Vented safe handling vial adapter

Abstract

A vial adapter is described comprising a housing, the housing comprising an expandable chamber to contain a volume, an internal passage in communication with the expandable chamber, at least one opening in communication with the internal passage, and an access member integral with the housing. A hollow spike comprising a proximal end is integral with the housing and a distal end. The spike comprises a vent lumen open at the distal end and a fluid lumen open at the distal end, the vent lumen is in communication with the internal passage and the fluid lumen is in communication with the access member. A first check valve restricts communication from the expandable chamber to the internal passage, and a second check valve restricts communication from the internal passage to the opening. Methods of reconstituting and / or withdrawing hazardous material using the vial adapter are described.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 734,165, filed November 7, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to handling hazardous materials, and more particularly, the present invention relates to reformulating and / or withdrawing hazardous materials with diluents in a manner that substantially prevents the hazardous materials from entering the nearby atmosphere. Background technique [0004] In the pharmaceutical industry, medical personnel may sometimes need to deal with cytotoxic drugs on a daily basis. One class of cytotoxic drugs is the chemotherapeutic cytostatics. It is widely believed that cytostatics, as well as certain antibiotics, can cause health problems if inhaled or in contact with the skin. Skin contact or inhalation may occur during handling of cytostatics due to leakage, aerosolizat...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This procedure may result in some fluid being left in the medication container and the pressure in the medication container will not be fully reduced to atmospheric pressure

So in these cases the small but still present pressure when removing the connector after refilling may cause some mist to spread out

All of the above issues affecting individual reconstitution procedures for single dose vials are magnified in the case of multiple dose vials

[0007] Cytotoxic materials may come into contact with the user when the syringe connector is removed as some hazardous materials may escape or be sprayed or aerosolized from the connector end with the contained air

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