IE43783B1

IE43783B1 - Transfer device for transferring liquids from vials to a container of intravenous liquid

Info

Publication number: IE43783B1
Application number: IE2576/76A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Ims Ltd
Priority date: 1976-10-20
Filing date: 1976-11-23
Publication date: 1981-05-20
Also published as: NZ182623A; JPS5440781A; ATA93877A; LU76521A1; PH15884A; AU504089B2; DE7703146U1; FR2368266A1; JPS5436544B2; AT362047B; AR214870A1; BE850121A; SE427899B; FR2368266B3; NO770017L; SE7700402L; CA1064356A; IL50907A; DE2704536A1; ZA767482B

Abstract

A container (10) with a nutrient component (16) is sealed by a stopper (22). In use, the container (10) is pushed, with its opening pointing downwards, over a supporting structure (46) for a cannula (44) on a bottle containing solvent (36). The cannula end (58) projecting beyond a flange (56) of the supporting structure (46) pierces through an elastomeric cap (60) and the container stopper (22) when the container (10) is put in place. As a result, the nutrient component (16) flows through the cannula (44) into the solvent (36). This device can be used to mix medical nutrient solutions in a quick and sterile manner.

Description

This invention relates to a transfer device for the sequential addition of liquids from a series of vials to a container of intravenous solution and to an alimentation kit including such a transfer device.

Hyper-alimentation is becoming more common as a form of care for the seriously ill. Tipically, a number of different nutrients, vitamins and electrolytes are administered intravenously to the patient, in general, these different ingredients are supplied of formulated in the form of a concentrate which is diluted with an ordinary intravenous solution at the time of administration. In many cases, the nutrient, vitamin and electrolyte concentrates are added to the intravenous solution in fixed ratios or percentages. However, many of these concentrates are not storage stable when admixed, that is, they are incompatible or reactive when combined and held over a prolonged period. Consequently, they cannot be premixed, and sold and held in that form. The problem has arisen with the preparation of these mixtures in hospitals. Many alimentation solutions are used every day, and considerable time is spent in decanting and measuring the proper amounts of the various components and adding them to intravenous solutions. This procedure is also fraught with opportunities for error, mix-up and loss of sterility. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a completely closed system in which two, three, four or even more different components for Ξ 7 G 3 alimentation can be packaged in proper concentration and ratios in a factory under rigid asceptic conditions, yet held in physical separation from each other to provide longterm stability and life, and yet are quickly and easily admixed at the time of use without opening of the system to the risk of contamination.

According to the invention there is provided a transfer device for the sequential addition of the liquid contents of each of a plurality of vials to a container of intravenous solution provided with an imperforate closure, said transfer device comprising a cannula having a central portion which is provided with a longitudinally extending rigid support, a laterally extending flange in proximity to one end of the rigid support, one end portion of said cannula extending beyond the flange and being adapted to pierce the imperforate closure of the container of intravenous solution for use of the device, said laterally extending flange being adapted to act as a stop to limit the extent of advancement of the cannula through the closure, the other end portion of the cannula extending beyond the other end of the rigid support and terminating in a sharpened outer end, a thin resilient tube over said sharpened outer end, said resilient tube being closed in proximity to the sharpened outer end and along the length of said other end portion of the cannula and having an open end which seals on said other end of the rigid support, said resilient tube being longitudinally compressible over and pierced by said sharpened outer end when a piston stopper of one of the vials is forced over said sharpened outer end whereby the contents of the vial can be transferred to the intravenous solution container &37S3 through the cannula, said resilient tube being selfrecoverable over the sharpened end when the piston stopper is withdrawn for maintaining a seal over the cannula between the sequential additions of the liquid contents of each of the vials to the container during use of the transfer device.

The invention also relates to an alimentation kit comprising such a transfer device and a plurality of cylindrical rigid vials,each having a closed end and cylindrical walls, and containing a liquid concentrate of an alimentary component, a resilient piston stopper being positioned substantially on the liquid surface within the vial and sealing same.

The invention will be further apparent from the detailed exemplary description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the alimentary kit of this invention, shown in conjunction with a typical bottle of intravenous solution; Figure 2 is a left view of the transfer device shown at the lower portion of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a right end view of the trahsfer device shown at the lower portion of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2,Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4? Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the transfer - 5 device in place on a bottle of intravenous solution; Figure 7 shows the placement of one of the vials, containing an alimentary component in place and its contents about to be transferred to the intravenous solution bottle; Figure 8 shows in section the next phase of the transfer process, and follows in time the phase of Figure 7? Figure 9 shows in section the phase following Figure 8; Figure 10 shows the device after one vial of alimentary fluid has been transferred and awaiting the next vial.

Turning to the drawings in greater detail, Figure 1 shows three vials 10, 12 and 14 each containing a different liquid alimentary component 16, 18 and 20, respectively, which are sealed by piston stoppers 22, 24 and 26. Each vial also has an end or dust cap 28, 30 and 32 which are flicked away and discarded at the time of use. The piston stoppers 22, 24 and 26 are resilient, normally rubber compatible with the alimentary component, and may be provided with sealing rings 34.

The bottle of intravenous solution 36 is conventional, and is provided with a resilient closure 38 held by a peripheral crimped metal seal 40. The bottle can be replaced by a flaccid bag of intravenous solution, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The transfer device, generally 42, has a cannula 44, a longitudinally extending rigid support 46 surrounding the centre portion of the cannula, one end of the support 46 terminating at a flange 48 and the other end of support 137 S3 terminating at an enlarged portion 50 of the device. Each end of the transfer device 42 is provided with a dust cover 52 and 54. The dust cover 52 seals on a flange 56 of the portion 50, the flange 56 having a smaller lateral i dimension than the inside diameter of vials 10, 12 and 14, so that the latter may pass thereover, as shown in Figures 7 to 9.

The sharpened outer end 58 of cannula 44 is covered by a resilient tube 60. The resilient tube 60 is pierced .0 by sharpened outer end 58 when for example, the stopper 22 of vial 10 is forced over the end of the cannula 44 as shown in Figures 7 to 9. When the vial is removed, the resilient tube 60 snaps back over the sharpened outer end 58 to re-seal the transfer device, as shown in Figure , until the next vial of alimentary component is brought into position for transfer to the intravenous solution bottle 36.

The resilient tube 60 forms a seal with a recess 62 in the portion 50 by virtue of an inegral external ring 64 on tube 60 which is received in the recess 62. The resilient tube 60 is otherwise loosely positioned around the outside of the cannula and yet it is normally resiliently self sustaining in its lengthwise dimension until the vial stopper is applied to it.

In operation, the cover 54 is removed and the transfer device 42 is positioned as shown in Figure 6.

The cap 52 is then discarded, and the system is ready to receive the fluid contents of the first vial in the kit. Once the contents of the first vial has been transferred, ) Figures 7 to 9, the system is ready for the next vial in the kit, and so on in sequence until all of the vial 3723 - 7 contents have been added to the intravenous solution bottle 36. As shown in Figure 9 the resilient tube 60 when in its compressed state acts as a stop for the piston stopper 22 while the vial is advanced over the outer 5 end 58 of the cannula 44 and that end of the rigid support 46 which terminates in the enlarged portion 50 whereby the piston stopper can express substantially all of the liquid contents from the vial. Obviously, the kit of this invention may contain one, two, three, four or more separate vials.

Claims

1. CLAIMS :1. A transfer device for the sequential addition of the liquid contents of each of a plurality of vials to a container of intravenous solution provided with an ) imperforate closure, said transfer device comprising a cannula having a central portion which is provided with a longitudinally extending rigid support, a laterally extending flange in proximity to one end of the rigid support, one end portion of said cannula extending beyond .0 the flange and being adapted to pierce the imperforate closure of the container of intravenous solution for use of the device, said laterally extending flange being adapted to act as a stop to limit the extent of advancement of the cannula through the closure, the other end portion of 5 the cannula extending beyond the other end of the rigid support and terminating in a sharpened outer end, a thin resilient tube over said sharpened outer end, said resilient tube being closed in proximity to the sharpened outer end and along the length of said other end portion 0 of the cannula and having an open end which seals on said other end of the rigid support, said resilient tube being longitudinally compressible over and pierced by said sharpened outer end when a piston stopper of one of the vials is forced over said sharpened outer end whereby the 5 contents of the vial can be transferred to the intravenous solution container through the cannula, said resilient tube being self-recoverable over the sharpened end when the piston stopper is withdrawn for maintaining a seal over the cannula between the sequential additions of the ) liquid contents of each of the vials to the container during use of the transfer device.

2. A transfer device according to claim 1, wherein said open end of the resilient tube has an external integral ring which is sealingly received in a complementary annular female groove in said other end of the rigid support.

3. An alimentation kit comprising a transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, and a plurality of cylindrical rigid vials, each having a closed end and cylindrical walls and containing a liquid concentrate of an alimentary component, a resilient piston stopper being positioned substantially on the liquid surface within the vial and sealing same.

4. A kit according to claim 3, including a glass bottle container of intravenous solution.

5. A kit according to claim 3, including a flaccid bag container of intravenous solution.

6. A kit according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the resilient tube when in its compressed state acts as a stop for the piston stopper while the vial is advanced over said other end portion of the cannula and said other end of the rigid support whereby said piston stopper can express substantially all of the liquid contents from the vial.

7. A kit according to claim 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the laterally extending flange is adapted to abut the outer surface of the closure of a container of intravenous solution.

8. A transfer device constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. . η Q ι ί ν.Ο - 10

9. A kit comprising a plurality of rigid vials and a transfer device, such Rj 1.. being constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.