LIQUID DRUG TRANSFER DEVICE WITH SET-UP VIAL RETENTION FLEX MEMBERS

1 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . A liquid drug transfer device for use with an injection vial, the injection vial having a longitudinal injection vial centerline and including a closed end vial tube, a tubular vial crown having a crown opening stopped by a vial stopper, the injection vial having a height H 1 , and a narrow diameter vial neck intermediate the vial tube and the vial crown, the liquid drug transfer device comprising:

(a) a vial adapter having a longitudinal vial adapter centerline and including a transverse vial adapter top wall transverse to said longitudinal vial adapter centerline, a substantially cylindrical skirt downwardly depending from said vial adapter top wall for telescopically slidingly receiving at least the vial crown therein, and a hollow puncturing cannula for puncturing the vial stopper, said puncturing cannula having a puncturing cannula tip with at least one flow aperture for accessing the vial tube, said skirt including

i) at least two activation vial retention flex members proximal to said vial adapter top wall for snap fitting over the vial crown for vial retention purposes in a flow communication position with said puncturing cannula puncturing the vial stopper, and

ii) at least two set-up vial retention flex members spaced apart from said at least two activation vial retention flex members for snap fitting over the vial crown for vial retention purposes in a set-up position wherein the vial crown is disposed between said at least two activation vial retention flex members and said at least two set-up vial retention flex members on an initial sliding insertion of the vial crown in said skirt and without said puncturing cannula puncturing the vial stopper; and

(b) a fluid transfer port in flow communication with said puncturing cannula wherein

said set-up vial retention flex members are designed to break on forced removal of the injection vial from said vial adapter in said set-up position, and

said skirt has the height H 1 such that, in use, said skirt telescopically receives the injection vial therein such that the injection vial is flush with said skirt in the flow communication position, thereby precluding access to the injection vial for removal from said vial adapter.

10 . The device according to claim 9 wherein said skirt includes a discrete vial retention flex member structure mounted therein, said discrete vial retention flex member structure including said at least two activation vial retention flex members and said at least two set-up vial retention flex members.

11 . The device according to claim 9 wherein said skirt includes two discrete vial retention flex member rings mounted therein in a spaced apart arrangement to constitute said at least two activation vial retention flex members and said at least two set-up vial retention flex members.

12 . The device according to claim 9 wherein said skirt, said at least two activation vial retention flex members and said at least two set-up vial retention flex members are of a unitary construction.

13 . A liquid drug reconstitution assemblage including a liquid drug transfer device according to claim 9 and an injection vial inserted in said liquid drug transfer device in said set-up position.