Pressure-regulating apparatus for withdrawing medicinal fluid from a vial
View Patent ↗In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial comprises a piercing member and a bag. The bag can be contained within the piercing member such that the bag is introduced to the vial when the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial. In some embodiments, the bag expands within the vial as liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, thereby regulating pressure within the vial. In other embodiments, a vial comprises a bag for regulating pressure within the vial as liquid is removed therefrom. In some embodiments, a vial adaptor is coupled with the vial in order to remove the liquid. In some embodiments, as the liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, the bag expands within the vial, and in other embodiments, the bag contracts within the vial.
1. A pressure-regulating apparatus for withdrawing a medicinal fluid from a vial containing the fluid, the pressure-regulating apparatus comprising:
a casing member including a medical connector interface configured to couple with a medical instrument;
a connector configured to couple the casing member with the vial;
at least one piercing member having a distal regulator aperture, the at least one piercing member configured to pierce a septum and thereby be placed in fluid communication with an interior of the vial when the apparatus is coupled with the vial;
a reservoir with a volume configured to increase and decrease, the reservoir having an interior that includes a sterilized gas that is maintained sterile by isolating the sterilized gas from a region outside the reservoir until the pressure-regulating apparatus is coupled to a vial;
a proximal regulator aperture connected to the reservoir;
a regulator channel configured to permit at least some of the sterilized gas to flow from the reservoir through the proximal regulator aperture and the distal regulator aperture to the vial when the apparatus is coupled with the vial; and
an extractor channel configured to permit withdrawal of at least some of the fluid from the vial via the distal extractor aperture when the apparatus is coupled with the vial.
2. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a barrier configured to prevent the sterilized gas from exiting the reservoir until the apparatus is coupled with the vial.
3. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the barrier comprises a removable tab.
4. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the regulator channel and the extractor channel extend through the at least one piercing member.
5. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one piercing member is coupled with the connector.
6. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to automatically expand or contract as fluid is inserted into or removed from the vial, thereby equalizing pressure within the vial.
7. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is positioned in the casing member.
8. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is circularly symmetric.
9. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is symmetric about a latitudinal plane passing through a center of the reservoir.
10. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein portions of each of the regulator channel and the extractor channel extend through a longitudinally central region of the casing member.
11. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the casing member comprises a generally cylindrical shape that protrudes above the connector and the vial when the apparatus is coupled with the vial.
12. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the casing member comprises a longitudinal axis, and portions of each of the regulator channel and the extractor channel extend through the casing member and are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
13. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument comprises a syringe.
14. The pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the septum is a component of the vial.
15. A system of transferring medicinal fluid comprising the pressure-regulating apparatus of claim 1 and the vial containing the fluid.