Container adapters and delivery components

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container adapter (1) for a medical delivery device having a container seat for holding a container in a predetermined position, a dosing chamber, a dispensing mechanism for transferring liquid from a container held in the container seat to the dosing chamber, and a locking mechanism adapted to prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism when no container is held in the container seat and to allow operation of the dispensing mechanism when a container is held in the container seat. The container adapter (1) includes an adapter container seat (11), a connector structure (12), and an unlocking mechanism. The adapter container seat (11) is configured to hold a container in a predetermined position. The connector structure (12) is configured to be detachably positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device and to connect the adapter container seat (11) to the dispensing mechanism of the medical delivery device (3) when the connector structure (12) is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device (3). The unlocking mechanism is configured to actuate the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device when the connector structure (12) is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device and the container is properly held in the adapter container seat (11), and to prevent the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device from being actuated when the container is not properly held in the adapter container seat (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container adapter according to the preamble of independent claim 1, and more particularly, to a delivery assembly with a medical / medical delivery device and such adapter.

[0002] These container adapters typically have an adapter container seat and a connector structure. The adapter container seat is configured to hold the container in a predetermined position, and the connector structure is configured to be detachably positioned within the container seat of a medical delivery device, connecting the adapter container seat to the dispensing mechanism of the medical delivery device when the connector structure is positioned within the container seat. They can be used to deliver liquids stored in containers, such as medicaments or drugs stored in vials, at defined doses. For example, such delivery can be by injection. Background Technology

[0003] In many medical applications, it is necessary to deliver liquids or other fluids from containers, and this is done in a variety of different ways. In particular, specific devices are often used when the delivery of liquids must be relatively precise. For example, liquid medicines or pharmaceutical substances are often contained in small glass or plastic vials, which are sealed by diaphragms or rubber stoppers and caps or other similar sealing caps clamped around them.

[0004] Typically, a syringe is used to deliver the medication from the vial. Therefore, a transfer needle attached to the syringe penetrates the diaphragm or cap, and the medication is drawn into the syringe through the transfer needle. Once transferred to the syringe, the medication is delivered in an appropriate manner. For example, the substance can be administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly via an injection needle, or it can be given orally or as drops to, for example, the patient's eyes or nose.

[0005] However, administering fluids from vials or containers using a syringe is often difficult. This usually requires the involvement of an educated person such as a doctor or nurse. Specifically, when the dosage of the fluid being administered must be quite precise, such as when relatively small volumes are involved, such as in the range of 10 microliters to about 1 milliliter, patients often cannot administer the fluid themselves using a syringe or similar device.

[0006] To accurately deliver medications or drug substances from containers or vials, there exist dosing devices that allow for particularly convenient and user-friendly dosage administration. For example, WO 2017 / 102760 A1 discloses a medical delivery device having a vial holder for holding the vial in a predetermined position, a dosing chamber, and a dispensing mechanism for transferring liquid substances from the vial to the dosing chamber. For safety reasons, a locking mechanism is provided to prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism when no vial is held in the vial holder, and to allow operation of the dispensing mechanism when the vial is held in the vial holder. In use, a vial containing the drug substance to be administered is positioned in the vial holder. The vial cap is thus punctured, allowing access to the interior of the vial. Furthermore, the locking mechanism is triggered / activated / actuated, allowing the medical delivery device to freely administer the drug. By rotating the scale / retrieval unit of the medical delivery device relative to the main body, the drug substance is drawn from the vial into the dosing chamber in a controlled and clearly defined manner. When the appropriate amount is dispensed, the scaling unit retracts from the main body along with the vial, and the drug substance is delivered from the dosing chamber, for example, by injection.

[0007] However, a problem in many pharmaceutical applications is that pharmaceutical substances are not stable enough for proper storage. Alternatively, they may require rather cumbersome handling or storage to prevent them from being affected before administration. Furthermore, the specific composition of pharmaceutical substances may vary from patient to patient or application to application. Therefore, some pharmaceutical substances are provided in multiple components that must be mixed before administration. For example, it is known that the components of a pharmaceutical substance are provided in multiple vials. The components are mixed before administration, for example, by transferring them from one vial to another using a syringe. Therefore, it is often difficult to maintain hygiene or aseptic standards and ensure accurate operation.

[0008] Furthermore, in some applications, it is desirable to combine the contents of different vials to prepare an appropriate dosage. Specifically, drug substances with different fill volumes can be combined to achieve a specific dosage. This allows for the delivery of drug substances in a smaller volume, thereby reducing waste. This can be particularly beneficial when relatively expensive drug substances are involved.

[0009] To address these issues, WO 2019 / 086589 A1 recommends using a container or vial adapter as an intermediate carrier for attaching containers or vials to a medical delivery device. Specifically, for use with vials, the vial adapter has an adapter container seat configured to hold the vial in a predetermined position, and a connector structure configured to be detachably positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device and to connect the adapter container seat to the dosing mechanism of the medical delivery device. Due to its detachability, the vial adapter allows multiple vials to be connected to the medical delivery device one after another. In this way, the substances in multiple vials can be mixed before administration. For example, a first liquid drug substance can be drawn from a first vial positioned in a first vial adapter. Once a precise amount of the first drug substance is in the dosing chamber of the medical delivery device, the first vial adapter is detached from the medical delivery device. A second vial adapter, holding a second vial containing a second liquid drug substance or the same first liquid drug substance, is then positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device. The second drug substance is then drawn from the second vial and transferred to the dosing chamber of the medical delivery device. Therefore, the drug substances from the first and second vials are mixed in the dosing chamber of the medical delivery device.

[0010] While such container adapters are suitable for addressing the aforementioned problems associated with known medical delivery devices, problems may arise because the medical delivery device is unlocked when the adapter is positioned within the container seat, allowing operation to dispense a measured amount of substance into the dosing chamber. The purpose of the locking mechanism in a medical delivery device is to ensure that dosing is only performed when the container or vial is positioned within the container seat—i.e., when liquid is drawn into the dosing chamber. This safety measure becomes ineffective when using a container adapter. More specifically, because the container adapter itself activates / triggers the unlocking mechanism, the medical delivery device is unlocked once the adapter is positioned within the container seat, thus failing to ensure that the container or vial is only connected to the adapter. Therefore, it is possible that no container is positioned within the adapter when the adapter is positioned within the container seat. Alternatively, the container may not be properly / appropriately held within the adapter, preventing its interior from being accessed as intended. This defective arrangement could compromise the dosing of the medical delivery device.

[0011] Therefore, a system is needed that improves the safety of medical delivery device operation and ensures the dosage accuracy of medical delivery devices when using container adapters. Summary of the Invention

[0012] According to the invention, this requirement is met by the container adapter defined by the features of independent claim 1 and the delivery assembly defined by the features of independent claim 12. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0013] On one hand, the present invention relates to a container adapter for a medical delivery device. This medical delivery device can be, in particular, a device for administering liquid substances. For example, it can be a drug delivery device for administering liquid medications or pharmaceutical substances. Using such a delivery device, liquid substances or pharmaceutical substances can be delivered or administered in a suitable form, such as via eye drops, oral medications, etc. Specifically, the medical delivery device can be an injection device for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of pharmaceutical substances.

[0014] Medical delivery devices typically have a delivery port, the shape of which may vary depending on the specific application or administration of the substance or agent to be delivered. For example, if the medical delivery device is used for injecting a drug, the delivery port may be a needle. In such embodiments, the delivery port or needle may extend from inside the housing through its proximal opening to outside the housing or a specific portion thereof. The delivery port may also be adapted to connect to a delivery member. For example, it may include a convex or concave portion of a Luer lock or Luer tapered connector, and the delivery member may be equipped with a corresponding concave or convex Luer lock connector. Other examples of delivery ports are nozzles, valves, fluid conduits, etc.

[0015] Specifically, the medical delivery device according to the container adapter of the present invention can be the medical delivery device described in WO 2017 / 102760A1. This medical delivery device specifically includes a container seat for holding a container in a predetermined position, a dosing chamber, a dispensing mechanism for transferring liquid from the container held in the container seat to the dosing chamber, and a locking mechanism adapted to prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism when no container is held in the container seat and to allow operation of the dispensing mechanism when the container is held in the container seat.

[0016] The container adapter has an adapter container seat, a connector structure, and an unlocking mechanism. The adapter container seat is configured to hold the container in a predetermined position. The connector structure is configured to be detachably positioned within the container seat of the medical delivery device, and when the connector structure is positioned within the container seat of the medical delivery device, it connects the adapter container seat to the dispensing mechanism of the medical delivery device. The unlocking mechanism is configured to actuate / trigger / activate the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device when the connector structure is positioned within the container seat of the medical delivery device and the container is correctly / properly held within the adapter container seat. Furthermore, the unlocking mechanism is configured to prevent the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device from being actuated when the container is not properly held within the adapter container seat.

[0017] As used herein, the term "container" can refer to any reservoir suitable for storing and transporting liquids, other fluids, powders (such as lyophilized substances or capsules). Where the liquid, fluid, or powder is a pharmaceutical substance or a component thereof, the container can particularly be a vial. The term "via" as used herein can refer to relatively small containers or bottles typically used for storing pharmaceutical substances or medicines or preparations in liquid, powder, or capsule form. Vials can be made of sterilizable materials, such as glass or plastics, such as polypropylene. A container can also comprise multiple sub-containers, such as multiple vials. The term "predetermined position" as used herein can refer to the orientation of the container's opening toward a delivery port. Such a container seat allows the container to be connected in a predetermined position and orientation. This allows for efficient coupling of the container to a system or medical delivery device.

[0018] As used in this article, the term "drug" refers to therapeutically active agents, often also called active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and combinations of various such therapeutically active substances. The term also encompasses diagnostic or imaging agents that need to be administered to patients in liquid form, such as contrast agents (e.g., MRI contrast agents), tracers (e.g., PET tracers), and hormones.

[0019] As used herein, the terms "pharmaceutical substance," "medicinal substance," or "medicine" refer to a pharmaceutical product formulated or reconstituted as described above in a form suitable for administration to a patient. For example, in addition to a pharmaceutical product, a pharmaceutical substance may also include excipients and / or other auxiliary ingredients. In the context of this invention, particularly preferred pharmaceutical substances are pharmaceutical solutions, especially solutions for oral, injectable, or infusion administration.

[0020] As used herein, the term "pharmaceutical product" or similar terms refer to a finished product comprising one or more pharmaceutical substances. In particular, a pharmaceutical product can be a ready-to-use pharmaceutical product having an appropriate dosage and / or appropriate form for administration. For example, a pharmaceutical product may include a drug delivery device such as a pre-filled syringe.

[0021] For detachable positioning within the container seat of a medical delivery device, the connector structure is appropriately arranged. Therefore, it can have a shape or form suitable for the construction of the container seat of the medical delivery device. Thus, the connector structure of the container adapter is arranged to be held / secured by the container seat of the medical delivery device used with it, but not permanently fixed thereto. For example, the connector structure may have a section that corresponds to a section of the container to which the medical delivery device is applicable.

[0022] The adapter container seat may be similar to or substantially the same as the container seat of the medical delivery device. Thus, it can receive and hold the container in the same specific / specific manner as the medical delivery device. As known to those skilled in the art, the container seats of medical delivery devices can be constructed in a variety of ways to hold the container in a predetermined position. Specifically, they are often adapted to the shape or design of the particular container to be used with them. For example, the container seat may be configured with snap-fit ​​mechanisms, such as having flexible arms and / or protrusions to grip / clamp the neck of the container, clamping mechanisms for clamping the container body, sleeves for receiving and guiding the container, and so on.

[0023] The term "properly / appropriately held" in relation to containers and adapter container seats refers to an arrangement of the container in which its interior can be accessed / entered as needed. Thus, the container can be positioned in a specific location and / or orientation within the adapter container seat. A container may not be properly / appropriately held when it is only partially positioned within the seat or is not pressed / moved sufficiently on the seat. In this respect, the term "not properly / appropriately held" also covers situations where no container is positioned or held within the adapter container seat.

[0024] The term "actuate / trigger / activate locking mechanism" associated with unlocking mechanisms refers to: adaptively adjusting / changing a medical delivery device to enable dose-dispensing operation of the medical delivery device. Such dose-dispensing operation would typically be prevented or impossible without an actuation locking mechanism, after which the medical delivery device is in a position where medication is to be administered. Therefore, an actuation locking mechanism can include changing the medical delivery device from a locked state that prevents or locks medication administration to a dose-dispensing / dose-dispensing state that allows medication administration.

[0025] Because of the unlocking mechanism, the container adapter of the present invention ensures the proper functioning of the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device, even when using the container adapter instead of directly inserting the container into the medical delivery device. More specifically, the unlocking mechanism ensures that the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device is actuated only when the container is properly held in the adapter's container seat. Therefore, actuation of the locking mechanism causes the medical delivery device to change from a locked state to a dosing state. In this dosing state, the medical delivery device can be operated, meaning that the substance can be transferred from the container in the container adapter to the dosing chamber of the medical delivery device. The locking mechanism of the medical delivery device is not actuated when no container is arranged in the adapter's container seat, or when the container is not properly held in the adapter's container seat. Therefore, the medical delivery device can remain in a locked state, in which dosing administration is not possible.

[0026] Thus, compared with known types of container adapters, the container adapter according to the present invention can improve the safety of medical delivery device operation and ensure the accuracy of on-demand dispensing of medical delivery devices.

[0027] Preferably, the unlocking mechanism includes an actuating member movable relative to the adapter container seat from a non-actuated position to an actuated position. In the non-actuated position, when the connector structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device, the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device is not actuated; in the actuated position, when the connector structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device, the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device is actuated. The actuating member can be a multi-component unit, more specifically a single-component unit. Since the adapter container seat is typically positioned in a different location than when the locking mechanism must be actuated, identification information indicating that the container is properly held in the adapter container seat must be transmitted to the position where the locking mechanism will be actuated. This transmission can be efficiently achieved by driving the actuating member to move. In a reliable and relatively simple embodiment, the movement of the actuating member can be quasi-linear. In particular, it can be movement along the longitudinal axis of the medical delivery device or the axis of the container adapter.

[0028] Therefore, the actuating member of the unlocking mechanism is preferably arranged such that, when the container is placed into the adapter container seat, the actuating member is driven by the container to move from a non-actuated position to an actuated position. This simultaneous movement of the actuating member and the placement of the container in the adapter container seat ensures that the actuating member is in the actuated position once the container is properly placed or positioned. Therefore, the term "(being) placed into the adapter container seat" may refer to a period of time in which the container is positioned in the adapter container seat.

[0029] The actuating member of the unlocking mechanism preferably has a container end side, wherein the unlocking mechanism can be configured such that when the container is placed into the adapter container seat, the container contacts the container end side, thereby moving the actuating member. This container end side allows the actuating member to move reliably when the container is placed into the adapter container seat.

[0030] Preferably, the actuating member of the unlocking mechanism has a locking mechanism end face, wherein the unlocking mechanism is configured such that when the container is held in the adapter container seat and the connector structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device, the locking mechanism end face contacts the pushing portion of the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device to actuate the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device. Specifically, when the container is held in the adapter container seat, the pushing portion of the locking mechanism can be axially displaced while the container adapter is attached to the medical delivery device. This locking mechanism end face allows for effective movement of the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device via its pushing portion.

[0031] The actuating member of the unlocking mechanism preferably has a rod portion extending from the adapter container seat to the connector structure. When the container is held in the adapter container seat, the rod portion can form an effective transmitter / launcher to actuate the locking mechanism of the delivery device. The rod portion may extend along the longitudinal axis of the medical device or system. It may be substantially straight, or define a substantially straight axis itself.

[0032] Therefore, the container end face is preferably located at one longitudinal end of the rod portion, and the locking mechanism end face is located at the opposite longitudinal end of the rod portion. In this way, the rod portion allows the actuating member to reliably contact the container and the locking mechanism, which are positioned in different locations.

[0033] Preferably, the actuating member of the unlocking mechanism has a guide portion for limiting the movement of the actuating member within a predetermined path. This guide portion allows for reliable movement of the actuating member and prevents the actuating member from moving in other directions that are unnecessary for the actuation locking mechanism.

[0034] Therefore, the guide portion of the actuating member preferably includes a ring. This ring can be positioned around an axial portion of the adapter container to ensure that the actuating member moves only axially. For example, the ring can be arranged around the column of the connector structure required to transfer liquid from the container to a medical delivery device.

[0035] Preferably, the unlocking mechanism includes a retaining structure for holding the actuating member in a non-actuated position. This retaining structure can be achieved by the actuating member engaging a portion of the container adapter (e.g., the adapter container seat or a portion of the connector structure). For example, the actuating member or its rod portion may be provided with a groove for engaging a portion of the adapter container seat.

[0036] Therefore, the actuating member of the unlocking mechanism is preferably configured to elastically deform when the container is placed in the adapter container seat, thereby disengaging the actuating member. Specifically, when disengaged, the actuating member is not held in place. Therefore, it is movable, particularly movable to actuate the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device.

[0037] Furthermore, the adapter container seat may have a fixing structure adapted to hold the container non-removably in a predetermined position. In particular, the fixing structure of the adapter container seat may have a clip / clamp member arranged to engage with the rear of the container head when the container is held in the adapter container seat.

[0038] The container adapter may include an alignment structure configured to ensure that the container adapter is in a predetermined orientation relative to the medical delivery device when the connector structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device.

[0039] When the container is held in the adapter container seat and the connector structure is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device, the connector structure can be configured to form a communicating / free-flowing sealed conduit between the inside of the container and the dispensing mechanism of the medical delivery device.

[0040] The adapter container seat may include a spike configured to penetrate a cap of the container opening when the container is held in the adapter container seat. The spike of the adapter container seat may include a pointed tip. Furthermore, the spike may have a tube extending longitudinally through the spike from the pointed tip.

[0041] The container adapter may also include a seal that seals the container seat of the medical delivery device against the connector structure when the connector structure is positioned within the container seat of the medical delivery device. The connector structure may include a seal retainer in which the seal is tightly disposed.

[0042] On the other hand, the present invention is a delivery assembly comprising the aforementioned container adapter and medical delivery device. The medical delivery device includes a container seat for holding a container in a predetermined position, a dosing chamber, a dispensing mechanism for transferring liquid from a container held in the container seat to the dosing chamber, and a locking mechanism adapted to prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism when no container is held in the container seat, and to allow operation of the dispensing mechanism when a container is held in the container seat.

[0043] The delivery assembly according to the present invention and the following embodiments can achieve the above-mentioned effects and benefits of the container adapter according to the present invention and its preferred embodiments.

[0044] The container seat of the medical delivery device preferably has a fixing structure adapted to non-removably hold the container in a predetermined position, and the connector structure of the container adapter is arranged to prevent interaction with the fixing structure of the container seat when the container adapter is held in the container seat of the medical delivery device. For example, the connector structure can be shaped such that its diameter is reduced in at least one direction compared to the container to prevent interaction. This arrangement allows the container adapter to be mounted to the medical delivery device without being fixed by the latter. Thus, it is possible that after drug administration, the container adapter can be withdrawn or removed from the medical delivery device, and the medical delivery device is ready to receive another container or another container adapter.

[0045] Preferably, the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device includes a pushing portion that interacts with the actuating member of the container adapter when the container adapter enters the container seat of the medical delivery device, such that the pushing portion of the locking mechanism moves axially when the connector structure of the container adapter is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device and when the container is held in the adapter container seat of the container adapter. The pushing portion may have an abutting surface that contacts the locking mechanism end face of the actuating member of the unlocking mechanism of the container adapter when the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device is actuated. This arrangement allows for effective and automatic unlocking of the medical delivery device, i.e., actuation of the locking mechanism, when the connector structure of the container adapter is positioned in the container seat of the medical delivery device or when the container is positioned in the adapter container seat.

[0046] Preferably, the locking mechanism of the medical delivery device includes a pulling portion, and the unlocking mechanism of the container adapter includes an engaging surface. The pulling portion of the locking mechanism and the engaging surface of the unlocking mechanism are arranged to engage each other when the container adapter is advanced into the container seat of the medical delivery device. Therefore, when the container adapter is removed from the medical delivery device, the pulling portion of the locking mechanism is axially displaced. Specifically, when the container adapter is disassembled, the unlocking member can pull the locking mechanism. This arrangement allows the medical delivery device to be effectively and automatically relocked when the container adapter is removed or withdrawn from the medical delivery device. Attached Figure Description

[0047] The container adapter and the delivery assembly according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0048] Figure 1 A perspective view of an embodiment of the container adapter according to the present invention is shown;

[0049] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional side view of the container adapter;

[0050] Figure 3 A cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a conveying assembly according to the present invention is shown, the conveying assembly comprising... Figure 1 The container adapter, in which the medicine bottle was not properly placed in the container adapter; and

[0051] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 A cross-sectional side view of the delivery assembly, in which the medicine bottle is properly placed into the container adapter. Detailed Implementation

[0052] In the following description, certain terms are used for convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms “right,” “left,” “up,” “down,” “below,” and “above” refer to directions in the figures. These terms include explicitly stated expressions and their derivatives and expressions with similar meanings. Furthermore, spatially relative terms such as “below,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” “proximal,” and “farthest” may be used to describe the relationship between one element or feature and another as shown in the figures. In addition to the positions and orientations shown in the figures, these spatially relative terms are intended to also cover different positions and orientations of the device during use or operation. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, an element described as “below” or “below” other elements or features will be “above” or “on” other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both above and below positions and orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used herein are interpreted accordingly. Similarly, descriptions of movement along and around various axes include various specific device positions and orientations.

[0053] To avoid repetition in the accompanying drawings and descriptions of various aspects and exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to multiple aspects and embodiments. The omission of an aspect from the description or drawings does not mean that the aspect is missing from embodiments incorporating that aspect. Rather, the aspect may be omitted for clarity and to avoid lengthy description. In this context, the following applies to the remainder of this specification: if, for clarity, the drawings contain reference numerals not set forth in the directly relevant parts of the specification, reference may be made to those reference numerals in preceding or subsequent descriptive sections. Furthermore, for clarity, if reference numerals are not used for all features of a component in one drawing, reference may be made to other drawings showing the same component. Similar reference numerals in two or more drawings denote the same or similar elements.

[0054] Figure 1 A perspective view of a medicine bottle adapter 1, as an embodiment of a container adapter according to the present invention, is shown. The medicine bottle adapter 1 has an upper adapter medicine bottle seat 11 serving as an adapter container seat and a lower connector structure 12. The adapter medicine bottle seat 11 has an annular upper portion, on which a plurality of vertical guide ribs 112 are provided as alignment structures on its inner periphery. The lower end of the adapter medicine bottle seat 11 is formed by a base plate 114. Furthermore, the adapter medicine bottle seat 11 is equipped with two lateral clamping arms 111 as fixing structures. The connector structure 12 includes a spiked groove 121 with a columnar portion having a substantially cylindrical periphery.

[0055] The vial adapter 1 also includes an unlocking mechanism with an actuating member 13. The actuating member 13 has a guide portion in the form of a ring 134 arranged around a cylindrical portion of the spiked recess 121 of the connector structure 12. Furthermore, the actuating member includes a rod portion 133 with a side / lateral recess 135. The rod portion 133 extends vertically upward from the ring 134. The recess 135 opens radially toward the central longitudinal adapter axis 14 of the vial adapter 1. More specifically, the base plate 114 of the adapter vial seat 11 extends into the recess 135 of the actuating member 13, thereby forming a retaining structure that holds the actuating member 13 in a non-actuated position. The top end side of the rod portion 133 of the actuating member forms a container end side 131, and the lower end side forms a locking mechanism end side 132.

[0056] exist Figure 2 The image shows a central cross-section along the adapter axis 14 of the medicine bottle adapter 1. Here, it can be seen that the adapter spike 113 extends vertically from the base plate 114 into the interior of the adapter medicine bottle holder 11. The adapter spike 113 has a tip and an internal channel extending radially below the tip. The channel of the adapter spike 113 leads into the hollow interior of the downwardly opening spike recess 121.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown in the optimal configuration, the rod portion 133 of the actuating member 13 extends from the connector structure 12 above the base plate 114 and enters the interior of the adapter bottle holder portion 11. Thus, the actuating member forms a connection between the adapter bottle holder portion 11 and the connector structure 12. The clamping arms 113 extend downward from the upper end portion of the adapter bottle holder portion, wherein they are inclined toward the adapter axis 14.

[0058] Figure 3 An embodiment of the delivery assembly 4 according to the present invention is shown, including a medical delivery device 3 and a vial adapter 1. The medical delivery device 3 has an upper scale unit 31 and a lower housing 34. The scale unit 31 includes a vial holder 33 as a container seat, which is similarly arranged to the adapter container seat 11 described above. Specifically, the vial holder 33 has a bottom base plate 332 from which spikes 331 extend vertically upward. It is also equipped with a plurality of clamping arms 333 as a fixing structure, which are inclined toward the central longitudinal device axis 36. The vial adapter 1 is placed or mounted into the medical delivery device 3 by positioning a connector structure 12 in the vial holder 33. Thus, the connector structure 12 is configured such that the clamping arms 333 of the vial holder 33 do not engage with or otherwise interact with the vial adapter 1. Therefore, the vial adapter 1 is not fixed to the medical delivery device 3, but can be detached if necessary. The adapter axis 14 is aligned with the device axis 36.

[0059] The spike 331 of the medical delivery device 3 extends into the hollow interior of the spike recess 121 of the vial adapter 1. A needle 35 is arranged at the bottom end of the spike 331. Thus, a continuous channel is formed from the needle through the spike 331 and the adapter spike 113, which opens toward the interior of the adapter vial holder 11 at the adapter spike 113.

[0060] The medical delivery device 3 also includes a locking mechanism 32 with a vertical pushing portion 321. Specifically, in Figure 3 In this state, the locking mechanism 32 is locked, in which the scale unit 31 is prevented from rotating relative to the housing 34 about the device axis 36. Therefore, in the locked state, the pushing portion 321 of the locking mechanism 32 is located near and at a very small distance from the actuating member 13.

[0061] like Figure 3 As shown, the medicine bottle 2 is introduced into the adapter bottle holder 11 from top to bottom. The medicine bottle 2 is a conventional glass medicine bottle, having a body 23 that enters the head 22 through the neck 21. The head 22 has an opening closed by a cap with a diaphragm. Figure 3 In the case shown, the medicine bottle 2 is not properly positioned in the adapter medicine bottle holder 11, that is, it is not correctly / appropriately held in the adapter medicine bottle holder 11. As a result, the unlocking mechanism of the medicine bottle adapter 1 remains in the non-actuated position.

[0062] However, in Figure 4 In the diagram, the medicine bottle 2 is shown fully positioned in the adapter bottle holder 13, i.e., properly held in the adapter bottle holder 11. Here, the clamping arm 113 of the adapter bottle holder 13 clamps behind the head 21 of the medicine bottle 2, making it non-removably mounted to the medicine bottle adapter 1. As a result, the adapter spike 113 pierces the diaphragm of the head 21 of the medicine bottle 2, allowing the adapter spike 113 to enter the interior of the medicine bottle 2.

[0063] When the medicine bottle 2 is taken from Figure 3 Move the position to Figure 4When in the activated position, the head 22 is close to the container end side 131 of the actuating member 13. Therefore, due to the inclined design of the container end side 131 and the elasticity of the rod portion 133, the actuating member 13 bends outward, causing the groove 135 to separate from the base plate 114. Thus, the actuating member 13 is no longer held / fixed, but is driven downward by the head 22 of the vial 2, pushing it into the activated position. Conversely, the locking mechanism end side 132 of the actuating member 13 abuts against the pushing portion 321 of the locking mechanism 32 of the medical delivery device 3, and moves the pushing portion 321 downward. Thus, the locking mechanism 32 is actuated by changing to the unlocked state, in which the scaling unit 31 can rotate about the axis 36 relative to the housing 34. This rotation causes the liquid inside the vial 2 to be transferred to the dosing chamber (not shown) of the medical delivery device 3 via the adapter spike 113, the spike 331 and the needle 36. Therefore, when the medicine bottle 2 is not properly positioned in the medicine bottle holder 11 of the adapter, the actuation member 13 of the medicine bottle adapter 1 allows the operation of the scaling unit 31 to be prevented.

[0064] This specification and the accompanying drawings, which depict various aspects and embodiments of the invention, should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. In other words, although the invention has been detailed and described in the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description, such description is to be considered illustrative or exemplary, not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this specification and the claims. In some cases, known circuits, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make changes and modifications within the scope and spirit of the appended claims. Specifically, the invention covers other embodiments having any combination of features from the different embodiments described above and below.

[0065] This disclosure also covers all other features shown individually in the figures, although they may not be described in the preceding or following description. Furthermore, a single alternative to the embodiments described in the drawings and specification, and a single alternative to their features, may be derived from the subject matter of the invention or from the disclosed subject matter. This disclosure includes subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or exemplary embodiments, as well as subject matter incorporating said features.

[0066] Furthermore, in the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" and "an" do not exclude multiple or more elements. A single unit or step can perform the function of several features listed in the claims. The mere fact that specific technical measures are recited in different dependent claims does not imply that combinations of these technical measures cannot be advantageously used. Terms related to qualifiers or numerical values, such as "substantially," "about," "approximately," etc., also explicitly define the qualifiers or numerical values, respectively. The term "about" in the context of a given numerical value or range refers, for example, to a value or range within 20%, 10%, 5%, or 2% of the given value or range. Components described as "connected" or "linked" may be electrically or mechanically directly connected, or they may be indirectly connected via one or more intermediate components. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of protection.

[0067] List of reference numerals

[0068] 1. Medicine bottle adapter (container adapter)

[0069] 11. Adapter bottle holder (adapter container holder)

[0070] 111 Clamping Arm (Fixed Structure / Construction)

[0071] 112 Guide Rib (Alignment Structure)

[0072] 113 Adapter spikes

[0073] 114 substrate

[0074] 12. Connector Structure

[0075] 121 Spike Groove

[0076] 13 Actuating components

[0077] 131 Container end side

[0078] 132 Locking mechanism surface

[0079] 133 Rod Post Section

[0080] 134 rings (guide section)

[0081] 135 Groove (Fixed Structure / Construction)

[0082] 14 Adapter axis

[0083] 2. Medicine bottles (containers)

[0084] 21 Neck

[0085] 22 heads

[0086] 23 Main Body

[0087] 3. Medical delivery device

[0088] 31 scale units

[0089] 32 Locking mechanism

[0090] 33. Medicine bottle holder (container holder)

[0091] 331 Spikes

[0092] 332 substrate

[0093] 333 Clamping Arm (Fixed Structure)

[0094] 34. Shell

[0095] 35 needles

[0096] 36. Device axis

Claims

1. A container adapter (1) for a medical delivery device (3), the medical delivery device (3) having a container seat (33) for holding a container (2) in a predetermined position, a dosing chamber, a dispensing mechanism (31) for transferring liquid from the container (2) held in the container seat (33) to the dosing chamber, and a locking mechanism (32) adapted to: prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism (31) when no container (2) is held in the container seat (33), and allow operation of the dispensing mechanism (31) when the container (2) is held in the container seat (33), the container adapter comprising: The adapter container seat (11) is configured to hold the container (2) in a predetermined position, and A connector structure (12) is configured to be detachably positioned in the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3) and configured to connect the adapter container seat (11) to the dispensing mechanism (31) of the medical delivery device (3) when the connector structure (12) is positioned in the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3). The container adapter is characterized in that it further includes an unlocking mechanism, the unlocking mechanism being configured as follows: When the connector structure (12) is positioned in the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3) and the container (2) is properly held in the adapter container seat (11), the locking mechanism (32) of the medical delivery device (3) is actuated, and The locking mechanism (32) of the medical delivery device (3) is actuated when the container (2) is not properly held in the adapter container seat (11). The unlocking mechanism includes an actuating member (13) that can move from a non-actuated position to an actuated position relative to the adapter container seat (11). In the non-actuated position, when the connector structure (12) is positioned in the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3), the locking mechanism (32) of the medical delivery device (3) is not actuated. In the actuated position, when the connector structure (12) is positioned in the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3), the locking mechanism (32) of the medical delivery device (3) is actuated.

2. The container adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The actuating member (13) of the unlocking mechanism is arranged such that when the container (2) is placed in the adapter container seat (11), the actuating member is driven by the container (2) to move from the non-actuated position to the actuated position.

3. The container adapter (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The actuating member (13) of the unlocking mechanism has a container end side (131), wherein the unlocking mechanism is configured such that when the container (2) is placed in the adapter container seat (11), the container (2) contacts the container end side (131) to move the actuating member (13).

4. The container adapter (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The actuating member (13) of the unlocking mechanism has a locking mechanism end side (132), wherein the unlocking mechanism is configured such that when the container (2) is held in the adapter container seat (11) and the connector structure (12) is positioned in the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3), the locking mechanism end side (132) contacts the pushing portion (321) of the locking mechanism (32) of the medical delivery device (3) to actuate the locking mechanism (32) of the medical delivery device (3).

5. The container adapter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The actuating member (13) of the unlocking mechanism has a rod portion (133) extending from the adapter container seat (11) to the connector structure (12).

6. The container adapter (1) according to claim 3, wherein, The container end side (131) is located at one longitudinal end of the rod portion (133), and the locking mechanism end side (132) is located at the opposite longitudinal end of the rod portion (133).

7. The container adapter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The actuating member (13) of the unlocking mechanism has a guide portion (134) configured to limit the movement of the actuating member (13) within a predetermined path.

8. The container adapter (1) according to claim 7, wherein, The guide portion (134) of the actuating member (13) includes a ring.

9. The container adapter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The unlocking mechanism includes a retaining structure (135) configured to hold the actuating member (13) in a non-actuated position.

10. The container adapter (1) according to claim 9, wherein, The actuating member (13) of the unlocking mechanism is configured to elastically deform when the container (2) is placed in the adapter container seat (11), causing the actuating member (13) to disengage.

11. A delivery assembly (4), the delivery assembly comprising a medical delivery device (3) and a container adapter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The medical delivery device (3) includes a container seat (33) for holding a container (2) in a predetermined position, a dosing chamber, a dispensing mechanism (31) for transferring liquid from the container (2) held in the container seat (33) to the dosing chamber, and a locking mechanism (32) adapted to: prevent the dispensing mechanism (31) from operating when no container (2) is held in the container seat (33), and allow the dispensing mechanism (31) to operate when the container (2) is held in the container seat (33).

12. The conveying assembly (4) according to claim 11, wherein, The container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3) has a fixing structure adapted to hold the container (2) in a predetermined position non-removably, and the connector structure (12) of the container adapter (1) is arranged to prevent interaction with the fixing structure of the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3) when the container adapter (1) is held in the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3).

13. The conveying assembly (4) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, The locking mechanism (32) of the medical delivery device (3) includes a pushing portion (321). The pushing portion (321) of the locking mechanism (32) and the actuating member (13) of the container adapter (1) are arranged to interact when the container adapter (1) is pushed forward into the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3), such that the pushing portion (321) of the locking mechanism (32) is axially displaced when the connector structure (12) of the container adapter (1) is positioned in the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3) and when the container (2) is held in the adapter container seat (11) of the container adapter (1).

14. The conveying assembly (4) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, The locking mechanism (32) of the medical delivery device (3) includes a pulling portion, and the unlocking mechanism of the container adapter (1) includes an engagement surface. The pulling portion of the locking mechanism (32) and the engagement surface of the unlocking mechanism are arranged to engage with each other when the container adapter (1) is pushed forward into the container seat (33) of the medical delivery device (3), such that when the container adapter (1) is withdrawn from the medical delivery device (3), the pulling portion of the locking mechanism (32) is axially displaced.

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