Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for removing a fluid from at least one container ( 300 ), from a vial for example, said container being closed by a closure ( 320 ) that can be punctured. The device comprises a base body ( 271 ) with a container receiving portion ( 272 ) and a hollow needle-like puncturing organ ( 277 ) in order to puncture the closure ( 320 ) of the container ( 300 ) in a removal position of the container ( 300 ). The aim of the invention is to enable mounting the container on the device without unintentionally puncturing the closure. This is achieved in that detent structures ( 274, 275 ) are provided which retain the container ( 300 ) on the device in a removal position and in a mounting position which is different from said removal position. Such a device can be used in particular to fill an applicator ( 280 ) with one or more fluid reservoirs from one or more vitals.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for removing a fluid from at least one container, closed by means of a seal that can be punctured, e.g. a vial with a septum seal. In particular the invention relates to a device for filling an applicator with at least one fluid reservoir from one or more vials. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Particularly in medicine, but also in other technical fields, applicators such as syringes are often used to discharge and apply flowable substances in a controlled and dosed manner. The substances can for example be medicinal products or adhesives for medical or technical applications. A conventional syringe usually has at least one reservoir which holds a flowable substance. This substance is discharged through a distal outlet by means of plunger pushed into an open, proximal end of the reservoir. For subcutaneous or intravenous administration to a patient, for example, these syringes can have an injection needle which is in fluidic connection with the distal outlet. 
         [0003]    However, it is often problematical to store flowable substances for a longer period in plastic applicators, as on the one hand the substances can chemically react with the plastic, and on the other hand there is a risk that gas, in particular oxygen from the air, can diffuse though the walls of the applicator or through seals and chemically modify the content. This applies in particular to applications in the field of medicine where chemical purity is of special relevance. 
         [0004]    It is therefore known to store the substance to be applied separately in a so-called vial, more particularly a glass vial with a septum seal, i.e. in a sterilisable glass bottle which is sealed at one end with a self-sealing membrane (a septum seal) that can be punctured in order to remove the components to be mixed from the vial only shortly before application into the reservoir. For filling a syringe the septum can be directly punctured with the injection needle of the syringe and the substance stored in the vial drawn up into the syringe. However, as the injection needle poses a potential risk of injury to the user and as sterility of the injection needle must be maintained during administration, any manipulations with the injection needle before the actual administration should be avoided. Furthermore, many pharmaceutical products are known which are stored and sold in lyophilised form, for example as powder, and have to be dissolved in water before being used. The lyophilisates are normally stored in a container sealed with a septum into which water has to be injected before use. This injection can take place mechanically or manually, again by means of a syringe for example. All manner of prior-art devices are conceivable for this. 
         [0005]    For this reason adapter-like devices are proposed in the prior art which serve to puncture the septum of a vial and then fill an applicator. 
         [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,236 a device of this type is disclosed which has a puncturing element for puncturing the septum of a vial when the device is placed on the vial. The device also has a connector to which a syringe can be attached. The substance stored in the vial can be drawn up into the syringe through a channel extending through the connector and the puncturing element. However the simultaneous mounting of the device on the vial and puncturing of the septum can lead to incorrect manipulations, more particularly unintentional spilling of the fluid contained in the vial. 
         [0007]    However, in the prior art there are also devices for removing a substance from a vial sealed with a septum which are designed as filling systems for the simultaneous filling of two reservoirs from two or more vials. These filling systems are used, for example, when two components of a medicinal product have to be mixed with each other prior to application, but cannot be stored in the mixed state. The filling systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,933, U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,650, WO 99/17833 and WO 2009/144085 each have at least on puncturing element for puncturing the septum of a vial. 
         [0008]    In most device for removing a substance from a vial sealed with a septum the vial is simple pressed into the device in order to puncture the septum. In some of these devices, after being completely inserted into the device and after puncturing of the septum, the vial is fixed to the device by means of a snap connection. However, known devices are not generally suitable for storing the vial directly on the device as accidental puncturing of the septum of a vial cannot be ruled out during transportation or when being handled. 
         [0009]    US 2002/0079285 describes a device which can be mounted on a vial before puncturing the septum. During the subsequent screwing of a syringe onto the device, a moveably arranged puncturing element is moved towards the septum in such a way that it punctures it and creates a fluid connection between the vial and the reservoir of the syringe. The device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,078 is also designed so that the septum can only be punctured when the device is correctly mounted on the vial. By turning a lid which is in threaded connection with the puncturing element the puncturing element is moved towards the vial and the septum is punctured. However, these devices have a relatively complex, multiple-part, structure and are therefore costly to manufacture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides an adapter-like device for removing a fluid from at least one container sealed with a closure that can be punctured which allows the container to be stored on the device without unintentionally opening the container. 
         [0011]    A device for removing a fluid from at least one container, more particularly a vial, sealed with a closure that can be punctured is disclosed which comprises:
       a basic body in which at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening are formed which are connected by a fluid channel;   at least one hollow needle like puncturing element connected to the inlet opening for puncturing the closure of the container, more particularly a septum seal, in a removal position of the container; and   at least one container holder connected to the basic body for holding the container on the device.       
 
         [0015]    In order to securely hold the container on the device before puncturing of the closure and to prevent unintentional puncturing, the holding device has a first catch structure for fixing the container in a storage position, in which the container is further away from the basic body than in the removal position (and in which the closure has not yet been punctured), by means of releasable snap connection. 
         [0016]    Preferably the container is also fixed in the removal position and for this the container holder also has a second catch structure for fixing the container in the removal position on the container holder by means of a snap connection. 
         [0017]    The catch structures can interact directly or indirectly with the container. For example, the container can be inserted directly into the container holder, whereby the catch structures directly engage in a corresponding retention structure, e.g. a tapered section, of the container, or the container can be held on a separate mount which can be pushed into or onto the container holder, whereby the catch structures of the container holder interact with the corresponding retention structure of the mount. It is also conceivable that the container holder only has one single catch structure, while the container or the mount has two retention structures, whereby in the storage position the first of these retention structures interacts with the (single) catch structure, while in the removal position the second of the retention structures interacts with the catch structure. 
         [0018]    Each of the catch structures is preferably designed as follows: the container holder has a preferably at least partially cylindrical jacket wall. The first catch structure and the second catch structure each have a spring arm formed in the jacket wall, at the free end of which a catch lug is formed extending into the interior of the jacket wall. This allows very simple and cost-effective production. The catch structures are preferably offset, more particularly offset by approx. 180° with regard to the circumferential direction of the jacket wall, i.e. they are diametrically opposite each other in order to take up as little space as possible with as great stability of the container holder as possible. However, in relation to the circumferential direction of the jacket wall, the first catch structure and the second catch structure can be arranged directly next to each other. In the circumferential direction the two catch structure are then only separated from each other with an air gap. Preferably the catch lugs each have an oblique surface, the surface normal of which on the one hand points in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion of the container into the container holder, and on the other hand is inclined towards a longitudinal axis defined by the jacket wall. 
         [0019]    Specifically the container holder can be constructed as follows: it has base from which a peg extends into the inlet opening of the basic body. Through the peg and the base there is a through opening, and the puncturing element is held in the through opening. 
         [0020]    The device can be used more particularly as a filling device or adapter for filling at least one reservoir of an applicator from at least one container, more particularly a vial. The applicator can be a syringe-like applicator in which the reservoir is defined by a movable plunger, so that the reservoir can be filled by retracting the plunger from a distal end position in a proximal direction. For this, the device preferably has an applicator connector for connecting the reservoir of the applicator with the outlet opening. The applicator connector can be equipped with a holding device, more particularly a releasable snap connection, for the applicator. It can be produced in one piece with the basic body or separately from it. Preferably the applicator connector is, for example, formed by a female Luer cone. It can however also have a special design in which the dead volume is less than in a normal standardised Luer connection. 
         [0021]    More particularly the device can be designed for the simultaneous removal of fluids from at least two containers. For this the above features are each at least doubly present. The device then has two or more puncturing elements and just as many container holders for holding two or more containers on the device, wherein each of these container holders has a first catch structure, preferably also a second catch structure. The catch structures can be designed so that they simultaneously fix two or more containers in the storage position and/or in the removal position. 
         [0022]    The basic body, the container holder and the applicator connector are preferably made of a thermoplastic material in an injection moulding process. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with the reference to the drawings which are only explanatory and should not be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a filling device, the container holder of which is designed in a conventional manner; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the filling device in  FIG. 1  with an inserted vial; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a central longitudinal section through the filling device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of area A in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows an enlarged perspective view of an insert element; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a filling device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a partial view of a central longitudinal section through the filling device in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  shows a detailed view of area B in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a filling device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10   a  shows a first central cross-sectional view in plane Xa-Xa though the filling device in  FIG. 9  in the storage position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10   b  shows a side view through the filling device in  FIG. 9  in the storage position; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10   c  shows a second cross-sectional view in plane Xc-Xc though the filling device in  FIG. 9  in the storage position; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11   a  shows a central cross-sectional view in plane XIa-XIa though the filling device in  FIG. 9  in the removal position; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 11   b  shows a side view through the filling device in  FIG. 9  in the removal position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    In  FIGS. 1 to 5  a filling device  200  which is not in accordance with the invention is illustrated, the container holder of which is designed in a conventional manner to remove fluid substances from two containers sealed with a closure that can be punctured. The filling device  200  has a basic body  210  which is of an elongated, essentially disk-shaped form. Formed on the basic body  210  is a central, cylindrical thickening  211 , to which the two halves of a flat carrier plate  212  are connected. With its cylindrical axis the thickening  211  defines a longitudinal direction. 
         [0039]    Along this longitudinal direction from each of the two ends of the cylindrical thickening  211  a blind-type longitudinal bore is formed, which each ends just before the middle of the thickening ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Each of these bores widens slightly conically towards its open end and forms a fluid channel. The two bores are collinear to each other, i.e. they are on the same axis one behind the other. 
         [0040]    Toward the upper side of the basic body  210  in the area of the thickening there is an inlet opening  213  for each of the bores ( FIG. 4 ). This inlet opening  213  connects the relevant bore to a beaker-like container holder  220 . The container holder  220  has a circumferential cylindrical jacket wall, which from its upper edge has multiple slits so that each section of the jacket wall interrupted by a slit forms a spring arm. On the free ends of these sections acting as spring arms retaining lugs project inwards in order to hold a container  300  in a removal position on the container holder. 
         [0041]    The containers  300  are in the form of so-called vials with a septum seal. Each container comprises a container body  310  which is preferably made of glass, but can also be made of special plastic. Adjoining a flat bottom  311  is a circumferential cylindrical jacket wall  312  which close to the end away from the bottom has a tapered section  313 . Adjoining this tapered section the jacket wall widens slightly again and defines a container opening. The appurtenant seal  320  comprises a septum  321  (a self-sealing membrane that can be punctured, see  FIG. 4 ), which is held on the container opening by a crimped metal covering which leaves a central part of the septum free. 
         [0042]    In order to puncture the septum  321 , a puncturing element  230  of relatively hard plastic and terminating in a tip  231  at its upper end is inserted into the inlet opening  213 . Laterally on the tip  231  there is a removal opening  232  which is connected to a central removal channel  233  which in turn opens into the inlet opening  213  of the basic body  210 . 
         [0043]    In the area of the closed end of each longitudinal bore in the basic body  210  there is an outlet opening  214  leading to an applicator connector  240 . In the present example the applicator connector  240  is formed in one piece with the basic body  210 , but can also be separate from the basic body  210  and connected to the basic body  210  in a suitable manner, e.g. through adhesion or welded. 
         [0044]    A double-syringe-like applicator  100  can be connected and detachably fastened to the applicator connector. The applicator has an applicator body  110  with two cylindrical, parallel, proximally open reservoirs  111 ,  112  of the same or (in this case) different volume. At their distal ends the reservoirs open into outlets  116 ,  117 . A plunger  121 ,  122  is inserted into the open proximal ends of the reservoirs. The two plungers are connected to each other at their proximal ends to form a plunger unit. In this area an operating surface  123  for the thumb of an operator is provided. A holding flange  113  is for holding the applicator between the index finger and middle finger. To this extent the applicator can be used like a commercial double syringe. 
         [0045]    Functionally the connection between the applicator  100  and the filling device  200  essentially corresponds with the connection between a syringe/cartridge and an accessory described in WO 2007/109915. More particularly, the applicator  100  and the filling device  200  have retention means designed in accordance with this document. Specifically the applicator connector is designed as follows: each of the outlet openings  214  of the two fluid channels opens into a conically widening insert area for the outlets  116 ,  117  of the applicator. These outlets are designed to complement the insert area and can be inserted into these insert areas. In order to hold the applicator  100  securely on the filling device  200  the applicator has on two opposite sides, close to its distal end, adjacent to the outlets, two webs with catches  115 . The applicator connector  240  has a cylindrical holding area  241  which surrounds the insert areas and the webs with the catches and on which two opposite snap-in openings are formed. The catches  115  click into the snap-in openings of the holder area  241  when the applicator is inserted. 
         [0046]    In order to release the applicator  100  from the filling device  200 , the holder area  241  is so elastically deformable that the snap connection between the catches  115  and the corresponding snap-in openings can be released through pressing on a wall area of the holder area  241  offset from the snap-in openings by approximately 90 degrees in relation to the cylinder axis of the holder area. Through such pressure the holder area  241  is deformed in such a way that the snap-in openings are pressed away radially outwards from the catches  115  and are therefore no longer in engagement with the catches. For further details and further possible embodiments of the connection between the applicator and the filling device reference is made to the already mentioned WO 2007/109915, the content of which is included herein through reference. 
         [0047]    In order to be able to exert this pressure specifically and simply, two press wings  243  are formed on the carrier plate  212 . The lateral compression of the two press wings  243  is transmitted to the snap-in openings on the cylindrical holder area  241  of the applicator connector  240  and thereby results in the release of the snap-type connection between the applicator  100  and filling device  200 . 
         [0048]    A coding wing  114  on the applicator  100  and a corresponding coding wing  242  on the filling device  200  show the correct orientation of the applicator  100  when connecting it to the filling device  200 . In addition, the connectors themselves are different in order to ensure that the applicator  100  can only be connected to the filling device  200  correctly orientated. 
         [0049]    In order to reduce the dead volume of the filling device a peg or needle-shaped insert element  250 , shown only in  FIG. 5 , is inserted into each of the two longitudinal bores of the basic body  210 . The insert element  250  serves to reduce the cross-section of the fluid channel formed by the hole between the inlet opening  213  and the outlet opening  214 . For this the design of the insert element  250  essentially complements the bore in the basic body  210  and also widens slightly towards the free end of the bore so that its circumferential surface essentially adjoins the defining wall of the bore in a sealing manner. In the area of the inlet opening  213  a first annular groove  251  is provided in the circumferential surface of the insert element  250 , while in the area of the outlet opening  214  a second annular groove  252  is formed. These annular grooves are connected to each other by a connecting groove running in the longitudinal direction. Together, between the inlet opening  213  and outlet opening, the annular grooves  251 ,  252  and the connecting grove  253  form a fluid connection jointly delimited by the grooves and the defining wall of the fluid channel. Instead of a straight connection another shape can also be selected. Alternatively or additionally, a flattened area can be provided on the circumferential surface, or the connecting grove can be replaced with a fine bore which may run, e.g., diagonally. 
         [0050]    The insert element  250  can be simply pushed in any orientation longitudinally into the open end of the bore, the open end of the bore forming an insert opening  216  for the insert element. Because of the circumferential annular grooves  251 ,  252  the precise orientation of the insert element with regard to rotation of the insert element about the longitudinal axis does not matter. In order to secure the insert element  250  in the bore in the area of the insert opening it has an annular bulge  254  which engages in an annular groove  215  of the basic body  210 . In this manner, further securing of the insert element  250  in the basic body  210 , e.g. through adhesion or welding, can be dispensed with. 
         [0051]    To fill the two reservoirs  111 ,  112  the applicator  100  is attached to the filling device  200  with plungers  121 ,  122  fully pressed in. The containers  300  are inserted into the corresponding container holders until they reach the removal position in which the septa of the containers  300  are punctured and the containers have engaged with the container holders. The plunger unit  120  is then retracted in order to remove the fluids from the two containers separately and simultaneously and transfer them into the reservoirs  111 ,  112 . During this only a small quantity of each fluid is lost in the filling device. By pressing on the press wings  243  the applicator  100  is released from the filling device  200 . Subsequently an accessory, e.g. a mixer or sprayer can be connected to the applicator and the fluids can be discharged from the applicator through the accessory. 
         [0052]    In  FIGS. 6 and 8  a first embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention is shown, which is designed to remove a fluid from at least one container sealed with a closure that can be punctured. This embodiment in accordance with the invention differs from the filling device in  FIGS. 1 to 5  through the design of the container holders. More particularly, the manner in which the vials are held in the container holder is different. 
         [0053]    The container holders  260  are here chimney-like, cylindrical structures which are of sufficient length to hold the entire container in terms of length. Whereas the container holders shown  FIGS. 1 to 4  were produced in one piece with the basic body  210 , the container holders  260  of the embodiment in  FIGS. 6 to 8  are produced separately from the basic body  210  and connected to it by way of a suitable connection, e.g. a welded connection. 
         [0054]    In the embodiment in  FIGS. 6 to 8  each inlet opening  213  in the basic body has a larger diameter than in the filling device in  FIGS. 1 to 5 . The container holder  260  has a base  264  from which a peg  265  extends into the inlet opening  213 . A through opening  266  through the base  264  and peg  265  forms a connection between the removal channel of the puncturing element  230  and the fluid channel in the basic body  210 , the puncturing element  210  being inserted into an area of the outlet opening  266  with increased diameter and rests with its lower margin on an edge stop  267 . 
         [0055]    From the outer margin of the base  264  a cylindrical jacket wall  261  extends upwards. In addition, a partially cylindrical, apron-like cover extends downwards partially laterally surrounding the basic body  210  and, more particularly, covering the insert opening  216  for the insert element  250 . 
         [0056]    In the jacket wall  261  a catch structure  262 ,  263  is formed on each of two opposite sides. The first catch structure  262  is further from the basic body  210  than the second catch structure. Each of the catch structures has a spring arm, on the free end of which a catch lug is provided which extends into the interior of the container holder  260 . The second catch structure  263  is arranged so that through a snap connection it fixes the container  300  in a fully inserted removal position in which the puncturing element  230  has punctured the seal  220 . For this the catch lug of the second catch structure  263  engages in the tapered area  313  of the container body and thus prevents the container from being pulled out of the container holder. The first catch structure  262  fixes the container onto the container holder when the container is in a storage position in which the seal  320  is at a certain distance from the tip of the puncturing element  230 . On the one hand the first structure  262  therefore prevents the container  300  from being pulled out, and on the other hand this catch structure prevents further movement of the container  300  in the direction of the puncturing element  230 . In order to advance the container further in the direction of the puncturing element  230  and thereby puncture the seal, increased force must be applied. Via an oblique surface facing way from the basic body, the catch lug is pushed outwards by this increased force and releases the container for further movement. 
         [0057]    In this way it is possible to store the containers on the filling device without the container seals being punctured or the containers falling out of the device. 
         [0058]    In  FIGS. 9 to 11   b  a second embodiment of a filling device  270  in accordance with the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment the filling device  270  has a basic body  271  with only one container holder  272  and serves to fill an applicator  280  with a fluid from a container  300 . Here the applicator  280  is in the form of a single syringe which has an applicator body  281  with a reservoir  282  and plunger  283  which can be moved therein. 
         [0059]    The container holder  272  into which here a container  300  in the form of a vial can be inserted, has a circular base  276  from which over an angle range of approximately 270° a jacket wall extends upwards. The jacket wall  273  is partially cylindrical in the section facing the base  276  and thereby defines a longitudinal axis of the filling device  270 . In an end area arranged at a distance from the base  276  the jacket wall  273  is however circumferentially designed, i.e. cylindrically. The jacket wall  273  thus has an essentially rectangular window opening which is defined at the bottom by the base  276  and at the top by the cylindrical section of the jacket wall  273 . In the longitudinal direction the length of the jacket wall  273  approximately corresponds with the total length of the container  300 . 
         [0060]    Within the window opening of the jacket wall  273  there are two catch structures  274  and  275  which are arranged offset with regard to each other in the circumferential direction of the jacket wall. The two catch structures  274  and  275  are each designed as spring arms which extend downwards in a longitudinal and parallel manner from the circumferentially designed end area of the jacket wall  273 . Compared with the spring arm of catch structure  274 , the spring arm of the catch structure  275  extends further towards the base and is longer in the longitudinal direction. Both spring arms are also slightly flexible in the radial direction. In an alternative embodiment the two catch structures could be arranged diametrically opposite each other instead of next to each other to take up as little space while retaining as much stability of the container holder as possible. 
         [0061]    At the free ends of the spring arms of the catch structure  274 ,  275  catch lugs extend radially inwards. The catch lugs are slightly inclined downwards towards the base  276 . In particular they have an oblique surface, the surface normal of which essential points away from the base  276  in the longitudinal direction and is slightly inclined with regard to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0062]    The base  276  has a central through opening which opens upwards into a hollow needle-like puncturing element  277  which projects into the container holder  272 . Downwards the central through opening opens into an applicator connector  278  which is arranged on the side of the base  276  opposite the puncturing element  277 . Through the applicator connector  278 , puncturing element  277  and the base  276  a continuous fluid channel  279  is thus formed. The applicator connector  278  is for connecting an applicator  280  and is here in the form of a Luer connection with a female Luer cone and locking structure arranged around it. 
         [0063]    In  FIGS. 10   a  to  10   c  a container  300  is inserted from above (arrow direction in  FIG. 9 ) into the container holder  272  of the filling device  270 . In doing so, in the longitudinal direction the closure  320  of the container  300  comes into contact with the catch lug of the second catch structure  275 . The septum  321  is in the vicinity of the puncturing element  277 , but still at a distance from it. Further advancing of the container  300  toward the puncturing element  277  is prevented by the second catch structure  275 . The second catch structure  275  thus secures the container  300  from further insertion into the container holder  272 . This prevents unintentional puncturing of the septum  321  by the puncturing element  277 . At the same time the first catch structure  274  projects into the tapered section  313  of the container  300  in such a way that it prevents a movement of the container  300  away from the puncturing element  277  and out of the container holder  272 . As the catch lug of the first catch structure  274  is inclined towards the base  276  forcibly pulling the container  300  out of the container holder  272  would result in irreversible destruction of the first catch structure  274 . The first catch structure  274  thus fixes the container  300 , which is snapped in between the first and the second catch structure, in the container holder  272 . The container  300  is in a storage position and can thus be stored, marketed or sold together with the filling device  270 . As the container  300  is surrounded by the jacket wall  273  it is optimally protected. When sold the applicator  280  can already be connected to the applicator connector  278  by means of a Luer connection  284 . 
         [0064]    To fill the applicator the user presses the container  300  out of this storage position using increased force further in the direction of the puncturing element  277 . The two spring arms of the catch structures  274  and  275  are thereby pressed radially outwards due to the oblique surfaces of their catch lugs as a result of which the container  300  can be moved along the longitudinal axis (or in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 11   a ) up to the stop of the closure  320 . During the forward movement the puncturing element  277  punctures the septum  321  of the container  300  so that a fluid connection is created between the interior of the container  300  and the reservoir  282  of the applicator  280 . Once the container closure  320  has been advanced to the base  276 , the catch lug of the second catch structure  275  snaps into the tapered section  313  of the container  300 . The container  300  is thus fixed in a position relative to the filling device  270  and is in the removal position, which is shown in  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b . The substance stored in the container  300  can be transferred into the applicator  280  by retracting the plunger  283  from the applicator body  281  (direction of the arrow in  FIG. 11   a ). The second catch structure  275  prevents the container  300  being removed from the container holder  272 . 
         [0065]    In this exemplary embodiment the filling device  270  is produced in one piece of a plastic material by way of injection moulding. 
         [0066]    A number of further variations are of course possible. The container holder can be designed in a different way from the manner illustrated here. More particularly, it is conceivable for a single container holder to hold two containers jointly, e.g. in the form of a common hood for two containers. It is also conceivable for the container(s) to be held in a holding structure and the holding structure with the containers inserted therein to be inserted complete into the corresponding container holder as is the case in some embodiment of already cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,650. It is of course also conceivable that interlocking does not take place directly between the container holder and the container, but between the container holder and the inserted holding structure. 
         [0067]    Instead of an applicator of the type set out here other types of applicators can of course be used, more particularly applicators as illustrated in WO 2009/144085 or WO 2007/109915. Conventional double syringes, or single syringes combined into unit can also be used. Accordingly it is also possible to design the applicator connector differently. 
         [0068]    A filling device of this type can also be used for filling other types of reservoirs from containers with a seal that can be punctured. It is conceivable in particular to use carpules (containers with septum seal and moveable plunger) in place of the vials illustrated above. In this, instead of an applicator another type of accessory can be connected, e.g. a mixer to mix the contents of two carpules. 
         [0069]    A number of further variations are possible and the invention is not restricted in any way to the examples of embodiment described above. 
       LIST OF REFERENCES 
       [0000]    
       
           100  Applicator 
           110  Applicator body 
           111  First reservoir 
           112  Second reservoir 
           113  Holding flange 
           114  Coding wing 
           115  Catch lug 
           116  First outlet 
           117  Second outlet 
           120  Plunger unit 
           121  First plunger 
           122  Second plunger 
           123  Operating surface 
           124  Closure 
           200  Filling device 
           210  Basic body 
           211  Thickening 
           212  Carrier plate 
           213  Inlet opening 
           214  Outlet opening 
           215  Annular groove 
           216  Insert opening 
           220  Container holder 
           230  Puncturing element 
           231  Tip 
           232  Removal opening 
           233  Removal channel 
           240  Applicator connector 
           241  Holding area 
           242  Coding wing 
           243  Press wing 
           250  Insert element 
           251  First annular groove 
           252  Second annular groove 
           253  Longitudinal groove 
           254  Annular bulge 
           260  Container holder 
           261  Jacket wall 
           262  First catch structure 
           263  Second catch structure 
           264  Base 
           265  Peg 
           266  Outlet opening 
           267  Stop edge 
           268  Cover 
           270  Filling device 
           271  Basic body 
           272  Container holder 
           273  Jacket wall 
           274  First catch structure 
           275  Second catch structure 
           276  Base 
           277  Puncturing element 
           278  Applicator connector 
           279  Fluid channel 
           280  Applicator 
           281  Applicator body 
           282  Reservoir 
           283  Plunger 
           284  Luer connection 
           300  Container 
           310  Container body 
           311  Base 
           312  Jacket wall 
           313  Tapered section 
           320  Closure 
           321  Septum