WO2008151668A1

WO2008151668A1 - System comprising an adapter for an anesthetic equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2008151668A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/055837
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars Danielsen
Original assignee: Maquet Critical Care Ab
Priority date: 2007-06-13
Filing date: 2007-06-13
Publication date: 2008-12-18
Also published as: US20080308179A1

Abstract

A keyed filling system for delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic vessel to a receiving container of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment is disclosed. The system comprises at least one movable unit (80) that allows a relative movement of said anesthetic vessel in relation to said anesthetic agent delivery equipment when said anesthetic vessel is arranged at said anesthetic agent delivery equipment for discharging said liquid anesthetic agent into said receiving container of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment. The movable unit may be provided on an adapter (20) for being arranged on a bottle comprising an anesthetic agent and for insertion into a filling assembly of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment, or at a filling equipment into which a bottle or adapter is insertable for filling the anesthetic delivery equipment with liquid anesthetic agent. In this manner for instance leakage of anesthetic agent and wear of the adapter is avoided.

Description

TITLE: SYSTEM COMPRISING AN ADAPTER FOR AN ANESTHETIC EQUIPMENT

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a system comprising an adapter for connecting a vessel, such as a bottle, containing a liquid anesthetic agent to an anesthetic equipment devised for delivery of the anesthetic agent from the vessel to the equipment via the adapter. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An anesthetic vaporizer for use during medical treatment comprises usually a vessel for receiving liquid anesthetic agent, and is connected to a system for delivering the vaporized anesthetic agent from the anesthetic vaporizer to the lungs of a patient. For this purpose, the vessel is filled with the liquid anesthetic agent before starting the medical treatment. Moreover, the vessel may needs to be replenished with further liquid anesthetic agent during the medical treatment. The anesthetic agent is supplied in liquid form in an anesthetic bottle, facilitating transport and storage of the anesthetic agent. When filling the vessel of the anesthetic vaporizer, the anesthetic liquid has to be conveyed from the interior of the anesthetic bottle to the interior of the vessel in the anesthetic vaporizer. Typical anesthetic agents are known as Halothane,

Isoflurane, Enflurane, Sevoflurane, and Desflurane. In order to ensure that only the correct anesthetic agent is filled into a anesthetic vaporizer that is dedicated to a specific single anesthetic agent, keying systems are known. For instance US 6,585,016 or WO 2005/056093 disclose keyed anesthetic vaporizer filling systems for facilitating the delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic bottle to an anesthetic vaporizer. Such keyed anesthetic vaporizer filling system usually include a bottle adapter to be arranged on the anesthetic bottle, having a keying system, wherein a mating keying system is provided on the anesthetic vaporizer .

When the bottle with the adapter is to be arranged in the filling assembly, the bottle may be grasped and directed towards the filling assembly. The bottle is arranged with the key system of the bottle adapter in line with the key system in the filling assembly. Then, the adapter is pushed into the filling assembly. However, often the key system does not mate initially, as the user may not position the two keying systems in exact register. Then the bottle and the adapter have to be rotated at least slightly in order for the key systems to mate. During such rotation and manipulation of the bottle with the adapter it may happen that the sealed screw connection between the bottle and the adapter may become loose, especially if the bottle is moved in a direction opposite the fastening direction of a thread of the adapter or bottle during such manipulation. There may also exist a possibility that the adapter will jam during the insertion, which might lead to leakage, depending on the handling of the healthcare personnel. Furthermore, the adapter may unscrew from the bottle when locked to the filling system of the vaporizer. For instance, during filling, the bottle may unintentionally, at least partly, be unscrewed from the adapter, as healthcare personnel may be distracted from this task. Thus, the seal between the bottle and the adapter may become compromised and anesthetic agent may be released to the atmosphere, which should be avoided of understandable reasons.

Hence, when the adapter is mounted on the anesthetic bottle, and such anesthetic bottle is mounted to a anesthetic vaporizer for filling, the anesthetic agent may leak to the surrounding environment. This is not desired due to several reasons, amongst others related to patient safety and user safety. Hence, an improved keyed system comprising an adapter would be advantageous, and in particular a keyed system, adapter, and/or anesthetic vaporizer filling system, e.g. allowing for increased flexibility, user friendliness, and/or patient safety.

SUMN[ARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention preferably seek to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more deficiencies, disadvantages or issues in the art, such as the above-identified, singly or in any combination by providing an adapter and a method of operating an adapter according to the appended patent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a keyed filling system for delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic vessel to a receiving container of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment is provided. The system comprises at least one movable unit that allows a relative movement of the anesthetic vessel in relation to the anesthetic agent delivery equipment when the anesthetic vessel is arranged at the anesthetic agent delivery equipment for discharging the liquid anesthetic agent into the receiving container of the anesthetic agent delivery equipment . According to a second aspect of the invention, a keyed adapter is provided. The keyed adapter is provided for arrangement on an anesthetic vessel devised for containing a liquid anesthetic agent at a first end portion of the adapter, and for arrangement at a filling assembly of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment at a second end portion of the adapter. The first end portion of the adapter comprises a movable unit that is rotatably arranged in relation to the second end portion of the adapter.

In an embodiment, the adapter may comprise at least one keying protrusion arranged on the adapter for mating with a corresponding at least one recess of said filling assembly, wherein said protrusions are arranged on a cylindrical portion at the second end. The cylindrical portion may be rotatably arranged on said adapter. In an embodiment, the cylindrical portion may be arranged in an area with reduced diameter of the adapter, wherein the cylindrical portion may comprise protrusions dimensioned to abut the area with reduced diameter of the adapter in order to form a frictional engagement. The protruding height of each of the protrusions may be dimensioned for providing a desired frictional engagement. The protrusions may be in the form of ridges, bulges, burls, semispheres, or have a frustoconical, or pin shape, or similar projecting shapes. At least three protrusions, e.g. ridges may be provided. The cylindrical portion may comprise an extension portion extending to the end of the adapter. Moreover, the cylindrical portion may comprise a bevel for making it easier to assemble the cylindrical portion.

In another embodiment the cylindrical portion may be provided with a spring rotationally biasing the cylindrical portion to a home position.

In a third aspect of the invention, a keyed filling assembly of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment is provided. The is arranged to allow delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic vessel to a receiving container of the anesthetic agent delivery equipment. The filling assembly comprises a movable unit that is rotatably arranged to allow a relative movement of the anesthetic vessel in relation to the anesthetic agent delivery equipment when the anesthetic vessel is arranged in the filling assembly for discharging the liquid anesthetic agent into the receiving container of the anesthetic agent delivery equipment .

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a keyed filling system for delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic vessel to a receiving container of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment is provided. The system comprises a keyed adapter arranged on the anesthetic vessel devised for containing a liquid anesthetic agent at a first end portion of the adapter, and for arrangement at a filling assembly of the anesthetic agent delivery equipment at a second end portion of the adapter. Further, the system comprises a matchingly keyed filling assembly of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment, arranged to allow delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from the anesthetic vessel to the receiving container of the anesthetic agent delivery equipment. The first end portion of the adapter comprises a movable unit that is rotatably arranged in relation to the second end portion of the adapter, and/or the filling assembly comprises a movable unit that is rotatably arranged to allow a relative movement of the anesthetic vessel in relation to the anesthetic agent delivery equipment when the anesthetic vessel is arranged in the filling assembly for discharging the liquid anesthetic agent into the receiving container of the anesthetic agent delivery equipment . In a further aspect of the invention, a method of operating an adapter being arranged on a bottle containing an anesthetic agent for insertion into a filling assembly of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment is provided. The method comprises bringing a first end portion of the adapter into engagement with the filling assembly; rotating the adapter comprising at least one protrusion until the at least one protrusion mates with at least one corresponding recesses arranged in the filling assembly; when the at least one protrusion mates with the at least one corresponding recesses, pushing the adapter into engagement with the filling assembly; and compensating a rotation of the bottle in relation to the filling assembly by means of a movable unit that is rotatably arranged to allow a relative movement of the anesthetic vessel in relation to the anesthetic agent delivery equipment.

Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims, wherein features for the second and subsequent aspects of the invention are as for the first aspect mutatis mutandis. Some embodiments of the invention provide for a leakage prevention when filling an anesthetic vaporizer from an anesthetic bottle via an adapter.

Some embodiments provide for reduced wear of the adapter .

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bottle adapter and filling assembly arranged in an anesthetic agent delivery equipment;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views similar to Fig. 1 and shows the bottle adapter in successive positions during insertion of the bottle adapter in the filling assembly;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a bottle adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bottle adapter;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the adapter of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view from above of the assembled adapter of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the adapter of Fig. 6, taken along the line B-B of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of the adapter taken along the line A-A of Fig.8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of section C of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a view from above of an embodiment of a cylindrical part of a bottle adapter; Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of the cylindrical part of Fig. 12, taken along the line A-A of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross sectional view of section C of Fig. 12 illustrating a wall section of the cylindrical part of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged cross sectional view of section B of Fig. 12 illustrating an end portion of the cylindrical part of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating an end portion of the assembled bottle adapter of Fig. 6;

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 16 of another embodiment;

Fig. 18 is a side view of the embodiment according to Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a filling assembly having a movable unit allowing rotation of a bottle adapter when inserted into the filling assembly;

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a bottle adapter inserted into the filling assembly of Fig. 19; and

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of another filling assembly being rotatably arranged in an anesthetic equipment by means of a bearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the invention now will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

According to embodiments, a keyed filling system for delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic vessel to a receiving container of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment is provided. The system comprises at least one movable unit that allows a relative movement of said anesthetic vessel in relation to said anesthetic agent delivery equipment when said anesthetic vessel is arranged at said anesthetic agent delivery equipment for discharging said liquid anesthetic agent into said receiving container of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment. The movable unit may be arranged in a bottle adapter and/or a filling assembly of an anesthetic vaporizer. Embodiments will be elucidated further below.

Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate a filling system according to WO 2005/056093. However, the present invention can as well be used on other filling systems, such as the prior art system disclosed in US 6,585,016.

Fig. 1 shows an adapter 30 having a first end portion 40 comprising a collar 31 having one or more keying slits 32 for mating cooperation with protrusions on an anesthetic bottle (not shown) . Moreover, the collar comprises internal threads 33 and a washer 34 for providing a seal between the anesthetic bottle and the bottom of the threads 33, when the anesthetic bottle is screwed into the adapter thread 33. Thus, the adapter 30 can be placed on a bottle containing an anesthetic agent by removing a lid arranged on the bottle and screwing the adapter onto the bottle for replacing the lid, in a conventional manner.

Furthermore, the adapter includes a valve system arranged in an intermediate portion 42 of the adapter. The valve system comprises a valve body 35 and a spring system including a spring 38 and a retainer 39. The spring system is operative to bias the valve body towards a conical valve surface arranged in the adapter body. An O-ring 37 is arranged between the valve body and the conical valve surface for sealing off the valve system in the sealed position shown in Fig . 1.

The anesthetic agent delivery equipment comprises a filling assembly 52 having a cylindrical body 54 comprising a valve system. The valve system comprises a valve body 50 and a spring 53 biasing the valve body 50 towards a valve seat 60 arranged on an immoveable stem 56. An O-ring 62 provides a sealing action between the valve body 50 and the valve seat 60 in the normal position shown in Fig. 1. The valve body comprises a sealing arrangement for sealing action towards the inner cylindrical surface of the body. The filling assembly 52 is fixed to the anesthetic agent delivery equipment 1.

At its outer surface, the adapter is provided with one or more protrusions 70 forming a key system together with one or more corresponding mating recesses 71 in the filling assembly.

Fig. 2 shows the adapter 30 partially inserted in the filling assembly 52. The lower end 36 of the adapter 30 pushes on the upper surface of the valve body 50 of the filling assembly 52 and at the same time forms a seal with the O-ring 62 of the filling assembly 52, thereby opening the valve system of the filling assembly 52. By further pushing the adapter 30 into the filling assembly 52, the stem 56 interacts with the lower surface of the valve body 35 of the adapter and opens the valve system of the adapter, as shown in Fig. 3. During this operation, the protrusions 70 are arranged in line with the recesses 71.

This operation may include a rotational movement of the bottle and the adapter 30 in relation to each other. However, as the filling assembly 52 is fixed to the anesthetic agent delivery equipment 1, and the adapter 30 is screwed to the bottle, the assembly is rotationally fixed.

Hence, during such a rotational movement, there might exist a possibility that the screw connection at thread 33 between the bottle and the adapter 30 becomes loose, as mentioned above, resulting in a disadvantageous leakage of anesthetic agent. Moreover, a wearing of the 0-ring 62 of the filling assembly may take place involving long term possibilities of leakage.

When the protrusions 70 and recesses 71 are arranged in line, the adapter is further pushed into the filling assembly, and the valve systems are opened to pass the anesthetic agent, as shown by arrows 59 in Fig. 4.

In order to mitigate the above-mentioned possibility of leakage and wear, in an embodiment, an adapter 20 is provided with a cylindrical portion 80, as for instance shown in Fig. 5. A cylindrical portion 80 comprises the keying protrusions 70 mentioned above at a second end portion 41. When assembled on adapter 20, the cylindrical portion 80 is arranged in a portion 81 of the adapter having a reduced outer diameter. The cylindrical portion 80 is free to be rotated around the adapter body. In some embodiments the cylindrical portion 80 may alternatively or in addition be pivotable in relation to a longitudinal axis 90 of the adapter 20. Provided the cylindrical rotatable portion 80, the operation of the adapter of Fig. 5 is as follows. The adapter 20 is brought into contact with the filling assembly, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Firstly, a front 91 portion of the adapter 20 without radially extending protrusions 71, is inserted into the upper inner of cylindrical body 54 of the filling assembly 52, corresponding to Fig. 2. However, if the key system, notably the protrusions 70 and the recesses 71 in the adapter 20 and the filling assembly 52 do not mate initially, the user may rotate the cylindrical portion 80 until the protrusions 70 register with the recesses 71. In case sufficient rotational resistance is provided between the cylindrical portion 80 and the portion with reduced diameter 81, this operation is made by moving the bottle in the rotational direction, around the longitudinal axis 90, or in any other direction suitable for achieving this purpose. In this case, the cylindrical body 81 rotates in a defined manner together with the adapter 20 and the bottle attached thereto. Alternatively, the cylindrical body 80 may be rotated manually in relation to a substantially fixed adapter 20 in order to bring the protrusions 70 in register with corresponding recesses 71.

When the protrusions 70 are arranged in line with the recesses 71, the adapter is free to be further pushed into the filling assembly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus, the embodiment according to Fig. 5 is operational for remedying the issue mentioned above.

The bottle adapter 20 is shown more detailed and in different views in Figs. 6 to 16, wherein the same reference numerals are used for like elements as with reference to the previous Figs. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the adapter 20 of Fig. 6, wherein the cylindrical portion 80 with protrusions 70 is shown disassembled from an adapter body 22 at a second end portion 41 of the adapter 20. A valve assembly 21 is provided, similar to the valve in portion 42 of the adapter shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Fig. 8 is a view from above of the assembled adapter of Fig. 6, seen in the direction of the first end portion 40.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the adapter 20 of Fig. 6, taken along the line B-B of Fig. 8, wherein the cylindrical portion 80 is removed and the portion 81 with reduced diameter of adapter 20 is clearly shown.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of the adapter 20 taken along the line A-A of Fig.8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of section C of the adapter 20, as shown in Fig. 10.

The cylindrical portion 80 is shown in more detail in Fig. 6. The rim of a first end 88 of the cylindrical portion 80 may be provided with a bevel 82 in order to more easily assemble the cylindrical portion onto the adapter body by sliding the latter with the first end 88 over the second end portion 41 of the adapter 20. Fig. 12 is a view from above of the cylindrical part 80 of bottle adapter 20 or bottle adapter 20, wherein the cylindrical part 80 is shown in Fig. 13 in a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 12. Furthermore, the inner surface 89 of the cylindrical body 80 may be provided with one or several protrusions, e.g. ridges 83. In the present embodiment the cylindrical body 80 is provided with three ridges 83, being shown in Fig. 12, separated by angle of 120 degrees from each other around the circumference of the inner surface 89. By having arranged the ridges 83 distributed along the circumference of the inner surface 89 of the cylindrical portion 80, an even rotation is obtained avoiding jamming of the cylindrical portion 80 and thus providing a well defined distribution and fit of the cylindrical portion on the adapter 20.

Alternatively or additionally to ridges, the protrusions may be in the form of bulges, burls, semispheres, or have a frustoconical, or pin shape, or similar projecting shapes. The ridges 83 have a defined length extension in longitudinal direction and a height from the inner surface 89 of the cylindrical portion 80, as shown in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. Thus, ridges 83 are provided such that they contact the outer surface of the adapter portion 81 with reduced diameter, in order to provide a well defined frictional force counteracting rotation of the cylindrical portion around the adapter portion 81 with reduced diameter. The length of the ridges 83 is also adjusted so that a predetermined desired frictional force is obtained. In Fig. 13, the ridges 83 extend over half of the length of the cylindrical portion 80. The frictional force that is adjusted by means of the ridges 83 defines that the cylindrical portion 80 is advantageously rotatable in relation to the adapter portion 81 with reduced diameter . The frictional force counteracting rotation of the adapter is to be chosen such that it is lower than a force at which the bottle is unscrewed from thread 33. This ensures that the adapter does not rotate too loosely, but risk for leakage of anesthetic agent is avoided, as unintentional unscrewing of the bottle from the adapter is avoided. The bottle may be screwed onto adapter 20 and unscrewed therefrom by holding the adapter with one hand and twisting the bottle with an other hand.

Alternatively or additionally such protrusions may also analogously be provided on the exterior of the lower part of the adapter in some embodiments.

The lower portion of the cylindrical portion 80 may be extended as shown in Fig. 13 so that it reaches all the way to the bottom end of the adapter, as is shown in further detail in the enlarged Fig. 15, which shows the encircled area B of Fig. 13. In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 80 extends all the way to the bottom face of the adapter body by an extension portion 84. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, this extension portion 84 is not present.

The cylindrical portion 80 is shown to surround a portion of the lower portion of the adapter. However, the cylindrical portion could have a smaller or larger extent, such as all the way up to the slits 32 of the adapter.

The cylindrical portion 80 may be provided with a rotational return element, such as a spring, which urges the cylindrical portion 80 to a home position. Such a home position may be marked by a detent so that it may be sensed when moving the cylindrical portion 80 in rotational direction .

The frictional engagement may additionally or alternatively be provided by a contact area between the upper and/or lower rim of the cylindrical portion 80 and a portion of the adapter positioned opposite thereto. As shown in Fig. 17, the cylindrical portion is provided with one or several ribs 85 having an extension in the radial direction. These ribs abut the adapter as shown in order to form a frictional engagement . One or several of these ribs 83 can also perform an indexing function in order to define a home position of the cylindrical portion. Fig. 18 shows a web-like flexible member 86 extending down from the lower rim of the cylindrical member. The opposite edge of the adapter is provided with a detent 87 in which the flexible portion 86 may engage. When the cylindrical member is rotated, the flexible member is forced out of the detent 87 and forms a frictional engagement with the edge. When the cylindrical portion is returned to its starting position, the detent 87 forms an indication of a home position.

In addition, the cylindrical portion 80 may be provided with a plurality of detents 87 such that a rotation of the bottle in relation to the filling portion 52 may be sensed by the user via a tactile or acoustic feedback provided by the flexible portions 86 engaging or disengaging with the detents 87.

The cylindrical portion may have any suitable shape conforming to the shape of the adapter portions positioned adjacent to the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion may have a freedom to be rotated in relation to the adapter, so as to adjust the protrusions arranged on the cylindrical portion in line with the recesses in the filling assembly.

Other keying systems than the described and illustrated may be arranged and used along with embodiments of the adapter .

The adapter may be made in a plastics material, such as nylon or PVC. The adapter may comprise colors that indicate which type of anesthetic agent the adapter is useable for. Other embodiments for achieving rotational spin tolerance may be provided, i.e. a rotation of the bottle in relation to the filling portion does not lead to leakage of anesthetic agent. This may for instance be provided by having the thread into which the bottle is screwed into the adapter, which is arranged rotationally in the adapter 20. Thus the bottle may be rotated while the risk for leakage is avoided. Different rotational arrangements at different portions of the adapter may be combined with each other. In addition, locking elements may be provided to, at least temporary, lock such rotational elements and provide an adapter without rotational spin tolerance, if so desired.

According to embodiments, a filling assembly of an anesthetic vaporizer may be provided to achieve the above contemplated effects. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20, a filling assembly that has a movable unit in the form of a movable ring 75. The movable ring may have a wall arranged to engage an adapter 20, 30 along its entire circumference or at least partly. The movable ring 75 is arranged in the filling assembly such that an inserted adapter may be freely rotated in relation to the anesthetic equipment in which the filling assembly is provided, as shown in Fig. 20. The ring 75 comprises suitable keying elements, such as one or more recesses 71. The movable ring 75 may on its surface that is oriented towards the filling assembly 52 comprise protruding elements or grooves that mate with corresponding elements of adjacent surface of the filling assembly 52. In this manner a suitable mounting and frictional engagement of the two parts is achieved, analogous to the above described protrusions 83. Protruding elements 182, 183 providing this function are illustrated in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20. The protruding elements may be in the form of ridges, bulges, burls, partial spheres, and/or have a frustoconical, or pin shape, or similar projecting shapes. In some embodiments the protrusions may also be provided on the adjacent surface of the filling assembly 52, wherein corresponding recesses are provided at ring 75, e.g. at the position of the protruding elements 182, 183. The frictional force provided by the protruding elements 182, 183, counteracting rotation of the adapter, is to be chosen such that it is lower than a force at which a vessel screwed to the adapter is unscrewed from a thread hereof.

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of another filling assembly being rotatably arranged in an anesthetic equipment by means of a bearing 76. By means of bearing 76 the entire filling assembly is rotatable in relation to the anesthetic equipment in which it is installed. Thus, a bottle adapter inserted into the filling assembly may freely rotate together with the entire filling assembly. A frictional element 283 may be provided at the bearing 76 in order to provide a defined friction between the filling assembly 52 and the element in which it is mounted. Alternatively or additionally the bearing 76 itself may be provided with a suitable amount of friction if so desired. In some embodiments, a filling assembly 52 may be provided with a bearing 76 as well as suitable protrusions or recesses, analogous to the above described protrusions 83, 182 or corresponding recesses. The frictional force provided by the frictional element 283, counteracting rotation of the filling assembly 52, is to be chosen such that it is lower than a force at which a vessel screwed to the adapter is unscrewed from a thread hereof, when inserted into the filling assembly 52. Embodiments of the adapter and filling assembly having movable units may be suitably combined. A keyed filling system for delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic vessel to a receiving container of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment, may thus be provided. Alternatively to a bottle, other vessels suitable for containing liquid anesthetic liquids may be provided in embodiments .

Keying elements may also be provided in other forms, such a protrusions in a filling assembly and recesses in a bottle adapter.

Further modifications may occur to a skilled person reading this specification and such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended patent claims. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiment, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims and other embodiments than those described above are equally possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A keyed filling system for delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic vessel to a receiving container of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment (1), the system comprising: at least one movable unit (75, 76, 80) that allows a relative movement of said anesthetic vessel in relation to said anesthetic agent delivery equipment (1) when said anesthetic vessel is arranged at said anesthetic agent delivery equipment (1) for discharging said liquid anesthetic agent into said receiving container of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said movable unit (75, 76, 80) is arranged for rotational movement of said anesthetic vessel in relation to said anesthetic agent delivery equipment.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said movable unit (80) is arranged on an adapter (20) for arrangement on said anesthetic vessel.

4. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said movable unit (75, 76) is arranged on a filling assembly (52) of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment.

5. A keyed adapter (20) for arrangement on an anesthetic vessel devised for containing a liquid anesthetic agent at a first end portion (40) of said adapter (20), and for arrangement at a filling assembly (52) of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment at a second end portion (41) of said adapter (20), wherein said first end portion (40) of said adapter (20) comprises a movable unit (80) that is rotatably arranged in relation to said second end portion (41) of said adapter (20) .

6. The adapter (20) according to claim 5, comprising at least one keying protrusion (70) arranged on said adapter (20) for mating with a corresponding at least one recess (71) of said filling assembly (52), wherein said at least one keying protrusion is arranged on a cylindrical portion (80) at said second end, wherein said cylindrical portion (80) is rotatably arranged on said adapter (20).

7. The adapter (20) according to claim 6, wherein said cylindrical portion (80) is arranged in a portion (81) with reduced diameter of said adapter (20), said cylindrical portion (80) comprising a plurality of friction protrusions (83) dimensioned to abut said portion (81) with reduced diameter of said adapter in order to form a frictional engagement .

8. The adapter (20) according to claim 7, wherein a length and height of each of said friction protrusions (83) is dimensioned for providing a desired frictional engagement of said cylindrical portion (80) with said portion (81) with reduced diameter of said adapter (20) .

9. The adapter (20) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said friction protrusions are ridges, and wherein at least three ridges (83) are provided.

10. The adapter (20) according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein said cylindrical portion (80) comprises an extension portion (84) extending to an end of said second end portion (41) of said adapter (20) .

11. The adapter (20) according to any of claims 6 to 10, wherein said first end (88) of said cylindrical portion (80) comprises a bevel (82) .

12. The adapter (20) according to any of claims 6 to 11, wherein said cylindrical portion is provided with a biasing unit that rotational biases said cylindrical portion to a home position.

13. A keyed filling assembly (52) of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment, arranged to allow delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from an anesthetic vessel to a receiving container of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment (1), wherein said filling assembly comprises a movable unit (75, 76) that is rotatably arranged to allow a relative movement of said anesthetic vessel in relation to said anesthetic agent delivery equipment (1) when said anesthetic vessel is arranged in said filling assembly for discharging said liquid anesthetic agent into said receiving container of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment.

14. The filling assembly (52) according to claim 13, wherein said movable unit (75) is arranged in the filling assembly (52) such that an inserted adapter may be freely rotated in relation to the anesthetic equipment in which the filling assembly is provided.

15. The filling assembly (52) according to claim 14, wherein said movable unit (75) is a movable ring (75) that comprises keying elements (71).

16. The filling assembly (52) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said movable unit (75) on a surface thereof that is oriented to the inner of the filling assembly (52) comprises protruding elements (182, 183) or grooves that mate with corresponding elements at the filling assembly (52).

17. The filling assembly (52) according to claim 13 wherein said movable unit (76) is arranged such that said filling assembly (52) is rotatably arranged in said anesthetic agent delivery equipment.

18. The system according to claim 1, comprising a keyed adapter (20) according to claim 5 and a keyed filling assembly (52) according to claim 13, wherein said at least one movable unit (75, 76, 80) is arranged at said keyed adapter (20) and/or said keyed filling assembly (52).

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said keyed adapter (20) is arranged on said anesthetic vessel devised for containing a liquid anesthetic agent at a first end portion (40) of said adapter (20), and for arrangement at a filling assembly (52) of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment at a second end portion (41) of said adapter (20); and a matchingly keyed filling assembly (52) of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment, arranged to allow delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent from said anesthetic vessel to said receiving container of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment; wherein said first end portion (40) of said adapter (20) comprises a movable unit that is rotatably arranged in relation to said second end portion (41) of said adapter (20), and/or wherein said filling assembly (52) comprises a movable unit that is rotatably arranged to allow a relative movement of said anesthetic vessel in relation to said anesthetic agent delivery equipment when said anesthetic vessel is arranged in said filling assembly for discharging said liquid anesthetic agent into said receiving container of said anesthetic agent delivery equipment.

20. A method of operating a keyed adapter (20) being arranged on a vessel containing an anesthetic agent for insertion into a filling assembly (52) of an anesthetic agent delivery equipment (1), said method comprising: bringing a first end portion (40) of said adapter (20) into engagement with said filling assembly (52); rotating said adapter (20) comprising at least one protrusion (70) until said at least one protrusion (70) mates with at least one corresponding recesses (71) arranged in said filling assembly (52); when said at least one protrusion (70) mates with said at least one corresponding recesses (71), pushing said adapter (20) into engagement with said filling assembly (52); and compensating a rotation of said vessel in relation to said filling assembly (52) by means of a movable unit (75, 76, 80) that is rotatably arranged to allow a relative movement of said anesthetic vessel (20) in relation to said anesthetic agent delivery equipment (1).