MIXING AND/OR TRANSFERRING DEVICE

Abstract

A device for mixing a first substance and a second substance, or for transferring at least one of the substances, which are present in a first or second receptacle, the device including a first adapter with a circumferential wall, along which extends a cannula body, and a hollow-cylindrical section that is connected to the cannula body; a second adapter with a circumferential wall, along which extends a cannula body; and a hollow-cylindrical section that is connected to the cannula body; when the first and the second adapter are assembled, the hollow-cylindrical sections inter-engage in a liquid-tight manner, and the first and the second adapter are connected to each other in a detachably screwed manner.

Claims

1. A mixing and/or transfer device (10, 100) for mixing or transferring a first substance and a second substance that are present in a first and a second receptacle, comprising a first adapter (12, 112) with a circumferential wall (47), which is suitable for accepting the first receptacle, and along which extends, and which at least in sections surrounds a cannula body (64) as well as with a hollow-cylindrical section (26) that is connected to the cannula body, a second adapter (14, 114) with a circumferential wall (147), which is suitable to accept the second receptacle, and along which extends, and which a least in sections coaxially surrounds a cannula body (164), as well as a hollow-cylindrical section (126) that is connected to the cannula body, whereby when the first adapter and the second adapter have been assembled, the hollow-cylindrical sections preferably inter-engage in a liquid-tight manner and the first adapter and the second adapter are connected in a detachable and screwable manner, characterized in that each of the first and the second adapters (12, 14, 112, 114) comprises a hollow-cylindrical outer body (16, 18, 116, 118) with an exterior circumferential wall (32, 132) and, extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the outer body, a partition wall (24, 124), in that, when the adapters have been assembled, a section (128), which has an inner thread (134), of the outer circumferential wall of the one adapter surrounds a section (28), which has an external thread (34), of the outer circumferential wall of the other adapter, with inter-engaging threaded sections, and that the hollow-cylindrical outer body of the first and/or second adapter comprises an insert (46, 146) with a circumferential wall (47, 147) that accepts the first or the second receptacle.

2. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that each adapter (12, 14) comprises an insert (46, 146) with a circumferential wall (47, 147) that accepts the first or the second receptacle.

3. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that the circumferential wall (47, 147) of the insert (46, 146), which is in particular concentrically surrounded by the outer circumferential wall (32, 132) of the outer body (16, 18), such as a housing, comprises projections (48, 50, 52, 148, 150) that radially extend into the interior of the insert for holding the receptacle, whereby the circumferential wall at least in the area of the projections extends spaced-apart relative to the interior side (49, 149) of the outer circumferential wall.

4. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that the insert (46, 146) comprises a bottom wall (54, 154), which, when the insert is connected with the hollow-cylindrical outer body (16, 18), is supported on the partition wall (24, 124), possibly via a filter element (56, 156).

5. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that from the bottom wall (54,154) of the insert (46,146) protrudes, extending in the opposite direction than the circumferential wall (47, 147), a centering element (58, 158), which, when the hollow-cylindrical outer body (16, 18) is connected to the insert, engages into an adapted acceptance (60, 160) in the partition wall (24, 124) or vice versa.

6. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 5, characterized in that the centering element (58, 158) is embodied as an annularly extending ledge element, which engages into an annularly extending recess (60, 160), such as a groove.

7. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that from the bottom wall (54, 154) of the insert (46, 146) originates the cannula body (64,164) and/or from the partition wall (24,124) of the hollow-cylindrical outer body (16, 18) originates the hollow-cylindrical section (26,126).

8. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that in at least one of the adapters (12, 14), the effective cross section of the cannula body (164) in the bottom wall (154) is greater than the cross-section of a connecting opening (182) leading to the hollow-cylindrical section (126) that originates from the partition wall (124).

9. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that when the adapters (12, 14) have been screwed together, their preferably solid external surfaces should form a flush transitional surface - possibly with the exception of a gap extending between them.

10. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that the exterior side of the bottom wall (54, 154) of the insert (46, 146) is structured, whereby the bottom wall possibly is covered by a planar filter element as the filter (56, 156).

11. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that the insert (46, 146) comprises a hollow-cylindrical first section extending on the bottom side and, via a step (180) as transition, a second section of greater external diameter that forms the circumferential wall (147), and in that the step is supported on a projection that axially protrudes from the partition wall (124) of the hollow-cylindrical outer body (12).

12. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that the insert (46, 146) is circumferentially connected to the hollow-cylindrical outer body (16, 18) in an airtight or liquid-tight manner.

13. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that on the bottom side, the insert (46, 146) is connected in a materially bonded manner to the hollow-cylindrical outer body (16, 18), in particular by means of ultrasonic welding.

14. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1 characterized in that from the partition wall (124) of the hollow-cylindrical outer body (16) that possesses the internal thread (134) protrudes a male hollow-cylindrical section (126), such as a Luer cone, which engages liquid-tight or essentially liquid-tight with a female hollow-cylindrical section (26), such as a female Luer Lock cone, which, protrudes from the partition wall (24) of the external-thread-equipped (34) outer body (18), when the adapters (12, 14) have been screwed together, or vice versa.

15. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 4, characterized in that the circumferential wall (47, 147) of the insert (46, 146) is recessed in at least some areas between the bottom wall (54, 156), or the step (180), and the radially inward protruding projection (48, 50, 52, 148, 150).

16. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that the circumferential wall (47, 147) of the insert (46, 146) extends, at least in sections but preferably entirely, spaced-apart relative to the interior surface of the outer circumferential wall.

17. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1 characterized in that the hollow-cylindrical outer body (16,18) and/or the insert (46, 146) are/is embodied as an injection-molded part.

18. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1 characterized in that at least one of the hollow-cylindrical outer bodies (116) possesses on the inside a cylindrical geometry and on the outside a geometry different from a cylindrical geometry, in particular a polygonal-column geometry.

19. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the hollow-cylindrical outer bodies (116) is manufactured in a two-component injection-molding process.

20. The mixing and/or transfer device of claim 1, characterized in that the at least one hollow-cylindrical outer body (116) consists of an inner base body (117), which possesses a hollow-cylindrical geometry and which is partially over-molded, in particular to create a polygonal-column external geometry.

Description

[0046] Further details, advantages, and features of the invention are not only found in the claims, the characteristic features contained therein—individually and/or in combination—but also in the following description of a preferred embodiment example that is shown in the figures.

[0047] The figures show:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a transfer-mixing device assembled from two adapters,

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the transfer-mixing device of FIG. 1,

[0050] FIG. 3 shows one of the adapters of the mixing and transfer device of FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 3,

[0052] FIG. 5 shows the other adapter of the mixing and transfer device of FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 5,

[0054] FIG. 7 shows a detail of the adapter of FIG. 6,

[0055] FIG. 8 shows the second adapter in a position rotated relative to the first adapter, to facilitate separation,

[0056] FIG. 9 shows the adapters after separation, and

[0057] FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of a transfer-mixing device.

[0058] The figures, in which identical elements always have the same reference label, show schematic drawings of a mixing and/or transfer device 10. For simplicity's sake, the mixing and/or transfer device 10 shall be referred to as mixing device 10 hereinafter.

[0059] Fundamental elements of the mixing device 10 are two adapters 12, 14, which are connected by means of a screwed connection. The adapters 12, 14 serve to accept receptacles or small bottles, which are not illustrated, are referred to as vials, and contain substances that are to be mixed together. For this purpose, it is in particular intended that one vial contains a medical substance, in particular in form of a lyophilisate while the other vial contains a liquid. The lyophilisate is under negative pressure so that when a link is established between the vials, the liquid from one of the vials is drawn into the vial containing the lyophilisate, so that a blending can occur to make the medication available for use.

[0060] The adapter 12 in the embodiment example serves to accept a vial that contains the liquid while the adapter 14 serves to accept the vial that contains the medical substance.

[0061] Each of the adapters 12, 14 comprises a respective hollow-cylindrical outer body 16, 18, which can be referred to as a housing, which in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9 is closed along its circumference and in particular consists of a dimensionally stable plastic in order to guarantee dimensional stability, so that when the mixing device 10 is being handled it is in principle non-deformable. Hollow-cylinder- or hollow-cylindrical outer body or housing are to be seen as synonyms, whereby hereinafter for simplicity's sake the upper housing of the figure will be referred to as upper housing 16 and the housing of the adapter 14 will be referred to as lower housing 18.

[0062] In the embodiment example of FIGS. 1 to 9, the outer body, i.e. the housings 16, 18, possess a hollow-cylindrical geometry. In the embodiment example of FIG. 10, the housing 118 of the depicted lower adapter 114 also has a hollow-cylindrical geometry, whereas the upper outer body 116 of the upper adapter 112 externally has the cross-sectional geometry of a polygonal column, such as a square cross-sectional external geometry, but on the inside has a circular cross-sectional geometry. For reasons of simplification, the term hollow-cylindrical geometry will always be used, even if—as explained above—there may be deviations, which will be within the scope of the invention. To this extent, the term hollow-cylindrical outer body is to be understood as a synonym for all possible hollow-body geometries. Essential is that according to the invention's teaching the outer body can serve the function of accepting vials, in particular via an insert, as will be explained in the following.

[0063] From the lower housing 18 protrudes a, for example, triangular projection 15, which serves as an anti-rolling protection when the housing 18 is laid down. The shape of the projection 15 should be considered to be purely exemplary.

[0064] However, it is also possible to embody an anti-rolling protection in other ways, in particular by way of the polygonal column geometry of FIG. 10. In this respect we refer to the explanations in the following.

[0065] In the following we will at least explain the lower housing 18. The sectional view illustrates that between the front edges 20, 22 extends a partition wall 24 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lower housing 18, and from the centre of which originates a hollow-cylindrical section, which for simplification's sake but in no way limiting the scope of protection is referred to as female Luer Lock cone 26 hereinafter, and which is coaxially surrounded by the upper wall section 28 of the lower housing 18, and which extends between the partition wall 24 and the upper, with respect to the figure, front edge 20.

[0066] The upper wall section 28 transitions via a step 30 into a lower wall section 32, which also possesses a cylindrical geometry.

[0067] In addition, from the outer surface of the upper wall section 28 originates an external thread 34 or rather sections of such and consequently a helically extending ledge, which by cut-throughs or cut-outs 36, 38 in the wall section 28 is subdivided into sections 40,42.

[0068] The cut-outs 36, 38 serve a function in particular during the manufacturing process, to allow a demolding of the housing 18, which is manufactured as an injection-molded part, since in this area extend ledge-like projections that radially protrude from the female Luer Lock cone 26. One of these projections is marked with the reference label 44.

[0069] According to the invention, an insert 46 is introduced into the region of the housing 18 that is surrounded by the lower wall section 18, i.e. the outer circumferential wall of the lower housing 18, and the partition wall 24, whereby the insert in particular is connected to the partition wall 24 in a material bond, preferably circumferentially. The insert 46 comprises a circumferential wall 47, which extends coaxial relative to the lower wall section 32, and which consequently extends concentrically around the longitudinal axis of the lower housing 18, and serves as accommodation or holder for the vial to be secured in position in the insert 46. For this purpose, projections 48, 50, 52 protrude from the circumferential wall 47 of the insert 46 and extend into the interior of the insert 46, whereby these projections possess a hook-shaped geometry, i.e. a triangular geometry in a sectional view, in order to, after proper insertion of a vial, engage behind the latter's collar-like rim and in this manner ensure that the position can be secured.

[0070] In order to guarantee a required flexibility of the projections 48, 50, 52, the insert 46, i.e. its circumferential wall 47, extends at least in the area of the projections 48, 50, 52, but preferably along the entire circumference, spaced-apart relative to the inner side of the outer circumferential wall 32 of the lower housing 18. Also provided are recesses, which extend between the projections 48, 50, 52 and the bottom wall 54, extending along the partition wall 24, of the insert 46. One of the recesses is marked with the reference label 51.

[0071] As already mentioned, when the insert 46 is fixed in position, the bottom wall 54 extends along the outside of the partition wall 24 of the lower housing 18, whereby between the outer side of the bottom wall 54 and the outer side of the partition wall 25 a planar filter 56 is provided. The filter may be secured in advance in a position at the outside of the bottom wall 54 of the insert, before the insert 46 is inserted into the lower housing part 32 and connected with the latter.

[0072] To guarantee a proper positioning of the insert 46, the bottom wall 54 comprises a ledge 58, which is circular and circumferentially protrudes beyond the insert's outer side, whereby the ledge can be inserted into a corresponding recess 60 in the outer side of the partition wall 24, in order to facilitate a centering in this manner. Other centering measures are also possible and are within the invention's scope. Centering means of this type also include centering means in individual points.

[0073] Furthermore, in the area of the interior side of the step 30 of the lower housing 18 the insert 46 may comprise a step 62, which further guarantees the desired coaxial alignment of the insert 46 relative to the lower housing 18.

[0074] In the area of the ledge-like projection 58, the insert 46 should be joined to the partition wall 24, in particular firmly bonded by means of ultrasonic welding, for example, which ensures a liquid-tightness between the insert 46 and the partition wall 24.

[0075] From the bottom wall 54 extends, extending oppositely relative to the female Luer Lock cone 26, a plastic spike 64, which forms a hollow-needle body or cannula body, with a tip 66, which upon insertion of the vial into the insert 46 pierces the vial's closure, so that in the manner described in the following a connection is established via the female Luer Lock cone 26 to the vial accommodated in the upper housing 16 of the mixing device 12.

[0076] As is particularly evident in the sectional view, the cross section, i.e. the lumen, of the spike 64 in the passage opening through the bottom wall 54 and the partition wall 24 possesses a smaller cross-section than the Luer Lock cone 26 extending on the partition-wall side, i.e. bottom-wall side.

[0077] Equivalent to the explanation in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4, an insert 146 may be introduced into the upper housing 16, which is surrounded coaxially by the outer wall 132 of the upper housing 16 and in particular extends along the circumference side entirely spaced-apart relative to the inside of said outer wall. The insert 146 also comprises a bottom wall 154, from which protrudes a plastic spike 164, which includes a tip 166, serves in the function of a cannula body, and extends along the longitudinal axis of the mixing device 10 and consequently of the upper housing 16. Consequently, the spike 164 is coaxially surrounded by the circumferential wall 147 of the insert 146.

[0078] Present in the circumferential wall 147 are recesses 151, which are bordered by hook-shaped projections 148, 150, 152, which protrude radially into the interior of the insert 146, and which, as per the explanations provided above, serve to engage behind the rim of a vial to be accommodated by the insert 146. In this respect we refer to the explanations provided above.

[0079] FIG. 4 illustrates that from the bottom wall 154 of the insert 146 originates a ledge-like projection 158, which extends axially and extends along a circle, and which engages in a associated recess, such as a groove 160, in the partition wall 124 that extends between the front edges 122, 120 of the upper housing 16.

[0080] From the partition wall 124 originates a hollow-cylindrical section 126, such as a Luer cone, which extends along the longitudinal axis of the upper housing 16 and which, when the adapters 12, 14, i.e. the housings 16, 18, have been assembled, engages in the female Luer Lock cone 26. For reasons of simplicity, the hollow-cylindrical section 126 is referred to as Luer cone hereinafter, without this limiting the invention in any way.

[0081] Along the exterior surface of the bottom wall 154 of the insert 146 extends a filter 156, which is connected to the exterior surface before the insert 146 is joined in a material bond, e.g. by welding, to the partition wall 124. However, it is also possible to embody the adapter 12 without a filter 156. On the other hand, the adapter 14 should comprise a filter 56.

[0082] Deviating from the embodiment of the insert 46 of the lower housing 18, the bottom wall 154 of the insert 146 joins with the circumferential wall 147 via a step 180, so that the insert 146 basically is composed of two cylindrical sections, namely the one bordered by the bottom wall 154 and the outer hollow-cylindrical section of larger cross-section, from which the projections 146, 150 protrude radially inward.

[0083] Furthermore, between the partition wall 124 and the front wall 122 that faces the lower housing 18 extends a groove-like depression that forms an internal thread 134, which in the embodiment example consists of two convolutions as is shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2. However, the invention is not restricted by the number of convolutions. In fact, the internal external thread 34 of the lower housing 18 engages into the internal thread 134 when the housings 16, 18, i.e. the adapters 12, 14 are to be connected.

[0084] The detailed illustration of FIG. 7 shows particularly well that the filter 156 extends between the partition wall 124 of the upper housing 16 and the bottom wall 154 of the insert 146.

[0085] In particular, it is also evident in the detailed illustration that the bottom-side cross-section of the spike 164, which originates at the partition wall 124 and forms a hollow-needle body or cannula body, is greater than the passage opening 182 of the Luer cone 126 through the partition wall 124, which causes the formation of an aperture between the spike 164 and the Luer cone 126, which serves to restrict the liquid flowing through the spike 164, the Luer cone 126, and via the spike 64 into the vial, which was pierced by the spike, and contains the lyophilis ate.

[0086] In accordance with FIGS. 8 and 9, the inside and outside threads 34, 134 are embodied in such a way that after a relative rotation of approximately 180° between the upper and lower adapters 12, 14, detaching the two becomes possible or a connection between the two has been secured, whereby the Luer cone 126 penetrates into the female Luer Lock cone 26 in such a way that an adequate relative sealing is achieved and consequently the liquid can flow from one vial into the other vial.

[0087] Irrespective hereof, the figures are self-explanatory and render the features that characterize the invention to an adequate degree.

[0088] As already mentioned, the transfer device 100 of FIG. 10 differs from the one of FIGS. 1 to 9 solely by its outer shape and not by the accommodations for the vials, which according to the present invention are embodied as inserts. The upper housing 116 may be manufactured using a two-component plastic injection-moulding process. In this, the upper housing 116 consists of an inner base body 117, which possesses a hollow-cylindrical geometry and along its circumferential side has been partially over-molded with a thermoplastic elastomer (exterior layer 119). These regions are responsible for the over-molded upper housing 116 possessing the external geometry of a polygonal column. This results in better haptics, since the transfer device 100 fits better into the hand and becomes easier to handle and also softer. Since the media to be mixed are refrigerated when stored, and the transfer device 114 is supplied in the same package as these media, one reaps the benefit that because of the thermoplastic coating (exterior layer 119) the upper housing 116 seems ‘warmer’ to the touch.

[0089] The recesses shown in FIG. 10 are clearances in the exterior layer 119, through which the base body 117 can be handled.

[0090] FIG. 10 further illustrate that the lower housing 118 possesses in its upper edge region a circumferentially protruding rim 120, which is intended to facilitate the handling of the lower housing 118 when it is being screwed together with the upper housing 116. For this, the rim 120 additionally possesses diametrically opposed flat areas 122 or rather V-shaped depression in a sectional view. One of these is illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0091] The lower housing 118 in particular consists of an acrylic polymer. The upper housing 116 as well as the inserts 46, 146 may consist of methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene (MABS).

[0092] The transfer device itself can have a height of for example 46 mm and a diameter of 30 mm. The wall thickness of the lower housing 18, 118 and the upper housing 16 or base body 117 should be in the region between 1.2 mm and 1.6 mm.