Vial Adapter With Rotatable Needle Hole For Variable Vials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vial adapters are not adaptable to the variability in vial sizes and shapes, leading to inefficiencies in liquid chemical transfer, such as excessive liquid left in the vial and bubbling issues during suction, especially with drugs like carcinostatic agents.
Innovation Solution
A vial adapter with a flexible arm portion and a hollow needle that can be fitted onto vials of varying sizes, featuring a stopper contact portion and side holes positioned to minimize liquid left in the vial and prevent bubbling by optimizing the needle hole's location and using a pressure buffer to manage air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the needle hole position is set for the highest vial head portion height, then the adapter can accommodate taller vials, but liquid chemical remains in the vial when shorter vials are used
Solution Approach 1:
The needle hole is made movable relative to the needle axis by rotating the needle around its axis. This allows the needle hole position to be dynamically adjusted to match different vial head portion heights, enabling complete liquid transfer while maintaining adaptability across various vial sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the needle hole relative to the needle axis is changed as a variable parameter. By adjusting the angular position of the needle hole, the system adapts to different vial configurations, ensuring the needle hole aligns with the liquid meniscus at various heights for complete liquid recovery
2Adaptability or versatility
If the needle hole position is set for thick rubber stoppers, then the adapter works with thicker stoppers, but the needle hole becomes too deep for thin stoppers causing liquid to remain
Solution Approach 1:
The needle hole position is made dynamic through rotation of the needle around its axis. This allows adjustment of the needle hole's axial position relative to the stopper thickness, enabling proper alignment with the liquid surface whether the stopper is thick or thin
Solution Approach 2:
The needle structure is segmented into the needle body and the rotatable needle hole component. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the needle hole position while maintaining the structural integrity of the needle, facilitating adaptation to different stopper thicknesses
3Ease of operation
If a metallic needle is used for liquid transfer, then the transfer process is simple, but accidental sticking and leakage occur
Solution Approach 1:
A syringe barrel is introduced as an intermediary component between the needle and the liquid chemical. The liquid is transferred from the vial through the needle into the syringe barrel, eliminating direct contact between the metallic needle and the liquid chemical, thus preventing sticking and leakage while maintaining operational simplicity
4Productivity
If the outlet portion is exposed to residual air region during liquid recovery, then air enters the vial causing compressed state, but this complicates the recovery operation
Solution Approach 1:
The needle hole remains continuously connected to the liquid chemical throughout the recovery process by positioning it at the liquid surface level. This continuous connection eliminates the need for complex air management operations while maintaining efficient liquid recovery, as the liquid flows continuously through the needle into the syringe
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The vial adapter effectively reduces the amount of liquid left in the vial to near zero and prevents bubbling during suction, ensuring accurate and wasteful-free transfer of liquid chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible arm portion provided with a claw for engagement with a head portion of a vial
Implementation Method 2
a hollow needle, which, when the fitting portion is fitted onto the head portion of the vial, pierces a stopper formed of an elastic material
Data Source
AI summary
A vial adapter is provided with a fitting portion which can be fitted into the head portion of a vial, and a hollow needle with a side hole. The base end portion of the needle is provided with a stopper contact portion which contacts the top surface of a stopper when the fitting portion is fitted in the head portion of the vial. When the fitting portion is fitted in the head portion of the vial, the stopper contact portion contacts the top surface of the stopper, and the fitting portion is fixed to the head portion of the vial by a claw engaging with the head portion of the vial, and further, the region of the side hole nearest the base end portion of the needle is positioned either roughly at the bottom surface of the stopper or inside of the stopper.