Patent Description:
Delivering a liquid or other fluid out of a container is required in many medical applications and performed in a plurality of different ways. Particularly, where it is essential that the liquid is comparably precisely provided, specific devices are commonly used. For example, liquid pharmaceutical or drug substances are often provided in glass or plastic vials which are closed by a septum or rubber plug and a cap clamped around it or another similar seal cover.

Conventionally, for delivering the pharmaceutical substance out of vials, syringes can be used. Thereby, a transfer needle attached to a syringe penetrates the septum or cover and the pharmaceutical substance is withdrawn into the syringe through the transfer needle. Once transferred into the syringe, the pharmaceutical substance is delivered in an appropriate manner. For example, the substance can be, e.g. subcutaneously or intramuscularly, injected via an injection needle or it can be orally applied or provided as droplets, e.g., in the eyes or nose of the patient.

However, delivering liquids from vials or containers by means of syringes usually is comparably difficult. It typically makes it necessary that an educated person such as a doctor or a nurse is involved. In particular, in cases where the dosage of liquid delivered has to be comparably precise such as when comparable small volumes as in a range of ten microliter to about one milliliter are involved patients are typically not capable of performing the delivery themselves when using a syringe or a similar device.

For being able to provide the pharmaceutical or drug substances in containers or vials there exist devices which allow a particularly convenient and user friendly dosing. For example, in <CIT> an automatic injection device having a barrel and an injection needle is described. A drug substance is provided in a vial closed by a vial stopper. For dosing the drug substance into the barrel, the vial is coupled to the injection device by means of an adapter. The drug substance is then dosed into the barrel via the injection needle. In order that a contact between the injection needle and the vial stopper and, thus, a contamination of the injection needle is prevented the adapter can be equipped with a spike which pierces the vial stopper instead of the injection needle itself.

In another example, <CIT> shows a delivery device having a vial seat for holding a vial in a predefined position, a dosage chamber, a dosing mechanism to transfer a liquid substance from the vial to the dosage chamber and a lock mechanism. For safety reasons, the lock mechanism is adapted to prevent operation of the dosing mechanism when no vial is held in the vial seat and to allow operation of the dosing mechanism when the vial is held in the vial seat. In use, the vial containing the drug substance to be administered is positioned in the vial seat. Thereby, a cap of the vial is pierced such that an interior of the vial is accessible. Also, the lock mechanism is activated such that the delivery device is free for dosing. By turning a dial unit of the delivery device with respect to a body part of the delivery device, the drug substance is withdrawn from the vial into the dosage chamber in a controlled and well definable manner. When an appropriate amount is dosed, the dial unit together with the vial is retracted from the body part and the drug substance is delivered from the dosage chamber, e.g., by injection.

<CIT> is another example of a vial adapter.

However, a problem occurring in many pharmaceutical applications is that drug substances are not stable enough for being stored for an appropriate time. Or, they may require a comparably cumbersome handling or storage in order not to be affected before administration. Also, a specific composition of the drug substances may vary from one patient or application to the other. Therefore, some drug substances are provided in plural components which have to be mixed before administration. For example, it is known to provide components of a drug substance in plural vials. Before administration, the components are mixed, e.g., by transferring components from one vial to another by means of a syringe. Thereby, it typically is difficult to maintain hygienic or sterility standards and to ensure accurate handling.

Furthermore, in some applications it is desired to combine the content of different vials in order to prepare an appropriate dosage. In particular, vials of different fill volumes of a drug substance may be combined to achieve a specific dosage. This allows for providing the drug substance in smaller volumes such that wastage of the drug substance can be reduced. Particularly, when comparably costly drug substances are involved this may be beneficial.

Therefore, there is a need for a system or method allowing for a precise mixing and dosing of a multi component liquid provided in plural containers and for a convenient and secure self-administration.

According to the invention this need is settled by a container adapter as it is defined by the features of independent claim <NUM> and by a delivery assembly as it is defined by the features of independent claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

In one aspect, the invention deals with a container adapter for a medical delivery device, such as the delivery device described in <CIT>, which has a container seat for holding a container in a predefined position, a dosage chamber, a dosing mechanism to transfer a liquid from the container held in the container seat to the dosage chamber and a lock mechanism adapted to prevent operation of the dosing mechanism when no container is held in the container seat and to allow operation of the dosing mechanism when the container is held in the container seat. The container adapter comprises an adapter container seat arranged to hold a container in a predefined position and a joint structure arranged or configured to be detachably positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device and to connect the adapter container seat to the dosing mechanism of the medical delivery device when the joint structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device. The container adapter is particularly further equipped with an unlock member adapted or configured to activate the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device such that operation of the dosing mechanism is allowed when the joint structure of the container adapter is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device.

The medical delivery device can be a device for administering a liquid substance. For example, it can be a drug delivery device for applying a liquid medicament or drug substance. With such delivery devices the liquid substance or drug substance can be delivered or administered in an appropriate form such as by droplets for the eye, by oral dosages or the like. In particular, the medical delivery device can be an injection device for subcutaneously or intramuscularly injecting the drug substance.

The medical delivery device typically has a delivery orifice that can be shaped for a particular application or administration of the substance or medicament to be delivered. It can be a needle if, for example, the medical delivery device is intended for injecting the medicament. In such an embodiment the delivery orifice or needle can extend from the interior of a housing through its proximal opening out of the housing or a specific part thereof. The delivery orifice can also be adapted for being connected to a delivery member. For example, it can comprise a male or female part of a Luer lock or Luer taper connector and the delivery member can be equipped with a corresponding female or male Luer lock connector. Other examples of delivery orifices are nozzles, valves, fluid guides or the like.

The term "container" as used herein can relate to any liquid reservoir suitable for storing and transporting a liquid, other fluid, powder such as a lyophilized substance or capsules. Where the liquids, fluids or powders are drug substances or components thereof or the like, the container can particularly be a vial. The term "vial" as used in this connection can relate to a comparably small vessel or bottle, commonly used to store pharmaceutical substances or pharmaceuticals or medicaments in liquid, powdered or capsuled form. The vial can be made of a sterilisable material such as glass or plastic such as, e.g., polypropylene. The container can also comprise plural sub-containers such as plural vials. The term "predefined position" in this context can be such that an opening of the container is oriented towards the delivery orifice. Such a container seat allows for connecting a container at a well predefined position and orientation. This allows for efficiently coupling a container to the system or medical delivery device.

The term "drug" as used herein relates to a therapeutically active agent, also commonly called active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), as well as to a combination of plural such therapeutically active substances. The term also encompasses diagnostic or imaging agents, like for example contrast agents (e.g. MRI contrast agents), tracers (e.g. PET tracers) and hormones, that need to be administered in liquid form to the patient.

The term "drug substance", "pharmaceutical substance" or "pharmaceutical" as used herein relates to a drug as defined above formulated or reconstituted in a form that is suitable for administration to the patient. For example, besides the drug, a drug substance may additionally comprise an excipient and/or other auxiliary ingredients. A particularly preferred drug substance in the context of the invention is a drug solution, in particular a solution for oral administration, injection or infusion.

The term "drug product" as used herein or similar relates to a finished end product comprising a drug substance or a plurality of drug substances. In particular, a drug product may be a ready to use product having the drug substance in an appropriate dosage and/or in an appropriate form for administration. For example, a drug product may include an administration device such as a prefilled syringe or the like.

In order to be detachably positionable in the container seat of the medical delivery device, the joint structure is arranged appropriately. Thereby, it can have a similar or identical form as the container seat of the medical delivery device. Like this, it can receive and hold the container in the same specific manner as the medical delivery device. As the skilled person is aware, container seats of medical delivery devices can be configured in many ways to hold the container in the predefined position. In particular, they typically are adjusted to the shape or design of the specific container they are to be used for. For example, the container seats can be configured with a snap mechanism, e.g. having flexible arms and/or protrusions, to grab a neck of the container, with clamp mechanism for clamping a body of the container, with a sleeve to house and guide the container, or the like. Accordingly, the joint structure of the medical delivery device is arranged to be held by these means of the medical delivery device it is intended to be used with. For example, it can have a section formed in correspondence with a section of the container.

The container adapter can be made of a plastic material. In particular, it can be made of a sterilisable plastic material which can be manufactured in an injection molding process. It can be essentially cylindrically shaped. Also, it can be part of or integrated in another device.

The container adapter according to the invention allows for providing a, particularly liquid, substance from a container into the dosage chamber of the medical delivery device, and to remove the container from the medical delivery device wherein after removal the medical deliver device is ready for receiving a further container or a further container adapter in its container seat. Like this, substances from plural containers can be mixed either in the dosage chamber or in the further container. Thus, by means of the container adapter it can be achieved that plural substances are mixed in a comparably short time before delivery or administration. This makes it possible, that components of a drug substance each are provided in a preferred and advantageous manner and that the drug substance to be delivered is generated shortly before administration. For example, components of a drug substance which cannot stably be stored or stored under the same conditions can be combined shortly before administration. Also, different drug substances can be mixed before administration or an appropriate dosage of a drug substance can be withdrawn from two or more containers.

The unlock member can have any form or shape suitable for interacting with the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device. In particular, the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device can be embodied in many different ways. Thereby, typically it is equipped with a structure to be pushed, moved, pressed or otherwise activated to release the locking and to allow operation of the dosing mechanism. Thus, the unlock member of the container adapter is designed corresponding to this structure such that the unlock mechanism is activated when the joint structure of the container adapter is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device. For many advantageous applications, it preferably comprises an abutting surface arranged to contact a push portion of the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device when the container adapter is forwarded into the container seat of the medical delivery device such that the push portion of the lock mechanism is axially displaced when the container adapter is attached to the medical delivery device. By such displacement, the lock mechanism can be activated such that the medical delivery device is brought in an unlocked state. In such unlocked state, the medical delivery device can be operated to dose an amount of liquid from the container to a dosage chamber.

Preferably, the unlock member comprises an engaging surface arranged to engage behind a pull portion of the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device when the container adapter is forwarded into the container seat of the medical delivery device such that the pull portion of the lock mechanism is axially displaced when the container adapter is retracted from the medical delivery device. Such reverse displacement allows to put the lock mechanism back in its initial state in which the operation or dosing of the medical delivery device is blocked or prevented. Like this, the medical delivery device can be switched back to the locked state when the container adapter is removed after dosing. In a preferred embodiment, the push portion and the pull portion of the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device are stationary to each other such as embodied in one physical unit or piece. They can be embodied by appropriate surfaces which can essentially face away from each other.

The adapter container seat of the container adapter can have any suitable form or shape for receiving and/or holding the container in the predefined position. The predefined position can particularly be an arrangement in which the container is oriented such that an opening thereof, which typically is covered by a cap, faces the medical delivery device when the container adapter is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device. For example, the adapter container seat can be equipped with a retainer shaped in correspondence with a portion of the container having its opening such as a head portion thereof or the like. Such retainer can efficiently be arranged in order that the container is in the predefined position.

Preferably, the adapter container seat has a fixation structure adapted to irremovably hold the container in the predefined position. Such fixation structure allows for preventing that the container is unintentionally or inappropriately removed from the container adapter, e.g. during or after dosing. Thereby, the fixation structure of the adapter container seat preferably has a clip arranged to snap behind a head portion of the container when the container is held in the adapter container seat. Such clip can be an easy and reliable constructive realization of the fixation structure.

When the container adapter is mounted to the medial delivery device it can be important that no unintended contact with specific members of the medical delivery device occurs. For example such unintended contact may cause the medical delivery device to be brought in an unlock status or to affect means for fixing a container or the like. For that purpose it may be crucial that the container adapter is mounted in a specific orientation such as a particular rotational position. To ensure this, the container adapter preferably comprises an alignment formation arranged to assure that the container adapter is in a predefined orientation relative to the medical delivery device when the joint structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device.

Preferably, the joint structure of the container adapter is arranged to form a open tight duct between an interior of the container and the dosing mechanism of the medical delivery device when the container is held in the adapter container seat and the joint structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device. Such open tight duct allows the dosing mechanism to efficiently access the drug substance or component stored in the container during dosing. In particular, the open tight duct allows for efficiently transferring a liquid drug or substance from the container into the dosage chamber of the medical delivery device when the adapter is mounted to the medical delivery device and the container is arranged in the container seat.

As used herein, the term "cap" can relate to any cover suitable for closing an opening of the container. For example, such cap can be or comprise a septum or rubber stopper forwarded in the opening of the container. It can further comprise a metal or plastic cover which is arranged or crimped around the opening and the septum or stopper. The cover can hold and protect the septum or stopper. When penetrating such septum, stopper or cap of the container the needle of the medical deliver device may get contaminated. However, such contaminations are undesired in many applications such as, e.g., when injections are involved. Furthermore, often a considerable amount of air may be withdrawn into the dosing chamber of the medical delivery device before the liquid substance when dosing happens via the needle. Such air in the syringe typically has to be eliminated out of the syringe before applying the substance in a priming step. However, priming steps can make it difficult to dose and deliver a precise amount of liquid particularly when the amount of liquid is comparably small such as in a range of about <NUM>µl to <NUM>.

For achieving a better situation in this connection, the adapter container seat preferably comprises a spike arranged to penetrate a cap of an opening of the container when the container is held in the adapter container seat. By means of such spike, it can particularly be prevented that the delivery orifice or needle itself has to penetrate the cap. This allows for reducing the risk of harming or contaminating the delivery orifice of the medical delivery device. For example, when the cap comprises a septum, it can be prevented that the delivery orifice has to be pierced through the septum which typically contaminates or desiliconizes the delivery orifice and which also can damage the delivery orifice or its tip. Thus, the spike allows keeping the delivery orifice in a condition ready for administration such as for injection or the like. Like this, the adapter allows for delivering a precise dosage of a liquid in a closed system.

Thereby, the spike of the adapter container seat preferably extends in the interior of the adapter container seat. Such an arrangement of the spike allows for directly penetrating the cap of the container when it is arranged or placed in the adapter container seat. Thereby it can be advantageous when the adapter container seat is arranged for holding the container with its opening directed towards the spike.

Preferably, the spike comprises a tip. The tip can be embodied sharp enough to pierce and penetrate the cap or its septum or stopper. Such a spike allows for conveniently penetrating the cap in an appropriate way. Thereby, the spike preferably comprises a conduit which runs from the tip longitudinally through the spike. The term "longitudinal" in this connection can relate to a direction of the spike. In particular, the spike can be oriented along an axis of the container. The conduit of the spike allows for ultimately connecting the container to the delivery orifice and to transfer a liquid from the container to the delivery orifice or dosage chamber.

Preferably, the container adapter comprises a seal which seals the container seat of the medical delivery device to the joint structure when the joint structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device. Such an arrangement allows for minimizing an air volume around the medical delivery device and ensure tightness between the container adapter and the medical delivery device. Advantageously, the seal is located as close to the tip or proximal end of the delivery orifice or medical delivery device as possible. By means of the seal it can be achieved that the delivery orifice is protected and contamination is reduced or prevented. Also, the seal can prevent spillage of the liquid or drug substance when the adapter is not attached to the medical delivery device.

The joint structure of the container adapter preferably comprises a seal holder in which the seal is tightly arranged. For example, such a seal holder can be embodied as a recess which fits the seal. The seal can then be slightly compressed and pushed inside the recess such that it is held by friction in the recess.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a delivery assembly having a container adapter as described above and a medical delivery device. The medical delivery device comprises a container seat for holding a container in a predefined position, a dosage chamber, a dosing mechanism to transfer a liquid from the container held in the container seat to the dosage chamber and a lock mechanism adapted to prevent operation of the dosing mechanism when no container is held in the container seat and to allow operation of the dosing mechanism when the container is held in the container seat.

By means of such a delivery assembly and its preferred embodiments described below the effects and benefits of the container adapter according to the invention and its preferred embodiments can efficiently be achieved.

Thereby, the container seat of the medical delivery device preferably has a fixation structure adapted to irremovably hold a container in a predefined position and the joint structure of the container adapter is arranged to prevent interaction with the fixation structure of the container seat of the medical delivery device, when the container adapter is held in the container seat of the medical delivery device. For example, the joint structure can be formed with an at least in one orientation reduced diameter compared to a container in order to prevent interaction. Such an arrangement allows for mounting the container adapter to the medical delivery device without being fixed by the latter. Like this it can be achieved, that the container adapter is retracted or removed from the medical delivery device after dosing and that the medical delivery device is ready for receiving a further container or a further container adapter.

Preferably, the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device comprises a push portion and the unlock member of the container adapter comprises an abutting surface, the push portion of the lock mechanism and the abutting surface of the unlock member being arranged to interact when the container adapter is forwarded into the container seat of the medical delivery device such that the push portion of the lock mechanism is axially displaced when the container adapter is attached to the medical delivery device. In particular, the abutting surface can push the push portion into the medical delivery device or towards a distal end of the medical delivery device, respectively. Such arrangement allows for efficiently and automatically unlocking the medical delivery device when positioning the joint structure of the container adapter in the container seat of the medical delivery device.

Preferably, the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device comprises a pull portion and the unlock member of the container adapter comprises an engaging surface, the pull portion of the lock mechanism and the engaging surface of the unlock member being arranged to inter-engage when the container adapter is forwarded into the container seat of the medical delivery device such that the pull portion of the lock mechanism is axially displaced when the container adapter is retracted from the medical delivery device. In particular, the unlock member can pull the lock mechanism when the container adapter is detached. Such arrangement allows for efficiently and automatically relocking the medical delivery device when removing or retracting the container adapter from the medical delivery device.

As mentioned above in connection with the container adapter, the medical delivery device preferably comprises a delivery orifice such as a needle or needle adapter for delivering a substance and the container adapter comprises a conduit ending at the adapter container seat, and the delivery orifice of the medical delivery device extends into the conduit of the container seat when the container adapter is held in the container seat of the medical delivery device. Thereby, the delivery assembly preferably comprises a delivery orifice seal arranged to tightly abut the adapter container seat of the container adapter at a side where the conduit ends. Also, the delivery orifice seal preferably is shaped as a plug, preferably made of an elastomer or a silicone.

Preferably, the delivery assembly comprises a securing element, wherein the container seat of the medical delivery device is decouplably mounted to a delivery orifice of the medical delivery device and the securing element is arranged for preventing unintended decoupling of the container seat from the delivery orifice when the container adapter is retracted from the medical delivery device. Such a securing element allows for preventing that, upon removal or retraction of the container adapter, the container seat or a portion of the medical delivery device comprising the container seat is decoupled from the delivery orifice. Like this, it can be prevented that the delivery orifice is exposed before the drug substance is ready, i.e. all components thereof are mixed.

Thereby, the securing element preferably is a sheet piece having an adhering surface. Such sheet piece may be positioned or adhered over borders of the medical delivery device to be held together. When the drug substance is finally prepared or mixed, the sheet piece can be removed and the delivery orifice can be exposed.

Also disclosed is a method of delivering a liquid to a patient. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a first container with a liquid first mixing substance, a second container with a second mixing substance and a delivery assembly as described above; arranging the first container in an adapter container seat of a container adapter of the delivery assembly; positioning a joint structure of the container adapter of the delivery assembly in a container seat of a medical delivery device of the delivery assembly; withdrawing the first substance from the first container into a dosage chamber of the medical delivery device of the delivery assembly; retracting the container adapter of the delivery assembly from the medical delivery device of the delivery assembly; positioning the second container in the container seat of the medical delivery device of the delivery assembly; and withdrawing the second substance from the second container into the dosage chamber of the medical delivery device of the delivery assembly.

The first and second mixing substances can be substances which have to be combined or mixed for resulting a final substance to be administered by the medical delivery device. In particular, they can be components which can be mixed or combined such that a drug substance results which is to be administered. The first and second mixing substances can also be the same substances which are combined to achieve an appropriate dosage of it. The method can also involve dosing of further mixing substances stored in further containers via further container adapters.

The steps of the method can also be embodied in another sequence than listed herein before. The method and its preferred embodiments allow to efficiently achieve the effects and benefits described above in connection with the delivery assembly and its preferred embodiments.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of forwarding the first mixing substance into the second container when the second container is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device of the delivery assembly. Such arrangement allows for mixing the first and second substances in the second container before withdrawing the second substance from the second container. For example, this allows for providing the second substance in a dry form, such as in the form of a lyophilized powder or the like, and reconstituting the second substance inside the second container before withdrawal or dosing into the medical delivery device.

The container adapter and the delivery assembly according to the invention, as well as the method, are described in more detail herein below by way of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:.

In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms "right", "left", "up", "down", "under" and "above" refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as "beneath", "below", "lower", "above", "upper", "proximal", "distal", and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be "above" or "over" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented (rotated <NUM> degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes includes various special device positions and orientations.

<FIG> shows a container adapter <NUM> for a medical delivery device <NUM> according to the present invention. With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the container adapter <NUM> is configured to be held in a container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM> and comprises an adapter container seat <NUM> and a joint structure <NUM>. The adapter container seat <NUM> is arranged to hold a container <NUM>, namely a vial in the specific case, in a predefined position. The joint structure <NUM> is arranged to be detachably positioned in the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>. The joint structure <NUM> is formed with an in particular orientations reduced diameter with respect to that of container <NUM>, so that any interference and adverse interaction with a fixation structure of the container seat <NUM> is prevented. Moreover, the joint structure <NUM> is arranged so that, when it has been positioned in the container seat <NUM>, it connects the adapter container seat <NUM> to a dosing mechanism adapted to transfer liquid from the container <NUM> held in the container seat <NUM> to a dosage chamber <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>.

A lock mechanism of the medical delivery device is adapted to prevent operation of the dosing mechanism when no container <NUM> is held in the container seat <NUM> and to allow operation of the dosing mechanism when the container <NUM> is held in the container seat <NUM>.

An unlock member <NUM> of the container adapter <NUM> is adapted to activate the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device <NUM> such that operation of the dosing mechanism is allowed when the joint structure <NUM> is positioned in the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>.

The container adapter <NUM> allows for providing a, particularly liquid, substance from a container <NUM> into the dosage chamber <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>, and to remove the container adapter <NUM> together with the container <NUM> from the medical delivery device <NUM> wherein, after removal, the medical deliver device <NUM> is ready for receiving a further, different container <NUM> or a further container adapter <NUM> in its container seat <NUM>. Like this, substances from plural containers <NUM> can be mixed either in the dosage chamber <NUM> or in any of the further containers <NUM>. Thus, by means of the container adapter <NUM>, it can be achieved that plural substances are mixed in a comparably short time before delivery or administration. This makes it possible that components of a drug substance are each provided in a preferred and advantageous manner, and that the drug substance is generated shortly before administration.

The container adapter <NUM> comprises a sleeve portion <NUM> as part of the joint structure <NUM> interfacing with the container seat <NUM> of the device <NUM>. A head holding portion <NUM> is adapted to receive and secure the head portion or cap <NUM> of the container <NUM>. A body support portion <NUM> is arranged to enfold and carry a body <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

To better illustrate the cooperation of the container adapter's joint structure <NUM> with the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device <NUM>, the components of the medical delivery device <NUM> will be in the following described in a more detailed way. As a reference for structural details, a medical delivery device similar to the one adopted in combination with the container adapter <NUM> of the present invention - although adapted and meant for delivery of liquid from one single container <NUM> - is in <CIT>.

With reference to <FIG>, the medical delivery device <NUM> comprises a dosing activator <NUM> and an injection device. The injection device has a housing <NUM> with a distal body section <NUM> passing over into a finger flange <NUM> at its lower or bottom end. The housing <NUM> has a hollow interior, a distal opening provided at the finger flange <NUM> and a proximal opening provided at a proximal end side <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

In the interior of the housing <NUM>, a rod element <NUM> is arranged. On the upper portion of the housing <NUM>, a sleeve unit <NUM> of the dosing activator <NUM> is arranged. The sleeve unit <NUM> is formed as a vertically extending hollow cylinder.

The sleeve unit <NUM> is connected to a rotatable dial unit <NUM> of the dosing activator <NUM>. The dial unit <NUM> is essentially cylindrically shaped and vertically extends from the sleeve unit <NUM> in an upward direction. An outer surface of the dial unit <NUM> is equipped with gripping ribs for allowing a convenient manual operation. Furthermore, the dial unit <NUM> is equipped with a neck holder <NUM> having two snap-in arms.

The medical delivery device <NUM> is embodied to receive the vial <NUM> as container. In a common manner, the vial <NUM> has the body <NUM> and a neck <NUM> which is closed by a cap <NUM>. In the interior of the body <NUM> a liquid drug substance is stored which is to deliver or inject by means of the injection device.

The rod element <NUM> comprises a hollow body portion <NUM> which coaxially extends to and, when mounted, surrounds a stem <NUM>. The body portion <NUM> has arm sections <NUM> each of which at one end is fixed to the rest of the body portion <NUM> and at the other end has an outwardly extending release hump <NUM>. Furthermore, each of the arm sections <NUM> is equipped with a pin <NUM> projecting towards the stem <NUM> in an essentially radial direction. At a distal end, the body portion <NUM> of the rod element <NUM> comprises four clip latches <NUM>. To a proximal axial end of the stem <NUM>, a rubber stopper <NUM> is mounted as shown in more detail below.

The dosage member <NUM> of the injection device comprises a hollow chamber cylinder <NUM> as chamber body. At an outer surface of the chamber cylinder <NUM>, a thread <NUM> runs. Further, the outer surface <NUM> is provided with a dosage marking. The interior of the chamber cylinder <NUM> is dimensioned to receive the stem <NUM> and the rubber stopper <NUM> of the rod element <NUM>. Thereby, the rubber stopper <NUM> is dimensioned to tightly fit into the interior of the chamber cylinder <NUM>. At its proximal end the chamber cylinder <NUM> passes over into a male coupling structure <NUM> and, proximally projecting therefrom, a delivery needle <NUM>, or orifice. Between the dosage member <NUM> and the housing <NUM>, a spring <NUM> is positioned.

The body <NUM> is provided with a plurality of grooves at an outer circumference adjacent to its end side.

The release member <NUM> of the dosing activator <NUM> comprises a ring portion <NUM> of the release member <NUM>; from the ring portion <NUM> two stems <NUM> axially extend into the proximal direction and blocking surfaces are formed at the inside of the ring portion <NUM>.

In the inside of the dial unit <NUM> of the dosing activator <NUM>, a female coupling structure extends into a distal direction. The female coupling structure is formed to fit a male coupling structure <NUM> of the dosage member <NUM>. At its distal end, the dial unit <NUM> further has a sleeve mount structure onto which a dial mount of the sleeve unit <NUM> can be snapped. When being connected, the dial unit <NUM> can rotate but not axially move relative to each other.

The cap <NUM> of the container <NUM> is provided with a septum <NUM>.

Inside the hollow interior of the dial unit <NUM> of the dosing activator <NUM>, a vial seat <NUM> is formed which comprises the neck holder <NUM>, a rest surface of the release member <NUM> and a spike <NUM> vertically extending from the top end of the female coupling structure. The blocking surfaces of the ring portion <NUM>, in the form of stems <NUM>, engage the grooves as corresponding surfaces at the proximal end side of the housing <NUM>. Thereby, a rotational movement of dial unit <NUM> is prevented and the medical delivery device <NUM> is in a locked status, wherein operation of the dosing mechanism is prevented and no container <NUM> is positioned in the vial seat <NUM>. Such a locked status is represented in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the medical delivery device <NUM> is shown after being changed from the lock status to a dosing status. In a step of preparing the medical delivery device <NUM>, the vial <NUM> is pressed top down into the dosing activator <NUM> and its vial seat <NUM>. Thereby, vial <NUM> abuts the rest surface of the release member <NUM> and downwardly moves it until the blocking surfaces of the ring portion <NUM> disengage the grooves of the housing <NUM>. Like this, the dial unit <NUM> is made rotatable in relation to the sleeve unit <NUM> and the housing <NUM> and the medical delivery device <NUM> is unlocked, i.e. in the dosing status. The blocking surfaces <NUM> of the release member <NUM> therefore disengage the corresponding surfaces of the medical delivery device <NUM> when the release member is made axially move as a result of the arrangement of a container <NUM> in the container seat <NUM>.

When the vial <NUM> is downwardly pushed in the container seat <NUM>, the retaining arms <NUM> of the neck holder are moved in an outward direction such that a head of the vial <NUM> with the cap <NUM> passes flange ends of the retaining arms <NUM>. Once the vial <NUM> is sufficiently pressed down, the flange ends of the retaining arms <NUM> snap behind the head in the neck <NUM> of the vial <NUM>, such that the vial <NUM> is safely held. In this way, the vial <NUM> is vertically mounted top down in the medical delivery device <NUM>.

Furthermore, while the vial <NUM> is pressed into the vial seat, a tip of the spike <NUM> penetrates the cap <NUM> including the septum <NUM>. Below the spike <NUM>, a tip of the delivery needle <NUM> is arranged. The delivery needle <NUM> is partially covered by the needle seal <NUM>. The delivery needle <NUM> extends from the spike <NUM> through the male coupling structure <NUM> of the chamber cylinder <NUM>. Like this, in the dosing status shown in <FIG>, the spike <NUM> together with the delivery needle <NUM> form an open duct as transfer channel between the interior of the vial <NUM> and the interior of the chamber cylinder, or chamber body or dosage chamber, <NUM> of the dosage member <NUM>. Thereby, the needle seal <NUM> allows for eliminating leakage and minimizing the free space between the delivery needle <NUM> and the spike <NUM>. In the dosing status, the pins <NUM> of the arm sections <NUM> of the rod element <NUM> engage the thread <NUM> of the dosage member <NUM>.

As mentioned, the container adapter <NUM> according to the present invention is designed to cooperate with the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device <NUM> as above described. To this purpose, the unlock member <NUM> comprises an abutting surface <NUM> arranged to contact a push portion of the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device <NUM> when the container adapter <NUM> is forwarded into the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>. The push portion can be a part of the release member <NUM> of the lock mechanism, such as surfaces of the stems <NUM> incorporating the blocking surfaces above described. Upon the application of a load by the abutting surface <NUM>, the push portion <NUM> of the lock mechanism, possibly integrally with the whole body of the release member <NUM>, is axially displaced, in connection with the container adapter <NUM> being attached to the medical delivery device <NUM>. By such displacement, the lock mechanism can be activated such that the medical delivery device <NUM> is brought in an unlocked state. In such unlocked state, the medical delivery device <NUM> can be operated to dose an amount of liquid from the container <NUM> lodged in the container adapter seat <NUM> to the dosage chamber <NUM>.

At the same time, the unlock member <NUM> comprises an engaging surface <NUM> arranged to engage behind a pull portion <NUM> of the lock mechanism of the medical delivery device <NUM> when the container adapter <NUM> is forwarded into the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>. Thus, the pull portion <NUM> of the lock mechanism is axially displaced when the container adapter <NUM> is retracted from the medical delivery device <NUM>. Such displacement allows to bring the lock mechanism back in its initial state in which the operation or dosing of the medical delivery device <NUM> is blocked or prevented. Like this, the medical delivery device <NUM> can be switched back to the locked state when the container adapter <NUM> is removed, after dosing.

The abutting surface <NUM> and the engaging surface <NUM> are, in the embodiment represented in <FIG>, incorporated in an arm portion <NUM> acting as a lock clip for the dial <NUM>.

The adapter container seat <NUM> has a fixation structure <NUM> adapted to irremovably hold the container <NUM> in the predefined position. Analogously to the dosing activator <NUM>, this fixation structure can take the form of clips <NUM> arranged to snap behind a head portion or cap <NUM> of the container <NUM>, when the container <NUM> is held in the adapter seat <NUM>.

To ensure that the container adapter <NUM> is secured in a predefined orientation relative to the medical delivery device <NUM> when the joint structure <NUM> is positioned in the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>, the container adapter is provided with an alignment formation <NUM>. Such alignment formation can take the form of an alignment surface <NUM> designed to engage a corresponding guide groove or rail of the delivery device <NUM> and/or of male projections <NUM> configured to fit corresponding female notches or channels of the delivery device <NUM>. At any rate, the alignment formation can be any anti-rotational feature which, in cooperation with matching features of the medical delivery device <NUM>, prevents a rotational displacement, or more generally a change in orientation, of the container adapter <NUM> within the container seat <NUM> during operation.

The joint structure <NUM> is arranged to form an open duct between an interior of the container <NUM> and the dosing mechanism of the medical delivery device <NUM> when the container <NUM> is held in the adapter container seat <NUM> and the joint structure <NUM> is positioned in the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>. Such open duct can take the form of a channel <NUM> receiving the spike <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>. The open duct is formed within a central post <NUM>.

The adapter container seat <NUM> comprises a spike <NUM> arranged to penetrate a cap <NUM> of an opening of the container <NUM> when the container <NUM> is held in the adapter container seat <NUM>. The spike <NUM> extends from a base plate <NUM> in the interior of the adapter container seat <NUM> and comprises a tip. The adapter container seat <NUM> comprises a conduit <NUM> which runs from the tip longitudinally through the spike <NUM>. Thus, the conduit <NUM> establishes a fluid communication between the interior of the container <NUM> to the channel <NUM> of the joint structure <NUM> receiving the spike <NUM> of the device <NUM>. The spike <NUM>, as part of the container seat <NUM> of the device <NUM>, extends into the channel <NUM> leading to conduit <NUM>. This configuration, as well as the provision of a seal as below explained, allows for a tight connection between the container seat <NUM> of the device <NUM> and the container adapter <NUM>.

A seal <NUM> seals the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM> to the joint structure <NUM>, when the joint structure <NUM> is positioned in the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>. Thus, it is guaranteed that the liquid from the container <NUM> lodged in the container adapter <NUM> is entirely transferred through the spike <NUM> to the dosage chamber <NUM> of the device <NUM>. The joint structure <NUM> comprises further a seal holder <NUM> in which the seal <NUM> is tightly arranged.

The container adapter <NUM> and the medical device, coupled as above described and as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, form a delivery assembly.

<FIG> show a configuration when the container adapter <NUM> has been forwarded into the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>, to activate a lock mechanism of the medical delivery device. In particular the abutting surfaces <NUM> of the unlock member <NUM> have contacted the respective push portions of stems <NUM>, so that the blocking surfaces incorporated by the stems <NUM> disengage from grooves of the housing of the delivery device <NUM>. In this configuration, the operation of the dosing mechanism is allowed and a dosage from the first container <NUM> lodged in the adapter container seat <NUM> is enabled.

<FIG> show that, after the container adapter <NUM> has brought the medical delivery device in an unlocked state, a liquid transfer from the first container <NUM> to a dosage chamber <NUM> of the medical delivery device is performed by rotation of a dial <NUM> of a dosing activator <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>.

Once the dosage from the first container <NUM> has been completed, the container adapter <NUM>, together with the used first container <NUM>, can be removed from the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>.

In <FIG> it is shown how, upon removal of the container adapter <NUM>, the medical delivery device <NUM> returns in a locked state wherein operation of the dosing mechanism is prevented. This is achieved thanks to engaging surfaces <NUM> engaging behind a pull portion <NUM> of the lock mechanism when the container adapter is forwarded into the container seat <NUM>. When the container adapter <NUM> is retracted from the medical delivery device <NUM>, the unlock member <NUM> pulls the lock mechanism back, more specifically the pull portions <NUM> are axially displaced by the movement of the engaging surfaces <NUM>. As a consequence, the blocking surfaces incorporated by the stems <NUM> engage back into the grooves of the housing <NUM> of the delivery device <NUM>. Thus, the delivery device is brought into the locked state.

<FIG> represent the positioning of a second container <NUM> directly in the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>, once the container adapter <NUM> has been removed from therein. In <FIG> the locking mechanism is still in a configuration such that the dosing mechanism cannot be operated and rotation of the dial <NUM> is prevented. A securing element, for instance in the form of an adhesive strip stretching between the sleeve and the syringe body, can prevent accidental exposure of the needle <NUM> upon removal of the container adapter <NUM>, contrasting possible ensuing dragging forces.

It has already been above described the functioning of the locking mechanism of the delivery device <NUM> in connection with the direct insertion in, or removal from, the container seat <NUM> of a container adapter together with a container <NUM> and the consequent axial displacement of the release member <NUM>, respectively downwards in a distal direction or upwards in a proximal direction, to respectively disengage or engage the grooves of the housing <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the positioning of the second container <NUM> in the container seat <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM> has brought the medical delivery device <NUM> newly in an unlocked state, wherein withdrawing of a second liquid from the second container <NUM> into the dosage chamber <NUM> is enabled by rotation of the dial <NUM> of the dosing activator <NUM> of the medical delivery device <NUM>.

This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims.

Claim 1:
Container adapter (<NUM>) for a medical delivery device (<NUM>) having a container seat (<NUM>) for holding a container (<NUM>) in a predefined position, a dosage chamber (<NUM>), a dosing mechanism to transfer a liquid from the container (<NUM>) held in the container seat (<NUM>) to the dosage chamber (<NUM>) and a lock mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) adapted to prevent operation of the dosing mechanism when no container (<NUM>) is held in the container seat (<NUM>) and to allow operation of the dosing mechanism when the container (<NUM>) is held in the container seat (<NUM>), comprising
an adapter container seat (<NUM>) arranged to hold a container (<NUM>) in a predefined position,
a joint structure (<NUM>) arranged to be detachably positioned in the container seat (<NUM>) of the medical delivery device (<NUM>) and to connect the adapter container seat (<NUM>) to the dosing mechanism of the medical delivery device (<NUM>) when the joint structure (<NUM>) is positioned in the container seat (<NUM>) of the medical delivery device (<NUM>), and
an unlock member (<NUM>) adapted to activate the lock mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the medical delivery device (<NUM>) such that operation of the dosing mechanism is allowed when the joint structure (<NUM>) is positioned in the container seat (<NUM>) of the medical delivery device (<NUM>).