Syringe filling and delivery device

Claim 1

A fluid transfer device for accessing fluid from vials and ampoules comprising: a cannula assembly including a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therethrough, and a hub having an open proximal end and a distal end joined to said proximal end of said cannula so that said lumen is in fluid communication with said open proximal end of said hub; a filling straw having a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough, said straw including a housing at said proximal end, a needle portion at said distal end and a shaft portion therebetween, said housing having a cavity in its proximal end in fluid communication with said passageway, a cutting edge at the distal end of said needle portion for piercing a vial stopper, and said cannula assembly and said filling straw being removably engaged so that said open proximal end of said hub is in fluid communication with said passageway of said filling straw; a shield having an open proximal end, an open distal end and a side wall therebetween defining a recess in said shield, said shield being removably connected to said filling straw so that said shaft portion and said needle portion are contained substantially within said recess; and a seal plug having a proximal end and a distal end, said seal plug having a distal position wherein said seal plug projects distally outwardly from said distal end of said shield for telescoping movement from said distal position to a proximal position, said seal plug including means for sealing said needle portion to prevent unpressurized fluid communication between said passageway and the exterior of said shield when said seal plug is in said proximal position.

Claim 18

A method for transferring injectable liquid including comprising the steps of: (a) providing a syringe including a syringe barrel having an elongate cylindrical body defining a chamber for retaining fluid, an open proximal end, a distal end and a tip extending from the said distal end having a tip passageway therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, a stopper in fluid-tight slidable engagement inside said barrel and an elongate plunger rod connected to said stopper and extending proximally through said open proximal end of said barrel; (b) providing a syringe filling device comprising a cannula assembly including a cannula having a proximal end, a blunt distal end and a lumen therethrough, and a hub having an open proximal end and a distal end joined to said proximal end of said cannula so that said lumen is in fluid communication with said open proximal end of said hub; a filling straw having a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough, said straw including a, a needle portion at said distal end and a shaft portion between said needle portion and said proximal end, a cutting edge on the distal end of said needle portion for piercing a vial stopper, said cannula assembly being removably engaged with said filling straw so that said open proximal end of said hub is in fluid communication with said passageway of said filling straw; a shield having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a side wall therebetween defining a recess in said shield, said shield being removably connected to said straw so that said shaft portion and said needle portion are contained within said recess; and a seal plug having a proximal end and a distal end, said seal plug having a distal position wherein said seal plug projects distally outwardly from said distal end of said shield for telescoping movement from said distal position to a proximal position wherein said seal plug seals said needle portion to prevent unpressurized fluid communication between said passageway and the exterior of said shield; (c) connecting said syringe filling device to said syringe so that said tip is positioned within said open proximal end of said hub and said chamber is in fluid communication with said cannula; (d) providing a vial having a pierceable septum and containing an injectable liquid; (e) removing said shield from said straw; (f) piercing said pierceable septum of said vial with said needle portion of said filling straw to establish fluid communication between the interior of the vial and the chamber of the syringe; (g) withdraw the desired amount of injectable liquid from said vial into said chamber by moving said plunger rod in a proximal direction with respect to said barrel; (h) withdrawing said needle portion from said septum of said vial; (i) reconnecting said shield to said straw so that said shaft portion and said needle portion of said straw are contained within said recess of said shield; and (j) moving said seal plug from said distal position to said proximal position to seal said needle portion.

Claim 19

A method for transferring injectable liquid including comprising the steps of: (a) providing a syringe including a syringe barrel having an elongate cylindrical body defining a chamber for retaining fluid, an open proximal end, a distal end and a tip extending from the said distal end having a tip passageway therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, a stopper in fluid-tight slidable engagement inside said barrel and an elongate plunger rod connected to said stopper and extending proximally through said open proximal end of said barrel; (b) providing a syringe filling device comprising a cannula assembly including a cannula having a proximal end, a blunt distal end and a lumen therethrough, and a hub having an open proximal end and a distal end joined to said proximal end of said cannula so that said lumen is in fluid communication with said open proximal end of said hub; a filling straw having a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough, said straw including a, a needle portion at said distal end and a shaft portion between said needle portion and said proximal end, a cutting edge on the distal end of said needle portion for piercing a vial stopper, said cannula assembly being removably engaged with said filling straw so that said open proximal end of said hub is in fluid communication with said passageway of said filling straw; a shield having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a side wall therebetween defining a recess in said shield, said shield being removably connected to said straw so that said shaft portion and said needle portion are contained within said recess; and a seal plug having a proximal end and a distal end, said seal plug having a distal position wherein said seal plug projects distally outwardly from said distal end of said shield for telescoping movement from said distal position to a proximal position wherein said seal plug seals said needle portion to prevent unpressurized fluid communication between said passageway and the exterior of said shield; (c) connecting said syringe filling device to said syringe so that said tip is positioned within said open proximal end of said hub and said chamber is in fluid communication with said cannula; (d) providing a vial having a pierceable septum and containing an injectable liquid; (e) removing said shield from said straw; (f) piercing said pierceable septum of said vial with said needle portion of said filling straw to establish fluid communication between the interior of the vial and the chamber of the syringe; (g) withdraw the desired amount of injectable liquid from said vial into said chamber by moving said plunger rod in a proximal direction with respect to said barrel; (h) withdrawing said needle portion from said septum of said vial; (i) reconnecting said shield to said straw so that said shaft portion and said needle portion of said straw are contained within said recess of said shield; and (j) moving said seal plug from said distal position to said proximal position to seal said needle portion.