Patent ID: 8303566

Claim:
A method for buffering an anesthetic cartridge, said method comprising: providing a buffer cartridge having a septum and a plunger; providing a first anesthetic cartridge having a septum and a plunger; attaching the buffer cartridge to one end of a cartridge connector so that a first end of a transfer needle penetrates the septum of the buffer cartridge; attaching the first anesthetic cartridge to another end of the cartridge connector so that a second end of the transfer needle and a first end of an exhaust needle penetrate the septum of the anesthetic cartridge, wherein a second end of said exhaust needle opens to a sealed interior waste chamber in the cartridge connector; and advancing the plunger on the buffer cartridge to transfer a volume of buffer from the buffer cartridge into the anesthetic cartridge and a volume of anesthetic from the anesthetic cartridge into the sealed interior waste chamber.