ADAPTER

Abstract

An adapter (14) for transferring a substance from a first container (10) into a second container, having a circumferential wall (47) suitable for housing the first container, along which a cannula body (64) extends and by which said cannula body is coaxially surrounded at least in part, said adapter also comprising a hollow cylindrical section (26) connected to the cannula body and connectable to the second container. The cannula body extends with the longitudinal axis thereof perpendicular to one side of a wall (24) running transversely with respect to the circumferential wall and the hollow cylindrical section extends with the longitudinal axis perpendicular to the other side of the wall. The adapter (14) has a cup-shaped outer body (18) having an outer circumferential wall (32) and the wall (24), running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the outer body, which has an insert (46) having the circumferential wall (47).

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. An adapter (14) for transferring a substance from a first container (10) into a second container (12), such as a syringe body, the adapter comprising: a circumferential wall (47), which is suitable for accepting a first container, along which extends a cannula body (64), at least partially encompassed by said circumferential wall; hollow-cylindrical section (26), which is connected to the cannula body and can be connected to the second container; wherein the longitudinal axis of the cannula body extends perpendicular to one side of a wall (24) that extends transversely to the circumferential wall and the hollow-cylindrical section with its longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the other side of the wall; and a cup-shaped outer body (18) with an exterior circumferential wall (32) and the wall (24), which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the outer body, and in that the cup-shaped outer body comprises an insert (46) with the circumferential wall (47) that can accept the container, and a bottom wall, whereby the cannula body originates from the bottom wall of the insert and the hollow-cylindrical section (26) originates from the wall of the cup-shaped outer body (16, 18).

19. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the circumferential wall (47) of the insert that in particular is surrounded concentrically by the outer circumferential wall (32) of the outer body (18), such as a housing, possesses projections (48, 50, 52), which extend radially into the interior of the insert and serve to secure the first container; and wherein at least in the area of the projections, the circumferential wall extends at some distance to the inner surface (49) of the outer circumferential wall.

20. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the insert (46) comprises a bottom wall (54), which when the insert is connected to the cup-shaped outer body (18), rests upon the wall (24), possibly via an interposed filter element (56).

21. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein from the bottom wall (54) of the insert (46) protrudes a centering element (58), which extends oppositely to the circumferential wall (47), and which, when the hollow-cylindrical outer body (18) is connected to the insert, engages into a matching receptacle (60) in the wall (24), or the reverse.

22. The adapter according to claim 21, wherein the centering element (58) is embodied as an annularly extending ridge element, which engages into an annularly extending receptacle (60), such as a groove.

23. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the exterior side of the bottom wall (54) of the insert (46) is textured, whereby the bottom wall is possibly covered by a two-dimensional filter element as the filter (56).

24. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the insert (46) comprises a first hollow-cylindrical section extending along the bottom side and a second section of greater outer diameter that transitions via a step (80) to form the circumferential wall (147), and in that the centering element preferably extends on the oppositely side of the step.

25. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the insert (46) is connected circumferentially to the cup-shaped outer body (18) in an air- or fluid-tight manner.

26. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the insert (46) is connected by way of a material bond to the bottom side of the cup-shaped outer body (18), in particular by means of ultrasonic welding.

27. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the circumferential wall (47) of the insert (46) is recessed at least in sections between the bottom wall (54) or the step (80) and the projection (48, 50, 52) protruding radially inward.

28. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the circumferential wall (47) of the insert (46) extends at least in sections, but preferably entirely, at some distance to the inner surface of the outer circumferential wall (32).

29. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the cup-shaped outer body (18) and/or the insert (46) are injection-moulded components and consist in particular of a polyolefin.

30. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the outer body (18) possesses a flange-like rim (25), which projects radially beyond the exterior circumferential wall (32), and which is flattened in parts, preferably in two areas that are diametrically opposed.

31. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the wall (24) of the outer body (18) serves as a termination at the end face of the adapter (24), and from its centre projects the hollow-cylindrical section (26), preferably in the form of a female Luer Lock connector.

32. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the outer body (18) is connected to the insert (46), in particular by a material bond or a mechanical connection, such as a snap-fit or screwed connection, and together with the insert forms a unit that accepts the first container (10).

33. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the outer body (18) is embodied so as to be non-displaceable relative to the insert (46) along the longitudinal direction (27) of the adapter (14).

Description

[0028] The figures show:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of an adapter,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a partial interior view of the adapter of FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the adapter of FIGS. 1-3,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the adapter of FIGS. 1-4,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a lateral view of the adapter of FIGS. 1-5, and

[0035] FIG. 7 shows the adapter of FIGS. 1-7 with a vial and a syringe body.

[0036] The figures, where identical elements always are referred to by the same reference labels, show schematic diagrams of an adapter 14. The adapter 14 serves to accept a container or small bottle, which is also referred to as vial 10. The adapter 14 further is to be connected to a second container, in particular a syringe body 12, in order to withdraw a medicinal substance from the vial 10 that is attached to the adapter 14.

[0037] The adapter 14 comprises a cup-shaped outer body 18, which is to be referred to as a housing, and which consists of an outer circumferential wall with a hollow-cylindrical geometry and, as a termination on the former's end face, a wall 24. In the embodiment example, the outer circumferential wall 32 is closed along its circumference and in particular consists of a dimensionally stable plastic. This provides a dimensional stability of such a type that when the outer wall engages with the adapter 14, the former is substantially non-deformable. Naturally it is still within the scope of the invention, if the outer geometry of the circumferential wall 32 deviates from a cylindrical geometry. However, the inner geometry of the outer body 18 should be cylindrical.

[0038] The wall 24, hereinafter also referred to as end wall, merges via a step 24 into a radially projecting rim 25, which protrudes from the circumferential wall 32 and forms a collar. As is illustrated in the figures, the rim 25 is flattened on diametrically opposed sides. This makes it possible handle the housing, i.e. the outer body 18, without any problems. At the same time, this prevents the device from inadvertently rolling away.

[0039] Projecting outward from the end wall 24 is a hollow-cylindrical section 26 that may be embodied as a female Luer Lock connector. The latter serves to connect to the second container, i.e. the syringe body 12.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, an insert 46 is incorporated into the outer body 18 and is connected in particular with a material bond to the end wall 24 and preferably is connected to the latter continuously along the circumference. The insert 46 comprises a circumferential wall 47, which extends coaxially to the outer circumferential wall 32 and consequently extends concentrically around the longitudinal axis of the outer body 18 and thus of the adapter 14. The longitudinal axis is marked by the dash-dotted line 27.

[0041] The insert 46 serves as receptacle or holder for the vial 10 to be secured in position. For this purpose, projections 48, 50, 52, which extend from the circumferential wall 47 of the insert 46 into the interior of the insert 46, can possess a hook-shaped geometry, i.e. a triangular geometry in a cross-sectional view, and after proper introduction of the vial 10 these projections engage behind the latter's beadlike rim in order to secure it in position.

[0042] In order to ensure adequate movability of the projections 48, 50, 52, the insert 46, i.e. the latter's circumferential wall 47, extends at least in the area of the projections 48, 50, 52, but preferably along the entire circumference at some distance to the interior side of the outer circumferential wall 32 of the outer body 18. Also provided are recesses 49, 51, 53, which extend between the projections 48, 50, 52 and the bottom wall 54 of the insert 46 that extends along the end wall 24.

[0043] When the outer body 18 is connected to the insert 46, the bottom wall 54 extends along the interior side of the end wall 24, whereby a two-dimensional filter 56 may be placed between the interior side of the end wall 24 and the exterior side of the intermediate wall 54. This is illustrated in FIG. 5. The filter 56 may be secured in position on the exterior side of the bottom wall 54 of the insert before the insert 46 is inserted into the outer body 18 and connected to the latter.

[0044] The bottom wall 54 and the end wall 24 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 27.

[0045] In order to ensure a proper positioning of the insert 46, the bottom wall 54 comprises a ridge 58, which protrudes beyond the bottom wall's exterior side in a circumferential annular manner, and which can be inserted into a corresponding recess 60 in the end wall 24, to thusly facilitate a centering. But other centering measures are also feasible and fall within the scope of the invention. Centering means of these types also include centering means arranged at individual points. Furthermore, the insert 46 itself may possess in the area of the inner side of the step 124 a step-shaped geometry, which further ensures a desired coaxial alignment of the insert 46 relative to the outer body 18.

[0046] The bottom wall 54 merges into the circumferential wall 47 via a step 80, so that the insert 46 basically consists of two cylindrical sections, namely the section bordered by the bottom wall 54 and the outer hollow-cylindrical section of greater diameter, from which the projections 48, 50, 52 protrude radially inward.

[0047] In the area of the ridge-like projection 58, the insert 46 should be joined to the end wall 24 in a material-bond, in particular by ultrasonic welding, which ensures a leak-tightness for fluids between the insert 46 and the end wall 24.

[0048] Originating from the bottom wall 54, in the opposite direction than the female Luer Luck connector 26, is provided a plastic spike 64, which forms a hollow piercing needle, with a needle tip 66, which during insertion of the vial 10 into the insert 46 penetrates the former's seal, in order to create a connection via the female Luer Lock connector 26 to a syringe body, which is not illustrated and is connected to the Luer Lock connector 26.

[0049] The hollow piercing needle may also be referred to as hollow-needle body or cannula body or another such paraphrase, and preferably consists of plastic. So referring to the component as cannula is not meant to necessarily imply that it is made of metal.

[0050] FIG. 5 illustrates that the contact surface, i.e. the exterior side of the bottom wall 54 of the insert 46, along which extends the filter 56, is textured, so that the fluid to be withdrawn spreads out before it reaches the not illustrated syringe body via the female Luer Lock connector 26.

[0051] The housing, i.e. the outer body 18, in particular consists of a polyolefin, in particular polypropylene. The wall thickness of the outer circumferential wall 32 can be in a range between 1.2 mm and 1.6 mm.

[0052] The sectional view of FIG. 5 further illustrates that the exterior surface of the outer circumferential wall 32 possesses nub-like projections and spherical-segmental depressions, which simplifies handling the outer body 18. These elements are marked as an example by the reference labels 132, 134.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows the adapter 14, which on one side is connected to the vial 10 and on the other side is connected to the syringe body 12 via the female Luer Lock connector 26. As is known, the female Luer Lock connector 26 interacts with a male Luer Lock connector of the syringe body 12.