Patent ID: 7879018

Claim:
A fluid transfer assembly comprising: a vial having a container portion, an upper, generally cylindrically shaped portion with a lower edge and an intermediate neck portion; and a fluid transfer device having a longitudinal axis and including: (a) a top wall; and (b) a resiliently deformable circumferential skirt connected to said top wall and downwardly depending therefrom for telescopically receiving the upper portion of the vial, said skirt having: (i) a generally cylindrical body portion having an inner and outer cylindrical surface; (ii) an angularly outwardly extending marginal portion including a distal end, the angularly outwardly extending marginal portion extending toward the distal end at an obtuse angle with respect to the outer cylindrical surface; (iii) an angularly inwardly extending intermediate portion disposed between said body portion and said outwardly extending marginal portion, said inwardly extending intermediate portion including at least partially circumferentially-extending opposing protuberances for releasably gripping the vial; and (iv) a cannula connected to said top wall and downwardly depending therefrom for extending into the vial received in the fluid transfer device, said cannula including a puncturing tip located between said top wall and said distal end along said longitudinal axis, wherein said skirt is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart longitudinally directed slits for defining flex members resiliently flexibly connected at said top wall between each adjacent pair of longitudinally directed slits of said plurality of circumferentially spaced apart longitudinally directed slits, wherein said outwardly extending marginal portions of said flex members positively assist in guiding said upper portion of said vial into said adapter through outward flexure of said flex members resulting in an expanded insertion angle for said vial, at least two opposing flex members of said plurality of said flex members include said at least two opposing protuberances on said intermediate portion to engage said vial in an engaged position.