Patent ID: 8177768

Claim:
A vial adapter for interconnecting with vial closures of different diameters, each closure having a seal, comprising: an adapter housing having a first end with an inner periphery with a circular array of claws, and having a second end, the housing having a thickness at the inner periphery; and a sharpened cannula extending from the first end of the adapter housing for penetrating a seal of a vial closure to establish fluid communication between the vial and the first end; wherein the array of claws comprises: a first set of claws, each claw of the first set of claws having a first surface extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the inner periphery, and a second surface extending from the first surface upwardly and radially outwardly towards the inner periphery, each of the claws in the first set of claws having a first length so as to cause the inner periphery to expand outwardly when the vial adapter is placed over a closure exceeding a first diameter, the second surface preventing withdrawal of the closure from the vial adapter without expanding the inner periphery outwardly; and a second set of claws extending radially inwardly from the inner periphery, each of the second set of claws having a second length that is longer than the first length of the first set of claws, each of the second sect of claws adapted such that when the vial adapter is placed over a closure exceeding the first diameter, each of the second set of claws will deflect and plastically deform thereby permitting the second set of claws to accommodate the larger closure.