Container adapter for removably attachable syringe

Abstract

Apparatus for removably attaching a syringe to a container for extracting fluid therefrom into the syringe, which is particularly beneficial for fluid having a relatively high viscosity. The disclosed container adapter holds a syringe adapter securely therein (the syringe adapter configured for providing a fluid path between a container and a syringe) while also securing the syringe adapter to the container, and provides an attachment point for securely attaching the syringe to the syringe adapter and thus to the container (at least) while the fluid is withdrawn from the container into the syringe. The syringe is removably attached to an end of the syringe adapter during the withdrawal, and a cap is provided that closes entry and exit to this attachment point when the syringe is not in place. The cap preferably attaches to the syringe adapter using a connection that mimics the connection used by the syringe.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of using a container adapter apparatus for removably attaching a syringe to a container for withdrawing fluid from the container into the syringe, comprising:
 inserting a distal end of a syringe adapter into a through-hole opening of a stopper to thereby attach the syringe adapter to the stopper, the syringe adapter comprising a sidewall extending between a proximal end and the distal end and a lateral extension that extends laterally from the sidewall, the proximal end being opposite the distal end, the sidewall having an interior surface defining a chamber, the sidewall defining a proximal-end opening and a distal-end opening at a terminal end of the proximal end and the distal end, respectively, the proximal end configured to be removably connected to a syringe tip at a distal end of a syringe;   inserting at least a lower portion of the stopper into a neck opening of the container, the stopper sized so as to plug the neck opening with the lower portion of the stopper while causing an upper portion of the stopper to rest upon an upper surface of a neck that surrounds the neck opening, while enabling the distal end of the attached syringe adapter to extend into an interior of the container, the interior of the container holding a fluid therein; and   passing an opening in a component over the proximal end of the syringe adapter until an inner void of the component surrounds the lateral extension, the upper portion of the stopper, and an outer edge surface of the neckand then making a secure attachment between the component and the container that causes the lateral extension to rest upon a surface of the upper portion of the stopper, the component comprising a component sidewall connecting a top side and a bottom side thereof, the opening configured in the top side and sized to accommodate a diameter of the proximal end of the syringe adapter and the bottom side configured with a second opening sized to accommodate a larger of a diameter of the lateral extension and a diameter of the outer edge surface of the neck the component sidewall defining the inner void as having a diameter sized to surround the diameter of the lateral extension and the diameter of the outer edge surface of the neck and having a height sized to extend over the lateral extension, the upper portion of the stopper, and the outer edge surface of the neck and further comprising:   a cap attached to a first terminal end of a lanyard, the lanyard having a ring attached thereto at a second terminal end, the attachment further comprising the ring being placed around at least a portion of an outer surface of the syringe adapter sidewall, wherein the cap is removably connectable to the proximal end of the syringe adapter to thereby close off the proximal-end opening into the chamber of the syringe adapter while also being removably disconnectable from the proximal end of the syringe adapter for removably connecting the syringe tip to the proximal end of the syringe adapter and thereby opening the proximal-end opening into the chamber to open a fluid path connecting a barrel of the syringe, the chamber of the syringe adapter, and through the distal-end opening of the syringe adapter, the fluid-containing interior of the container.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising removably connecting the cap to the proximal end of the syringe adapter by rotating a flanged area extending laterally from the proximal end of the syringe adapter within corresponding internal threads of a threaded area in the cap. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising removably connecting the syringe tip to the proximal end of the syringe adapter by rotating a flanged area extending laterally from the proximal end of the syringe adapter within corresponding internal threads of a threaded area in the syringe tip. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the removably connecting provides a secure, Luer-type lock connection between the syringe adapter and the syringe tip. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the ring is placed within an indentation in the portion of the outer surface of the syringe adapter sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein making the secure attachment further comprises crimping the component to cause an edge of the second opening to lock in place under a bottom edge of the outer edge surface of the neck. 
     
     
         18 . A container adapter, comprising: 
 a component configured for securely holding a syringe adapter therein while simultaneously securely holding the syringe adapter to a container, wherein: 
 an inner void of the component is configured to hold therein a lateral extension of the syringe adapter and an upper portion of a stopper, the stopper having a through-hole opening and the lateral extension extending laterally and perpendicularly from a sidewall of the syringe adapter, such that a distal end of the syringe adapter extends through the through-hole opening and then outward from a bottom of the component and a proximal end of the syringe adapter extends outward from a top of the component, the proximal end of the syringe adapter being located opposite the distal end of the syringe adapter, the proximal end of the syringe adapter having a proximal-end opening at a terminal end thereof and the distal end of the syringe adapter having a distal-end opening at a terminal end thereof; 
 the inner void is further configured to securely hold the syringe adapter to the container by simultaneously holding therein the lateral extension, the upper portion of the stopper, and an outer edge of a neck of the container, such that the lateral extension is positioned against a surface of the upper portion of the stopper while a lower portion of the stopper plugs a neck opening in the neck of the container, thereby causing the distal end of the syringe adapter to be held within an interior of the container; and 
 the inner void is defined by an interior of a component sidewall that meets, at an upper edge, with an upper surface of the component and having a bottom edge capable of being positioned inward for placement under a bottom edge of the neck; and 
   a cap attached to a first terminal end of a lanyard, the lanyard having a ring attached thereto at a second terminal end, the ring configured for placement around at least a portion of an outer surface of the syringe adapter sidewall and the cap configured with internal threads.   
     
     
         19 . The container adapter according to  claim 18 , wherein the cap is removably connectable to the proximal end of the syringe adapter to thereby close off the proximal-end opening of the syringe adapter. 
     
     
         20 . The container adapter according to  claim 19 , wherein the syringe adapter further comprises a flanged area extending laterally from the proximal end thereof, the flanged area being rotatable within the internal threads of the cap to make the removable connection. 
     
     
         21 . The container adapter according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the syringe adapter further comprises a chamber defined by an interior surface of the syringe adapter sidewall; and   the proximal end of the syringe adapter is removably connectable to a syringe tip of a syringe to thereby create a fluid path connecting a barrel of the syringe, through the proximal-end opening and into the chamber of the syringe adapter, and through the distal-end opening of the syringe adapter, the interior of the container.   
     
     
         22 . The container adapter according to  claim 18 , wherein the component is configured to securely attach over the neck by causing the bottom edge of the component sidewall to be crimped under the bottom edge of the neck until the bottom edge of the component sidewall hooks underneath the bottom edge of the neck. 
     
     
         23 . The container adapter according to  claim 18 , wherein the component is further configured with an opening in the upper surface through which the proximal end of the syringe adapter is insertable. 
     
     
         24 . A container adapter, comprising: 
 a component configured for securely holding a syringe adapter therein while simultaneously securely holding the syringe adapter to a container, wherein: 
 an inner void of the component is configured to hold therein a lateral extension of the syringe adapter, an upper portion of a stopper, and an outer edge of a neck of the container; 
 the lateral extension extends laterally and perpendicularly from a sidewall of the syringe adapter; 
 the stopper has a through-hole opening and, while held within the inner void, a distal end of the syringe adapter extends through the through-hole opening and then outward from a bottom of the component while a proximal end of the syringe adapter extends outward from a top of the component; 
 the proximal end of the syringe adapter is located opposite the distal end of the syringe adapter, the proximal end of the syringe adapter having a proximal-end opening at a terminal end thereof and the distal end of the syringe adapter having a distal-end opening at a terminal end thereof; 
 the inner void is further configured to securely hold the syringe adapter to the container by holding the lateral extension, the upper portion of the stopper, and the outer edge of the neck such that the lateral extension is placed against an upper surface of the upper portion of the stopper, while a lower portion of the stopper plugs an opening in the neck, thereby causing the distal end of the syringe adapter to be held within an interior of the container; 
 the inner void is defined by an interior of a component sidewall that meets, at an upper edge, with a circular upper surface of the component and having a bottom edge configured to be crimped for secure attachment under a bottom edge of the neck; and 
   a cap attached to a first terminal end of a lanyard, the lanyard having a ring attached thereto at a second terminal end, the ring configured for placement around at least a portion of an outer surface of the syringe adapter sidewall and the cap further comprising an internal threaded area configured to be removably connectable to the proximal end of the syringe adapter.   
     
     
         25 . The container adapter according to  claim 24 , wherein the component is further configured with an opening in the circular upper surface, the upper surface opening sized to pass over the proximal end of the syringe adapter for holding the lateral extension within the inner void. 
     
     
         26 . The container adapter according to  claim 24 , wherein the internal threaded area of the cap is configured to be removably connectable to the proximal end of the syringe adapter by rotating a flanged area extending laterally from the proximal end of the syringe adapter within internal threads in the internal threaded area of the cap. 
     
     
         27 . The container adapter according to  claim 26 , wherein the internal threads and the rotatable flanged area are configured to establish a secure, Luer-type lock connection. 
     
     
         28 . The container adapter according to  claim 24 , wherein the outer surface of the syringe adapter sidewall is configured with an indentation into which the ring is placed.