Pressure-Regulating Vial Adaptors for Specialized Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857499_0009_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Pressure-Regulating Vial Adaptors for Specialized Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857499_0009_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857499_0009_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,499.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

Adaptors for medicinal vials that cater to specific, high-stakes environments, such as high-security laboratories, extreme weather conditions, disaster relief, high-altitude environments, and explosive environments.

Background and Problem Solved

The original pressure-regulating vial adaptors are designed for general-purpose use, but they lack the necessary features and safeguards to operate effectively in specialized environments. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing adaptors tailored to these unique settings, ensuring safe and reliable medicinal fluid administration.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The new pressure-regulating vial adaptors comprise specialized components and features to accommodate the demands of their respective environments. For high-security laboratories, the adaptors incorporate tamper-evident seals and secondary containment vessels. In extreme weather conditions, the adaptors feature built-in temperature control modules and weather-resistant enclosures. The disaster relief kit includes a portable pressure-regulating vial adaptor, pre-filled medicinal vials, and a manual pump. For high-altitude environments, the adaptors have altitude-compensating valves and supplemental oxygen supplies. In explosive environments, the adaptors are housed in explosion-proof enclosures with spark-resistant regulator assemblies.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces novel features and components that address the specific challenges of specialized environments, which are not addressed by the original patent. The inventive step lies in the tailored design and integration of these features to ensure safe and reliable medicinal fluid administration in these unique settings.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include adaptors for other specialized environments, such as space exploration or underwater operations. Variations could include different materials, shapes, or sizes of the adaptors to accommodate specific requirements.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in the pharmaceutical and medical industries, particularly in high-stakes environments where safety and reliability are paramount. Target markets include high-security laboratories, disaster relief organizations, and industries operating in extreme environments.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61J1/22
A A61 A61J1/2096
A A61 A61J1/201
A A61 A61J1/2075
A A61 A61J1/2082
Y Y10 Y10T137/9029

Field of Art

Medical device engineering, specifically vial access systems and pressure regulation technologies for medical fluid containment, requiring expertise in mechanical engineering, fluid dynamics, and medical device design

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer with 3-5 years experience in medical device design, familiar with pressure regulation mechanisms, sterile fluid transfer technologies, and adaptable medical packaging solutions

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the disclosed variations represent predictable extensions of the source patent's core pressure-regulating vial adaptor technology by applying known engineering design principles to specialized environmental contexts. The fundamental pressure regulation mechanism remains consistent, with modifications representing standard design adaptations for specific use cases. These variations demonstrate routine problem-solving within the technical domain of medical device engineering.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Piercing member configured to be inserted into a container of medicinal substance
PTD Variation
Tamper-evident seal integrated with piercing mechanism for high-security laboratory environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Adding security features to an existing medical device access mechanism represents a predictable design modification addressing known safety requirements
Source Patent Element
Regulator assembly with configurable connection to body portion
PTD Variation
Altitude-compensating valve integrated into regulator assembly for high-altitude environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Modifying pressure regulation components to address environmental variables is a standard engineering approach with foreseeable implementation strategies
Source Patent Element
Fluid communication channels within regulator assembly
PTD Variation
Explosion-proof housing with spark-resistant regulator components for hazardous environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Adapting existing fluid transfer technologies to meet specialized safety requirements represents a routine engineering design solution
Source Patent Element
Body portion defining access and regulator channels
PTD Variation
Temperature control module integrated into vial adaptor body for extreme weather conditions
Obviousness Reasoning
Incorporating environmental compensation mechanisms into existing device architectures is a predictable engineering approach
Source Patent Element
Coupling protrusion allowing fluid communication
PTD Variation
Manual pump mechanism for emergency fluid transfer in disaster relief scenarios
Obviousness Reasoning
Extending fluid transfer capabilities through supplemental mechanical interfaces represents a straightforward design adaptation
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857499's disclosure of pressure-regulating vial adaptors, the present publication demonstrates that variations addressing specialized environmental contexts would be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in medical device engineering. The disclosed technical modifications represent predictable design extensions utilizing known engineering principles, thereby rendering potential patent claims covering similar technologies unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. Section 103 obviousness standards.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,499
TitlePressure-regulating vial adaptors
Assignee(s)ICU Medical, Inc.