The present disclosure relates generally to transfer devices for use with medicinal substances. More particularly, the disclosure concerns a vial access device for connecting with a vial or container and to allow mixing and/or transfer of a fluid, the device capable of user-controlled venting during transfer from the vial or container.
Liquid drugs are typically provided in medicament vials with standard elastomeric closure sizes, such as 20 mm and 13 mm diameter closures. Vial access devices are used to withdraw medication from these vials. Transfer of medicament from one vial to another typically involves using a vial under reduced pressure, for example, vacuum. Upon mixing, such configurations may result in undesirable “hang up” of liquid in one vial due to lack of air displacement. While transfer devices with venting are known, such devices cannot be used with drug vials that are under reduced pressure.
In a first embodiment, an access device is provided, comprising a first housing comprising: a vent body having a cover configured for reversibly hermetically sealing the vent body; a first spike having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end projecting from the first housing, the first spike having a fluid lumen and a vent lumen, each arranged parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the vent lumen in fluidic communication with the vent body; a shroud projecting the first housing and at least partially surrounding a portion of the first spike; the shroud configured to receive a vial or container; a connector member projecting from the first housing, the connector in fluid communication with the fluid lumen of the first spike.
In another example, the access device further comprises: a second housing reversibly receivable by the connector member, the second housing comprising a second spike having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end projecting from the second housing, the second spike having a lumen arranged parallel to a first longitudinal axis, the second spike configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid lumen when the second housing is received by the connector member; a shroud projecting from the second housing and at least partially surrounding a portion of the second spike; the shroud configured to receive a vial or container.
In another example, alone or in combination with any one of the previous examples, the vent lumen is fluidically isolated from the fluid lumen. In another example, alone or in combination with any of the previous examples, the vent body comprises a vent filter. In another example, alone or in combination with any one of the previous examples, the first housing further comprises a fluid filter body comprising a fluid filter in fluidic communication with the fluid lumen.
In another example, alone or in combination with any one of the previous examples, the fluid filter body in fluid communication with the fluid connector, the fluid filter body having a fluid filter surface substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow through the fluid connector.
In another example, an access device is provided, the access device comprising a first housing comprising: a vent body having a cover configured for reversibly hermetically sealing the vent body; a first spike having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end projecting from the first housing, the first spike having a fluid lumen and a vent lumen, each arranged parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the vent lumen in fluidic communication with the vent body; a shroud projecting the first housing and at least partially surrounding a portion of the first spike; the shroud configured to receive a vial or container; a connector member projecting from the first housing, the connector in fluid communication with the fluid lumen of the first spike; and: a second housing reversibly received by the connector member, the second housing comprising a second spike having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end projecting from the second housing, the second spike having a lumen arranged parallel to a first longitudinal axis, the second spike in fluid communication with the fluid lumen; a shroud projecting from the second housing and at least partially surrounding a portion of the second spike; the shroud configured to receive a vial or container.
In another example, a method of transferring liquid between a first container and a second containers is provided, the method comprising: providing an access device as defined in any one of previously described examples, where the cover is in a hermetically sealed configuration with the vent body; establishing fluidic communication between the first container and the second container, where at least one of the first container and the second container contains a medicament; reconstituting the medicament; and manipulating the cover to an unsealed configuration with the vent body.
In one example, the first container or the second container is under reduced pressure. In another example, alone or in combination with any one of the previous examples, the first container or the second container comprises a reconstitutable or lyophilized medicament.
In another example, alone or in combination with any one of the previous examples, the method further comprising disconnecting the first housing from the second housing, before or after manipulating the cover to the unsealed configuration. In another example, alone or in combination with any one of the previous examples, the method further comprises connecting the connector of the first housing to a drug delivery device, IV bag, or IV line, before or after manipulating the cover to the unsealed configuration.
In another example, alone or in combination with any one of the previous examples, the access device further comprises a fluid filter body comprising a fluid filter in fluidic communication with the fluid lumen. In another example, alone or in combination with any one of the previous examples, the method further comprising filtering the medicament.
A vial access device of the type disclosed and described comprising a controllable vent element. The vial access device is inexpensive to produce and adds minimal additional assembly cost or tooling complexity. Thus, the present disclosure provides a vial access device that is of a simple construction, can easily be used and inexpensively manufactured in large quantity. These and other features of the present disclosure are provided by the vial access device that will be described in the paragraphs that follow with reference to the drawings.
As used herein, the terms “fluid” or “fluidic” are inclusive of liquids, gases, and mixtures thereof.
The presently disclosed vial access device provides for securing to container such as vials and allowing access and/or mixing and/or transference of substances contained within the containers to form a mixture, suspension, or solution and for removal of the resultant mixture, suspension, or solution with controlled venting for subsequent administration to a subject.
Referring to
Exemplary access device 100, with a controllable vent cover 375, is provided where the device comprises an first housing 311 that has a first spike 306 projecting from the housing, the spike comprising at least two lumen (e.g., a vent and fluid lumen), the first spike 306 configured for penetration of an container closure element, such as a pierceable septum of a medicament vial, and for providing fluid communication through a first connector 313 releaseably connected to a second connector 213 of a second housing 211. Connectors 213, 313 can be a luer fitting or other small-bore connector.
In one example, the upper and the second housing are releaseably connected using male/female luer connectors. In one example, as shown, the first housing 311 has a male luer connector 313 and the second housing 211 has a female luer connector 213. In another example, the first housing 311 has a female luer connector and the second housing 211 has a male luer connector. In addition to providing connection to the respective upper and second housings, the first and the second connectors provide for separation of the respective upper and lower housings of device 100 and for independent connection of the respective housings to fluid delivery devices such as syringes, intravenous lines, and/or intravenous bags. In one example, the cross sectional area of the fluid path of connectors 213, 313 does not change significantly over this span so as not to inhibit flow or create pressure gradients within the device.
The second housing 211 has a second spike 206 having at least one lumen (e.g., a fluid lumen), the second spike configured for penetration of an container closure element, such as a pierceable septum of a medicament vial, and for providing fluid communication with the first spike 306 of the first housing 311 through the second connector 213 and first connector 313.
Each of the first housing 311 and the second housing 211 has a projecting wall or shroud 324, 224 at least partially surrounding the first spike 306 and the second spike 206, respectively. Shroud 324, 224 projects from respective housings 311, 211 via vertical posts 327, 227 respectively. Other shroud configurations can be used. In one example, the respective shrouds 324, 224 have features 325, 225, respectively, projecting inwards towards the spike to hold a vial or container. In another example, shrouds 324, 224 have anti-snagging features 329, 229 configured for manufacturing convenience so as to avoid entanglement of features 325, 225 of independent devices. Shrouds 324,224 can, independently, be configured for adapting to and securing conventional 13 mm and 20 mm medicament vials, respectively or they can be configured for adapting to and securing vials of the same size.
Controllable vent cover 375 is configured to form a seal with vent body 305 via wall 345. In one example, both vent body 305 and wall 345 are shaped and dimensioned such that a leak-tight and airtight seal is formed there between. Wall 345 includes an opening 307 to form a seal with wall 365 of vent cover 375. In one example, opening 307 and wall 365 are shaped and dimensioned such that a leak-tight and airtight seal is formed there between. As shown, vent body 305, opening 307, wall 345, and wall 365 are annular or tubular shaped, however, other shapes can be used. Vent body 305, opening 307, wall 345, and wall 365 can be tapered.
Vent cover 375 is configured to transition from a first state, where wall 365 is in a leak-tight and airtight relationship with opening 307, to a second state, where wall 365 is dislodged from opening 307 such that a fluidic pathway is created between opening 307 and vent lumen 328 of first spike 306. In one example, transition of vent cover 375 from the first state to the second state is reversible. In another example, transition of vent cover 375 from the first state to the second state is irreversible. Hinge 355 of vent cover 375 is configured to allow transition of vent cover 375 from the first state to the second state. Tab feature 360 allows a user to easily transition vent cover 375 from the first state to the second state, for example, using a finger or thumb of one hand.
In one example, first housing 311 includes anti-airlock feature (not shown), e.g., preventing airlock if fluid enters void space between vent filter 304 and vent lumen 328. For example, if the vent becomes flooded, extending the orifice height with anti-airlock feature aids in evacuating the fluid in an inverted orientation. In another example, fluid lumen 312 has its opening in spike 306 vertically transposed from opening in vent lumen 328, such that when device 100 is engaged with a container and inverted, the opening in vent lumen is above the liquid level of the container whereas the opening in fluid lumen 312 is configured to be below the liquid level and configured to receive liquid adjacent the septum of the container such that a maximum amount of liquid can be transferred from the container through spike 306.
Vent body 305 can be constructed of a rigid plastic such as polycarbonate, polypropylene, cyclic olefinic copolymer, etc. Wall 345 and wall 365 can be constructed of polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers, polypropylene, polypropylene copolymers, or thermoplastic elastomer. In one example, wall 345 and wall 365 are constructed of the same material which is softer and more pliable (lower durometer) than that body 305.
Also shown with vent body 305 is optional vent filter 304. Vent filter 304 can consist of any appropriate material, micron porosity, hydrophobicity, and efficiency for a given application. A typical range of micron porosity for an vent filter is between 0.02 uM and 150 uM (micron). In one aspect, vent filter 304 is disk-shaped. Other shapes can be used for the vent filter 304.
Particulate may be present in the vial or become mixed in the medication during the fluid removal/transfer process. Types of particles that may be present in vials include; pharmaceutical sediment, lipids, un-dissolved solids, crystallization of medication elements, glass, plastic and rubber debris, septum particulate and various other types of contaminants. These particles can be various sizes and shapes, and depending on the medicament, hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic, and/or partially or completely ionized salts. In addition, insertion of the vial access spike can shear off or core bits of the stopper of the vial. Often these particles are sub-visible sizes and will go unnoticed. Particulates that are injected into a patient can cause complications, for example, phlebitis, organ damage, and vessel blockage. This presents a technical problem alone or in combination with the need for controlled venting.
Thus, a technical solution to the above technical problem is addressed by the present disclosure with reference to
Vial access spike 306 of first housing 411 provides a fluid path 312 from spike 306, through fluid filter 417 and into fluid conduit 309 through fluid filter housing 450. In one aspect, fluid from a vial or connector is presented to a front surface of fluid filter 417, the front face being substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of spike 306. Spike 306 of first housing 411 includes vent lumen 328 communicating with vent filter body 305, filter 304, and ambient. Thus, as shown, a face of fluid filter 417 is substantially perpendicular to a face of vent filter 304. In one example, first housing 411 includes element 380 providing for clearing the vent, e.g., preventing airlock if fluid enters void space between vent filter 304 and vent lumen 328. For example, if the vent becomes flooded, extending the orifice height with element 380 aids in evacuating the fluid in an inverted orientation.
Fluid filter 417 of housing 411 can consist of any appropriate material, micron porosity and efficiency for a given application. A typical range of micron porosity for a fluid filter is between about 0.2 uM and about 15 uM (micron). In one aspect, fluid filter 417 can be disk-shaped. Other shapes can be used for fluid filter 417. In one aspect, fluid filter 417 can be disk-shaped. Vent filter 304 of housing 411 can consist of any appropriate material, micron porosity and efficiency for a given application. A typical range of micron porosity for an vent filter is between 0.02 uM and 150 uM (micron).
During use of device 100 with housing 411, the direction of fluid flow is generally to/from fluid lumen 312 of spike 306 to conduit 309. A force to urge flow is created, e.g., by a syringe attached to connector member 313. Connector member 313 can be a luer fitting or other small-bore connector. The cross sectional area of the fluid path does not change significantly over this span so as not to inhibit flow or create pressure gradients within the device. Fluid filter 417 separates particulates from the fluid under induced flow. Fluid filter body 450 can be generally annular in shape, square, rectangular, oval, etc., provided it is configured to form an air tight seal via various means including press fit, solvent bond, adhesive bond, ultrasonic bond, and/or via an additional elastomeric element such as an o-ring.
The fluid filter 417 may be attached to the fluid filter body 450 via adhesive, ultrasonic welding or insert molding. Alternately the fluid filter 417 may be held in place by a compression fit. Alternately, the fluid filter 417 may be attached to the retaining element 460.
With reference to
With reference to
In using the access device 100 (with first housing 311 or 411), reference is now made to
With reference to
In one example, after sufficient reconstituting, mixing, or diluting of medicament has taken place, first housing 311 or 411 is disconnected from second housing 211 and attached to a drug delivery device and subsequently, vent cover 375 is manipulated to an unsealed configuration, i.e., transitioned to the second state, opening a vent to allow for aspiration of vial 21 via vent lumen 328 of spike 306 and vent body 305 with optional vent filter 304. In another example, first housing 311 or 411 is disconnected from second housing 211, vent cover 375 is opened, and subsequently, first housing 311 or 411 is attached to a drug delivery device. In another example, first housing 311 or 411 is disconnected from second housing 211, first housing 311 or 411 is attached to a drug delivery device, and subsequently, vent cover 375 is opened.
With reference to
Valve means, for example, flow control devices, can be integral or connectable to the connector member 313 of first housing 311 or 411 so as to control fluid flow through the device. Such fluid control devices can include split septums, collapsible septums, valved male/female luers, stopcocks, and the like.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/967,991 filed on Jan. 30, 2020, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62967991 | Jan 2020 | US |