Patent Description:
It is typically used for the administration of drugs, especially in a hospital setting. In particular, it is used for administering injectable drugs (in which case the external device is a syringe) or infusion drugs (in which case the external device is a drip).

Solutions are known in which the container of a drug is provided, at a dispensing mouth, with a dispensing system that enables it to be connected with syringes or drips. The dispensing system is integrated into the container and therefore once the drug has been dispensed it is to be disposed of with the container.

This solution is not free of drawbacks. In fact, the manufacturing cost of containers integrating the dispensing system could be significant. Furthermore, every container will be provided with a corresponding dispensing system, therefore containers of different sizes will necessarily use dispensing systems of different sizes to enable optimal connection.

Examples of adaptors are disclosed in e.g. <CIT> and <CIT>.

The object of the present invention is to provide an adaptor applicable to a plurality of containers and not specific for a specific construction solution. The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by an adaptor applicable to a plurality of containers comprising the technical features disclosed in one or more of the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following indicative and therefore nonlimiting description of an adaptor applicable to a plurality of containers as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:.

In the appended figures the reference number <NUM> indicates an adaptor applicable to a container to enable the dispensing from the container of a liquid through an external device applicable to the adaptor. Such liquid may be of various types and various densities and could also be very fluid or very dense. The device is external to the adaptor; appropriately, it is a separate and additional element (not integrated into the adaptor <NUM>). Appropriately, the device <NUM> indicated above comprises a syringe or a drip.

The adaptor <NUM> comprises a perforator <NUM> intended to penetrate at least in part into the container. On this point, preferably, though not necessarily, the perforator <NUM> has a pointed shape. This allows the perforation operation to be facilitated. Appropriately, the perforator <NUM> comprises a withdrawal mouth <NUM> for withdrawing the liquid.

The adaptor <NUM> also comprises an outlet mouth <NUM> for the outlet of the liquid from the adaptor <NUM>. Such mouth <NUM> can be fluid dynamically connected to the external device. In this way the liquid dispensed by the adaptor <NUM> can be withdrawn by the external device for specific uses. Appropriately, the outlet mouth <NUM> is afforded in a protrusion <NUM> which extends in the opposite direction to the perforator <NUM> (preferably starting from a common base). Such protrusion <NUM> may comprise an inner core <NUM> and a cap <NUM> which covers it at least partially. In the protrusion <NUM> there is a silicone membrane <NUM>. The silicone membrane <NUM> is appropriately located inside the cap <NUM> at one end of the core <NUM>. Such silicone membrane <NUM> in a rest configuration prevents the fluid dynamic connection between the withdrawal mouth <NUM> and the outlet mouth <NUM>. To enable the dispensing of the fluid the external device sees to moving the membrane <NUM> at least partially. Appropriately, the protrusion <NUM> comprises a connection means <NUM> for connection with the external device. For example, the connection means <NUM> may comprise a thread. It is intended to be connected with a counter-thread afforded on the external device, e.g. a syringe or a drip. Such thread is preferably placed at one end of the protrusion. It advantageously surrounds the outlet mouth <NUM>. Appropriately the thread is afforded on the cap <NUM>.

The adaptor <NUM> comprises a conduit <NUM> that connects said liquid withdrawal mouth <NUM> and said liquid outlet mouth <NUM>. Appropriately, such conduit <NUM> extends at least in part into the core <NUM>. This enables the liquid to cross the adaptor <NUM> between an inlet area into the adaptor <NUM> and an outlet area from the adaptor <NUM>. The adaptor <NUM> also comprises a vent <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent any excessive pressure differences with respect to the external pressure from being present inside the container. Appropriately, the vent <NUM> comprises a channel <NUM> that places a first and a second end <NUM>, <NUM> in communication. Appropriately, the first end <NUM> is placed on the perforator <NUM>, preferably at the withdrawal mouth <NUM>. The second end <NUM> places the first end <NUM> and the external environment in communication by crossing the adaptor <NUM>. The second end <NUM> is appropriately placed along a lateral flank of said protrusion <NUM>. Appropriately, the adaptor <NUM> comprises a filter <NUM> placed at the second end <NUM>. In particular, the filter <NUM> is located between the core <NUM> and the cap <NUM>. Appropriately, the filter <NUM> is a hydrophilic carbon filter.

The adaptor <NUM> appropriately comprises a connection means <NUM> for connection to the container. This enables a firm gripping to the container. The connection means <NUM> comprises in particular a clamping means <NUM> deformable from a first to a second configuration for exerting a clamping action on the container. Appropriately, the deformable clamping system <NUM> makes the adaptor usable with different mouth sizes. The clamping means <NUM> is preferably annular. The appropriately deformable clamping means <NUM> comprises (or more specifically is) an annular element. In particular, the deformable clamping means <NUM> changes shape when passing from a first to a second configuration (in particular there is an annular thickening of at least one portion). It is appropriately made of silicone material. Appropriately, the clamping means <NUM> can also exert a fluid dynamic sealing action.

The adaptor <NUM> comprises a support <NUM> for supporting said clamping means <NUM>.

When passing from the first to the second configuration the annular element (of the clamping means <NUM>) reduces its axial extension by increasing its thickness. In this way it exerts a sealing action on the container. Furthermore, in this way, it can adapt to different shapes of the container. The axial extension of the annular element is parallel to a shift direction of the support <NUM> for passing from the first to the second configuration.

Appropriately, the adaptor <NUM> comprises an actuator <NUM> which can be activated by a user for shifting said clamping means <NUM> between the first and the second configuration (in particular for shifting it from the first to the second configuration). The actuator <NUM> is appropriately manually activated. The actuator <NUM> is of the mechanical type. It comprises a hand grip intended to be used by the user.

The actuator <NUM> moves said clamping means <NUM> to enable the clamping means <NUM> to pass from the first to the second configuration and/or vice versa. A shift of the support <NUM> corresponds to a shift of the actuator <NUM>. Appropriately the support <NUM> is a rigid body.

Appropriately, the actuator <NUM> defines a raising/lowering means of said support <NUM> to allow the clamping means <NUM> to pass from the first configuration (see <FIG>) to the second configuration (see <FIG>) and/or vice versa.

In the preferred solution, the actuator <NUM> comprises/is a linkage <NUM>. However, it could also be a mechanical button or the like.

The linkage <NUM> is hinged to the support <NUM>. A rotation of said linkage <NUM> causes the raising/lowering of said support <NUM>. In particular, a rotation of the linkage <NUM> according to a first direction causes a raising of the support <NUM>, a rotation of the linkage <NUM> according to an opposite direction to the first causes a lowering of the support <NUM>.

The adaptor <NUM> comprises a cover <NUM> intended to overlap with a mouthpiece of the container and constrained to said perforator <NUM>. Such cover <NUM> is for example shaped like a plate. Appropriately, the cover <NUM>, in particular the plate, comprises at least one slot <NUM> (in the solution exemplified in the appended figures there are two of them) for guiding the support <NUM>. The support <NUM> comprises at least one portion (typically lateral) which crosses said at least one slot <NUM>. A raising/lowering of the support <NUM> causes a relative shift of the support <NUM> with respect to the cover <NUM>. In a raised position (i.e. when the clamping means <NUM> is deformed or more deformed) the support <NUM> projects more above said slot <NUM> than in a lowered position. Passing from the first to the second configuration the deformable means <NUM> is compressed between an edge <NUM> of the support <NUM> and the cover <NUM> (see <FIG>). In this way the annular element of the deformable means <NUM> reduces its axial extension and increases its thickness. In fact, the support <NUM> comprises an annular perimeter wall <NUM> which defines an internal cavity. At one end (typically lower with reference for example to <FIG>) of the annular perimeter wall <NUM> the support <NUM> comprises said edge <NUM> which extends towards the inside of the cavity.

The adaptor <NUM> further comprises a first fulcrum <NUM> that enables the rotation of the linkage <NUM> with respect to the support <NUM>. The first fulcrum <NUM> enables the linkage <NUM> to be connected with respect to the support <NUM>. The first fulcrum <NUM> comprises a pin <NUM> and a rotation hole <NUM> of the pin <NUM>. Appropriately, the pin <NUM> and the hole <NUM> are made, one in the linkage <NUM>, and one in the support <NUM>. Appropriately, the adaptor <NUM> comprises a second fulcrum <NUM> that enables the rotation of the linkage <NUM> with respect to the support <NUM>.

The linkage <NUM> comprises a cam profile <NUM> placed in contact with said cover <NUM>. A rotation of the linkage <NUM> about said first fulcrum <NUM> causes the distancing/nearing of the first fulcrum <NUM> from said cover <NUM> and a consequent raising/lowering of the support <NUM>. A rotation of the linkage <NUM> about said first fulcrum <NUM> causes the raising/lowering of the first fulcrum <NUM> with respect to the cover <NUM>.

The cam profile <NUM> comprises a first and a second flat portion <NUM>, <NUM>. Appropriately, the first and the second flat portion <NUM>, <NUM> are in contact with other portions of the adaptor <NUM> (typically the cover <NUM>) in a first and second stroke end position, respectively, of the linkage. This enables the linkage to be stabilised better in these two stroke end positions.

The outlet mouth <NUM> and the perforator <NUM> extend on two opposite sides of the cover <NUM>. In particular, they project away from the plate of the cover <NUM> along opposite directions.

Further object of the present invention is a system comprising a container <NUM> associated with an adaptor <NUM> having one or more of the features described hereinabove. The container <NUM> comprises a lateral portion <NUM>.

The clamping means <NUM> of the adaptor <NUM> grips onto the lateral portion <NUM> of said container <NUM>. Preferably, such lateral portion <NUM> is arranged at a neck of the container. The lateral portion <NUM> is in particular located at a mouthpiece of the container.

A method for applying an adaptor <NUM> to a container <NUM> also constitutes object of the present invention. Appropriately, such adaptor <NUM> is of the type having one or more of the characteristics described hereinabove.

Such application method comprises the steps of:.

The present invention achieves important advantages.

Claim 1:
An adaptor applicable to a container for enabling the dispensing of a liquid to an external device applicable to the adaptor; said adaptor (<NUM>) comprising:
- a perforator (<NUM>) intended to penetrate at least in part into the container and comprising a withdrawal mouth (<NUM>) for withdrawing the liquid;
- an outlet mouth (<NUM>) for the outlet of the liquid from the adaptor (<NUM>) towards said external device;
- a conduit (<NUM>) that connects said liquid withdrawal mouth (<NUM>) and said liquid outlet mouth (<NUM>);
- a connection means (<NUM>) for connection to the container, said connection means (<NUM>) comprising a clamping means (<NUM>) deformable from a first to a second configuration for exerting a clamping action on the container;
- an actuator (<NUM>) that can be activated by a user for shifting said clamping means (<NUM>) between the first and the second configuration,
wherein the deformable clamping means (<NUM>) changes shape when passing from the first to the second configuration.