Patent ID: 6527758
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: A61J,Y10S

Abstract:
A vial docking station for simultaneously sliding the spouts of a plurality of same or different sized vials into an engaged position with matching receptacles of a like plurality of diluent bags, the vial docking station comprising:a frame including a bag mounting block with a plurality of spaced apart receptacle mounts; a header block mounted to the frame with a like plurality of plungers, each plunger biased to engage a base of an associated vial in a ready position wherein the vial spout is aligned with an associated receptacle, each plunger being manually individually operable between the ready position and a retracted position wherein the vial base is disengaged from the plunger; plunger clamping means, comprising a plurality of plunger clamps disposed on the header block, for releasably clamping each plunger to inhibit relative motion between the plunger and the header block; and stroke means, comprising an actuation mechanism mounted to the frame, engaging the plunger clamps and at least one of the header block and the bag mounting block, for moving the header block and bag mounting block progressively from the ready position forward to the engaged position, and rearward to a withdrawn position and for actuating the plunger clamps to during movement between the ready position and the withdrawn position.