TRANSFER AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR MEDICAL LIQUIDS

Abstract: A transfer and dispensing device for medical liquids with a transfer spike (10) having spike portions (11, 12) projecting in opposite directions is provided with an adapter (20) arranged for sealing connection to one of the spike portions (11, 12) and comprising a connection means (22) for a liquid receiving means. The adapter (20) is provided with a flange (13) which limits the plug-on movement onto the spike portion of the transfer spike. The device is useful as a transfer means between two containers and also can be used as a dispensing device when combined with the adapter (20).

Description: New German Utility Model Application Sg/Dt "Transfer spike" Cooperation Merck - Braun Transfer and dispensing device for medical liquids The present invention relates to a transfer and dispensing device for medical liquids, comprising a transfer spike with spike portions projecting in opposite directions. It is a known practice to use transfer spikes for transferring liquids from one container to another container. Such a transfer spike comprises two spike portions, one of them provided for perforating a closure plug of one of said containers and the other provided for perforating a closure plug of the other container. In this manner, an interconnection is established between the two inner spaces of the two containers via the channels of the transfer spike, and it is rendered possible to transfer the contents of the upper container into the lower container by holding the overall device in a vertical orientation. The required air equilibrium is likewise effected through the transfer spike. In this manner, the contents of two containers can be mixed with each other while keeping the containers tightly sealed against the ambient air. Upon termination of the transfer process, the transfer spike is withdrawn from the two closure plugs so that the closure plugs will then close the containers again in a self-sealing manner. When liquid has to be dispensed from one container, the closure plug of this container will once again have to be perforated by the punctuating spike of a transfer means. It is an object of the invention to provide a transfer and dispensing device wherein the transfer spike, comprising two opposite spike portions, can be further used after the transfer process. According to the instant invention, the above object is solved by the features indicated in cfaim 1. Thus, there is provided an adapter, configured for fitting engagement with the transfer spike, which is connectable in a sealing manner to one of the spike portions and comprises a connection device for a liquid receiving means. After the transfer spike has been used for complete or partial transfer of the contents of a container into another container, the transfer spike can be withdrawn from one container while thus still remaining on the other container. Subsequently, the adapter, serving for connection of a liquid receiving means to the transfer spike, can be mounted to the transfer spike. Therefore, the transfer spike is useful, on the one hand, as a mere transfer means between two containers and, on the other hand, also as a dispensing device when combined with the adapter. A particular advantage resides in that the transfer spike after liquid transfer does not have to be withdrawn from the two involved containers, which contributes to the hygiene and the avoidance of leakage from the container at the puncture site. Instead, the transfer spike can remain mounted to the container and will merely have the adapter plugged thereon for connection of the liquid receiving means. The adapter can be formed with a flange for limiting the plug-on movement onto the spike portion of the transfer spike, with the flange abutting a limiting stopper of the transfer spike. This provides for a reliable mounting of the adapter to the transfer spike. The adapter facilitates the plug-on movement and respectively the attainment of the sealing effect by plugging the adapter onto the transfer spike. When the connecting conduit is subjected to tensile forces, it can be useful to provide a locking means for retaining the adapter on the transfer spike to secure the adapter against withdrawal. Such a locking means is preferably arranged as a snap connection which does not require a special manual operation. The spike portions of the transfer spike respectively include a vent channel and a liquid channel. Preferably, the adapter is provided with an internal projection portion for connecting the vent channel. The projection portion is connected to a lateral opening of the adapter. This lateral opening serves for venting the respective container which is presently being emptied. The opening can have a bacteria filter arranged therein or be provided with a closure in the form of a so-called Euro valve. The connector means of the adapter is preferably formed as a Luer lock connector for connection of a tube conduit or the like thereto. By way of alternative, the connector means can be arranged as a tube connector for fitting or clamping engagement by the transfer means of an infusion apparatus. Embodiments of the invention will be explained in greater detail hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled transfer and dispensing device according to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a lateral view of the adapter, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view of the adapter, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment in the assembled condftion of the transfer and dispensing device, wherein the adapter is provided with a Luer lock connector, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of the adapter with a locking means on one end and a tube connector on the opposite end, Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5 as viewed from the direction of arrow VI, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment with a locking means on the upper end and a Luer lock connector on the lower end of the adapter. In all of its embodiments, the transfer and dispensing device comprises a transfer spike 10 including a first spike portion 11 and a second spike portion 12 opposite to the first spike portion. Transfer spike 10 is formed of a shaped plastic member, and its two spike portions are arranged symmetrical with each other. In the central plane, a flange 13 is provided for limiting the puncturing movement of a spike portion into a closure plug (not shown) of a container. Each spike portion 11,12 has a sharp tip 14, and the spike portion has two channels extending therethrough, one of them being a vent channel 15 and the other being a liquid channel 16. In the lower spike portion 12, the liquid channel 16 reaches farther toward tip 14 than vent channel 15. Transfer spike 10 can be used in each of the two orientations, with the functions of the vent channel 15 and the liquid channel 16 being exchanged between each other when using the transfer spike in an orientation rotated by 180°. Transfer spike 10 further- includes an adapter 20 to be connected in a fitting and sealing manner to lower spike portion 12. For this purpose, adapter 20 comprises a tubular portion 21 which can be shifted onto spike portion 12, and a connection means 22 which in the present case is formed as a tube connector 23. Arranged on the wall of tubular portion 21 is an internally protruding projection portion 24 provided with a longitudinal bore 25 terminating in a filter space 26. Filter space 26 is connected to the ambient air through a lateral opening 27 having an bacteria filter 28 arranged therein. Through channel 25, filtered ambient air enters the transfer spike 10. On the upper end of projection portion 24, a neck portion 29 is arranged to protrude by a distance into the lower end of the vent channel 15 of the transfer spike. Via head portion 29, channel 25 is connected to vent channel 15. Projection portion 24 is located in that part of tubular portion 21 which is left free of liquid channel 16, and is arranged as a downward extension of air channel 15. Tubular portion 21 is joined by the connection means 22. The latter is formed as a tube connector 23, i.e. it comprises a tube adapted for sealing insertion thereinto of another (less wide) tube or the puncturing mandrel 30 of a transfer means 31 (Fig. 1). Puncturing mandrel 30 will normally serve for perforating the elastomeric closure plug of a container. Since, however, the closure plug has already been perforated by the upper spike portion 11 of transfer spike 10 as provided by the invention, the puncturing mandrel 30 can now be utilized as a connection element to be assembled with the connection means 22. The puncturing mandrel 30 is formed with a channel extending therethrough and leading into the tube of transfer means 31. Adapter 20 has a closure cap 32 integrally formed thereto. Closure cap 32 is connected to tube connector 23 by a flexible connecting strip 33. Closure cap 32 will normally be used to keep the tube connector 23 sealed. Cap 32 can be quickly removed by hand for insertion of the puncturing mandrel. Provided internally of tube connector 23 is a mandrel emplacement 34 in the form of annular projections for clamping the puncturing mandrel 30 in position. On the front end of tubular portion 21, two laterally projecting flaps are arranged, forming a flange 35. Further, the front end of tubular portion 21 is provided with a projecting locking means 36 comprising elastic locking hooks 37 with their detents facing towards each other. The locking hooks 37 are arranged to grip, at the closest site, around the edge 38 of flange 13 (Fig. 1) and to have their detents lock into place behind edge 38. Locking means 36 will secure the adapter 20 to transfer spike 10 to thus prevent withdrawal of the adapter. Detachment of locking means 36 is impossible or is possible only by complex manipulation. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, adapter 20 is generally arranged in a manner similar to the first embodiment, except that the connection means 22 in the instant case is not configured as a tubular connection but as a Luer lock connector 40 comprising an inner cone 41 and laterally projecting thread cams 42 configured to have a threaded cap 43 with outer cone 44 screw-fitted thereon. Also here, the locking means 36 is arranged on flange 35 but at a site different from that in the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 4, once the threaded cap 43 has been removed, a tube with Luer lock connector can be attached to adapter 20a so that the liquid from liquid channel 16 is supplied to the tube. In the embodiment illustfrated in Figs. 5 and 6, adapter 20b is provided with a connection means 22 arranged as a tube connector 23. Opening 27, instead of accommodating the bacteria filter 28, is formed as a port 45 which can be closed by a pivotable Euro valve 46 with a lug 47. Euro valve 46 is subjected to the force of an elastic elbow lever 48 which is tensioned to lend the Euro valve 46 a bistable condition and is movable between a closed position and an opened position. Port 45 can be connected to an injection device. Also in the embodiment of the adapter 20c illustrated in Fig. 7, port 45 can be closed by a Euro flap 46. Connection means 22 is arranged as a Luer lock connector 40 and closed by a threaded cap 43. In all of the above cases, transfer spike 10 is moved first to cause one spike portion 11 to perforate the closure plug of a first container and then to cause the second spike portion 12 to perforate the closure plug of a second container. Then, liquid is allowed to flow from the first container via transfer spike 10 into the second container. Liquid can be taken out of the second container by mounting an adapter onto the projecting spike portion of the transfer spike and connecting a liquid receiving means to the adapter.

Claims: What is Claimed Is: 1. A transfer and dispensing device for medical liquids, with a transfer spike comprising spike portions projecting in opposite directions, characterized by an adapter arranged for sealing connection to one of the spike portions and comprising a connection means for a liquid receiving means. 2. The transfer and dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter is provided with a flange limiting the plug-on movement onto the spike portion of the transfer spike, with the flange abutting against a limiting stopper of the transfer spike. 3. The transfer and dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a locking means is provided to hold the adapter on the transfer spike in a manner preventing withdrawal of the adapter. 4. The transfer and dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each spike portion of the transfer spike is provided with a vent channel and a liquid channel. 5. The transfer and dispensing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the adapter includes an internal projection portion provided for connection of the vent channel and connected to a lateral opening of the adapter. 6. The transfer and dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connection means of the adapter is provided as a Luer5 lock connector. 7. The transfer and dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connection means of the adapter is provided as a tube connector arranged for clamping insertion of the transfer means of an infusion device.

Inventors: FUCHS JUERGEN, HEIL NORBERT, SCHLAUDECKER THOMAS, FUCHS, JUERGEN, HEIL, NORBERT, SCHLAUDECKER, THOMAS,
Applicants: FUCHS JUERGEN, HEIL NORBERT, MERCK & CO INC, SCHLAUDECKER THOMAS, FUCHS, JUERGEN, HEIL, NORBERT, MERCK & CO., SCHLAUDECKER, THOMAS,
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A61B19
IPC codes: A61J1, A61J3, A61M5