Patent Description:
The present subject matter relates generally to devices for transferring a fluid from a vial to a medical device and, in particular, to protective locking systems for source vials which help prevent mishandling of liquid medication to be removed from source vials and used in an injection device, such as a wearable injection device or a syringe.

Injection devices that are worn by a patient temporarily or for extended periods are well known in the medical field. The subject matter of this application relates to systems used to safely secure liquid medication within a source vial until it is presented to a corresponding transfer device that may be constructed for use particularly but not exclusively with the injection device described in commonly assigned <CIT>. That injection device includes an internal resilient bladder that may be filled with any suitable injectable medicament, whether drug, antibiotic, biologic or other injectable, for subcutaneous injection, typically a bolus injection, into a patient while the device is being worn by the patient. Other injection devices may be used, for example, including but not limited to a syringe.

That injection device must be filled (wholly or partially) with the desired injectable before injection into the patient. The above U. provisional patent application also discloses information regarding transfer systems for transferring an injectable from a source vial, including but not limited to transferring such injectable into the injection device from a source vial or vials. These may include and be embodied in, but are not limited to, a pressurized gas powered transfer device. The present application discloses additional novel designs and improvements that enhance safe use of medications in source vials, and can serve to prevent misuse, such as attempts to use medications in ways not intended by a prescribing physician. The transfer devices described herein may be variously referred to as transfer units, stations, modules, accessories, add-ons or by other suitable terminology.

According to the invention, a protective locking system for a vial includes a vial cap lock fitted to cover a septum on a vial containing a medical fluid. The vial cap lock further includes a key, a locking cap and a slide guard. The key has a first needle opening sized to receive a needle therethrough, the locking cap has a second needle opening sized to receive a needle therethrough, and the slide guard has a third needle opening sized to receive a needle therethrough. The key is configured to be received by and movable relative to the locking cap from a first position, wherein the third needle opening through the slide guard is not aligned with the respective first and second needle openings through the key and locking cap, to a second position, wherein the key has moved the slide guard relative to the locking cap and the respective needle openings through the slide guard, the key and the locking cap are aligned to receive a needle therethrough.

The present disclosure provides several examples of protective locking systems for vials. The examples are illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The protective locking systems for vials generally are used to prevent mishandling of liquid medications that may be transferred to a medical device, such as a wearable injection device, or other injection devices, for example but not limited to a syringe. The protective locking system for a vial may be constructed for use particularly but not exclusively with the injection device described in commonly assigned <CIT>.

Each example herein provides a protective locking system for a vial with the system including a vial cap lock configured to be fitted to cover a septum on a vial containing medical fluid, such as medication. The vial cap lock includes a key, a locking cap and a slide guard. The key has a needle opening sized to receive a needle therethrough. The locking cap has a needle opening sized to receive a needle therethrough. The slide guard also has a needle opening sized to receive a needle therethrough. The key is configured to be received by and movable relative to the locking cap from a first position, wherein the needle opening through the slide guard is not aligned with the respective needle openings through the key and locking cap, to a second position wherein the key moves the slide guard relative to the locking cap and the respective needle openings through the slide guard, the key and the locking cap are aligned to receive a needle therethrough. In the examples, the slide guard includes a biasing portion that tends to bias the slide guard toward a position wherein the needle opening through the slide guard is not aligned with the respective needle openings through the key and the locking cap. It will be appreciated that the term "needle opening" is used herein to refer to openings through components which may permit a needle to pass through the opening, and is not used to refer to an openings in a needle. It further will be appreciated that the term "sized to receive a needle therethrough" is used herein to mean that the opening is at least large enough for a needle to pass through, so there is not an upper limit on the size of the opening and it may be significantly larger than would otherwise be necessary for passage of a needle therethrough.

<FIG> shows an injection device <NUM>, such as a wearable injection device, and a single vial pressurized gas powered transfer device <NUM> connected to the injection device <NUM>. <FIG> illustrate a first example protective locking system <NUM> for a vial <NUM>, which is configured for use with the transfer device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the vial <NUM> having the first example protective locking system <NUM> configured as a vial cap lock for one time use and being in an inverted position above a vial holder portion <NUM> of the transfer device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, but with other parts of the transfer device <NUM> and injection device <NUM> removed. As seen in <FIG>, this first example system includes a locking cap <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>, and a key <NUM> in a configuration of a vial elevator that is received by a vial elevator shaft <NUM> of the holder portion <NUM> of the transfer device <NUM>. The locking cap <NUM> is connected to the vial <NUM> via an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM> that captures a rim <NUM> of the vial <NUM>. In <FIG>, the slide guard <NUM> is biased by a biasing portion <NUM> to a position wherein the slide guard <NUM> blocks a needle <NUM> from passing through the locking cap <NUM> and entering the vial <NUM> through a vial septum <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the vial <NUM> received the key <NUM> in the form of the vial elevator when the locking cap <NUM> was pushed or forced to a first position into and thereby connected to the key <NUM>. The vial elevator <NUM> includes arms <NUM> that extend inward and capture a neck portion of the vial <NUM> and stop against the locking cap <NUM>. The engagement with the key <NUM> also moved the slide guard <NUM> to a position wherein a needle opening <NUM> through the slide guard <NUM> is aligned with a needle opening <NUM> through the locking cap <NUM> and a needle opening <NUM> through the key <NUM>, so as to no longer block the needle <NUM> from passing through the locking cap <NUM> and entering a vial septum <NUM>. The key <NUM>, in the form of the vial elevator, further includes a rib <NUM> having a cam surface <NUM> that engages and moves the slide guard <NUM> from the first position blocking needle entry to a second position permitting needle entry when the key <NUM> is received by the locking cap <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the vial <NUM> and protective locking system <NUM> have been pushed or forced to a second position further into the vial holder <NUM> such that the key <NUM> in the form of the vial elevator has moved downward relative to a vial elevator shaft <NUM> of the vial holder <NUM>, to a retracted or lowered position within the transfer device <NUM>. The vial holder <NUM> includes the needle <NUM> at its base <NUM>, such as in the form of a vial spike. As shown in <FIG>, when the vial <NUM> and the protective locking system <NUM> are moved further downward relative to the vial elevator shaft <NUM>, the aligned respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key, the locking cap and the slide guard have permitted a needle or vial spike <NUM> at the bottom of the vial elevator shaft <NUM> to engage the vial septum <NUM> and enter the vial <NUM> as the vial elevator <NUM> was pushed to the second position.

<FIG> illustrate a second example protective locking system <NUM> for use with a vial <NUM>, which is configured with a vial cap lock for one time use and that may be used with a transfer device, such as shown in <FIG>, or used separately, such as with a syringe needle <NUM>, and having a non-removable key <NUM>, in the form of a lid, which is initially and permanently attached to a locking cap <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, the protective locking system <NUM> for a vial <NUM> includes the non-removable key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM>, a spring lock <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>. The locking cap <NUM> is connected to the vial <NUM> via an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM> that captures a rim of the vial <NUM>. <FIG> shows the underside <NUM> of the non-removable key <NUM>, which includes a locating opening <NUM> for proper registration with a locating projection <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM>, as well as projections <NUM> that extend from the key <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the slide guard <NUM> biased to a first position by a biasing portion <NUM> so as to be blocking entry of a needle <NUM> that is otherwise permitted to pass through the needle opening <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the needle opening <NUM> through the locking cap <NUM>, while the key <NUM> is in an installed and fully raised first position. The key <NUM> includes at least one outward extension <NUM> that engages and results in the key <NUM> being non-removable from the locking cap <NUM>. The at least one extension <NUM> has a cam surface <NUM> by which the key <NUM> may be previously installed to be non-removable by pushing it toward the locking cap <NUM> until the at least one extension <NUM> rides over and is trapped behind an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the key <NUM> pushed or forced to a fully depressed second position, wherein the slide guard <NUM> has been moved from a first position wherein it was biased by a biasing portion <NUM> to a position blocking passage of the needle <NUM> to a second position to align the needle opening <NUM> therethrough with the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, and showing a needle <NUM> passing through the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The slide guard <NUM> is moved from a first position to a second position when pushing downward on the key <NUM> due to an inward facing cam surface <NUM> on the key <NUM> that engages the slide guard <NUM>.

The projections <NUM> that extend from the underside <NUM> of the key <NUM> may be in the form of pins, and they are aligned with actuation openings <NUM> through the locking cap <NUM>. The spring lock <NUM> is located between the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM>. As seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the key <NUM> is fully depressed, the projections <NUM> on the underside of the key <NUM> push and trip the spring lock <NUM> to move from an initial set position shown in <FIG>, wherein the needle opening <NUM> through the slide guard <NUM> is not aligned with the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, to an active position shown in <FIG>. However, the projections <NUM> that extend from the key <NUM> also temporarily hold the spring lock <NUM>, so as not to permit an arm <NUM> of the spring lock <NUM> to obstruct passage of the needle <NUM> while the key <NUM> is fully depressed.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate when the pushing force on the key <NUM> has been removed, such that the key <NUM> has moved to an intermediate third position between the fully raised first position and the fully depressed second position. In this intermediate position, the projections <NUM> extending from the underside of the key <NUM> are withdrawn from the actuation openings <NUM> through the locking cap <NUM>, and release the active spring lock <NUM>. The slide guard <NUM> and the arm <NUM> of the spring lock <NUM> have moved under the force of the biasing portion <NUM> to positions biased against the needle <NUM> passing through the aligned respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the needle <NUM> has been removed to the extent that the needle <NUM> no longer passes through the needle opening <NUM> through the slide guard <NUM>, the spring lock <NUM>, by means of its arm <NUM>, has moved to cover the needle opening <NUM> through the locking cap <NUM>, so as to block the needle <NUM> from passing through the slide guard <NUM>, such as to enter a vial <NUM>.

Turning to <FIG>, a third protective locking system <NUM> for use with a vial <NUM>, which is configured with a vial cap lock for one time use and that may be used with a transfer device, such as shown in <FIG>, or used separately, such as with a syringe needle <NUM>, and having a key <NUM>, in the form of a lid, which is brought to a locking cap <NUM> on the vial <NUM>, to unlock the vial <NUM> for one time use and thereafter is non-removable from the locking cap <NUM> on the vial <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, the protective locking system <NUM> for a vial <NUM> includes the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM>, a spring lock <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>. The locking cap <NUM> is connected to the vial <NUM> via an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM> that captures a rim of the vial <NUM>. The key <NUM> includes a locating opening <NUM> for proper registration with a locating projection <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM>. The underside of the locking cap <NUM> is constructed similarly to that which is shown in <FIG>, with projections <NUM> that extend from the key <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the slide guard <NUM> biased to a first position by a biasing portion <NUM> so as to be blocking entry of a needle <NUM> that is otherwise permitted to pass through the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, after the key <NUM> is in an installed and fully raised first position. The key <NUM> includes at least one outward extension <NUM> that engages and results in the key <NUM> being non-removable from the locking cap <NUM>. The at least one extension <NUM> has a cam surface <NUM> by which the key <NUM> may be pushed toward the locking cap <NUM> until the at least one extension <NUM> rides over and is trapped behind an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM>, thereby becoming non-removable.

The projections <NUM> that extend from the underside of the key <NUM> may be constructed in the same manner as described with respect to the second example. Thus, the projections <NUM> may be in the form of pins, and they are aligned with actuation openings <NUM> through the locking cap <NUM>. The spring lock <NUM> is located between the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM>. As seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the key <NUM> is fully depressed, the projections <NUM> on the underside of the key <NUM> push and trip the spring lock <NUM> to move from an initial set position shown in <FIG>, wherein the needle opening <NUM> through the slide guard <NUM> is not aligned with the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, to an active position shown in <FIG>. However, the projections <NUM> that extend from the key <NUM> also temporarily hold the spring lock <NUM>, so as not to permit an arm <NUM> of the spring lock <NUM> to obstruct passage of the needle <NUM> while the key <NUM> is fully depressed.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate when the pushing force on the key <NUM> has been removed, such that the key <NUM> has moved to an intermediate third position between the fully raised first position and the fully depressed second position. In this intermediate position, the projections <NUM> extending from the underside of the key <NUM> are withdrawn from the actuation openings <NUM> through the locking cap <NUM>, and release the active spring lock <NUM>. The slide guard <NUM> and the arm <NUM> of the spring lock <NUM> have moved under the force of the biasing portion <NUM> to positions biased against the needle <NUM> passing through the aligned respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key, the locking cap and the slide guard.

Turning to <FIG>, a fourth protective locking system <NUM> for use with a vial <NUM>, which has a vial cap lock providing access via a separate reusable generic key <NUM> and that may be used with a transfer device, such as shown in <FIG>, or used separately, such as with a syringe needle <NUM>. The key <NUM>, in the form of a lid, is brought to a locking cap <NUM> on the vial <NUM>, to unlock the vial <NUM> and is reusable. Thus, the key <NUM> is removable from a locking cap <NUM> on the vial <NUM> after use. As seen in <FIG>, the protective locking system <NUM> for a vial <NUM> includes the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>. The key <NUM> includes a locating opening <NUM> for proper registration with a locating projection <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the protective locking system <NUM> includes the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>, and shows there may be alignment of respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM>. The locking cap <NUM> is connected to the vial <NUM> via an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM> that captures a rim of the vial <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the slide guard <NUM> biased to a first position by a biasing portion <NUM> so as to be blocking entry of a needle <NUM> that is otherwise permitted to pass through the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, after the key <NUM> is brought to the locking cap <NUM> and is in a fully raised first position. The key <NUM> is removable and reusable, so it does not have features that cause it to become permanently attached to the locking cap <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> show the key <NUM> pushed or forced to a fully depressed second position, wherein the slide guard <NUM> has been moved from the first position wherein it was biased by a biasing portion <NUM> to a position blocking passage of the needle <NUM> to a second position to align the needle opening <NUM> therethrough with the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, and showing a needle <NUM> passing through the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The slide guard <NUM> is moved from a first position to a second position when pushing downward on the key <NUM> due to an inward facing cam surface <NUM> on the key <NUM> that engages the slide guard <NUM>.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, the key has been released, and slide guard <NUM> has moved to a position biased against the needle <NUM> passing through the aligned respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key, the locking cap and the slide guard. In <FIG> and <FIG>, after having released the key <NUM> and removed the needle <NUM> to the extent that the needle <NUM> no longer passes through the needle opening <NUM> through the slide guard <NUM>, the slide guard <NUM> has moved to block the needle <NUM> from passing through the slide guard <NUM>, such as to enter a vial <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate a fifth example protective locking system <NUM> for use with a vial <NUM>, which is configured with a vial cap lock for a custom drug, wherein the vial <NUM> may be used with a transfer device, such as shown in <FIG>, or separately, such as with a syringe needle <NUM>, and having a removable key <NUM>, in the form of a lid, that is custom in that it is related to the drug and authority to access the drug.

As seen in <FIG>, the protective locking system <NUM> for a vial <NUM> includes the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM>, a spring lock <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>. The locking cap <NUM> is connected to the vial <NUM> via an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM> that captures a rim of the vial <NUM>. <FIG> shows the underside <NUM> of unique key <NUM>, which includes a locating opening <NUM> for proper registration with a locating projection <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM>, as well as projections <NUM> that extend from the key <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the slide guard <NUM> biased to a first position by a biasing portion <NUM> so as to be blocking entry of a needle <NUM> that is otherwise permitted to pass through the needle opening <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the needle opening <NUM> through the locking cap <NUM>, while the key <NUM> is in an installed and fully raised first position. For security purposes, the key <NUM> includes at least one rib <NUM> extending inward that must be aligned with slots <NUM> in the outer surface of the locking cap <NUM> to permit use of the key <NUM> with the locking cap <NUM>. Various unique patterns of ribs <NUM> and slots <NUM> can be employed for improved security.

<FIG> shows the key <NUM> pushed or forced to a fully depressed second position, wherein the slide guard 414has been moved from a first position wherein it was biased by a biasing portion <NUM> to a position blocking passage of the needle <NUM> to a second position to align the needle opening <NUM> therethrough with the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, and showing a needle <NUM> passing through the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The slide guard <NUM> is moved from a first position to a second position when pushing downward on the key <NUM> due to an inward facing cam surface <NUM> on the key <NUM> that engages the slide guard <NUM>.

<FIG> show a sixth example protective locking system <NUM> configured with a vial cap lock providing access via a separate reusable rotary key <NUM> and that may be used with a transfer device, such as shown in <FIG>, or used separately, such as with a syringe needle <NUM>, and wherein the key <NUM> is in the form of a lid that is brought to the vial <NUM> and locking cap <NUM> to unlock the vial <NUM> for use. Thereafter, the key <NUM> is removable from the locking cap <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the protective locking system <NUM> includes the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>, and shows there may be alignment of respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM>. The locking cap <NUM> is connected to the vial <NUM> via an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM> that captures a rim of the vial <NUM>. <FIG> shows the underside of the key <NUM> and a projection in the form of at least one rib <NUM> extending inward from the key <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> show the slide guard <NUM> in a first position blocking entry of a needle <NUM> that is otherwise permitted to pass through the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, after the key <NUM> is brought to the locking cap <NUM> and is in a first rotational position. <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> show the key <NUM> rotated to a second rotational position, wherein the slide guard <NUM> has been moved to align the needle opening <NUM> therethrough with the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>. Movement of the slide guard <NUM> is via rotary movement of the key <NUM>, which drives engagement of the at least one rib <NUM> with a notch <NUM> in the slide guard <NUM> to attain the second position.

In <FIG>, the key <NUM> has been released and the needle <NUM> has been removed to the extent that the needle <NUM> no longer passes through the needle opening <NUM> through the slide guard <NUM>. The slide guard <NUM> also has moved back to the first position where it blocks the needle <NUM> from passing through the slide guard <NUM>.

Turning to <FIG>, a seventh protective locking system <NUM> for use with a vial <NUM>, which has a vial cap lock providing access via a non-clocking reusable key <NUM> and that may be used with a transfer device, such as shown in <FIG>, or used separately, such as with a syringe needle <NUM>. The key <NUM>, in the form of a lid, is brought to a locking cap <NUM> on the vial <NUM>, to unlock the vial <NUM> and is reusable. Thus, the key <NUM> is removable from a locking cap <NUM> on the vial <NUM> after use. As seen in <FIG>, the protective locking system <NUM> for a vial <NUM> includes the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>, and there may be alignment of respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM>. The locking cap <NUM> is connected to the vial <NUM> via an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM> that captures a rim of the vial <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the slide guard <NUM> biased to a first position by a biasing portion <NUM> so as to be blocking entry of a needle <NUM> that is otherwise permitted to pass through the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, after the key <NUM> is brought to the locking cap <NUM> and is in a fully raised first position. The key <NUM> is removable and reusable, so it does not have features that cause it to become permanently attached to the locking cap <NUM>. With the key <NUM> in a fully raised first position, the needle opening <NUM> through the slide guard <NUM> is not aligned with the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and locking cap <NUM>, and pins <NUM> on slider arms <NUM> of the slide guard <NUM> are in a neutral first position in slots <NUM> within the underside of the locking cap <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the slide guard <NUM> moved while the key <NUM> is partially depressed, wherein the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM> are partially aligned, and slider arms <NUM> on the slide guard <NUM> flex outward as pins <NUM> on the slider arms <NUM> follow slots <NUM> in the underside of the locking cap <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the key <NUM> pushed or forced to a fully depressed second position, wherein the slide guard <NUM> has been moved from the first position wherein it was biased by a biasing portion <NUM> to a position blocking passage of the needle <NUM> to a second position to align the needle opening <NUM> therethrough with the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM> and the locking cap <NUM>, and showing a needle <NUM> passing through the respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The slide guard <NUM> is moved from a first position to a second position when pushing downward on the key <NUM> due to an inward facing cam surface <NUM> on the key <NUM> that engages the slide guard <NUM>. The slider arms <NUM> on the slide guard <NUM> have flexed further as the pins <NUM> on the slider arms <NUM> followed the slots <NUM> in the underside of the locking cap <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the key has been released, and slide guard <NUM> has moved to a position biased against the needle <NUM> passing through the aligned respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, after having released the key <NUM> and removed the needle <NUM> to the extent that the needle <NUM> no longer passes through the needle opening <NUM> through the slide guard <NUM>, the slide guard <NUM> has moved to block the needle <NUM> from passing through the slide guard <NUM>, such as to reenter the vial <NUM>. The slide guard <NUM> has moved to a locked position blocking the needle <NUM> from passing through the slide guard <NUM>, such as to reenter the vial <NUM>, as the slider arms <NUM> on the slide guard <NUM> are flexed inward and the pins <NUM> on the slider arms <NUM> followed the slots <NUM> in the underside of the locking cap <NUM> until the pins <NUM> became trapped, so as to prevent further movement of the slide guard.

Turning to <FIG>, an eighth protective locking system <NUM> for use with a vial <NUM>, which has a vial cap lock providing access via a reusable key <NUM> and that may be used with a transfer device, such as shown in <FIG>, or used separately, such as with a syringe needle <NUM>. The key <NUM>, in the form of a lid, is brought to a locking cap <NUM> on the vial <NUM>, to unlock the vial <NUM> and is reusable. Thus, the key <NUM> is removable from a locking cap <NUM> on the vial <NUM> after use. As seen in <FIG>, the protective locking system <NUM> for a vial <NUM> includes the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and a slide guard <NUM>, and there may be alignment of respective needle openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> through the key <NUM>, the locking cap <NUM> and the slide guard <NUM>. The locking cap <NUM> is connected to the vial <NUM> via an inward extending shoulder <NUM> on the locking cap <NUM> that captures a rim of the vial <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A protective locking system (<NUM>) for a vial comprising:
a) a vial cap lock configured to be fitted to cover a septum on a vial (<NUM>) containing a medical fluid;
b) the vial cap lock having a key (<NUM>), a locking cap (<NUM>) and a slide guard (<NUM>);
wherein:
the key (<NUM>) has a first needle opening (<NUM>) sized to receive a needle (<NUM>) therethrough, the locking cap (<NUM>) has a second needle opening (<NUM>) sized to receive a needle (<NUM>) therethrough, and the slide guard (<NUM>) has a third needle opening (<NUM>) sized to receive a needle (<NUM>) therethrough; and
the key is configured to be received by and movable relative to the locking cap (<NUM>) from a first position, wherein the third needle opening through the slide guard (<NUM>) is not aligned with the respective first and second needle openings (<NUM>, <NUM>) through the key (<NUM>) and locking cap (<NUM>), to a second position wherein the key (<NUM>) moves the slide guard (<NUM>) relative to the locking cap (<NUM>) and the respective needle openings through the slide guard (<NUM>), the key (<NUM>) and the locking cap (<NUM>) are aligned to receive a needle (<NUM>) therethrough.