Filling system and method for syringes with short needles

Abstract

A filling system for syringes utilizing short needles to be filled from a vial having a thick septum is described. The system may be useful in any situation where the septum or vial stopper of a medication container is thicker than the usable length of the needle on the delivery device. Preferably, the syringe is filled just prior to use. The short needle includes an optional limiter which only permits a certain predetermined length of the needle cannula to protrude beyond the limiter a distance which limits penetration of the needle tip into both the skin and a vial stopper. The system and adapter may be useful for needles having a protrusion distance from approximately 0.5 mm to 3 mm, or any needle with a protrusion length shorter that the thickness of a septum to be accessed. Furthermore, a device is provided with shielding capabilities to shield the needle of the device.

1 . A fluid transfer system for use in transferring a medical substance from a medication container having a septum with a pre-determined thickness into a delivery device, comprising: 
 a reservoir within said delivery device adapted for storing a medical substance;    a needle cannula attached to said delivery device having a lumen in fluid communication to said reservoir and having a forward tip extending away from said delivery device a pre-selected usable length, wherein said usable length is less than a thickness of said septum of said container;    an adapter body including: 
 a container receiving portion said container receiving portion having a septum access needle, and  
 a longitudinal projection extending from said adapter body, said projection including an adapter septum having a thickness, and a distal portion; wherein the thickness of said adapter septum is less than the usable length of said needle cannula and said distal portion is in fluid communication with said septum access needle lumen;  
   wherein when said container is received in said container receiving portion and said delivery device needle is penetrated through said adapter septum, fluid communication between said substance in said container and said reservoir of said delivery device is established.    
   
   
       2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a shield which is slidably disposed upon said delivery device having at least a first position and a second position, said first position exposing said forward tip of said needle cannula and said second position concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula.  
   
   
       3 . A system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said shield includes at least one slot wherein said slot cooperates on a corresponding feature on said vial adapter protrusion wherein said cooperation allows removable attachment of said delivery device to said vial adapter body  
   
   
       4 . A system as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said vial adapter protrusion includes at least one locking finger received by said slot in said shield.  
   
   
       5 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said vial adapter protrusion includes at least one protuberance received by a corresponding receptacle disposed on said medical device.  
   
   
       6 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said vial adapter protrusion includes at least one receptacle adapted to receive at least one tang disposed on said medical device.  
   
   
       7 . A system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said vial adapter protrusion at least one protuberance is formed in a helical pattern and said at least one receptacle adapted to receive at least one one tang disposed on said medical device.  
   
   
       8 . A system as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said vial adapter protrusion receptacle is formed in a helical pattern.  
   
   
       9 . A system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said shield includes a catch engaging said at least one stop when said shield is in said second position thereby preventing said limiter from being moved into said first position from said second position.  
   
   
       10 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said adapter septum is located at a distal portion of said adapter projection.  
   
   
       11 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said adapter septum is located at a proximal portion of said adapter projection.  
   
   
       12 . A system as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising a shield which is slidably disposed upon said delivery device having at least a first position and a second position, said first position concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula and said second position exposing said forward tip of said needle cannula.  
   
   
       13 . A system as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising a locking clip which is slidably disposed between said shield and said delivery device having at least a first position and a second position, said first position allowing proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device and said second position preventing proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device.  
   
   
       14 . A device as set forth in  claim 13  wherein a first proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device into said second shield position engages said locking clip and moves said locking clip into said second position of said locking clip, thereby preventing proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device.  
   
   
       15 . A method of transferring a medical substance from a medication container having a septum with a pre-determined thickness into a delivery device having a reservoir in fluid communication to a needle cannula attached to said delivery device having a forward tip extending away from said delivery device a pre-selected usable length; wherein said usable length is less than said pre-determined thickness of said container septum comprising the steps of: 
 providing an adapter including a septum access needle having a lumen, in fluid communication with a distal portion of an adapter septum having a thickness less than the usable length of said needle cannula;    penetrating said medication container septum with said septum access needle, wherein when said container septum is penetrated with said septum access needle fluid communication between said medical substance and said lumen occurs;    penetrating said adapter septum with said delivery device needle, wherein when said adapter septum is penetrated with said delivery device needle, fluid communication between said medical substance and said lumen occurs, whereby, fluid communication between said substance in said container and said reservoir of said delivery device is established; and,    aspirating said medical substance into said delivery device.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 shielding said delivery device needle with a needle shield, thereby concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula, wherein said shield is slidably engaged to said delivery device.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 performing an injection with said delivery device, and    locking said shield of said delivery device needle in a distal position after performing said injection step.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 providing said delivery device with said shield in an initial distal position concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula, wherein said forward tip is engageable to said adapter septum; and    moving said shield to a proximal position exposing said usable length of said needle cannula.    
   
   
       19 . A delivery device, comprising: 
 a reservoir within said delivery device adapted for storing a medical substance;    a needle cannula attached to said delivery device having a lumen in fluid communication to said reservoir and having a forward tip extending away from said delivery device a pre-selected usable length;    a shield which is slidably disposed upon said delivery device having at least a first position and a second position, said first position concealing said forward tip of said needle cannula and said second position exposing said forward tip of said needle cannula; and    a locking clip which is slidably disposed between said shield and said delivery device having at least a first position and a second position, said first position allowing proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device and said second position preventing proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device wherein a first proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device into said second shield position engages said locking clip and moves said locking clip into said second position of said locking clip, thereby preventing subsequent proximal movement of said shield with respect to said delivery device.    
   
   
       20 . A delivery device as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said shield includes at least one slot wherein said slot cooperates on a corresponding feature on a medication vial protrusion wherein said cooperation allows removable attachment of said delivery device to said vial.