Vial assembly with luer fitting

Abstract

The needless vial assemblies described herein allow for the access to the contents of a vial, such as a medication, using a syringe without a needle. In some designs, the vial includes a vial neck, which is itself a syringe interface. The vial assemblies also include a cap with a plug, which can be used to seal the vial assembly. The present disclosure further provides methods of filling a vial assembly and methods of filling a syringe using the vial assemblies described herein.

1 . A vial assembly comprising:
 a vial comprising a vial body and a vial neck, the vial neck having a syringe interface; and   a vial cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the vial cap.   
     
     
         2 . A vial assembly comprising:
 a vial comprising a vial body and a vial neck, the vial neck having a syringe interface; and   a vial cap comprising a first component and a second component, said first component having an internal threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and an outer surface comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs separated by a plurality of longitudinally extending channels, said second component including a plurality of longitudinally extending prongs that engage with a surface in the channels on the outer surface of the first component, said second component further including a central opening formed by the plurality of longitudinally extending prongs, and a plug disposed in the central opening, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the second component.   
     
     
         3 . The vial assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second component and the plug are coextruded. 
     
     
         4 . The vial assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second component further includes a rim, wherein the upper portion of the plug includes a top portion defining a restraint coupled to a reduced diameter region defining an annulus, and wherein the rim of the second component extends into the annulus to hold the plug in place. 
     
     
         5 . The vial assembly of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the prongs in the plurality of longitudinally extending prongs comprises an anchor that engages a counter-anchor disposed in a channel in the plurality of longitudinally extending channels. 
     
     
         6 . The vial assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vial neck is tapered. 
     
     
         7 . The vial assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe interface is a second threaded segment on an outer surface of the vial neck. 
     
     
         8 . The vial assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper portion of the plug forms a seal with the inner surface of the vial neck. 
     
     
         9 . The vial assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vial body has an open base. 
     
     
         10 . The vial assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vial body includes a base that is sealed with a thermoformed plastic or foil. 
     
     
         11 . A vial assembly comprising:
 a vial having a vial body and a vial neck;   an adapter having a top portion having a syringe interface, a bottom portion having a vial neck fitting attached to the vial neck, and a channel fluidly connecting the syringe interface to the vial neck;   a gasket disposed between the vial neck and the adapter; and   a vial cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the vial cap.   
     
     
         12 . The vial assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vial cap and the plug are coextruded. 
     
     
         13 . The vial assembly of  claim 1 , the vial cap further including a rim, the upper portion of the plug including a top portion defining a restraint coupled to a reduced diameter region defining an annulus, wherein the rim of the vial cap extends into the annulus to hold the plug in place. 
     
     
         14 . The vial assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the vial cap comprises a skirt that surrounds a portion of the vial neck fitting of the adapter. 
     
     
         15 . The vial assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the syringe interface comprises a tapered conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The vial assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the syringe interface comprises a second threaded segment on an outer surface of a conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The vial assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the vial neck fitting comprises a plurality of prongs that comprise an anchor that engages an annular lip on the vial neck. 
     
     
         18 . The vial assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the vial cap comprises an outer surface comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs. 
     
     
         19 . A vial assembly comprising:
 a vial having a vial body and a vial neck, the vial neck comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface comprising an annular lip; and   a vial cap having:
 a stopper having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising a longitudinal aperture, and the bottom portion that fits into the vial neck; 
 a conduit having a syringe interface at a first end and a barb at a second end, the second end fitting through the aperture in the stopper, and said barb engaging an underside of the top portion of the stopper; and 
 an end cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug disposed in the central opening, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the syringe interface of the conduit and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the end cap. 
   
     
     
         20 . The vial assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the end cap and the plug are coextruded. 
     
     
         21 . The vial assembly of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the stopper comprises a raised annular ridge around the aperture at the top of the stopper; and   the end cap comprises a skirt that fits around the raised annular ridge.   
     
     
         22 . The vial assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the stopper comprises an annular lip that sits on the annular lip disposed on an outer surface of the vial neck. 
     
     
         23 . The vial assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the vial assembly further comprises a ring that secures the stopper to the vial neck. 
     
     
         24 . The vial assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the bottom portion of the stopper comprises at least one truncated segment. 
     
     
         25 . The vial assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the syringe interface comprises a tapered surface. 
     
     
         26 . The vial assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the syringe interface comprises a second threaded segment on an outer surface of the syringe interface. 
     
     
         27 . The vial assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the end cap further includes a rim, wherein the upper portion of the plug includes a top portion defining a restraint coupled to a reduced diameter region defining an annulus, and wherein the rim of the end cap extends into the annulus to hold the plug in place. 
     
     
         28 . The vial assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plug further includes a central body with a diameter wider than the lower stopper portion. 
     
     
         29 . The vial assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the central body of the plug comprises a plurality of lateral compression ridges. 
     
     
         30 . The vial assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the restraint comprises a domed surface. 
     
     
         31 . The vial assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the restraint comprises a beveled rim. 
     
     
         32 . The vial assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the rim that extends into the annulus of the plug comprises an angled inner surface. 
     
     
         33 . The vial assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the rim that extends into the annulus of the plug is formed by an aperture on a top surface of the vial cap. 
     
     
         34 . The vial assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the rim that extends into the annulus of the plug protrudes into the central opening of the vial cap. 
     
     
         35 . The vial assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe interface is a female luer. 
     
     
         36 . A method of filing a vial assembly comprising:
 dispensing a liquid comprising the substance into a vial assembly comprising:
 a vial having a vial body and a vial neck, the vial neck having a syringe interface; and 
 a vial cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the vial cap; 
 wherein the liquid is dispensed through an open base of the vial body; and 
   sealing the base of the vial body after the liquid has been dispensed.   
     
     
         37 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising lyophilizing the liquid prior to sealing the base of the vial body. 
     
     
         40 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the base of the vial body is sealed with a thermoformed plastic or foil. 
     
     
         43 . A method of filling a vial assembly comprising:
 dispensing a liquid into a vial comprising a vial body and a vial neck, the vial neck having a syringe interface;   attaching a first component of a vial cap to the vial neck, said first component having an internal threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and an outer surface comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs separated by a plurality of longitudinally extending channels; and   sealing the vial by attaching a second component of the vial cap to the first component, said second component including a plurality of longitudinally extending prongs that engage with a surface in the channels on the outer surface of the first component, said second component further including a central opening formed by the plurality of longitudinally extending prongs, and a plug disposed in the central opening, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the second component.   
     
     
         44 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A method of filling a vial assembly comprising:
 dispensing a liquid into a vial comprising a vial body and a vial neck;   attaching an adapter to the vial neck, said adapter comprising a top portion having a syringe interface, a bottom portion having a vial neck fitting, a gasket fitting within the vial neck fitting, and a longitudinally extending channel fluidly connecting the syringe interface to the vial neck; and   sealing the vial by attaching a vial cap to the adapter, said vial cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the vial cap.   
     
     
         53 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A method of filling a vial assembly comprising:
 dispensing a liquid into a vial comprising a vial body and a vial neck the vial neck; and   sealing the vial by attaching a vial cap to the vial neck, the vial cap having:
 a stopper having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising a longitudinal aperture, and the bottom portion that fits into the vial neck; 
 a conduit having a syringe interface at a first end and a barb at a second end, the second end fitting through the aperture in the stopper, and said barb engaging an underside of top portion of the stopper; and 
 an end cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug disposed in the central opening, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the syringe interface of the conduit and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the end cap. 
   
     
     
         61 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A method of filling a syringe, comprising:
 detaching a vial cap from a vial,
 the vial having a vial body and a vial neck, the vial neck having a syringe interface; and 
 the vial cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the vial cap; 
   attaching a syringe to the vial neck; and   drawing a liquid contained within the vial into the syringe.   
     
     
         71 . A method of filling a syringe, comprising:
 detaching a vial cap from a vial,
 the vial having a vial body and a vial neck, the vial neck having a syringe interface; and 
 the vial cap comprising a first component and a second component, said first component having an internal threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and an outer surface comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs separated by a plurality of longitudinally extending channels, said second component including a plurality of longitudinally extending prongs that engage with a surface in the channels on the outer surface of the first component, said second component further including a central opening formed by the plurality of longitudinally extending prongs and a plug disposed in the central opening, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the second component; 
   attaching a syringe to the syringe interface of the vial neck; and   drawing a liquid contained within the vial into the syringe.   
     
     
         72 . A method of filling a syringe, comprising:
 detaching a vial cap from a vial assembly comprising:
 a vial comprising a vial body and a vial neck; 
 an adapter comprising a top portion having a syringe interface, a bottom portion having a vial neck fitting attached to the vial neck, and a channel fluidly connecting the syringe interface to the vial neck; 
 a gasket disposed between the vial neck and the adapter; and 
 the vial cap; said vial cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the vial neck and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the vial cap; 
   attaching a syringe to the syringe interface; and   drawing a liquid contained within the vial into the syringe.   
     
     
         73 . A method of filling a syringe, comprising:
 detaching an end cap from a vial assembly comprising:
 a vial having a vial body and a vial neck, the vial neck having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface having an annular lip; and 
 a vial cap having:
 a stopper having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising a longitudinal aperture, and the bottom portion that fits into the vial neck; 
 
 a conduit having a syringe interface at a first end and a barb at a second end, the second end fitting through the aperture in the stopper, and said barb engaging an underside of top portion of the stopper; and 
 the end cap; said end cap having a central opening including a threaded segment that engages the syringe interface and a plug disposed in the central opening, said plug having a lower stopper portion that fits within the syringe interface of the conduit and an upper portion that attaches to an upper portion of the end cap; 
   attaching a syringe to the syringe interface; and   drawing a liquid contained within the vial into the syringe.   
     
     
         74 - 75 . (canceled)