a vial, an access channel, a regulator channel, and a regulator assembly. The access channel is configured to facilitate withdrawal of fluid from the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial. The regulator channel is configured to facilitate a flow of a regulating fluid from the regulator assembly to compensate for changes in volume of a medical fluid in the vial. In some embodiments, the regulator assembly includes a flexible member configured to expand and contract in accordance with changes in the volume of the medical fluid in the vial. In some embodiments, the flexible member is substantially free to expand and contract. In some embodiments, the flexible member is not partly or completely located in a rigid enclosure.

Claims

1. A medical adaptor capable of coupling with a sealed container, the medical adaptor having a filter chamber surrounding at least a portion of a regulator assembly channel, the medical adaptor comprising:

a housing comprising;

a medical connector interface;

an access channel capable of removing medicinal fluid extending between the medical connector interface and a distal access port; and

a regulator channel comprising a distal regulator passageway, a regulator valve, and a proximal regulator passageway; and

a regulator assembly comprising;

a regulator interface defining a regulator assembly channel and capable of fluid communication with the proximal regulator passageway;

a storage chamber having a storage height and a storage depth and a storage volume;

a filter chamber in fluid communication with an ambient environment, wherein the filter chamber has an inner diameter at least partially defined by an inner wall, and an outer diameter at least partially defined by an outer wall, and wherein the filter chamber surrounds at least a portion of the regulator assembly channel;

a flexible enclosure capable of fluid communication with the proximal regulator passageway, the flexible enclosure capable of transitioning between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration;

an intake valve in fluid communication with the flexible enclosure and the proximal regulator passageway when the regulator interface is connected to the proximal regulator aperture, the intake valve capable of transitioning between an opened configuration and a closed configuration, the intake valve comprising an elastomeric member having an inner orifice, the inner orifice defining at least a portion of a fluid path between the flexible enclosure and the proximal regulator passageway when the intake valve is in the closed configuration, wherein the intake valve facilitates fluid communication between an interior of the regulator assembly and the filter chamber when the intake valve is in the opened configuration; and

a filter positioned within the filter chamber and filling a space defined between the inner diameter of the filter chamber and the outer diameter of the filter chamber.

2. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the inner orifice of the elastomeric member is circular.

3. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the intake valve is a one-way valve, the intake valve capable of inhibiting outflow of fluid through the intake valve from the interior of the interior of the regulator assembly to the ambient environment.

4. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the filter is a hydrophobic filter.

5. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the filter is an antimicrobial filter.

6. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the regulator assembly includes at least one intake port, the intake port facilitating fluid communication between the filter chamber and the ambient environment, the intake port positioned between the inner orifice and the medical connector interface.

7. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member is in a deflected configuration when the intake valve is in the closed configuration.

8. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member is biased toward a circular valve seat.

9. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member is positioned coaxially with at least a portion of the regulator assembly channel.