DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF INVENTION
Connection Device
5 TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a connection device, and specifically to a
connection device capable of switching from a pre-use state in which a syringe and a
vial are spaced from each other and a double-head cannula does not penetrate lid
members of the syringe and the vial, to a use state in which the syringe and the vial are
10 brought close to each other and the double-head cannula penetrates the lid members.
BACKGROUND ART
A connection device switching from a pre-use state in which a syringe and a
vial are spaced from each other and the double-head cannula does not penetrate lid
members of the syringe and the vial, to a use state in which the syringe and the vial are
15 brought close to each other and the double-head cannula penetrates the lid members of
the syringe and the vial to establish communication between internal spaces of the
syringe and the vial is conventionally known.
As such a connection device, a connection device in which the syringe and the
vial are connected to both ends of cylindrical holding means and the double-head
20 cannula is provided inside the holding means to be movable (PTL 1).
According to the connection device, by bringing the syringe close to the vial
held by the holding means, the double-head cannula can penetrate lid members of the
syringe and the vial to establish communication between internal spaces thereof.
CITATION LIST
25 PATENT LITERATURE
PTL 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-260162
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
However, the connection device in PTL 1 is configured such that the holding
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means and the syringe are merely provided to be slidable, and the syringe can be
separated from the holding means at any time.
Therefore, there is a possibility that a user may erroneously separate the syringe
from the holding means without establishing communication between the syringe and
the vial, and use the syringe without mixing a 5 solution inside the syringe with a
medicament inside the vial.
In view of such a problem, one object of the present invention is to provide a
connection device preventing an operation of establishing communication between the
syringe and the vial from being forgotten by error.
10 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
Specifically, a connection device according to claim 1 is a connection device
including holding means spacing a syringe and a vial from each other or bringing the
syringe and the vial close to each other, and a double-head cannula provided between
lid members attached to the syringe and the vial for penetrating the lid members, the
15 connection device switching from a pre-use state in which the holding means spaces
the syringe and the vial from each other and the double-head cannula does not
penetrate the lid members of the syringe and the vial, to a use state in which the
holding means brings the syringe and the vial close to each other and the double-head
cannula penetrates the lid members of the syringe and the vial to establish
20 communication between internal spaces of the syringe and the vial, wherein the holding
means is composed of a syringe holding member to be attached to the syringe, and a
cannula holding member which includes the double-head cannula, is located at a
retracted position retracted with respect to the syringe holding member in the pre-use
state, and is advanced to an advanced position abutting on the syringe holding member
25 in the use state, separation preventing means which engages the syringe to prevent
separation of the syringe from the syringe holding member in the state where the
cannula holding member is located at the retracted position is further provided, and,
when the cannula holding member is located at the advanced position, the separation
preventing means releases an engagement state with the syringe to permit the
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separation of the syringe from the syringe holding member.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
According to the invention described above, since the separation preventing
means prevents the syringe from being separated from the syringe holding member in
the pre-use state, the connection device can prevent a user from forgetting to perf5 orm
an operation of establishing communication between the syringe and the vial.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a connection device in accordance with the
present embodiment.
10 Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along a portion II-II in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the connection device.
Fig. 4 is a view showing operation of the connection device.
Fig. 5 is a view showing the operation of the connection device viewed in a
direction different from that in Fig. 4.
15 Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a connection device in accordance with a
second embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a view showing operation of the connection device in accordance with
the second embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a view showing a connection device in accordance with a third
20 embodiment, and operation thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, a connection device 1 in accordance with a first embodiment will
be described. Figs. 1 and 2 show cross sectional views of connection device 1 in
accordance with the first embodiment, Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of connection
25 device 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 are views illustrating a method of using connection device 1
in the cross sectional views shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.
Connection device 1 includes holding means 4 holding a syringe 2 and a vial 3,
and a double-head cannula 5 provided between syringe 2 and vial 3 for establishing
communication between internal spaces of syringe 2 and vial 3.
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Holding means 4 is composed of a syringe holding member 6 to be attached to
syringe 2, and a cannula holding member 7 including double-head cannula 5. Syringe
holding member 6 and cannula holding member 7 are provided to be capable of being
advanced and retracted (i.e., moving forward and backward) in an up-down direction in
5 Fig. 1.
According to connection device 1 having such a configuration, in an attachment
state shown in Figs. 4(b) and 5(b), cannula holding member 7 is located at a second
retracted position located backward with respect to syringe holding member 6.
Next, in a pre-use state shown in Figs. 4(c) and 5(c), cannula holding member 7
10 is located at a first retracted position advanced from the second retracted position, and
double-head cannula 5 is located not to establish communication between the internal
spaces of syringe 2 and vial 3.
Then, in a use state shown in Figs. 4(e) and 5(e), cannula holding member 7
moves to an advanced position in contact with syringe holding member 6, and double15
head cannula 5 is located to establish communication between the internal spaces of
syringe 2 and vial 3.
It is to be noted that, in the following description, an "axial direction" refers to a
direction parallel to a central axis of syringe 2, "forward" refers to an upward direction
in Fig. 1, that is, a direction in which vial 3 comes close to syringe 2, and "backward"
20 refers to a downward direction in Fig. 1, that is, a direction in which vial 3 is spaced
from syringe 2.
Syringe 2 is composed of a barrel 11 storing a solution, and a plunger not
shown advanced and retracted inside barrel 11. A connection portion 12 to which a
cannula not shown will be attached is provided at a tip end of barrel 11.
25 Connection portion 12 is composed of a hollow tapered portion 12a in
communication with the inside of barrel 11, and a cylindrical portion 12b provided to
surround tapered portion 12a. An external thread portion 12c is formed on an outer
periphery of cylindrical portion 12b.
In addition, grooves 12d are formed in external thread portion 12c in a forward-
6 -
backward direction, at opposite positions with the central axis being sandwiched
therebetween. Thereby, external thread portion 12c is interrupted and discontinuous
(Fig. 4(a)).
Further, a rubber lid member 13 is attached to tapered portion 12a. Lid
member 13 is composed of a small diameter portion 5 rtion 13a which covers tapered portion
12a and has a diameter smaller than that of cylindrical portion 12b, and a large
diameter portion 13b with a large diameter provided at a tip end of small diameter
portion 13a. Large diameter portion 13b has a thin center.
Vial 3 is composed of a glass bottle portion 21 storing a medicament, a rubber
10 lid member 22 attached to an opening of bottle portion 21, and a metal ring member 23
fixing lid member 22 to bottle portion 21.
A flange portion 21a having a diameter substantially identical to that of lid
member 22 is formed at the opening of bottle portion 21, and lid member 22 is formed
to have a thin center. Ring member 23 surrounds flange portion 21a and lid member
15 22 to fasten them integrally, such that a thin portion of lid member 22 is exposed.
Syringe holding member 6 is composed of an outer cylindrical portion 31 in the
shape of a cylinder provided to cover cannula holding member 7, and an attachment
portion 32 which has a diameter smaller than that of outer cylindrical portion 31 and is
to be connected with connection portion 12 of syringe 2. A step difference portion 33
20 is formed between outer cylindrical portion 31 and attachment portion 32. Outer
cylindrical portion 31 includes four flaps 31b made by four slits formed in the forwardbackward
direction. Guide protrusions 34 are formed on a pair of facing flaps 31b in
the forward-backward direction, and stopper protrusions 35 are formed in an arc shape
in the vicinities of back end portions of another pair of facing flaps 31b.
25 An inner peripheral surface of attachment portion 32 has a diameter
substantially identical to that of an outer peripheral surface of cylindrical portion 12b of
syringe 2. An internal thread portion 32a into which external thread portion 12c
formed in cylindrical portion 12b is to be screwed is formed in the inner peripheral
surface of attachment portion 32.
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Further, grooves 32b are formed in internal thread portion 32a in the forwardbackward
direction, at opposite positions with the central axis being sandwiched
therebetween. Thereby, internal thread portion 32a is interrupted and discontinuous.
Grooves 12d in external thread portion 12c formed in syringe 2 and grooves
32b in internal thread portion 32a are formed to have an identical width, 5 and provided
such that grooves 12d and 32b will overlap when external thread portion 12c is
screwed into internal thread portion 32a.
Cannula holding member 7 includes an inner cylindrical portion 41 in the shape
of a bottomed cylinder having double-head cannula 5 provided at the center, and
10 separation preventing means 42 preventing separation of syringe 2 from syringe
holding member 6 in the pre-use state.
Double-head cannula 5 is composed of a syringe-side cannula 5a closer to
syringe 2, and a vial-side cannula 5b closer to vial 3. A channel 5c is formed inside
syringe-side cannula 5a and vial-side cannula 5b.
15 A tip end of syringe-side cannula 5a is formed into a conical shape, and channel
5c is opened at side surfaces of syringe-side cannula 5a. On the other hand, a tip end
of vial-side cannula 5b is formed obliquely as shown in Fig. 1, and channel 5c is
opened behind a sharp tip end portion.
Further, syringe-side cannula 5a is finer than vial-side cannula 5b, and puncture
20 resistance obtained when syringe-side cannula 5a penetrates lid member 13 of syringe
2 is smaller than puncture resistance obtained when vial-side cannula 5b penetrates lid
member 22 of vial 3.
Inner cylindrical portion 41 has an outer diameter substantially identical to an
inner diameter of outer cylindrical portion 31 of syringe holding member 6, and has an
25 inner diameter substantially identical to an outer diameter of flange portion 21a of vial
3.
In addition, four flaps 41a are formed in inner cylindrical portion 41, at
positions identical to those in outer cylindrical portion 31. In each flap 41a
corresponding to flap 31a having guide protrusion 34 formed thereon in outer
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cylindrical portion 31, a guide groove 43 in which guide protrusion 34 will engage is
formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof.
By engaging guide protrusions 34 in guide grooves 43, rotation of syringe
holding member 6 and cannula holding member 7 is restricted, and their advanced and
retracted movement in the forward-backward direction is perm5 itted.
On the other hand, in each flap 41a corresponding to flap 31b having stopper
protrusion 35 formed thereon in outer cylindrical portion 31, stopper grooves 44 in
which stopper protrusion 35 will engage are formed in an outer peripheral surface
thereof, at two positions in the forward-backward direction, and a holding protrusion
10 45 holding vial 3 is formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof.
Stopper grooves 44 are formed at positions where stopper protrusion 35
engages them respectively when cannula holding member 7 is located at the second
retracted position and the first retracted position with respect to syringe holding
member 6.
15 In the pre-use state shown in Figs. 4(c) and 5(c), holding protrusions 45 abut on
an end surface of vial 3 on a side closer to syringe 2, such that double-head cannula 5 is
located at a position where it does not penetrate lid member 22 of vial 3.
On the other hand, when vial 3 is relatively advanced with respect to the pre-use
state, ring member 23 of vial 3 pushes holding protrusions 45 outward, and thereafter is
20 held between a bottom portion of inner cylindrical portion 41 and holding protrusions
45, and in the meantime double-head cannula 5 penetrates lid member 22 of vial 3,
entering the post-use state shown in Figs. 4(e) and 5(e).
Separation preventing means 42 is composed of two insertion pieces 42a
provided at opposite positions with syringe-side cannula 5a in inner cylindrical portion
25 41 being sandwiched therebetween, partial thread portions 42b provided on inner sides
of tip ends of insertion pieces 42a, and stopper members 42c provided closer to inner
cylindrical portion 41 than partial thread portions 42b.
Insertion pieces 42a are formed at positions and formed to have a width which
allow insertion pieces 42a to slide along grooves 32b formed in internal thread portion
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32a in attachment portion 32 of syringe holding member 6. Insertion pieces 42a have
inner surfaces with a diameter identical to that of the inner peripheral surface of
attachment portion 32.
Partial thread portions 42b have a shape that continues to internal thread portion
32a. When partial thread portions 5 s 42b are aligned with internal thread portion 32a as
shown in Fig. 4(e), internal thread portion 32a interrupted by grooves 32b are smoothly
connected by partial thread portions 42b.
Stopper members 42c are elastically deformable, thin plate-like members, and
are provided at positions where stopper members 42c engage lid member 13 of syringe
10 2 from a side closer to syringe 2 in the post-use state.
Hereinafter, a method of using connection device 1 having the above
configuration will be described with reference to the drawings in Figs. 4 and 5.
Firstly, Figs. 4(a) and 5(a) show an assembly state of connection device 1. On
this occasion, syringe 2 and vial 3 are not connected to connection device 1.
15 Here, an operation of inserting inner cylindrical portion 41 of cannula holding
member 7 into outer cylindrical portion 31 of syringe holding member 6 and stopping
cannula holding member 7 at the second retracted position is performed.
Specifically, the positions of guide protrusions 34 formed on an inner peripheral
surface of outer cylindrical portion 31 are caused to engage guide grooves 43 formed in
20 an outer peripheral surface of inner cylindrical portion 41, and cannula holding member
7 is inserted into syringe holding member 6.
Then, stopper protrusions 35 formed on the inner peripheral surface of outer
cylindrical portion 31 engage stopper grooves 44 located closer to syringe 2, of stopper
grooves 44 formed in the outer peripheral surface of inner cylindrical portion 41.
25 Thereby, cannula holding member 7 is stopped at the second retracted position.
On the other hand, when cannula holding member 7 is inserted to the second
retracted position, insertion pieces 42a of separation preventing means 42 are inserted
into grooves 32b in attachment portion 32 of syringe holding member 6, and partial
thread portions 42b are located backward of internal thread portion 32a.
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Next, Figs. 4(b) and 5(b) show the attachment state in which syringe 2 is
connected to connection device 1. This operation is performed by a medicament
manufacturer or the like, and an operation by a medical worker is not required.
Here, an operation of screwing external thread portion 12c formed in
connection portion 12 of syringe 2 into internal thread portion 32a 5 in attachment
portion 32 of syringe holding member 6 is performed.
As a result, when external thread portion 12c is fully screwed into internal
thread portion 32a, grooves 12d formed in external thread portion 12c overlap grooves
32b formed in internal thread portion 32a.
10 On the other hand, since partial thread portions 42b of separation preventing
means 42 are located backward of internal thread portion 32a, partial thread portions
42b do not interfere with external thread portion 12c of syringe 2, and do not prevent
screwing of syringe 2 into syringe holding member 6.
Next, Figs. 4(c) and 5(c) show the pre-use state in which connection device 1
15 having syringe 2 connected thereto is set on vial 3. Connection device 1 in the pre-use
state is provided to a medical setting.
To shift from the attachment state to the pre-use state, it is only necessary to
advance cannula holding member 7 from the second retracted position to the first
retracted position with respect to syringe holding member 6, and cause vial 3 to abut on
20 holding protrusions 45 of cannula holding member 7.
When cannula holding member 7 is advanced to the first retracted position,
syringe-side cannula 5a of double-head cannula 5 is advanced to a position where it
does not penetrate lid member 13 of syringe 2, and partial thread portions 42b of
separation preventing means 42 are stopped at positions misaligned with respect to
25 internal thread portion 32a.
As a result, if an attempt is made to rotate syringe 2 and syringe holding
member 6 in the pre-use state, external thread portion 12c of syringe 2 interferes with
partial thread portions 42b. Thus, rotation of syringe 2 and syringe holding member 6
is prevented, and syringe 2 cannot be separated from syringe holding member 6.
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Next, Figs. 4(d) and 5(d) show a syringe-side penetrated state in which syringe
2 and vial 3 are brought close to each other and syringe-side cannula 5a penetrates lid
member 13 of syringe 2.
It is to be noted that actual operation can proceed from the pre-use state in Figs.
4(c) and 5(c) to the use state in Figs. 4(e) and 5(e) without stopping, and 5 does not have
to be stopped in the state in Figs. 4(d) and 5(d).
When syringe 2 and vial 3 are brought close to each other, cannula holding
member 7 is pressed by vial 3 and attempts to move to the advanced position, and vial
3 attempts to pass over holding protrusions 45 of cannula holding member 7 and move
10 forward.
Here, since syringe-side cannula 5a is finer and has a smaller puncture
resistance than vial-side cannula 5b, and resistive force that allows vial 3 to pass over
holding protrusions 45 is required, cannula holding member 7 firstly moves to the
advanced position with respect to syringe holding member 6, and syringe-side cannula
15 5a penetrates lid member 13 of syringe 2.
It is to be noted that, on this occasion, vial-side cannula 5b may penetrate lid
member 22 before syringe-side cannula 5a penetrates lid member 13 of syringe 2.
Subsequently, Figs. 4(e) and 5(e) show the use state in which syringe 2 and vial
3 are further brought close to each other from the syringe-side penetrated state and
20 communication is established between the internal spaces of syringe 2 and vial 3.
When vial 3 is further advanced from the syringe-side penetrated state in Figs.
4(d) and 5(d), vial 3 presses holding protrusions 45 outward, and thereby flaps 31a of
cannula holding member 7 and flaps 41a of syringe holding member 6 are integrally
deformed to permit passage of vial 3.
25 Then, ring member 23 of vial 3 passes over holding protrusions 45 and abuts on
the bottom portion of inner cylindrical portion 41. Thus, vial 3 is held by holding
protrusions 45 so as not to detached from cannula holding member 7, and lower ends of
flaps 41a engage stopper protrusions 35 to prevent retraction of cannula holding
member 7.
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On the other hand, as vial 3 is advanced, vial-side cannula 5b of double-head
cannula 5 penetrates lid member 22 of vial 3, and thereby communication is established
between the internal space of syringe 2 and the internal space of vial 3.
Here, since double-head cannula 5 penetrates lid member 13 on the syringe 2
side beforehand and penetrates lid member 22 of 5 vial 3 thereafter, the solution inside
syringe 2 can be drawn into vial 3 having a negative pressure.
After entering the use state, a user performs an operation of operating syringe 2
to inject the solution into vial 3 to dissolve the medicament inside vial 3 with the
solution, and then drawing the dissolved medicament again into syringe 2.
10 After the user draws the medicament mixed as described above into syringe 2,
the user can separate syringe 2 from connection device 1, attach a cannula for puncture
to the syringe, and administer the medicament to a patient using syringe 2.
When syringe 2 is separated from connection device 1, cannula holding member
7 is located at the advanced position, and partial thread portions 42b of separation
15 preventing means 42 are continuous with internal thread portion 32a of syringe holding
member 6.
As a result, partial thread portions 42b do not interfere with external thread
portion 12c of syringe 2, and thereby rotation of syringe 2 and syringe holding member
6 can be permitted, and syringe 2 can be separated.
20 On the other hand, when cannula holding member 7 is located at the advanced
position, stopper members 42c pass over large diameter portion 13b of lid member 13
in syringe 2 while being deformed, and engage large diameter portion 13b from the
side close to syringe 2.
As a result, when syringe 2 is separated from syringe holding member 6, lid
25 member 13 can be removed from syringe 2, with engagement thereof with syringe
holding member 6 being maintained by stopper members 42c.
As described above, according to connection device 1 of the first embodiment,
since partial thread portions 42b of separation preventing means 42 engage external
thread portion 12c of syringe 2 in the pre-use state, syringe 2 cannot be removed from
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connection device 1.
Thereafter, when communication is established between the internal spaces of
syringe 2 and vial 3 as the use state, partial thread portions 42b are aligned with
internal thread portion 32a of syringe holding member 6 to permit rotation of external
thread portion 12c, and thus syringe 2 can be separated from connection 5 ction device 1.
That is, according to connection device 1 of the first embodiment, connection
device 1 is designed such that syringe 2 cannot be separated in a state where no
communication is established between syringe 2 and vial 3. Therefore, connection
device 1 can prevent an error by the user, and prevent the user from forgetting to
10 perform an operation of establishing communication between syringe 2 and vial 3.
Next, a connection device 101 in accordance with a second embodiment will be
described. Fig. 6 shows a cross sectional view of connection device 101 in accordance
with the second embodiment, and Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a method of using
connection device 101.
15 In the following description, parts common to those in the first embodiment will
not be repeatedly described, and identical members will be designated by numerals
given by adding 100 to the numerals used in the first embodiment.
A connection portion 112 of a syringe 102 is composed of a hollow tapered
portion 112a in communication with the inside of a barrel not shown, and a cylindrical
20 portion 112b provided to surround tapered portion 112a. An internal thread portion
112c is formed in an inner periphery of cylindrical portion 112b.
In addition, engagement grooves 112d are formed in an outer peripheral surface
of cylindrical portion 112b in the forward-backward direction, at opposite positions
with the central axis being sandwiched therebetween. Engagement grooves 112d are
25 formed to be opened at an end portion of cylindrical portion 112b.
Further, a rubber, thin plate-like lid member 113 is attached to a tip end of
tapered portion 112a, and is sandwiched between the tip end and a syringe holding
member 106.
Holding means 104 is composed of syringe holding member 106 to be attached
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to syringe 102, and a cannula holding member 107 including double-head cannula 105.
Syringe holding member 106 and cannula holding member 107 are provided to be
capable of being advanced and retracted.
Penetration holes 131a are formed at opposite positions in an outer cylindrical
portion 131 of syringe holding member 106. Further, in an inner 5 ner peripheral surface of
outer cylindrical portion 131, stopper protrusions 135 in an arc shape are formed, and
guide protrusions 134 not shown are formed in the forward-backward direction.
Attachment portion 132 is formed in the shape of a cylinder, its outer peripheral
surface has a diameter substantially identical to that of an inner peripheral surface of
10 cylindrical portion 112b in connection portion 112 of syringe 102, and its inner
peripheral surface has a diameter larger than that of tapered portion 112a.
Further, an external thread portion 132a which is to be screwed into internal
thread portion 112c formed in cylindrical portion 112b is formed in the outer peripheral
surface of attachment portion 132.
15 In addition, a cylindrical support portion 136 formed to have a diameter larger
than that of cylindrical portion 112b of syringe 102 is formed further outside of
attachment portion 132. Support portion 136 has a backward portion formed as a thick
portion 136a, and a forward portion formed as a thin portion 136b.
Thick portion 136a is located such that, when syringe 102 is attached to syringe
20 holding member 106, thick portion 136a reaches a position identical to a position
where a tip end portion of cylindrical portion 112b of syringe 102 reaches. Thereby, a
step difference between thick portion 136a and thin portion 136b is formed in an inner
peripheral surface of support portion 136.
In an outer peripheral surface of an inner cylindrical portion 141 in cannula
25 holding member 107, guide grooves not shown in which the guide protrusions of outer
cylindrical portion 131 will engage are formed to restrict rotation of syringe holding
member 106 and cannula holding member 107.
Further, in the outer peripheral surface of inner cylindrical portion 141, stopper
grooves 144 in which each stopper protrusion 135 of outer cylindrical portion 131 will
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engage are formed at two positions in the forward-backward direction. Stopper
grooves 144 allow cannula holding member 107 to stop at a second retracted position
and a first retracted position with respect to syringe holding member 106.
Furthermore, in inner cylindrical portion 141, flaps 141a are formed to be
aligned with the positions of penetration holes 131a formed 5 in outer cylindrical portion
131, and holding protrusions 145 which will engage a ring member 123 of vial 103 are
formed on inner surfaces of flaps 141a.
Separation preventing means 142 is provided to cannula holding member 107,
and is composed of two deformation portions 142a provided at opposite positions with
10 syringe-side cannula 5a being sandwiched therebetween, and engaging protrusions
142b provided on inner sides of tip ends of deformation portions 142a.
Deformation portions 142a are provided to penetrate a bottom portion of
syringe holding member 106 and protrude toward attachment portion 132, and are
provided to come into contact with an inner peripheral surface of thick portion 136a of
15 support portion 136.
In addition, engaging protrusions 142b are provided at positions where they
engage engagement grooves 112d formed in syringe 102 in a pre-use state in which
syringe 102 is attached to syringe holding member 106.
Hereinafter, a method of using connection device 101 having the above
20 configuration will be described with reference to the drawings in Fig. 7.
Firstly, Fig. 7 (a) shows an assembly state of connection device 101, in which
cannula holding member 107 is stopped at the second retracted position with respect to
syringe holding member 106.
On this occasion, the guide protrusions of outer cylindrical portion 131 are
25 caused to engage the guide grooves in inner cylindrical portion 141, and thus rotation
of syringe holding member 106 and cannula holding member 107 is restricted.
On the other hand, when cannula holding member 107 is located at the second
retracted position, deformation portions 142a of separation preventing means 142
protrude between connection portion 112 of syringe holding member 106 and support
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portion 136, and stop at positions where portions having engaging protrusions 142b
formed thereon do not move beyond thick portion 136a.
Next, Fig. 7(b) shows an attachment state in which syringe 102 is connected to
connection device 101, in which external thread portion 132a of syringe holding
member 106 is screwed into internal thread portion 112c of syringe 15 02.
Thereby, the tip end portion of cylindrical portion 112b of syringe 102 is
located at a boundary between thin portion 136b and thick portion 136a of support
portion 136, and engagement grooves 112d are located at angles at which engaging
protrusions 142b are located.
10 On this occasion, engaging protrusions 142b are stopped at the position of thick
portion 136a, and do not engage engagement grooves 112d. Therefore, engaging
protrusions 142b do not prevent rotation of syringe 102.
Next, Fig. 7(c) shows the pre-use state, and illustrates a state in which cannula
holding member 107 is advanced to the first retracted position, and vial 103 is set to
15 cannula holding member 107.
Thereby, double-head cannula 105 comes close to lid member 113 of syringe
102 to a position where it does not penetrate lid member 113, and engaging protrusions
142b of separation preventing means 142 are advanced and engage engagement
grooves 112d in syringe holding member 106.
20 Here, rotation of cannula holding member 107 and syringe holding member 106
is restricted by guide protrusions 134 and guide grooves 143, and rotation of syringe
102 and syringe holding member 106 is also restricted. Thus, syringe 102 cannot be
separated from syringe holding member 106.
In addition, although engaging protrusions 142b are advanced and protrude
25 more forward than thick portion 136a of support portion 136, they protrude from thick
portion 136a only in a small amount. Accordingly, if an attempt is made to rotate
syringe 102 and syringe holding member 106, thick portion 136a prevents deformation
of deformation portions 142a, and prevents engaging protrusions 142b from being
detached from engagement grooves 112d.
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Further, since vial 103 abuts on holding protrusions 145 of cannula holding
member 107 from backward, vial 103 is held in a state where it is close to a vial-side
cannula 105b of double-head cannula 105.
Next, Fig. 7(d) shows a syringe-side penetrated state in which only syringe-side
cannula 105a of double-head cannula 105 penetrates lid member 113 of syringe 1025 .
As in the first embodiment, syringe-side cannula 105a of the present
embodiment is also finer and has a smaller puncture resistance than vial-side cannula
105b, and resistive force that allows vial 103 to pass over holding protrusions 145 is
required. Accordingly, cannula holding member 107 firstly moves to an advanced
10 position with respect to syringe holding member 106, and syringe-side cannula 105a
penetrates lid member 113 of syringe 102.
Subsequently, Fig. 7(e) shows a use state in which syringe 102 and vial 103 are
brought close to each other.
When vial 103 is further advanced from the syringe-side penetrated state in Fig.
15 7(d), vial 103 presses holding protrusions 145 outward, and thereby flaps 141a of
cannula holding member 107 are deformed while protruding outward from penetration
holes 131a formed in outer cylindrical portion 131 of syringe holding member 106, to
permit passage of vial 103.
Then, vial 103 is advanced and abuts on inner cylindrical portion 141 of
20 cannula holding member 107. Thus, vial 103 is held in cannula holding member 107
by holding protrusions 145.
On the other hand, as vial 103 is advanced, vial-side cannula 105b of doublehead
cannula 105 penetrates lid member 122 of vial 103, and thereby communication is
established between an internal space of syringe 102 and an internal space of vial 103.
25 After entering the use state, a medicament in vial 103 is dissolved with a
solution in syringe 102, and the obtained medicament is drawn into syringe 102. Then,
syringe 102 can be separated from connection device 101, as in the first embodiment.
Specifically, by positioning cannula holding member 107 at the advanced
position as the use state, engaging protrusions 142b of separation preventing means 142
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move forward of engagement grooves 112d in syringe holding member 106, get onto
the outer peripheral surface of cylindrical portion 112b, and move outward.
On this occasion, since deformation portions 142a are advanced from thick
portion 136a toward thin portion 136b of support portion 136, deformation portions
142a are deformed in accordance with movement of engaging protrusions 5 s 142b, and
thin portion 136b permits the movement of engaging protrusions 142b and deformation
of deformation portions 142a.
Since engaging protrusions 142b are separated from engagement grooves 112d
as described above, syringe 102 can be rotated with respect to syringe holding member
10 106, and thus syringe 102 can be separated.
As described above, according to connection device 101 of the second
embodiment, since engaging protrusions 142b of separation preventing means 142
engage engagement grooves 112d of syringe 102 in the pre-use state to prevent rotation
of syringe 102 and connection device 101, syringe 102 cannot be removed.
15 Thereafter, when communication is established between the internal spaces of
syringe 102 and vial 103 as the use state, engaging protrusions 142b are separated from
engagement grooves 112d to permit rotation of syringe 102 and syringe holding
member 106, and thus syringe 102 can be separated from connection device 101.
That is, also in connection device 101 of the second embodiment, connection
20 device 101 is designed such that syringe 102 cannot be used in a state where no
communication is established between syringe 102 and vial 103, as in connection
device 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, connection device 101 can prevent an
error by a user, and prevent the user from forgetting to perform an operation of
establishing communication between syringe 102 and vial 103.
25 Fig. 8 shows a cross sectional view of a connection device 201 in accordance
with a third embodiment, which is suitable for a vial storing a freeze-dried medicament,
when compared with connection device 1 of the first embodiment.
In the following description, parts common to those in the first embodiment will
not be repeatedly described, and identical members will be designated by numerals
- 19 -
given by adding 200 to the numerals used in the first embodiment.
Generally, the inside of a vial storing a freeze-dried medicament is maintained
under a vacuum. When connection device 1 of the first embodiment is used to enter
the use state shown in Figs. 4(e) and 5(e), there occurs a problem that, although the
solution 5 inside syringe 2 is drawn into vial 3 by a pressure difference, the pressure
difference makes an operation of retracting a plunger heavier when the medicament
inside vial 3 is thereafter drawn into syringe 2.
Therefore, connection device 201 of the third embodiment is configured by
providing connection device 1 of the first embodiment with a vent 241b in a side
10 surface of an inner cylindrical portion 241 of a cannula holding member 207, and a
filter 246 provided to vent 241b.
Vent 241b is formed within a cylindrical housing 241c formed from an outer
periphery of inner cylindrical portion 241 to a vial-side cannula 205b. In the use state,
the vial is held in cannula holding member 207 in a state abutting on housing 241c
15 from below.
Further, two channels 205c are formed inside vial-side cannula 205b. One
channel 205c is in communication with syringe-side cannula 205a, and the other
channel 205c is in communication with vent 241b.
In addition, communication holes 231b are formed in an outer cylindrical
20 portion 231 of a syringe holding member 206. When cannula holding member 207 is
advanced with respect to syringe holding member 206 as the use state, vent 241b
overlaps communication hole 231b.
With such a configuration, when connection device 201 is caused to enter the
use state by an operation identical to that in connection device 1 in accordance with the
25 first embodiment, the solution inside the syringe is drawn into the vial by a pressure
difference, because the inside of the vial is maintained under a vacuum.
On this occasion, since cannula holding member 207 is advanced with respect
to syringe holding member 206 and vent 241b overlaps communication hole 231b,
outside air is drawn from vent 241b into the vial through communication hole 231b,
- 20 -
and the inside of the vial has ordinary pressure.
On this occasion, the drawn air passes through filter 246, and dust,
microorganisms, and the like in the air are caught by filter 246 to prevent entry thereof
into the vial.
When the medicament is prepared 5 ed inside the vial and thereafter the plunger of
the syringe is retracted to draw the medicament into the syringe, the plunger can be
retracted with no resistance, because air is supplied into the vial through vent 241b and
thus the inside of vial does not have a negative pressure.
It is to be noted that vent 241b and the configuration related thereto in the third
10 embodiment are also applicable to connection device 101 in the second embodiment.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
In the present invention, in the pre-use state, the separation preventing means
prevents the syringe from being separated from the syringe holding member, as
described above. Thereby, the connection device can prevent a user from forgetting to
15 perform an operation of establishing communication between the syringe and the vial,
and thus can be suitably used for medical care.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
1: connection device, 2: syringe, 3: vial, 4: holding means, 5: double-head
cannula, 6: syringe holding member, 7: cannula holding member, 12: connection
20 portion, 12c: external thread portion, 12d: groove, 32: attachment portion, 32a: internal
thread portion, 32b: groove, 42: separation preventing means, 42b: partial thread
portion, 45: holding protrusion.
- 21 -
We Claim:-
1. A connection device, comprising:
holding means spacing a syringe and a vial from each other or bringing the
5 syringe and the vial close to each other; and
a double-head cannula provided between lid members attached to the syringe
and the vial for penetrating the lid members,
the connection device switching from a pre-use state in which the holding
means spaces the syringe and the vial from each other and the double-head cannula
10 does not penetrate the lid members of the syringe and the vial, to a use state in which
the holding means brings the syringe and the vial close to each other and the doublehead
cannula penetrates the lid members of the syringe and the vial to establish
communication between internal spaces of the syringe and the vial,
wherein the holding means is composed of a syringe holding member to be
15 attached to the syringe, and a cannula holding member which includes the double-head
cannula, is located at a retracted position retracted with respect to the syringe holding
member in the pre-use state, and is advanced to an advanced position abutting on the
syringe holding member in the use state,
separation preventing means which engages the syringe to prevent separation of
20 the syringe from the syringe holding member in the state where the cannula holding
member is located at the retracted position is further provided, and
when the cannula holding member is located at the advanced position, the
separation preventing means releases an engagement state with the syringe to permit
the separation of the syringe from the syringe holding member.
25
2. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein
the syringe holding member and the syringe are connected by screwing, and the
separation preventing means is provided to the cannula holding member, and
when the cannula holding member is located at the retracted position in the pre-
22 -
use state, the separation preventing means engages the syringe to prevent rotation of
the syringe and the syringe holding member, and when the cannula holding member is
located at the advanced position in the use state, the separation preventing means
releases the engagement state to permit the rotation of the syringe and the syringe
holding member5 .
3. The connection device according to claim 2, wherein
an external thread portion is formed in the syringe, and an internal thread
portion into which the external thread portion is to be screwed is formed in the syringe
10 holding member, grooves are formed in the external thread portion and the internal
thread portion, respectively, in a direction in which first and second holding members
are advanced and retracted, and the grooves are provided at positions where the
grooves will overlap when the external thread portion is screwed into the internal
thread portion,
15 the separation preventing means is composed of an insertion piece provided to
the cannula holding member for being advanced and retracted along the groove, and a
partial thread portion protruding from the insertion piece toward the syringe,
in the pre-use state, the partial thread portion is located at a position misaligned
with respect to a helical shape of the internal thread portion, and engages the external
20 thread portion to prevent the rotation of the syringe and the syringe holding member,
and
in the use state, the partial thread portion is aligned with the helical shape of the
internal thread portion, and releases an engagement state between the partial thread
portion and the external thread portion to permit the rotation of the syringe and the
25 syringe holding member.
4. The connection device according to claim 3, wherein
the cannula holding member is provided to be movable to a second retracted
position which is more retracted with respect to the syringe holding member than the
- 23 -
retracted position, and
when the connection device is attached to the syringe, the cannula holding
member is located at the second retracted position, and the partial thread portion in the
separation preventing means is located at a position retracted toward the vial from the
internal thread portion of the syringe holding member, 5 , to permit the rotation of the
syringe and the syringe holding member.
5. The connection device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein
a large diameter portion is formed in the lid member of the syringe, and a
10 stopper member protruding toward a center is provided to the insertion piece at a
position closer to the vial than the partial thread portion, and
in the post-use state, the stopper member engages the large diameter portion of
the lid member from a side closer to the syringe.
15 6. The connection device according to claim 2, wherein
a cylindrical portion is formed at a tip end of the syringe and an internal thread
portion is formed inside the cylindrical portion, and an external thread portion to be
inserted into the cylindrical portion and screwed into the internal thread portion on an
outside is formed in the syringe holding member,
20 an engagement groove is formed on an outer surface of the cylindrical portion
of the syringe, and the syringe holding member and the cannula holding member are
made unrotatable with respect to each other,
the separation preventing means is composed of a deformation member which is
provided to the cannula holding member and located more outside than the cylindrical
25 portion, and an engaging protrusion which is provided to the deformation member and
can engage the engagement groove,
in the pre-use state, the engaging protrusion engages the engagement groove to
prevent integral rotation of the syringe holding member and the cannula holding
member with respect to the syringe, and
- 24 -
when the cannula holding member is located at the advanced position in the use
state, the engaging protrusion is advanced and separated from the engagement groove
while deforming the deformation portion to permit the integral rotation of the syringe
holding member and the cannula holding member with respect to the syringe.
5
7. The connection device according to claim 6, wherein
the cannula holding member is provided to be movable to a second retracted
position which is more retracted with respect to the syringe holding member than the
retracted position, and
10 when the connection device is attached to the syringe, the cannula holding
member is located at the second retracted position, and the engaging protrusion in the
separation preventing means is located at a position retracted toward the vial from the
engagement groove in the syringe holding member, to permit the rotation of the syringe
and the syringe holding member.
15
8. The connection device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein
a support portion formed to come into contact with a further outer periphery of
the deformation portion of the cannula holding member is provided to the syringe
holding member,
20 in the pre-use state, the support portion is in close contact with the deformation
portion to a position of the engaging protrusion, and prevents deformation of the
deformation portion to prevent separation of the engaging protrusion from the
engagement groove in the syringe, and
in the use state, the engaging protrusion is advanced, separated from the
25 engagement groove in the syringe, and moves to an outer peripheral side, and the
support portion permits deformation of the deformation portion due to movement of the
engaging protrusion.
9. The connection device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein
- 25 -
the cannula holding member is provided with a plurality of flaps provided to
surround the vial, and holding protrusions protruding on inner sides of the flaps, and
in the pre-use state, an end surface of the vial on a side closer to the syringe
abuts on back ends of the holding protrusions, and in the use state, the vial passes over
the holding protrusions while deforming the flaps, and 5 the holding protrusions engage a
flange formed in the vial to hold the vial.