Tabletop drug dispensing vial access adapter

Abstract

A vial having a V-shaped bottom to minimize the amount of medical fluid left in the vial at the end of the fluid withdrawal process. The vial is equipped with a vial access adapter having a fluid withdrawal spike which extends into the V-shaped bottom. The vial access adapter may be vented or non-vented. When the medical fluid is a nuclear drug, the vial and vial access adapter is enshrouded in a protective container containing lead to provide a safety to medical personnel from irradiation.

1 . A vial access adapter-vial assembly allowing for withdrawal of a medicinal fluid contained in the vial without inverting the vial, comprising: 
 (a) a vial having a medical fluid therein; and    (b) a vial access adapter body;    wherein said vial comprises:    a cylindrical side wall having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end extending into a constricted neck portion terminating in a rim and defining an open fluid port, and said proximal end being closed by a flat outside bottom portion, and V-shaped inside bottom portion;    said fluid port being closed by an elastomeric stopper wherein said vial access adapter body comprises:    a cylindrical side wall having a distal end and a proximal end terminating in a rim;    a flat, horizontal top wall, closing the distal end of the cylindrical side wall;    an externally threaded female luer connector projecting vertically above the horizontal top wall for receiving an internally threaded male luer connector of a syringe or cartridge;    an elongated spike having a fluid flow channel therein, and being integral with said female luer connector, extending into said vial and reaching the V-shaped bottom portion thereof to allow withdrawal of essentially all the medical fluid from the vial when said vial is in the right-side-up position; and    a removable luer cap hermetically sealing the female luer connector.    
   
   
       2 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 1  wherein said vial is of glass or a polymeric material.  
   
   
       3 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 1  wherein said vial access adapter is made of a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       4 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 1  wherein said V-shaped inside bottom portion having a side wall with an angel of more than 90° and less than 180°.  
   
   
       5 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 4  wherein said V-shaped inside bottom portion having a side wall with an angle of more than 100° and less than 1700.  
   
   
       6 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 4  wherein the inside wall of the V-shaped bottom portion terminates at the center portion of said vial.  
   
   
       7 . A vial access adapter-vial assembly allowing withdrawal of a nuclear drug contained in the vial without inverting the vial, comprising: 
 (a) a vial having a nuclear drug therein; and    (b) a vial access adapter body;    wherein said vial comprises:    a cylindrical side wall having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end extending into a constricted neck portion terminating in a rim and defining an open fluid port, and said proximal end being closed by a flat outside bottom portion and a V-shaped inside bottom portion; said fluid port being closed by an elastomeric stopper;    wherein said vial access adapter body comprises:    a cylindrical wall having a distal end and a proximal end terminating in a rim;    a flat, horizontal top wall closing the distal end of the cylindrical side wall;    an externally threaded female luer connector projecting vertically above the horizontal top wall for receiving an internally threaded male luer connector of a syringe or cartridge;    any elongated spike having a fluid flow channel therein, and being integral with said female luer connector, extending into said vial and reaching the V-shaped bottom portion thereof to allow withdrawal of essentially all the nuclear drug from the vial when said vial is in the right-side-up position;    a removable luer cap hermetically sealing the female luer connector; wherein said vial access adapter-vial assembly is enshrouded in a protective cover.    
   
   
       8 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 7  wherein said vial is of glass or a polymeric material.  
   
   
       9 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 7  wherein said vial access adapter is made of a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       10 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 7  wherein said V-shaped inside bottom portion having a side wall with an angle of more than 90° and less than 180°.  
   
   
       11 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 10  wherein said V-shaped inside bottom portion having a side wall with an angle of from about 100° to about 170°.  
   
   
       12 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 10  wherein the inside wall of the V-shaped bottom portion terminates at the center portion of said vial.  
   
   
       13 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 7  wherein said protective cover is made of lead.  
   
   
       14 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 7  of wherein said protective cover is made of an alloy comprising lead.  
   
   
       15 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 7  wherein said nuclear drug is a diagnostic agent.  
   
   
       16 . A vial access adapter-vial assembly allowing withdrawal of a medical fluid contained in the vial without inverting the vial comprising: 
 (a) a vial having a medical fluid therein; and    (b) a vial access adapter body;    wherein said vial comprises:    a cylindrical side wall having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end extending into a constricted neck portion terminating in a rim and defining an open fluid port, and said proximal end being closed by a flat outside bottom portion and a V-shaped inside bottom portion; said fluid port being closed by an elastomeric stopper;    wherein said vial access adapter body comprises:    a cylindrical wall having a distal end and a proximal end terminating in a rim;    a flat, horizontal top wall closing the distal end of the cylindrical side wall and having vent holes therein:    a horizontal second wall parallel to said horizontal top wall and spaced therefrom, said horizontal top wall, second wall and cylindrical side wall enclosing a chamber designed to hold a filter therein;    an antibacterial filter contained in said chamber;    an externally threaded female luer connector projecting vertically above the horizontal top wall for receiving an internally threaded male luer connector of a syringe or cartridge;    any elongated spike having a fluid flow channel therein, and being integral with said female luer connector, extending into said vial and reaching the V-shaped bottom portion thereof to allow withdrawal of essentially all the medical fluid from the vial when said vial is in the right-side-up position; and    a removable luer cap hermetically sealing the female luer connector.    
   
   
       17 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 16  wherein said vial is of glass or a polymeric material.  
   
   
       18 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 16  wherein said vial access adapter is made of a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       19 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 16  wherein said V-shaped inside bottom portion having a side wall with an angle of more than 90° and less than 18°.  
   
   
       20 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 19  wherein said V-shaped inside bottom portion having a side wall with an angle of from about 100° to about 170°.  
   
   
       21 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 19  wherein the inside wall of the V-shaped bottom portion terminates at the center portion of said vial.  
   
   
       22 . A vial access adapter-vial assembly allowing withdrawal of a nuclear drug contained in the vial without inverting the vial comprising: 
 (a) a vial having a nuclear drug therein; and    (b) a vial access adapter body;    wherein said vial comprises:    a cylindrical side wall having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end extending into a constricted neck portion terminating in a rim and defining an open fluid port, and said proximal end being closed by a flat outside bottom portion and a V-shaped inside bottom portion; said fluid port being closed by an elastomeric stopper;    wherein said vial access adapter body comprises:    a cylindrical wall having a distal end and a proximal end terminating in a rim;    a flat, horizontal top wall closing the distal end of the cylindrical side wall and having vent holes therein:    a horizontal second wall parallel to said horizontal top wall and spaced therefrom, said horizontal top wall, second wall and cylindrical side wall enclosing a chamber designed to hold a filter therein;    an antibacterial filter contained in said chamber;    an externally threaded female luer connector projecting vertically above the horizontal top wall for receiving an internally threaded male luer connector of a syringe or cartridge;    any elongated spike having a fluid flow channel therein, and being integral with said female luer connector, extending into said vial and reaching the V-shaped bottom portion thereof to allow withdrawal of essentially all the medical fluid from the vial when said vial is in the right-side-up position; and    a removable luer cap hermetically sealing the female luer connector.    
   
   
       23 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 22  wherein said vial is of glass or a polymeric material.  
   
   
       24 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 22  wherein said vial access adapter is made of a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       25 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 22  wherein said V-shaped inside bottom portion having a side wall with an angle of more than 90° and less than 180°.  
   
   
       26 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 25  wherein said V-shaped inside bottom portion having a side wall with an angle of from about 100° to about 170°.  
   
   
       27 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 25  wherein the inside wall of the V-shaped bottom portion terminates at the center portion of said vial.  
   
   
       28 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 22  wherein said protective cover is made of lead.  
   
   
       29 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 22  of wherein said protective cover is made of an alloy comprising lead.  
   
   
       30 . The vial access adapter-vial assembly of  claim 22  wherein said nuclear drug is a diagnostic agent.