EP4623887A1

EP4623887A1 - Medical device

Info

Publication number: EP4623887A1
Application number: EP23911329.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hiroe KAWANA; Tasuku KURIYAMA
Original assignee: Terumo Corp
Current assignee: Terumo Corp
Priority date: 2022-12-27
Filing date: 2023-10-12
Publication date: 2025-10-01
Also published as: JPWO2024142545A1; WO2024142545A1; EP4623887A4

Abstract

A medical device includes: a spike portion having a liquid passage port; a medical device connection portion having a connection port; and a liquid flow path extending from the connection port to the liquid passage port, wherein the liquid flow path includes a tapered flow path extending to gradually reduce a flow path cross-sectional area from a first end on a side of the connection port to a second end on a side of the liquid passage port, and a linear flow path linearly extending along a longitudinal direction of the spike portion from the second end of the tapered flow path to the liquid passage port, and the tapered flow path is longer than the linear flow path.

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a medical device.

Background Art

There is known a medical device, such as a vial adapter, which includes a spike portion having a liquid passage port, a medical device connection portion having a connection port, and a liquid flow path extending from the connection port to the liquid passage port (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

Citation List

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2010-124898 A

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

In the medical device as described above, it is preferable to suppress a thickness of the spike portion as much as possible to obtain good connectivity of the spike portion. In addition, it is preferable to suppress flow path resistance of the liquid flow path as much as possible to obtain good flowability of liquid between the medical device connection portion and the liquid passage port of the spike portion.
Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a medical device that easily achieves both suppression of a thickness of a spike portion and suppression of flow path resistance.

Solution to Problem

One aspect of the present disclosure is as follows.

[1] A medical device including:
- a spike portion having a liquid passage port;
- a medical device connection portion having a connection port; and
- a liquid flow path extending from the connection port to the liquid passage port,
- wherein the liquid flow path includes a tapered flow path extending to gradually reduce a flow path cross-sectional area from a first end on a side of the connection port to a second end on a side of the liquid passage port, and a linear flow path linearly extending along a longitudinal direction of the spike portion from the second end of the tapered flow path to the liquid passage port, and
- the tapered flow path is longer than the linear flow path.
[2] The medical device according to [1], wherein the liquid passage port is a side port opened on an outer peripheral surface of the spike portion.
[3] The medical device according to [2], wherein a first central axis of the tapered flow path at the first end of the tapered flow path is located on a side of the side port as viewed from a first plane that includes a second central axis of the linear flow path and does not pass through the side port.
[4] The medical device according to [3], wherein the first end of the tapered flow path is located in a second plane that includes the second central axis of the linear flow path and passes through the side port.
[5] The medical device according to [4], wherein in the second plane, a width of the tapered flow path in a direction perpendicular to the first central axis narrows at a constant rate from the first end to the second end.
[6] The medical device according to any one of [3] to [5], wherein the spike portion includes a gas flow path.
[7] The medical device according to [6], wherein the gas flow path is located on an opposite side of the side port as viewed from the first plane.
[8] The medical device according to [6] or [7], wherein the gas flow path has a parallel portion extending in parallel with the tapered flow path.
[9] The medical device according to any one of [6] to [8], wherein the spike portion has an open end of the gas flow path on a distal side with respect to the side port.
[10] The medical device according to any one of [1] to [9], constituting a vial adapter.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the medical device that easily achieves both the suppression of the thickness of the spike portion and the suppression of the flow path resistance.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is an external view illustrating a medical device according to an embodiment.
Fig. 2 is an external view illustrating a state when the medical device illustrated in Fig. 1 is connected to a vial.
Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional external view illustrating a part of Fig. 2 in cross section.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of Part A in Fig. 3.

Description of Embodiments

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, a medical device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a spike portion 2 having a liquid passage port 2a, a medical device connection portion 3 having a connection port 3a, and a liquid flow path 4 extending from the connection port 3a to the liquid passage port 2a. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the liquid flow path 4 includes: a tapered flow path 5 extending so as to gradually reduce a flow path cross-sectional area (that is, a flow path area in a cross section perpendicular to a first central axis O1) from a first end 5a on the connection port 3a side to a second end 5b on the liquid passage port 2a side; and a linear flow path 6 linearly extending along a longitudinal direction of the spike portion 2 from the second end 5b of the tapered flow path 5 to the liquid passage port 2a. The tapered flow path 5 is longer than the linear flow path 6.
According to such a configuration, when the spike portion 2 is connected to pierce a first other medical device (such as a vial 7 as illustrated in the drawing) and the medical device connection portion 3 is connected to a second other medical device (such as a syringe), it is possible to supply liquid from the second other medical device to the first other medical device via the liquid flow path 4 of the medical device 1 and to suck the liquid from the first other medical device to the second other medical device via the liquid flow path 4 of the medical device 1. According to the above configuration, a thickness of the spike portion 2 can be easily suppressed by the linear flow path 6 passing through the inside of the spike portion 2. Therefore, it is possible to easily achieve good connectivity for connecting the spike portion 2 to the first other medical device by piercing. According to the above configuration, the tapered flow path 5 longer in a flow direction than the linear flow path 6 makes it easy to provide a long flow path portion having a flow path cross-sectional area larger than that of the linear flow path 6, that is, flow path resistance smaller than that of the linear flow path 6. Therefore, the flow path resistance of the liquid flow path 4 is suppressed, and as a result, it is possible to easily achieve good flowability of the liquid between the medical device connection portion 3 and the liquid passage port 2a of the spike portion 2. As described above, according to the above configuration, it is possible to easily achieve both the suppression of the thickness of the spike portion 2 and the suppression of the flow path resistance.
The liquid passage port 2a is a side port 8 that is opened on an outer peripheral surface of the spike portion 2. According to such a configuration, the liquid flow path 4 is shortened as compared with a configuration in which the liquid passage port 2a is opened at a distal end of the spike portion 2, so that the flow path resistance can be suppressed. In addition, in a case where the first other medical device is, for example, the vial 7, foaming can be suppressed by making liquid flow along a side wall of the vial 7 when the liquid is supplied to the vial 7. In addition, it is possible to suppress the liquid from being stagnant around a back surface of a valve body of the vial 7 when the liquid is sucked from the vial 7 to the liquid flow path 4.
At the first end 5a of the tapered flow path 5, the first central axis O1 of the tapered flow path 5 is located on the side port 8 side as viewed from a first plane that includes a second central axis O2 of the linear flow path 6 and does not pass through the side port 8. According to such a configuration, that is, the configuration in which the first end 5a of the tapered flow path 5 is inclined in a direction of moving toward the side port 8 with respect to the linear flow path 6, as compared with a configuration in which the first end 5a of the tapered flow path 5 is inclined in a direction of moving to the opposite side of the side port 8 (referred to as the "configuration inclined to the opposite side"), an outflow direction at the side port 8 when liquid flows out from the side port 8 can be brought closer to a radial direction of the spike portion 2 (on the contrary, in the configuration in which the tapered flow path 5 is inclined to the opposite side, the outflow direction at the side port 8 is closer to a distal direction of the spike portion 2 as compared with the configuration in which the tapered flow path 5 is inclined as described above). For example, in a case where the first other medical device is the vial 7 and the vial 7 is placed on a horizontal surface 9, in the configuration in which the tapered flow path 5 is inclined as described above, the outflow direction at the side port 8 is closer to the horizontal direction (on the contrary, in the configuration in which the tapered flow path 5 is inclined to the opposite side, the outflow direction at the side port 8 is closer the downward direction as compared with the configuration in which the tapered flow path 5 is inclined as described above).
The first end 5a of the tapered flow path 5 is located in a second plane that includes the second central axis O2 of the linear flow path 6 and passes through the side port 8. According to such a configuration, it is possible to enhance the above-described effect of "bringing the outflow direction at the side port 8 closer to the radial direction of the spike portion 2".
In the second plane, a width W of the tapered flow path 5 in a direction perpendicular to the first central axis O1 narrows at a constant rate from the first end 5a to the second end 5b. According to such a configuration, it is easier to provide the long flow path portion having the flow path resistance smaller than that of the linear flow path 6.
The spike portion 2 has a gas flow path 10. According to such a configuration, the spike portion 2 can have a function of allowing gas to pass therethrough. For example, in a case where the medical device 1 is configured as a vial adapter 11 as illustrated in the drawing, it is possible to discharge gas (for example, air) from the inside of the vial 7 through the gas flow path 10 while supplying liquid to the vial 7 through the liquid flow path 4. In addition, it is possible to suck the liquid from the inside of the vial 7 into the second other medical device through the side port 8 and the fluid flow path 4 while supplying the gas to the vial 7 through the gas flow path 10.
The gas flow path 10 is located on the opposite side of the side port 8 as viewed from the first plane. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress liquid flowing out from the side port 8 from entering the gas flow path 10. In this case, the configuration in which the tapered flow path 5 is inclined as described above can suppress the liquid flowing out from the side port 8 from entering the gas flow path 10.
The gas flow path 10 has a parallel portion 10a extending in parallel with the tapered flow path 5. According to such a configuration, since the flow path cross-sectional area of the tapered flow path 5 is gradually reduced from the first end 5a to the second end 5b as described above, it is possible to give a degree of freedom in the arrangement of the gas flow path 10 in the parallel portion 10a.
The spike portion 2 has an open end 10b of the gas flow path 10 on the distal side with respect to the side port 8. According to such a configuration, for example, in a case where the medical device 1 is configured as the vial adapter 11, when a distal portion of the spike portion 2 is directed upward to cause liquid to be sucked from the side port 8 and flow to the medical device connection portion 3 and cause gas to flow out from the open end 10b of the gas flow path 10, the open end 10b of the gas flow path 10 can be easily maintained above the liquid level, so that the foaming can be suppressed.
In addition, in the case of the configuration in which the open end 10b of the gas flow path 10 is arranged on the distal side with respect to the side port 8 as described above, liquid flowing out from the side port 8 easily enters the gas flow path 10 as compared with a case where the open end 10b is arranged on the proximal side of the side port 8, but such entry can be suppressed by the configuration in which the tapered flow path 5 is inclined as described above.
The medical device connection portion 3 is a closed type in which the valve body 3b is arranged at the connection port 3a. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress foreign matter from entering the liquid flow path 4 when the medical device connection portion 3 is brought into a non-connection state.
The medical device 1 constitutes a medical connector, more specifically, the vial adapter 11. According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide the medical connector, more specifically, the vial adapter 11, which easily achieves both the suppression of the thickness of the spike portion 2 and the suppression of the flow path resistance.
The vial adapter 11 forms an internal space communicating with the gas flow path 10 and has a balloon 12 selectively expandable and contractible. According to such a configuration, gas, discharged from the vial 7 through the gas flow path 10 by supplying liquid from the liquid passage port 2a to the vial 7, is temporarily accommodated in the internal space of the balloon 12, and then the liquid is sucked from the vial 7 through the liquid passage port 2a, whereby the gas can be returned from the internal space of the balloon 12 to the vial 7 through the gas flow path 10. Therefore, for example, when an anticancer agent or the like is handled in the vial 7, harmful gas discharged from the vial 7 can be suppressed from being discharged to the external space.
The vial adapter 11 includes a suction valve 13 that allows inflow of gas from the external space to the gas flow path 10 and suppresses outflow of the gas from the gas flow path 10 to the external space. According to such a configuration, when liquid is discharged from the vial 7, even in a case where the gas to be sucked into the vial 7 is not sufficient in the internal space of the balloon 12 due to the influence of a temperature change or the like, the insufficient gas can be introduced from the suction valve 13.
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be modified in various manners without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.
Therefore, various modifications can be made as long as the medical device 1 according to the above-described embodiment is the medical device 1 including the spike portion 2 having the liquid passage port 2a, the medical device connection portion 3 having the connection port 3a, and the liquid flow path 4 extending from the connection port 3a to the liquid passage port 2a, in which the liquid flow path 4 includes the tapered flow path 5 extending so as to gradually reduce the flow path cross-sectional area from the first end 5a on the connection port 3a side to the second end 5b on the liquid passage port 2a side, and the linear flow path 6 linearly extending along the longitudinal direction of the spike portion 2 from the second end 5b of the tapered flow path 5 to the liquid passage port 2a, the tapered flow path 5 being longer than the linear flow path 6.

Reference Signs List

1: Medical device
2: Spike portion
2a: Liquid passage port
3: Medical device connection portion
3a: Connection port
3b: Valve body
4: Liquid flow path
5: Tapered flow path
5a: First end
5b: Second end
6: Linear flow path
7: Vial
8: Side port
9: Horizontal surface
10: Gas flow path
10a: Parallel portion
10b: Open end
11: Vial adapter
12: Balloon
13: Suction valve
O1: First central axis
O2: Second central axis
W: Width

Claims

A medical device comprising:
a spike portion having a liquid passage port;

a medical device connection portion having a connection port; and

a liquid flow path extending from the connection port to the liquid passage port,

wherein the liquid flow path includes a tapered flow path extending to gradually reduce a flow path cross-sectional area from a first end on a side of the connection port to a second end on a side of the liquid passage port, and a linear flow path linearly extending along a longitudinal direction of the spike portion from the second end of the tapered flow path to the liquid passage port, and

the tapered flow path is longer than the linear flow path.
The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid passage port is a side port opened on an outer peripheral surface of the spike portion.
The medical device according to claim 2, wherein a first central axis of the tapered flow path at the first end of the tapered flow path is located on a side of the side port as viewed from a first plane that includes a second central axis of the linear flow path and does not pass through the side port.
The medical device according to claim 3, wherein the first end of the tapered flow path is located in a second plane that includes the second central axis of the linear flow path and passes through the side port.
The medical device according to claim 4, wherein in the second plane, a width of the tapered flow path in a direction perpendicular to the first central axis narrows at a constant rate from the first end to the second end.
The medical device according to claim 3, wherein the spike portion includes a gas flow path.
The medical device according to claim 6, wherein the gas flow path is located on an opposite side of the side port as viewed from the first plane.
The medical device according to claim 6, wherein the gas flow path has a parallel portion extending in parallel with the tapered flow path.
The medical device according to claim 6, wherein the spike portion has an open end of the gas flow path on a distal side with respect to the side port.
The medical device according to claim 1, constituting a vial adapter.