Vial adapter and system

Abstract

A vial adapter includes a base having first and second opposing sides, a spike depending from the first side of the base, the spike having a spike passageway, and a connector disposed on the second side of the base, the connector having a connector passageway that is in fluid communication with the spike passageway. The vial adapter may be combined with a vial.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A vial adapter comprising:
 a base having first and second opposing sides;   a tubular skirt depending from the first side of the base, the tubular skirt bounding a space to receive a vial therein;   a spike depending from the first side of the base into the space, the spike having a longitudinal axis and a spike passageway,   the tubular skirt having at least one slot formed therein, the at least one slot having a first section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spike and a second section extending in an arc about the longitudinal axis and connected to the first section; and   a connector disposed on the second side of the base, the connector having a connector passageway that is in fluid communication with the spike passageway.   
     
     
         11 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , comprising a biasing mechanism disposed about the spike and depending into the space. 
     
     
         12 . The vial adapter according to  claim 11 , wherein the spike comprises an elongated aperture having first and second ends axially spaced from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second sections of the at least one slot connect at right angles to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The vial adapter according to  claim 13 , wherein the second section of the at least one slot has a first open end connected to the first section and a second closed end, the width of the second section being uniform between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         15 . The vial adapter according to  claim 13 , wherein the second section of the at least one slot has a first open end connected to the first section and a second closed end, the width of the second section being larger at the second end than at the first end. 
     
     
         16 . The vial adapter according to  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the slot incorporates a geometric shape adapted to conform to a tab attached to a vial containing a specific composition. 
     
     
         17 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , comprising two slots formed therein, the two slots being disposed opposite each other across the longitudinal axis, each slot having a first section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spike and a second section extending in an arc about the longitudinal axis and connected to the first section. 
     
     
         18 . The vial adapter according to  claim 17 , the second sections extending about the longitudinal axis in the same direction about the longitudinal axis 
     
     
         19 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , the tubular skirt having an annular cross-section in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the spike. 
     
     
         20 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , the spike having a shaft connected to the base and a head connected to the shaft, the head having a cross-section in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis that is larger in cross-section than the shaft. 
     
     
         21 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , the spike having a shaft connected to the base and a head connected to the shaft, the head having cross-sections in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis none of which is larger in cross-section than a cross-section of the shaft. 
     
     
         22 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , the base, tubular skirt, the spike and the connector molded as a single article. 
     
     
         23 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , the base, tubular skirt and connector molded as a single article, and the spike attached thereto, the spike defined by a sharp-pointed metal cannula. 
     
     
         24 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , wherein the spike comprises two apertures disposed opposite each other across the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         25 . The vial adapter according to  claim 10 , wherein the vial adapter is attached to medical equipment. 
     
     
         26 . The vial adapter of  claim 25 , wherein the medical equipment is a dialysis machine. 
     
     
         27 . A vial adapter comprising:
 a base having first and second opposing sides;   a spike depending from the first side of the base, the spike having a longitudinal axis and a spike passageway,   the spike having a shaft connected to the base and a head connected to the shaft, the head having a cross-section in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis that is larger in cross-section than the shaft;   a biasing mechanism disposed about the spike; and   a connector disposed on the second side of the base, the connector having a connector passageway that is in fluid communication with the spike passageway.   
     
     
         28 . The vial adapter according to  claim 27 , wherein the vial adapter is attached to medical equipment. 
     
     
         29 . The vial adapter of  claim 28 , wherein the medical equipment is a dialysis machine. 
     
     
         30 . A system comprising:
 a vial adapter including:   a base having first and second opposing sides;   a tubular skirt depending from the first side of the base, the tubular skirt bounding a space;   a spike depending from the first side of the base into the space, the spike having a longitudinal axis and a spike passageway,   the tubular skirt having at least one slot formed therein, the at least one slot having a first section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spike and a second section extending in an arc about the longitudinal axis and connected to the first section; and   a connector disposed on the second side of the base, the connector having a connector passageway that is in fluid communication with the spike passageway; and   a vial having first and second ends and a receptacle therebetween,   the first end of the vial disposed within the space bounded by the tubular skirt, and having at least one radially-outwardly depending tab that is disposed in the at least one slot, wherein at least one tab is disposed in the second section of the slot in a fully assembled state.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the vial contains a lyophilized therapeutic. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the therapeutic comprises an erythropoiesis stimulating agent. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the erythropoiesis stimulating agent comprises Epogen® or Aranesp®. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising medical equipment, the vial adapter being attached to the medical equipment. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the medical equipment is a dialysis machine. 
     
     
         36 . A vial comprising:
 a container having a first open end, a second closed end and an inner surface that defines a receptacle; and   a sealing assembly disposed over the first open end of the container, the sealing assembly including a seal having at least one radially-outwardly depending tab extending therefrom adapted to be disposed in a slot of a mating adapter to securely attach the vial to the adapter.   
     
     
         37 . A vial adapter comprising:
 a base having first and second opposing sides;   a tubular skirt depending from the first side of the base, the tubular skirt bounding a space to receive a vial therein;   a spike depending from the first side of the base into the space, the spike having a longitudinal axis and a spike passageway,   the tubular skirt having at least one slot formed therein, the at least one slot having a first section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spike and a second section extending in an arc about the longitudinal axis and connected to the first section; and   a connector disposed on the second side of the base, the connector having a connector passageway that is in fluid communication with the spike passageway.   
     
     
         38 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , comprising a biasing mechanism disposed about the spike and depending into the space. 
     
     
         39 . The vial adapter according to  claims 37 , wherein the spike comprises an elongated aperture having first and second ends axially spaced from each other. 
     
     
         40 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , wherein the first and second sections of the at least one slot connect at right angles to each other. 
     
     
         41 . The vial adapter according to  claim 40 , wherein the second section of the at least one slot has a first open end connected to the first section and a second closed end, the width of the second section being uniform between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         42 . The vial adapter according to  claim 40 , wherein the second section of the at least one slot has a first open end connected to the first section and a second closed end, the width of the second section being larger at the second end than at the first end. 
     
     
         43 . The vial adapter according to  claim 42 , wherein the second end of the slot incorporates a geometric shape adapted to conform to a tab attached to a vial containing a specific composition. 
     
     
         44 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , comprising two slots formed therein, the two slots being disposed opposite each other across the longitudinal axis, each slot having a first section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spike and a second section extending in an arc about the longitudinal axis and connected to the first section. 
     
     
         45 . The vial adapter according to  claim 44 , the second sections extending about the longitudinal axis in the same direction about the longitudinal axis 
     
     
         46 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , the tubular skirt having an annular cross-section in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the spike. 
     
     
         47 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , the spike having a shaft connected to the base and a head connected to the shaft, the head having a cross-section in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis that is larger in cross-section than the shaft. 
     
     
         48 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , the spike having a shaft connected to the base and a head connected to the shaft, the head having cross-sections in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis none of which is larger in cross-section than a cross-section of the shaft. 
     
     
         49 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , the base, tubular skirt, the spike and the connector molded as a single article. 
     
     
         50 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , the base, tubular skirt and connector molded as a single article, and the spike attached thereto, the spike defined by a sharp-pointed metal cannula. 
     
     
         51 . The vial adapter according to  claim 37 , wherein the spike comprises two apertures disposed opposite each other across the longitudinal axis.