BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to a system for the closed transfer of fluids. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system that accommodates vials having different sizes and provides leak-proof sealing and pressure equalization during engagement of a cannula with a vial, during transfer of a substance from a vial chamber to a barrel chamber via the cannula, and during disengagement of the cannula from the vial.

2. Description of the Related Art

Health care providers reconstituting, transporting, and administering hazardous drugs, such as cancer treatments, can put health care providers at risk of exposure to these medications and present a major hazard in the health care environment. For example, nurses treating cancer patients risk being exposed to chemotherapy drugs and their toxic effects. Unintentional chemotherapy exposure can affect the nervous system, impair the reproductive system, and bring an increased risk of developing blood cancers in the future. In order to reduce the risk of health care providers being exposed to toxic drugs, the closed transfer of these drugs becomes important.

Some drugs must be dissolved or diluted before they are administered, which involves transferring a solvent from one container to a sealed vial containing the drug in powder or liquid form, by means of a needle. Drugs may be inadvertently released into the atmosphere in gas form or by way of aerosolization, during the withdrawal of the needle from the vial and while the needle is inside the vial if any pressure differential between the interior of the vial and the surrounding atmosphere exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a system includes a vial access device including a vial access housing having a wall defining an elongate opening between an opening proximal end and an opening distal end, the vial access housing including a spike and a vial connection element attachable to a first vial defining a first vial size to secure the vial access device to the first vial, and an adapter movable within the elongate opening of the vial access housing. The adapter is transitionable between a first position where the adapter is adjacent the opening distal end of the vial access housing and the adapter is attachable to a second vial defining a second vial size and a second position where the adapter is adjacent the opening proximal end of the vial access housing and the vial connection element of the vial access device is attachable to the first vial.

The vial connection element of the vial access device may include a plurality of vial grip members. The plurality of vial grip members may be elastically deformable. The adapter may include a plurality of adapter vial grip members attachable to the second vial. The second vial size may be less than the first vial size. The adapter may include a locking member engageable with a portion of the vial access housing to prevent the adapter from being removed from within the elongate opening of the vial access housing. The vial access device may include a pressure equalization system. The vial access device may be attachable to the first vial such that the spike is in fluid communication with a chamber of the first vial. The vial access device may be attachable to the second vial via the adapter such that the spike is in fluid communication with a chamber of the second vial. The adapter may include a first end and a second end positioned opposite the first end, with the adapter including a vial connection element positioned adjacent to the second end of the adapter, the first end of the adapter positioned adjacent to the opening distal end of the vial access housing when the adapter is in the first position, and the vial connection element configured to engage the second vial. The adapter may further include locking members engageable with adapter engagement portions of the vial access housing to prevent the adapter from being removed from within the elongate opening of the vial access housing. The adapter engagement portions of the vial access housing may define channels that receive a portion of the locking members of the adapter to provide a guided movement of the adapter between the first position and the second position.

In a further aspect, a method of using the system described above includes engaging a first vial with the vial access device where the adapter is in the first position, transitioning the adapter from first position to the second position, and securing the vial access device to the first vial.

In another aspect, a method of using the system described above includes engaging a second vial with the adapter where the adapter is in the first position, and securing the adapter to the second vial.

In a further aspect, a system includes a first vial defining a first vial size, a second vial defining a second vial size, where the second vial size is different than the first vial size, and a vial access device including a vial access housing having a wall defining an elongate opening between an opening proximal end and an opening distal end. The vial access housing includes a spike and a vial connection element attachable to the first vial to secure the vial access device to the first vial. The system also includes an adapter sized for movement within the elongate opening of the vial access housing. The adapter is transitionable between a first position where the adapter is adjacent the opening distal end of the vial access housing and the adapter is attachable to the second vial, and a second position where the adapter is adjacent the opening proximal end of the vial access housing and the vial connection element of the vial access device is attachable to the first vial.

