Medical vial and injector assemblies and methods of use

Abstract

A medical liquid vial is disclosed with a resilient inner bladder and a pre-stress member located with the bladder. Injector assemblies are also disclosed for injecting the vial contents into a patient by advancing the vial through a series of stages or positions. Methods of filling and use are also disclosed.

1 . A medical fluid vial comprising:
 a housing having an open mouth at one end;   a resilient bladder disposed with the housing for receiving a medical liquid, the bladder being resilient between an unfilled non-pressurized condition and a filled pressurized condition;   a pre-stress member located within the bladder, the pre-stress member having a size larger that the size of the bladder in a non-pressurized condition; and   wherein the bladder and/or pre-stress member normally seal the vial mouth.   
     
     
         2 . The medical fluid vial of  claim 1  in which the bladder and pre-stress member are configured to expel, upon opening, substantially all of the contents of the bladder. 
     
     
         3 . The medical fluid vial of  claim 1  in which the bladder and pre-stress member are configured such that most of the liquid in the bladder is expelled at a substantially constant flow rate. 
     
     
         4 . The medical fluid vial of  claim 1  in which the size or shape of the pre-stress member may be selectively varied to change the amount of pre-stress on the bladder. 
     
     
         5 . The medical fluid vial of  claim 1  in which the bladder has a mouth and the pre-stress member is sealed within the bladder mouth. 
     
     
         6 . A component subassembly for a medical fluid vial, the component subassembly comprising:
 a resilient bladder for receiving a medical fluid, the bladder being resilient between an unfilled non-pressurized condition and a filled pressurized condition; and   a pre-stress member disposed within the bladder and having a size larger than the bladder volume in the unfilled non-pressurized condition.   
     
     
         7 . The component subassembly of  claim 6  in which the size of the pre-stress member may be selectively varied to change the amount of pre-stress on the bladder in the unfilled non-pressurized condition. 
     
     
         8 . The component subassembly of  claim 6  in which the bladder has a mouth and the pre-stress member is sealed within the bladder mouth. 
     
     
         9 . The component subassembly of  claim 6 , in which the bladder and pre-stress member are configured to expel, upon opening, substantially all of the contents of the bladder. 
     
     
         10 . The component subassembly of  claim 6  in which the bladder and pre-stress member are configured such that most of the liquid in the bladder is expelled at a substantially constant flow rate. 
     
     
         11 . A vial injection assembly for injecting the contents of a medical fluid vial containing pressurized medical liquid, the assembly including a vial holder portion, a housing portion mounting a vial access member and an injection needle that are in fluid communication, the holder portion and housing being relatively movable between an initial vial loading position and an injection position in which the access member accesses the contents of the vial and the injection needle extends from the housing sufficiently to inject the vial contents through the skin of a patient, and relatively movable from the injection position to a final position in which the housing shields the needle to prevent inadvertent needle sticks and cooperates with the needle to prevent non-destructive reuse of the assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The vial injection assembly of  claim 11  including a skin-contacting surface including an adhesive to temporarily retain the vial injection assembly to the skin of a patient. 
     
     
         13 . The vial injection assembly of  claim 11  including a removable bandage covering the injection site and separable from the injection assembly upon removal of the assembly from the skin of a patient, such that the bandage remains on the patient's skin and over the injection site. 
     
     
         14 . The vial injection assembly of  claim 11  configured to displace the injection needle in the final position into interference with the housing to prevent non-destructive movement of the needle from the final position to the injection position. 
     
     
         15 . The vial injection assembly of  claim 11  including a medical fluid vial.