Patent Description:
A major problem in relation to drug preparation, drug administration or other similar handling of pharmaceuticals is the risk of medical and pharmacological staff being exposed to drugs or solvents which may escape into ambient air. The problem is particularly serious when hazardous drugs such as cytotoxins, antiviral drugs, antibiotics and radiopharmaceuticals are concerned. It has been found that safety boxes according to the present technology often provide insufficient environmental protection. For example, cytotoxins can evaporate at room temperature. Safety boxes and cabinets according to the present technology are provided with filters for filtration of circulating and exhaust air. Conventional or HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting) filters are able to trap aerosols and particles, but no evaporated substances. Furthermore, aerosols and other particles which are initially trapped in the filters can transform into their gas phase and be released into the ambient air. For these reasons, systems for handling and administrating drugs and other medical substances under improved safety conditions have been developed.

<CIT>) discloses a fluid transfer device for preventing air contamination when transferring a substance from a first vessel to a second vessel. The device is attached or connectible to the vessel and comprises a first member, in which a piercing member e.g. a needle, provided with a passage is enclosed. The first member has a sealing member e.g. a membrane, through which the needle can be passed. The device further comprises a second chamber, which is detachably connectabie to the first member and which also has a sealing member, e.g. a membrane. When the first and second members are connected to each other, the two sealing members are located in a position with respect to each other so that they can be penetrated by the piercing member which is movable with respect to the sealing member.

The sealing members are liquid and gas-proof barriers having the ability of sealing tightly after penetration and retraction of the piercing member to prevent leakage of liquid as well as gas components.

In another system for handling drugs and other medical substances, International Patent Publication No. <CIT>) discloses a connector device for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container. The connector device has a first sleeve member with a first and a second end. The first sleeve member has a first attaching member at the first end that is adapted to attach to the first container. The connector device further has a second sleeve member with a first and second end. The second sleeve member is combinable with the first sleeve member and movable with respect thereto from an inactivated position to an activated position, wherein the second sleeve member has a second attaching member at the second end adapted to attach the second sleeve member to the second container.

The connector device disclosed in <CIT> further comprises a first and second piercing member projecting from one of the first and second sleeve members for providing a fluid flow path from the first container to the second container. The connector device further provides a means for independently hermetically sealing the first and second members.

Still a further system for handling hazardous drugs is disclosed in <CIT>). <CIT> refers to a fluid transfer assembly comprising a bottle connector with a hollow piercing needle, a drug bottle with a bottle closure, and a neck element having locking members for irreversible coupling of the connector to the bottle neck. The neck element and the connector have means for irreversible interconnection and interacting guiding members for directing the hollow needle to penetrate the bottle closure at a predetermined angle when establishing a fluid transfer line through the connector and into the drug bottle.

Despite the efforts that have been made so far in order to improve safety when handling hazardous substances, and in particular hazardous drugs, there is still a need for further improvement.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a connecting device in a fluid transfer arrangement allowing the use of longer transfer needles.

In accordance with the invention is offered a connecting device for use in a medical fluid transfer arrangement as defined in claim <NUM>. The connecting device having an axial direction and a radial direction and comprising a first generally cylindrical part having a first end and a second end and a second generally cylindrical part having a first end and a second end, the first pari comprising a hollow piercing member compr sing an inner channel and extending in the axial direction from the first end of the first part beyond the second end of the first part and the second part comprising a bottle coupling member, for coupling the connecting device to a medical bottle, wherein the first and second parts are interconnected and are concentrically arranged with respect to each other, the connecting device having a transport configuration in which the second end of the first part is located at the first end of the second part and the piercing member is completely located within the connecting device and a fluid transfer configuration in which the first end of the first part is located at the first end of the second part and the second end of the first part is located at the second end of the second part.

When the connecting device is in in the transport configuration, the radial overlap between the first and the second part is minimal resulting in the connecting device having a maximal length in the axial direction. When the connecting device has been transformed into the fluid transfer configuration it has a maximal radial overlap between the first and second parts, resulting in the connecting device having a minimal length in the axial direction. Transformation of the connecting device from the transport configuration to the fluid transfer configuration takes place by axially sliding the first and second parts relative to each other so that the overlap between the parts increases in a telescopic manner.

An important feature of the connecting device in accordance with the invention is that when the connecting device is in the transport configuration, the second part extends below any piercing member or piercing members so that the piercing members are completely shielded inside the connecting device. This means that the combined first and second parts of the connecting device protect the piercing member or piercing members and prevent inadvertent contact with objects on the outside of the connecting device. A further advantage with the extended configuration adopted by the connecting device in the transport configuration is that it ascertains alignment of the piercing member with a sealing member in a medical bottle so that the piercing member is properly aligned even before it is brought into contact with the sealing member. Thereby, the piercing member will always penetrate the sealing member in a controlled and predetermined manner.

The connecting device according to the invention allows the use of longer piercing members so that all types of bottle stoppers and other sealing members in medical containers may be completely penetrated by the piercing member when the connecting device is coupled to the medical container. In particular, when forming part of a closed system pressure equalising bottle adapter comprising a pressure equalizing member, the connecting device minimizes the risk of air transfer by ascertaining that the hollow piercing member reaches down all the way through the seal in the bottle opening and into the bottle ensuring proper function of the pressure equalizing member.

The second part of the connecting device may be arranged inside of the first part in the radial direction. When the parts are arranged in this manner, transformation of the connecting device from the transport configuration b the fluid transfer configuration is performed by sliding the first part over the second part or by pushing the second part into the first part so that the second part comes to reside inside of the first part when the connecting device is in the fluid transfer configuration.

Alternatively, the second part may be arranged outside the first part in the radial direction. When the parts are arranged in this manner, transformation of the connecting device from the transport configuration to the fluid transfer configuration is performed by pushing the first part into the second part or by sliding the second part over the first part so that the first part comes to reside with a major portion inside of the second part when the connecting device is in the fluid transfer configuration.

Transformation of the connecting device from the transport configuration to the fluid transfer configuration would normally take place after the connecting device has been secured to a medical bottle by means of the bottle coupling member on the second part of the connecting device. The first part of the connecting device is subsequently pressed axially in a direction towards the bottle opening causing the first part to slide down over the second part or into the second part depending on whether the first part is arranged on the outside of the second part or on the inside of the second part. At the same time, the piercing member which is arranged axially on the first part is brought down into the medical bottle, penetrating any seal in the bottle opening as the length i.e. the axial extension of the connecting device is gradually reduced.

The connecting device comprises a locking member for releasable locking the connecting device in the transport configuration, so that unintentional compression of the connecting device in the axial direction is avoided. The releasable locking member may be a bayonet fitting, snap-lock, locking tab, breakable connection etc. as known in the art. The locking member is an integral part of the connecting device. Also disclosed as locking member is a separate member such as a locking tape, a clamp, or similar which is removed to activate the telescoping action of the connecting device. Combinations of different types of locking means are also contemplated.

Furthermore, the connecting device comprises means for interlocking the first part and the second part when the connecting device is in the fluid transfer configuration.

The interlocking means is a mating locking arrangement with a locking element on the first part of the connecting device arranged to engage with a locking element on the second part of the connecting device. Such mating locking arrangements may include bayonet fittings, snap-locks, locking tabs etc. as known in the art. Combinations of different types of locking elements are also contemplated. The interlocking means may be of the reversible type that is designed so that it can be reopened without destroying or damaging the connecting device. Alternative, the interlocking means may be of the type rendering interlocking of the parts irreversible, implying that it cannot be opened without simultaneously damaging or destroying the connecting device.

In a connecting device according to the invention, the first part may carry a barrier member which is arranged at the first end of the first part.

The second part of the connecting device comprises means for connecting the second part to a bottle.

The means for connecting the first part to a medical fluid transfer device may comprise a bayonet fitting.

The first and second parts of the connecting device may comprise cooperating guiding members for guiding the piercing member through a bottle seal at a predetermined angle, such as at a predetermined angle of from <NUM>° to <NUM>° and preferably <NUM>°.

The connecting device may further comprise a pressure equalizing member. The pressure equalizing member may be of any kind as known in the art. it may be preferred that the pressure equalizing member comprises a pressure regulating chamber having a pressure adapting volume and being in fluid communication with a gas channel in the piercing member or in a separate piercing member and preferably comprising a filter between the pressure regulating chamber and the air channel in the piercing member.

The piercing member in the connecting device is preferably aligned with a central axis through the connecting device and is placed along the central axis or not more than <NUM> from the central axis as measured in the radial direction of the connecting device,.

in a method for applying a connecting device according the invention to a medical bottle having a bottle neck with a bottle opening and a sealing member in the bottle opening, the method may include the steps of:.

The fluid transfer assembly comprises a bottle connector and a drug bottle. The expression "drug bottle" as used herein refers to any container which is leakage proof and otherwise suitable for the purpose in question. Accordingiy, the drug botile can be a botile or vial of a conventional type utilized for drugs or medical fluids intended to be administered to a human patient or an animal. Preferably, the drug bottle has only one sealed opening, and is made of a solid, rigid material, such as glass. Furthermore, it is preferred that the drug bottle has no displaceable bottom, flexible walls, or the like, which might increase the risk of hazardous leakage into the environment.

As used herein, the expression "neck" should be understood as a conventional bottle or vial neck, or as a protruding portion of the fluid container with an edge, shoulder, protrusion or the like, which fulfills the same function. The expression "opening" should be understood as a passageway into the interior of the bottle, whereas the expression "closure" refers to any leakage -proof membrane, film foil, seal, or the like, made of a material which can be punctured by a hollow needle and which otherwise is suitable for the purpose.

As used herein, a rubber stopper is a closing member for a drug bottle such as a medical vial. The rubber stopper may be pierced by a needle e.g. for removal of a quantity of the liquid from the vial. "Stoppers" or closures for receptacles are defined by International Standards such as ISO <NUM>-<NUM> and ISO <NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM><NUM>.

The barrier members used in the bottle connector disclosed herein are flexible and e!asiically compressible liquid and gas-proof membranes, also known as sealing members or septums which have the ability of sealing tightly after penetration and retraction of a piercing member in order to prevent escape of liquid as well as gas components. Such materials are generally referred to as being "flexible", "expandable" and "compressible". As used in this document these expressions are intended to mean materials that are capable of being elastically flexed, expanded or compressed under the influence of external forces and that will substantially return to their original state once the external forces are removed. A "flexible material" is intended to mean a material that can easily be folded or twisted or bent by hand or a material that may be flexed and/or bent repeatedly without rupture or the development of visible defects in accordance with the definition in ISO <NUM>:<NUM> "Plastics:- Vocabulary".

The barrier members used with the connecting devices of the invention may be made from medical grade elastomeric polymer materials as known in the art. Such materials include silicone elastomers, isoprene, natural elastomers and thermoplastic elastomeric polymer materials (TPE). Thermoplastic elastomers include Styrene Block Copolymers (TPS), Thermoplastic Polyolefins (TPO), Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), copolyesters and polyether block amides.

By "elastomer" as used herein is implied a macromolecular material which returns rapidly to its initial dimension and shape after substantial deformation by a weak stress and release of the stress. The definition applies under room temperature test conditions and is found in ISO <NUM>:<NUM> "Plastics - Vocabulary".

The parts of the bottle connector may be molded from comparatively rigid plastic as is known in the art. A rigid plastic material for the purpose of the invention is a material that will generally retain its shape during normal use and that will not be permanently flexed or deformed by the forces required to manipulate the transfer and connecting device between the transport configuration and the fluid transfer configuration or by the forces required to form a connection with a bottle or other medical device, such as a syringe. However, the rigid plastic materials that are useful in the bottle connector according to the invention have the ability to eiastically flex and deform sufficiently to facilitate assembly of the bottle connector and to allow the bottle connector to be connected to a bottle or other medical device.

Thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene; acryfonitrife butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyester or any other suitable materials may be used for making the connecting device of the invention. When using injection molding techniques to form the connecting device, the process may be a monocomponent or muiticomponent injection molding process allowing different parts of the protective cap to be formed integrally from materials having different properties, such as different extensibility, different flexibility, etc. A muiticomponent injection molding process is a process using more than one component, i.e. two or more components.

As used herein, the expression "hollow needle" refers to any suitable piercing device made of, e,g. , a metal or polymer, which is provided with an appropriate passageway.

As used herein, the expression "irreversible coupling" means that the neck element in normal, intended use cannot be removed from the drug bottle unintentionally, and without the use of excessive force.

The terms "pre-connected" or "pre-assembled" as used herein refer to parts of a device that have been connected or assembled by a manufacturer and are delivered to a user in a connected or assembled state, as opposed to parts that are connected or assembled by the user.

The invention wili be described in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings in which:.

<FIG> shows a bottle connector <NUM> according to the invention with the parts separated. The bottle connector <NUM> as shown in <FIG> comprises a first generally cylindrical part <NUM> with a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> and a second generally cylindrical part <NUM> with a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>, The bottle connector <NUM> further comprises a barrier member <NUM> and a piercing members. A parabola-shaped gas chamber <NUM> belonging to a pressure equalizing member <NUM> is shown to be connected to the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>. Further parts of the pressure equalizing member <NUM> are a filter <NUM>, a filter holder <NUM> and a flexible wail member <NUM>.

The barrier member <NUM> is shown to be generaily disc-shaped, with a thicker central portion and thinner peripheral portion. The barrier member may be any type of sealing membrane or septum as defined herein.

When assembled, the pressure equalizing member <NUM> is arranged to adapt its volume in response to a change in gas pressure. The volume of the pressure equalizing member <NUM> may be changed by expanding or collapsing the flexible wall member <NUM>. The flexible wall member <NUM> may be a thin film material, e.g. a thin transparent film that is welded or adhesively attached to the outer rim <NUM> of the parabola-shaped gas chamber <NUM> so as to form a gas-tight seal between the parabola-shaped gas chamber <NUM> and the flexible wail member <NUM>.

Any gas passing into the gas container formed between the paraboia-shaped gas chamber <NUM> and the flexible wall member <NUM> will pass through the filter <NUM> in the filter holder <NUM>. The filter <NUM> may be any suitable commercially available filter, such as a particulate air filter having a pore size of <NUM>. Although the filter holder <NUM> is shown in <FIG> as being separate from the parabola-shaped gas chamber <NUM>, it may be integrally formed with the parabola-shaped gas chamber <NUM> by a blow moulding or vacuum forming process. If formed as a separate component, it may be attached to the parabola-shaped gas chamber <NUM> by welding, such as by ultrasonic welding as known in the art. Adhesive attachments or mechanical fittings are also conceivable within the scope of the invention. The filter <NUM> may be attached to the filter holder <NUM> by means of adhesive or welding or may be mechanically held in the filter holder <NUM>.

The particular pressure equalizing member <NUM> shown in the figures should not be considered to be limiting to the invention. Accordingly, the pressure equalizing member may take any form as known in the art, including non-closed arrangements although a closed-chamber pressure equalizing member is highly preferred when handling hazardous substances. One example of a suitable pressure equalizing member is found in international patent publication <CIT>.

The piercing member <NUM> has an internal channel <NUM> which is in fluid communication with the pressure equalizing member <NUM> when the bottle connector <NUM> is assembled. The internal channel <NUM> allows gas and air to pass into the volume-changing gas container-formed between the paraboia-shaped gas chamber <NUM> and the flexible wall member <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> in <FIG> seen from the second end <NUM> and with the parts of the pressure equalizing member <NUM> assembled but without the piercing member <NUM>. The first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> has a generally cylindrical shape with a larger diameter portion <NUM> at the second end <NUM> and a smaller diameter portion <NUM> at the first end <NUM>. The second wider end <NUM> is adapted for connection with the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> and the first smaller end <NUM> is adapted for connection with a medical device. In the example shown in the figures, the medical device is a syringe, as shown in <FIG>.

In order to enable coupling between the first part <NUM> and the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> , the first part is provided with first locking openings <NUM> arranged opposite each other in the wail of the first part <NUM> and constituting receiving members or female members of a snaplock arrangement allowing the first and second parts <NUM>,<NUM> to be releasably locked in the a first configuration constituting a transport configuration. The first locking openings <NUM> are placed at a distance from the edge of the second end <NUM> of the first part <NUM>, leaving room between the first locking openings <NUM> and the edge of the first part <NUM> at the second <NUM> end for a guiding groove <NUM>.

A second set of receiving members in the form of second locking openings <NUM> are arranged at the junction between the larger diameter portion <NUM> and the smaller diameter portion <NUM> of the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>. The second locking openings <NUM> do also form part of the snaplock arrangement between the first and second parts <NUM>,<NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>. The second locking openings <NUM> are used to lock the first and second parts <NUM>,<NUM> in a second configuration constituting a fluid transfer configuration. Although the shown arrangement with opposing coupling members may be preferred, any coupling arrangement allowing telescopic movement without simultaneous rotation between the first and second parts <NUM>,<NUM> may be used within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, each part <NUM>,<NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> may comprise one or more coupling member such as <NUM>-<NUM> coupling members. If more than one coupling member is used, the coupling members are preferably symmetrically arranged in the walls of the bottle connector <NUM>. Moreover, the locking arrangement between the parts <NUM>,<NUM> may comprise any one or more of locking means such as bayonet fittings, stop notches, a stop knobs, a snap locks, etc. as known in the art.

The first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> further comprises grooves <NUM> constituting female guiding means for guiding the second part <NUM> into the first part <NUM>.

The first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> is further shown to have an intermediate wail <NUM> between the larger diameter portion <NUM> at the second end <NUM> and the smaller diameter portion <NUM> at the first end <NUM>. A central opening <NUM> bordered by a circular sealing flange <NUM> is arranged in the intermediate wall <NUM>. The central opening <NUM> accommodates both a socket <NUM> for the piercing member <NUM> and a channel <NUM> for an external piercing member, such as a needle in a syringe. The circular sealing flange <NUM> ascertains that a tight seal is created around the piercing site when the bottle connector <NUM> is applied to a medical bottle. Alternative sealing arrangements include the use of a small diameter spike having two internal channels for fluid and gas transfer.

A further feature of the first part <NUM> of the bottie connector <NUM> as shown in <FIG> is a female part <NUM> of a bayonet fitting arranged in the smaller diameter portion <NUM> of the first part <NUM> for coupling of a syringe, or similar device to the bottle connector <NUM>. It is to be noted that both the smaller diameter portion <NUM> of the first part and the bayonet fitting are optional features of a bottle connector in accordance with the invention.

Depending on the type of medical device to be coupled to the first end <NUM> of the first part <NUM>, the coupling arrangement at the first end <NUM> may be different from the bayonet fitting shown in the figures. Accordingly, any type of threaded coupling, bayonet fitting, snap-lock, locking ring, slide fitting, clamp, etc., may be used, as known in the art. Furthermore, more than one locking element of the same or different construction may be used in combination to create a coupling between the bottie connector <NUM> and a medical device.

When the bottle connector <NUM> has been connected to a first medical device, it can subsequently be connected with a second medical device carrying a piercing member. Consequently, the medical device that is connected with the bottle connector <NUM> at the first end <NUM> of the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> may be a piercing device such as a syringe, another connecting device, a needle protection device, etc..

The second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> is shown in <FIG> and is seen from the second end <NUM> which is the end that is arranged to be remote from the second end <NUM> of the first part <NUM> when the bottle connector <NUM> is assembled.

The second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> comprises two oppositely arranged flexible locking tongues <NUM> each carrying a locking protrusion <NUM> which are arranged to cooperate with the first locking openings <NUM> and the second locking openings <NUM> on the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> for locking the bottle connector <NUM> in the transport configuration and the fluid transfer configuration, respectively.

The second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> further comprises opposing male guiding elements <NUM> arranged to engage with the guiding grooves <NUM> on the first part of the bottle connector <NUM>. In the shown embodiment, the male guiding elements <NUM> together with the locking protrusions <NUM> also serve to restrict movement of the second part <NUM> into the first part <NUM>. The dimensioning of the locking protrusions <NUM> and the guiding elements <NUM> determines the axial force required to activate the telescopic movement between the first and second parts <NUM>,<NUM>.

As with the coupling members, the configuration of the guiding means and locking members shown in the figures and described herein should not be considered limiting to the bottle connector of the invention. Accordingly, the arrangement may be reversed, so that the grooves are arranged on the second part and the protrusions engaging with the grooves are arranged on the first part. Moreover, the number of guiding arrangements and locking members may be different from the two arrangements shown in the figures, such as <NUM>-<NUM> guiding arrangements and <NUM>-<NUM> locking arrangements, The guiding and locking function may be fulfilled within one and the same arrangement. If more than one guiding/locking arrangement is provided, the guiding arrangements are preferably symmetrically arranged.

The first end <NUM> of the second part <NUM> has an end wall <NUM> with an end opening <NUM>. When the bottle connector <NUM> is in the fluid transfer configuration, the end wall <NUM> of the second part <NUM> will be in direct contact with the intermediate wall <NUM> of the first part <NUM>, prohibiting further axial compressive movement of the parts <NUM>,<NUM> relative each other. In the fluid transfer configuration, the circular sealing flange <NUM> on the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> extends through the end opening <NUM> in the end wall <NUM> of the second part <NUM>.

The second end <NUM> of the second part <NUM> is provided with hook elements <NUM>. The hook elements <NUM> are configured to fit over a bottle neck to keep the bottle connector <NUM> locked to the bottle, in order to facilitate application of the bottle connector <NUM> to a bottle, the side wall of the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> is divided into flexible tongues <NUM> that can be slightly bent outwardly as the bottle connector <NUM> is pressed down over a bottle neck. The flexible tongues <NUM> may be two or more, such as <NUM>-<NUM> flexible tongues. The hook elements <NUM> are arranged at the free ends of the flexible tongues <NUM>. Alternatively, the side wall of the second part <NUM> may be provided with slits extending in the axial direction of the second part <NUM>.

<FIG> show the bottle connector <NUM> as it appears in its assembled state in the transport configuration and having an axial direction A and a radial direction R, perpendicular to the axial direction A. The cross-section in <FIG> is taken centrally through the bottle connector <NUM> in a plane through the first locking openings <NUM> and the second locking openings <NUM> of the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>. The pressure equalizing member <NUM> is not seen in <FIG> as the view is in a direction away from the piercing member <NUM> and the pressure equalizing member. As the piercing member <NUM> is placed slightly off-set from the central axis through the bottle connector <NUM> in a direction towards the pressure equalizing member <NUM>, the piercing member <NUM> is also not visible in <FIG>. The cross-section in <FIG> is taken in a plane perpendicular to that in <FIG> and extends through the pressure equalizing member <NUM> and the hoilow piercing member <NUM>.

In the transport configuration shown in <FIG>, the bottle connector <NUM> has a maximum length L<NUM> in the axial direction of the bottle connector <NUM>. The maximum length L<NUM>, is greater than the length LFP of the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>. As is seen in <FIG>, the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> extends in the axial direction A past the tip. <NUM> of the piercing member <NUM> so that the piercing member <NUM> is completely shielded in the radial direction, R when the bottle connector <NUM> is in the transport configuration even though the tip <NUM> of the piercing member protrudes slightly past the second end <NUM> of the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>.

<FIG> show the barrier member <NUM> mounted in a barrier member holder <NUM> centrally in the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>.

The first and second parts <NUM>,<NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> are pre-connected by means of the locking protrusions <NUM> on the flexible locking tongues <NUM> on the second part <NUM> being inserted in the first locking openings <NUM> on the first part <NUM>. The connection between the parts is preferably made so as to prohibit a user from deliberately or accidentally separate the parts <NUM>,<NUM>, but so as to allow deliberate telescopic compression of the parts <NUM>,<NUM>.

<FIG> show the bottle connector <NUM> as it appears in its assembled state in the fluid transfer configuration. The cross-sections in <FIG> correspond to the cross-sections in <FIG>.

In the fluid transfer configuration, the bottle connector <NUM> has been compressed in the axial direction A, by sliding or pushing the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> down over the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> until the first end <NUM> of the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> comes into contact with the intermediate wail <NUM> in the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> and the locking protrusions <NUM> on the locking tongues <NUM> on the second part <NUM> engage with the second locking openings <NUM> on the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>. During compression of the bottle connector <NUM>, the guiding grooves <NUM> on the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> cooperate with the male guiding elements (protrusions) <NUM> on the second part of the bottle connector <NUM> to ensure that the piercing member <NUM> is guided at a predetermined angle towards and through a bottle stopper. The piercing member <NUM> is preferably guided at an angle of <NUM>° through the bottle stopper. However, other angles such as an angle of from <NUM>° to <NUM>° are conceivable within the scope of the invention.

The bottle connector <NUM> in the fluid transfer configuration has a minimum length L<NUM>, which is shown to be identical to the length LFP of the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>. The minimum length L<NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> need not be equal to the length LFP of the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>, However, the minimum length L<NUM> will always be less than the maximum length L, of the bottle connector <NUM>.

<FIG>show a bottle connector <NUM> of the invention in the process of being applied to a medical bottle <NUM>.

The medical bottle <NUM> or vial is a small glass bottle with a bottle neck <NUM> and a bottle opening <NUM>. A rim <NUM> extends around the bottle opening <NUM> and serves as a receiving connection means that will cooperate with the hook elements <NUM> at the ends of the flexible tongues <NUM> on the second part of the bottle connector <NUM> when the bottle connector <NUM> is pushed down over the bottle neck <NUM>. A sealing member <NUM> is inserted into the bottle neck <NUM> through the bottle opening <NUM> in order to keep the fluid <NUM> that is contained in the medical bottle <NUM> from escaping out through the bottle opening <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> is commonly a rubber stopper which may be penetrated by the piercing member <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> and by an external piercing member such as a syringe. The interface between the sealing member <NUM> and the rim <NUM> at the bottle opening <NUM> is further sealed by means of a protective foil <NUM> extending around the bottle opening <NUM> with a first end portion on the exposed surface of the sealing member <NUM> and a second end portion beneath the rim <NUM> around the bottle opening <NUM>. Accordingly, the protective foil <NUM> is wrapped around an edge portion of the upper part of the medical bottle <NUM>, leaving only a circular piercing area of the sealing member <NUM> exposed at the centre of the sealing member <NUM>.

The hook elements <NUM> on the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> are configured to fit under the rim <NUM> around the bottle opening <NUM> in the medical bottle <NUM> to keep the bottle connector <NUM> securely locked in position over the bottle opening <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the bottle connector <NUM> and the medical bottle <NUM> just before the bottle connector <NUM> is brought into contact with the bottle <NUM>. The tip <NUM> of the piercing member <NUM> can be seen to protrude slightly past the edge of the second end <NUM> of the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> but not past the edge of the second end <NUM> of the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>,.

<FIG> shows the bottle connector <NUM> and the medical bottle <NUM><NUM> in the process of being pressed down onto the medical bottle <NUM> but before the hook elements <NUM> on the flexible tongues at the second end <NUM> of the second part of the bottle connector <NUM> have snapped into engagement with the rim <NUM> at the bottle neck <NUM>.

While applying the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> over the bottle neck <NUM>, the bottle connector <NUM> is kept in the transport configuration by means of the locking protrusions <NUM> on the locking tongues <NUM> on the second part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM> being engaged with the first locking openings <NUM> in the first part <NUM> of the bottle connector <NUM>.

After coupling of the bottle connector <NUM> to the bottle neck <NUM>, the piercing member s on the first part of the bottle connector <NUM> is brought to penetrate the sealing member <NUM> in the bottle opening <NUM> by telescopically sliding or pushing the first part <NUM> in relation to the second part <NUM> and bringing the connecting device to assume the fluid transfer configuration shown in <FIG> and described in detail in connection with <FIG>.

When the bottle connector <NUM> has been securely fixed to the medical bottle <NUM> and has been brought into the fluid transfer configuration, the piercing member <NUM> penetrates all the way through the sealing member <NUM> in the bottle opening <NUM> so that air and gas may pass from the medical bottle <NUM> through the piercing member <NUM> and further into the pressure equalizing member <NUM>. The two-part telescopic construction of the bottle connector <NUM> allows safe and controlled handling and application also of bottle connectors having piercing members of comparatively greater length. The pre-connection between the first and second parts of the bottle connector <NUM> ascertains simple handling of the bottle connector <NUM> and ascertains proper alignment of the parts and of the piercing member.

<FIG> shows an example of a medical device that may be used together with a bottle connector according to the invention. The medical device in <FIG> is an injection device <NUM> adapted for being connected to the bottle connector in <FIG> by means of male locking members <NUM> designed to mate with the female members of the bayonet fitting <NUM> on the bottle connector <NUM>. The injection device <NUM> has an internal needle (not visible in Fig. <NUM>) and is provided with a barrier member <NUM> that will be in close contact with the barrier member <NUM> in the bottle connector <NUM> when the injection deviee <NUM> is connected to the bottle connector <NUM>, thus creating a double barrier for the internal needle to penetrate before passing down through the sealing member <NUM> in the medical battle <NUM> and further down into the fluid contained in the medical bottle <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A bottle connector (<NUM>) for use in a medical fluid transfer arrangement, said bottle connector (<NUM>) having an axial direction (A) and a radial direction (R) and comprising:
a first generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) having a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), said first generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) comprising a hollow piercing member (<NUM>) comprising an inner channel (<NUM>); and
a second generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) connected to the first generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) and concentrically arranged with respect to each other, the second generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) having a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), the second generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) comprising a bottle coupling member, for coupling said bottle connector to a medical bottle (<NUM>), the second generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) being configured to move between a transport configuration and a fluid transfer configuration,
wherein the second generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) comprises a locking tongue (<NUM>) carrying a locking protrusion (<NUM>),
wherein, when the second generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) moves from the first configuration, corresponding to the transport configuration, to the second configuration, corresponding to the fluid transfer configuration, the second generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) moves along a longitudinal axis without rotation, characterized in that:
the first generally cylindrical part (<NUM>) comprises a first locking opening (<NUM>) and a second locking opening (<NUM>),
wherein the locking protrusion (<NUM>) is arranged to cooperate with the first and second locking openings for locking the bottle connector in the transport configuration and the fluid transfer configuration, respectively.