Patent Publication Number: US-2017367931-A1

Title: Hollow Needle Assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hollow-needle assembly for a transfer apparatus for transferring a liquid between a storage container and at least one further use container. Furthermore, the invention relates to a transfer apparatus having such a hollow-needle assembly and to a set having such a transfer apparatus and a storage container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A transfer apparatus having a hollow-needle assembly is known from WO 2011/088471 A1, from WO 2014/152249 A1, from WO 98/32411 A1, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,738 B1, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,263 B1, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,345 and from WO 2012/119225 A1. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to develop a hollow-needle assembly is of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way as to ensure reliable ventilation and venting of the storage container via the hollow needle when liquid is transferred. 
     According to a first aspect, this object is achieved according to the invention by a hollow-needle assembly for a transfer apparatus for transferring a liquid between a storage container and at least one further use container, the hollow-needle assembly having a hollow needle, a pointed free needle end, at least one liquid duct for trans-porting liquid through the hollow needle, said liquid duct leading out via a liquid-duct opening in the region of the free needle end, at least one aeration gas duct for transporting gas through the hollow-needle assembly, said aeration gas duct leading out via a gas-duct opening in the region of the free needle end, wherein the duct paths of the at least one liquid duct for the one part and of the at least one aeration gas duct for the other part extend separately from one another; wherein the at least one liquid duct for the one part and the at least one aeration gas duct for the other part lead out adjacently to one another axially along the hollow needle and in a manner offset from one another in the circumferential direction, and wherein a needle separating edge that extends in the longitudinal direction of the hollow needle extends between in each case one liquid-duct opening and an adjacent gas-duct opening in the circumferential direction. 
     According to the invention, it has been found that needle separating edges between the liquid-duct openings and the gas-duct openings prevent or at least largely avoid a transfer of liquid between the liquid duct and the gas duct. Clogging of the gas duct with liquid or undesired entrainment of liquid droplets through the gas duct is then prevented or at least largely avoided. The separating edge can be embodied with a sharp edge. This results in liquid emerging from the liquid-duct opening separating from the hollow needle in a desired manner at the separating edge and thus not passing into the region of the gas-duct opening. Furthermore, a disadvantageous overflow of liquid into the gas duct under the action of gravitational force during injection is reduced. In addition, separating edges embodied with sharp edges improve a puncturing action of the hollow needle, this being desired in the transfer apparatus, which generally has to puncture a closure of the storage container. The at least one liquid-duct opening can be configured such that it allows liquid to be expelled by way of movement components that are radial with respect to the hollow needle, that is to say lateral expulsion. This is advantageous when the hollow-needle assembly is used within a reconstitution device, specifically when the liquid is not intended to be injected directly into a medicine powder during injection. As a result, undesired foaming of the powder is avoided. The at least one liquid-duct opening can be arranged in a laterally offset manner with respect to a longitudinal centre axis of the hollow needle. Such a lateral arrangement of the at least one liquid-duct opening reduces the risk of a constituent part of a closure plug being punched out of a storage container during piercing by the hollow needle with the duct opening. 
     An arrangement of the duct openings in such a way that the liquid-duct opening is at least as far away from a needle tip at the free needle end of the hollow needle as the gas-duct opening ensures that when the liquid is returned from the storage container into the use container, which usually takes place when using the transfer apparatus by holding the latter “upside-down”, the gas-duct opening comes to be above the liquid-duct opening, thereby simplifying ventilation of the storage container. The at least one liquid-duct opening can be further away from the needle tip than the gas-duct opening. 
     Precisely one gas-duct opening and at least two liquid-duct openings have been found to be particularly suitable for embodying the hollow-needle assembly in an operationally reliable manner. 
     An embodiment in which a further separating edge that extends in the longitudinal direction of the hollow needle extends between the two adjacent liquid-duct openings between two liquid-duct openings for its part ensures an improved puncturing action of the hollow needle of the hollow-needle assembly. 
     According to a second aspect, the object mentioned at the beginning is furthermore achieved by a hollow-needle assembly for a transfer apparatus for transferring a liquid between a storage container and at least one further use container, the hollow-needle assembly having a hollow needle, a pointed free needle end, at least one liquid duct for transporting liquid through the hollow needle, said liquid duct leading out via a liquid-duct opening in the region of the free needle end, at least one aeration gas duct for transporting gas through the hollow-needle assembly, said aeration gas duct leading out via a gas-duct opening in the region of the free needle end, wherein the duct paths of the at least one liquid duct for the one part and of the at least one aeration gas duct for the other part extend separately from one another; and wherein a portion of the aeration-gas duct is formed by an annular space between the hollow needle and a needle sleeve surrounding the latter. 
     The annular space reduces the probability of the aeration gas duct being clogged and in particular reduces the probability of a downstream air filter, which is often present, being clogged by liquid undesirably entrained in the gas duct. 
     An annular air filter arranged downstream of the annular space in a gas flow path through the aeration gas duct, starting from the gas-duct opening at the free needle end, prevents foreign bodies and germs from undesirably passing into the gas duct. Liquid droplets are also prevented from passing to the outside, should said liquid droplets actually reach the air filter. 
     A direction-reversal duct portion of the gas flow path, in which an axial main gas flow direction reverses, between the gas-duct opening at the free needle end and the air filter represents an additional obstacle for liquid droplets that may have been entrained. 
     By way of an axial-duct body arranged in the annular space, said axial-duct body bringing about an extension of an axial path of the aeration gas duct upstream of the direction-reversal duct portion, an obstacle action, resulting from the direction reversal, for undesirably entrained liquid droplets is increased further. Air flowing out of the storage container during the injection of the liquid into the storage container can be forced to rise. During the axial path or axial rising path, additionally extended via the axial-duct body, in the aeration gas duct, liquid droplets flowing in can be additionally dissipated or separated via gravitational force. 
     The hollow-needle assembly according to the two above-described aspects can also be embodied with other combinations of the features explained above. 
     The advantages of a transfer apparatus having a hollow-needle assembly according to the invention and of a set made up of a transfer apparatus according to the invention and a storage container correspond to those which have already been explained above with reference to the hollow-needle assembly according to the invention. An apparatus of this type can be used in particular as a reconstitution device. A pulverulent medicine can then be located in the storage container, said medicine first of all, with the transfer apparatus in the connecting position, being mixed with a solvent via the then-attached use container, and subsequently being transferred, via the transfer apparatus, into the same or a further use container in dissolved form for further use. The set can also include at least one use container, for example in the form of a standard syringe. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following text with reference to the drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an apparatus for transferring a liquid between a storage container and at least one further use container, illustrated in an assembled state before being fitted on the storage container; 
         FIG. 2  shows an axial longitudinal section through the apparatus according to  FIG. 1 , illustrated in a ready-for-use sealing position fitted on the storage container, with a hollow-needle assembly in a retracted rest position; 
         FIG. 3  shows an illustration, similar to  FIG. 2 , of the transfer apparatus, in which some components have been omitted, furthermore illustrated with the hollow-needle assembly in the rest position; 
         FIG. 4  shows the transfer device, in an illustration similar to  FIG. 3 , with the hollow-needle assembly shortly after leaving the rest position in an intermediate position between the rest position and an extended connecting position, wherein the hollow needle creates a liquid connecting duct between the storage container and the transfer apparatus in the connecting position; 
         FIG. 5  shows the transfer apparatus, in an illustration similar to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , but with the cover of a rotary-actuation element fitted, in the connecting position, in which it is possible to remove the rotary-actuation element; 
         FIG. 6  shows the transfer apparatus fitted on the storage container, in a perspective illustration similar to  FIG. 1 , with the hollow-needle assembly in the connecting position following the removal of the rotary-actuation element; 
         FIG. 7  shows the transfer apparatus, in an illustration similar to  FIG. 5 , following the removal of the rotary-actuation element, with indicated flow paths; 
         FIG. 8   a/b  each show, in an illustration similar to  FIG. 7 , an enlarged illustration of flow paths through a liquid duct for transporting liquid through a hollow needle of the hollow-needle assembly ( FIG. 8 a   ), for the one part, and through an aeration gas duct for transporting gas through the hollow-needle assembly ( FIG. 8 b   ), for the other part; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective and enlarged view of a needle tip at the free needle end of the hollow needle of the hollow-needle assembly, wherein the one gas-duct opening, leading out there, of the aeration gas duct and one of a total of two liquid-duct openings, leading out there, of the liquid duct are visible; 
         FIG. 10  shows a top view of the needle tip, that is to say seen in the viewing direction X in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11 a    shows a needle sleeve, surrounding the hollow needle, of the hollow-needle assembly in a bottom view; 
         FIG. 11 b    shows a section on line XIb-XIb in  FIG. 11   a;    
         FIG. 12  shows the needle sleeve, seen in the opposite viewing direction to the viewing direction in  FIG. 11 , so that a filter carrier of an air filter (not illustrated) in the gas duct is additionally visible; 
         FIG. 13   a/b  each show an alternative embodiment of a hollow-needle assembly, in an illustration similar to  FIG. 8 b   , with an axial duct body, additionally arranged in an annular space between the hollow needle and the needle sleeve, for extending an axial path of the gas duct, wherein  FIG. 13 a    shows an axial section and  FIG. 13 b    shows a perspective axial sectional view; 
         FIG. 14  shows a further embodiment of a transfer apparatus, in an illustration similar to  FIG. 1 , but already fitted on the storage container; 
         FIG. 15  shows the transfer apparatus according to  FIG. 14  following axial extension of an external seal securing sleeve for ensuring leaktight abutment of a sealing portion of the transfer apparatus against the storage container; 
         FIG. 16  shows the transfer apparatus according to  FIG. 15  with an inserted locking body for ensuring a retracted rest position of a hollow-needle assembly of the embodiment according to  FIG. 14  et seq.; 
         FIG. 17  shows an axial section through the transfer apparatus according to  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  shows the transfer apparatus according to  FIG. 14  et seq., in an illustration similar to  FIG. 15 , following displacement of the hollow-needle assembly into the extended connecting position; 
         FIG. 19  shows an axial section through the transfer apparatus according to  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20   a/b  show the transfer apparatus according to  FIG. 14  et seq. in the connecting position according to  FIGS. 18 and 19  with the seal securing sleeve omitted, wherein a pressure-actuation element of the transfer apparatus has been illustrated in a cutaway manner in order to illustrate a guide device of the pressure-actuation element on a main body of the transfer apparatus; 
         FIG. 21  shows the transfer apparatus according to  FIG. 14  et seq. in the connecting position with the pressure-actuation element removed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A first embodiment of an apparatus  1  for transferring a liquid between a storage container  2  (cf.  FIG. 6 ) and at least one further storage container  3  (cf.  FIG. 6 ) is described in the following text with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 12 . All the moulded parts of the transfer apparatus  1  are made of plastics material and are embodied in particular as injection-moulded parts. 
     The transfer apparatus  1  has a sealing portion  4  for leaktight abutment of a main body  5  (cf.  FIG. 2 ) of the transfer apparatus  1  against the storage container  2 . The sealing portion  4  butts in this case against an elastomeric sealing plug of the storage container  2   a,  which will be described further in the following text. The sealing portion  4  engages in this case around a neck  6  of the storage container  2  (cf.  FIG. 5 ). An external securing sleeve  7  of the transfer apparatus  1  serves to secure the sealing portion  4  in the sealing position thereof. 
       FIG. 1  shows the securing sleeve  7  in a transport position of the transfer apparatus  1  before being fitted on the storage container  2 .  FIG. 6  for example shows the securing sleeve  7  in a securing position in which it is pushed over the sealing portion  4  and in which corresponding latching lugs of the securing sleeve  7  engage in latching receptacles  8  in the sealing portion  4  and press the latter against the neck  6  of the storage container  2  in a leaktight manner. 
     The transfer apparatus  1  furthermore has a hollow-needle assembly  9  with a hollow needle  10  and a needle sleeve  11  surrounding the latter. The hollow needle  10  is embodied as a plastics hollow needle. Alternatively, the hollow needle  10  can also be embodied at least in part as a steel cannula. Liquid is transferred between the use container  3  and the storage container  2  through the hollow needle  10  and at the same time ventilation and venting of these containers  2 ,  3  takes place, as will be explained in more detail in the following text. 
     The hollow-needle assembly  9  is displaceable in a linear manner along a movement axis  13  (cf.  FIG. 3 ) relative to the main body  5  by means of a gear mechanism  12 . This movement axis  13  extends coaxially with a longitudinal centre axis  14  of the transfer apparatus  1 . 
     The hollow-needle assembly  9  is displaced between a retracted rest position, illustrated for example in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and an extended connecting position, illustrated for example in  FIG. 5 . In the connecting position, the hollow needle  10  creates inter alia a liquid connecting duct between the storage container  2  and the transfer apparatus  1 . This liquid duct extends between a free needle end  15  and an opposite connecting portion  16  (cf.  FIG. 5 ). The connecting portion  16  is an integral constituent part of the hollow needle  10 . The connecting portion  16  serves to seal the connection of the transfer apparatus  1  to the use container  3  and is embodied as a Luer connection. In a corresponding manner, the use container  3  is designed as a standard syringe with a complementary Luer connector. As an alternative to a Luer connection, the transfer apparatus  1  can also be connected to the use container  3  in some other way, for example via a different embodiment of a conical connection. 
     The needle sleeve  11  represents a separate component from the hollow needle  10 . The needle sleeve  11  is connected to the hollow needle  10  in a circumferentially leaktight manner in two axial positions, specifically in the region of an end of the needle sleeve  11  that faces the connecting portion  16  (cf. connecting region  17  in  FIG. 3 ), for the one part, and axially spaced apart in an opposite connecting region  18 , for the other part. An approximately hollow-cylindrical annular space  19  is located axially between these connecting regions  17 ,  18  and radially between the hollow needle  10  and the needle sleeve  11 . 
     The transfer apparatus  1  furthermore has a multipart rotary-actuation element  20  which is operatively connected to the hollow-needle assembly  9  via the gear mechanism  12 . 
     The rotary-actuation element  20  has an annular cover  21  and an actuation-element main body  22  (cf. for example  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The rotary-actuation element  20  is rotatable about the longitudinal centre axis  14  relative to the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1 . 
     The actuation-element main body  22  is sealed off from the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1  via a main-body seal  23  (cf. for example  FIG. 2 ). This results in a closed-off and in particular germproof space within the main body. 
     The rotary-actuation element  20  furthermore includes an external coupling sleeve  24  which is connected to the actuation-element main body  22  for conjoint rotation and can be understood to be a constituent part of this main body  22 . 
     The gear mechanism  12  has a driver ring  25  that is mounted in the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1  axially and so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal centre axis  14 . Radially, the driver ring  25  is located between the main body  5  and the needle sleeve  11 . 
     The driver ring  25  has an inner driver which is designed as an internal thread  26  in the embodiment shown. The internal thread  26  interacts with a complementary thread  27 , embodied as an external thread, on the needle sleeve  11  in order to displace the hollow-needle assembly  9 . 
     During the displacement of the hollow-needle assembly  9  from the rest position into the connecting position, the driver ring  25  is connected to the rotary-actuation element  20  for conjoint rotation. To this end, the actuation-element main body  22  has a plurality of, for example three, axial lugs  28  (cf. for example  FIG. 3 ) which, as long as the actuation-element main body  22  is connected to the driver ring  25  for conjoint rotation, engage in associated axial receptacles  29  in the driver ring  25 . The axial lugs  28  and the associated axial receptacles  29  are distributed about the longitudinal centre axis  14  in the circumferential direction. The axial lugs  28  are integral constituent parts of the actuation-element main body  22 . 
     The hollow-needle assembly  9  is prevented from rotating relative to the main body  5  about the longitudinal centre axis  14  via inner axial ribs  30  (cf. for example  FIG. 4 ) which are embodied in the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1 . To this end, the needle sleeve  11  has axial guide grooves  31  (cf. for example  FIGS. 11 a    and  12 ) complementary to the axial ribs  30 . 
     End sides  32  of these inner axial ribs  30  simultaneously represent an axial seat of the driver ring  25  in the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus. 
     The main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1  has a lifting driver  33  embodied as an external thread. Said lifting driver  33  interacts with a counterpart lifting driver  34 , embodied as a complementary internal thread, on the coupling sleeve  24  of the rotary-actuation element  20 . During the rotary actuation of the rotary-actuation element  20 , which brings about the displacement of the hollow-needle assembly  9  from the rest position into the connecting position, the interaction of the lifting driver  33  with the counterpart lifting driver  34  results in the rotary-actuation element  20  being lifted off the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1  in order to relieve the main-body seal  23 .  FIG. 4  shows for example the correspondingly relieved position, in which the actuation-element main body  22  has been lifted axially off the main body  5 . 
     The main-body seal  23  can be embodied as a silicone lamellar seal. Alternatively, the main-body seal  23  can be embodied as a hard/hard end face mechanical seal. 
     In the connecting position (cf.  FIG. 5 ), the drivers  33 ,  34  are in a disengaged state, and so the entire rotary-actuation element  20  is removable from the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1 . 
     The transfer apparatus  1  additionally has a locking device  35  for locking the hollow-needle assembly  9  in the connecting position. This locking serves to secure the transfer apparatus  1  in a tamper-evident manner, in that the displacement of the hollow-needle assembly  9  into the connecting position is designed to be irreversible. The locking device  35  comprises a latching component  36  on the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1 , which interacts in a latching manner with a complementary counterpart latching component  37  on the outer wall of the hollow needle  10 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the transfer apparatus  1  with the hollow-needle assembly  9  in the connecting position with the rotary-actuation element  20  removed. The connecting portion  16  of the hollow-needle assembly  9  is now accessible from above and no longer covered by the annular cover  21  of the rotary-actuation element  20 . On account of this accessibility of the connecting portion  16 , the latter can be connected to the Luer connector of the use container  3 . 
     The storage container  2  is closed in a leaktight manner in the region of its neck  6  by a closure plug  38  in the form of an elastomeric sealing plug or of a sealing membrane. It can be gathered for example from  FIGS. 5, 7 and 8   a/b  that the hollow needle  10  has punctured the storage container  2  or the closure plug  38  of the storage container  2  in the connecting position. 
     In the region of the free needle end  15 , the liquid duct  39 , already mentioned above in conjunction with the displacement of the hollow-needle assembly  9 , between the storage container  2  and the transfer apparatus  1  leads out via two liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41  (cf.  FIG. 10 ). The liquid duct  39  serves to transport liquid through the hollow needle  10 . 
     In the region of the free needle end  15 , an aeration gas duct  42  additionally leads out of the hollow needle  10  via a gas-duct opening  43 . The aeration gas duct  42  serves to transport gas through the hollow-needle assembly  9 , specifically in order to ventilate or vent the storage container  2  or the use container  3 , respectively. 
     The duct paths of the liquid duct  39  for the one part and of the gas duct  42  for the other part extend separately from one another. The liquid duct  39  for the one part and the gas duct  42  for the other part lead out adjacently to one another axially along the hollow needle  10  and in a manner offset from one another in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal centre axis  14 . A needle separating edge  44 ,  45  that extends in the longitudinal direction of the hollow needle  10  extends between in each case one of the liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41  and the adjacent gas-duct opening  43  in the circumferential direction. A further needle separating edge  46  that extends in a corresponding manner in the longitudinal direction of the hollow needle  10  extends between the two liquid-duct openings  40  and  41 . 
     The two needle separating edges  44 ,  45  between the liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41  and the gas-duct opening  43  reduce an undesired transfer of liquid between the liquid duct  39  and the aeration gas duct  42 . In addition, the needle separating edges  44  to  46  serve to reduce piercing forces of the hollow needle  12  into the closure plug  38  of the storage container  2 . The needle separating edges  44  to  46  have a cutting action during the piercing of the closure plug  38 . 
     The liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41  are at least as far away axially from the needle tip at the free needle end  15  as the gas-duct opening  43 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated (cf.  FIG. 9 ), the liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41  are much further away axially from the needle tip at the free needle end  15  than the gas-duct opening  43 . 
     Starting from the gas-duct opening  43 , a gas flow path extends through the aeration gas duct  42  first of all via a gas-duct portion  47  which extends parallel to the longitudinal centre axis  14  in the hollow needle  10 . The gas-duct portion  47  leads out into the annular space  19  between the hollow needle  10  and the needle sleeve  11  via a passage opening  48  (cf.  FIG. 8   a/b ). The annular space  19  thus forms a portion of the aeration gas duct  42 . 
     At the bottom of the annular space  19 , the needle sleeve  11  has a plurality of needle-sleeve passage openings  49 . A total of eight such needle-sleeve passage openings  49  are arranged in a manner distributed evenly around the longitudinal centre axis  14 . The needle-sleeve passage openings  49  represent a flow passage for the aeration gas duct  42  between the annular space  19  and a further annular space  50  in a portion of the needle sleeve  11  at the bottom, i.e. facing the storage container  2 . Arranged in this further annular space  50  is a filter carrier  51  which is in the form of an annular disc and annularly surrounds the hollow needle  10 . The filter carrier  51  carries a likewise annular air filter  52  of the transfer apparatus  1 . In the further flow path of the aeration gas duct  42 , after passing through the air filter  52 , it is possible for gas to pass between the needle sleeve  11  and the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1  and from there to the outer environment. 
     In the aeration gas duct  42 , a reversal of an axial main gas flow direction takes place between the gas-duct portion  47  and the further gas-duct portion between the needle-sleeve passage openings  49  and the air filter  52  in the region of the annular space  19 . Axial flow components in these two gas-duct portions run in a manner precisely opposed to one another. The annular space  19  therefore represents a direction-reversal duct portion of the aeration gas duct  42 . 
     The transfer apparatus  1  is used as follows: 
     First of all, the transfer apparatus  1  is fitted, in the configuration presented in  FIG. 1 , on the neck  6  of the storage container  2 , in which a for example pulverulent medicine is present. Subsequently, the seal securing sleeve  7  is pushed over the sealing portion  4 . As a result, the transfer apparatus  1  is secured on the neck  6  of the storage container  2 , wherein, in particular a tamper-evident closure can be ensured. In addition, as a result of the seal securing sleeve  7  being pushed over the sealing portion  4 , this sealing portion  4  is secured and seals the transfer apparatus  1  off from the storage container  2 . Now, the rotary-actuation element  20  is rotated in the direction of rotation, indicated on the outer side of the annular cover  21  by arrow symbols  53 , through 360° or an even greater rotational angle. In this case, the axial lugs  28  carry along the driver ring  25  which, mounted axially in the main body  5 , now likewise rotates about the longitudinal centre axis  14 , but is not in the process displaced axially with respect to the main body  5 . The driver ring  25  is in this case secured axially via undercuts in the main body  5 . As a result of the interaction of the threads  26 ,  27 , the displacement of the hollow-needle assembly  9  relative to the main body  5  in the direction of the movement axis  13 , i.e. towards the storage container  2 , now starts. At the same time, the threads  33 ,  34  on the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1  for the one part and on the coupling sleeve  24  for the other part interact, such that the actuating-element main body  22  is lifted axially off the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . On continued rotation of the rotary-actuation element  20 , the hollow-needle assembly  9  is displaced into the connecting position according to  FIG. 5  and punctures the closure plug  38  of the storage container  2 . This takes place until the threads  26 ,  27  for the one part and the threads  33 ,  34  for the other part are disengaged from one another. In the connecting position, the locking device  35  is latched in place and the hollow-needle assembly  9  is irreversibly secured in this position. 
     Now, the entire rotary-actuation element  20  can be removed and the use container  3 , i.e. the standard injection syringe, can be connected to the connecting portion  16  of the transfer apparatus  1  via the Luer coupling. A solvent matched to the medicine in the storage container  2  is present in the use container  3 . This solvent is now injected into the interior of the storage container  2  via the transfer apparatus  1  by actuation of a syringe piston of the use container  3 . In the process, the solvent flows through the liquid duct  39  in the hollow needle  10  and passes out of the hollow needle  10  into the storage container  2  via the two liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41 . The arrangement of the liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41  relative to the gas-duct opening  43  reduces an overflow of liquid droplets into the gas duct during injection, since the liquid flows downwards in the direction of gravitational force and thus does not flow in the direction of the gas duct during injection. In a manner corresponding to the volume of the liquid entering the storage container  2 , air escapes to the outside from the storage container  2  via the gas-duct opening  43  through the aeration gas duct  42  via the gas-duct portion  47 , the passage opening  48 , the annular space  19 , the needle-sleeve passage openings  49 , the annular space  50 , the air filter  52  and from there between the needle sleeve  11  and the main body  5  of the transfer apparatus  1 . The configuration of the free needle end  15  with the needle separating edges  44 ,  45 , the arrangement of the duct openings  40 ,  41 ,  43  and the design of the aeration gas duct  42 , in particular the reversal of direction in the annular space  19 , effectively avoid the situation in which liquid undesirably passes to the outside via the aeration gas duct  42 . Liquid droplets that possibly enter the aeration gas duct  42  are dissipated. In particular, the air filter  52  is effectively prevented from becoming clogged with liquid as a result. 
     After all of the solvent has been injected into the storage container  2 , a solution of the initially pulverulent medicine in the solvent is established by shaking the assembly made up of the storage container  2 , the transfer apparatus  1  and the use container  3 . After dissolution has taken place, the dissolved medicine is transferred into the use container  3  from the storage container  2  via the transfer apparatus  1 . In the process, the dissolved medicine flows into the use container  3  via the liquid duct  39  through the hollow needle  10  to the storage container  2 . This flow of the dissolved medicine into the use container  3  is established by filling the use container  3  embodied as a syringe. The transfer of the dissolved medicine from the storage container  2  into the use container  3  generally takes place in an upside-down position, in which the storage container  2  is arranged above the use container  3 . In this position, the liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41  are located closer to a residual solution of the dissolved medicine, such as to improve the emptying of residual solution. Moreover, the gas-duct opening  43  is further away from the residual solution than the liquid-duct openings  40 ,  41  in this upside-down position, such that the gas duct can readily fulfil its ventilation function. In a manner corresponding to the liquid volume emerging from the storage container  2 , air flows into the storage container  2  through the aeration gas duct  42  from the environment around the transfer apparatus  1  through the air filter  52 . The air flowing in is filtered sterile by the air filter  52 . 
     After the syringe piston of the use container  3  has been drawn back fully, the dissolved medicine is present in the interior of the use container and the use container  3  can then be pulled off the connecting portion  16  of the transfer apparatus  1 . 
       FIGS. 13 a  and 13 b    show a variant of a hollow-needle assembly  54  which can be used in the transfer apparatus  1  instead of the hollow-needle assembly  9 . Components and functions which correspond to those which have already been explained above with reference to the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 to 12  bear the same reference numerals and designations and are not discussed in detail again. 
     In the hollow-needle assembly  54  according to  FIG. 13   a/b , an axial-duct body  55  is arranged in the annular space  19 . Said axial-duct body  55  is embodied such that a reversal in direction of the aeration gas duct  42  does not take place, as in the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 to 12 , in the bottom region, facing the storage container  2 , of the annular space  19 , but approximately at an axial height A of approximately two thirds of the overall axial height of the annular space  19 . Upstream of the reversal-direction duct portion, the axial-duct body  55  brings about a corresponding extension of an axial path of the aeration gas duct  42 . The axial-duct body  55  effectively suppresses undesired entrainment of liquid along the entire aeration gas duct  42 . The path of the gas through the gas duct  42  during venting of the storage container  2  is indicated by a direction arrow  55   a  in  FIG. 13   a.    
     The axial-duct body  55  is embodied as a subsegment between the hollow needle  10  and the needle sleeve  11 , said subsegment being sealed off up to a height of two thirds of the overall axial height of the annular space  19 . In this subsegment, the passage openings  48  are closed, thereby forcing the air flowing out of the storage container  2  to rise during the injection of the liquid into the storage container  2 . The air then flows, after rising and reversing direction, through the remaining passage openings  48  in the non-closed segment. During the extended axial rising path of the aeration gas duct  42 , liquid droplets flowing in are additionally dissipated or separated via gravitational force. 
     A further embodiment of a transfer apparatus  56 , which can be used instead of the transfer apparatus  1  according to  FIGS. 1 to 13   a/b , is described in the following text with reference to  FIG. 14  et seq. Components and functions which correspond to those which have already been explained above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 13   a/b  bear the same reference numerals or designations and are not discussed again in detail. 
       FIG. 14  shows the transfer apparatus  56  after being fitted on the storage container  2  and before the displacement of the seal securing sleeve  7 . 
       FIG. 15  shows the transfer apparatus  56  after the displacement of the seal securing sleeve  7  into the securing position for the sealing portion  4 . 
       FIG. 16  shows the transfer apparatus  56  in a transport configuration. In this transport configuration, with the seal securing sleeve  7  pushed into the securing position, a removable securing element  59  in the form of a locking half ring is introduced between said seal securing sleeve  7  and a top portion  57  of a pressure-actuation element  58  of the transfer apparatus  56 . The securing element  59  is pushed into a circumferential receiving groove  60  (cf.  FIG. 15 ) in the top portion  57  of the pressure-actuation element  58 . In this pushed-in position, the securing element  59  prevents the pressure-actuation element  58  from being displaced relative to a main body  61  (cf.  FIG. 17 ) of the transfer apparatus  56  in the direction of the storage container  2 . Unintentional pressure actuation of the pressure-actuation element  58  is thereby prevented. 
     With the securing element  59  removed, displacement of a hollow-needle assembly  62  with hollow needle  63  is possible between the rest position shown in  FIG. 17  and the connecting position shown in  FIG. 19  via the pressure-actuation element  58 . During this displacement between the rest position and the connecting position, the pressure-actuation element  58  is rigidly connected to the hollow-needle assembly  62 . 
     The hollow-needle assembly  62  is, apart from an external geometry of the needle sleeve  11 , constructed in the same way as the hollow-needle assembly  9 . The external geometry of the needle sleeve  11  in the embodiment according to  FIG. 14  et seq. is embodied for a pushing movement and thus for example without the thread  27 . In principle, the embodiment of the hollow-needle assembly  62  with regard to the liquid duct and the aeration gas duct is the same as has already been explained with respect to the hollow-needle assembly  9  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 to 12 . 
     For axial guidance of the pressure-actuation element  58  on the main body  61  during the displacement of the hollow-needle assembly  62  from the rest position into the connecting position, a guide device  64  is used. The latter has two guide pins  65  which are integrally formed on an inner side of a lateral wall of the pressure-actuation element  58 . The guide pins  65  slide, during the displacement from the rest position into the connecting position, in in each case one associated guide groove  66  which is embodied in an outer wall of the main body  61  of the transfer apparatus  56 . 
     The guide device  64  is configured such that the displacement of the hollow-needle assembly  62  from the rest position into the connecting position is irreversible. 
     The two guide grooves  66  each have a groove bottom  67  with a sawtooth profile, said groove bottom  67  being shown in cross section in  FIG. 19  and in a perspective view in  FIG. 20   a/b  for one of the two guide grooves  66 . The profile of the sawteeth in the groove bottom  67  is such that the guide pins  65  can slide on inclined faces of the sawteeth during the displacement of the pressure-actuation element  58  from the rest position into the connecting position. In the connecting position, it is not possible for the guide pins  65  to slide back up in the guide grooves  66 , since the guide pins  65  are then blocked by perpendicular faces of the sawtooth profile. 
     At their ends facing the storage container  2 , the guide grooves  66  are each continued by a helical guide  68 . Via these helical guides  68 , once the connecting position has been reached, it is possible to unscrew the pressure-actuation element  58  from the main body  61  of the transfer apparatus  56 , as is indicated by direction arrows  69 ,  70  in  FIG. 20   a/b . The guide pins  65  of the pressure-actuation element  58  in this case each slide in one of the two helical guides  68  on the outer side of the main body  61  of the transfer apparatus  56 , until the guide pins  65  are disengaged from the main body  61  at the end of the helical guides  68 . 
     Following removal of the pressure-actuation element  58 , the transfer apparatus  56  is in the instantaneous position which is shown in  FIG. 21 . In this instantaneous position, the connecting portion  16  of the hollow needle  63  is accessible from above, as has already been explained in conjunction with the transfer apparatus  1  and  FIG. 6 . 
     The transfer apparatus  56  is used as follows: 
     Once the assembly has taken place, the transfer apparatus  56 , together with the storage container  2 , in which the pulverulent medicine is stored, is initially in the transport position shown in  FIG. 16  with the securing element  59  pushed in. 
     During use of the transfer apparatus  56 , the securing element  59  is first of all pulled off. Then, pressure is exerted from above on an upper end face of the pressure-actuation element  58  and the pressure-actuation element  58  is transferred from the rest position into the connecting position along the direction arrow  71  in  FIG. 17 . In the process, the hollow needle  63  punctures the closure plug  38  of the storage container  2 . During this displacement, the guide pins  65  rattle over the sawteeth in the groove bottoms  67  of the guide grooves  66  as far as the end, facing the storage container  2 , of the guide grooves  66 . The pressure-actuation element  58  can now be unscrewed from the main body  61  of the transfer apparatus  56 , by being rotated in accordance with the direction arrow  69 , such that the pressure-actuation element can be removed from the main body  61 . The use container  3 , i.e. the standard syringe, can now be connected to the connecting portion  16  via the Luer connector of said use container  3 . The remaining handling operation is as described in conjunction with the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 to 12 .