Pressure-Regulating Vial Adaptors for Specialized Environments
Legal Citation
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
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61J1/22 |
| A | A61 | A61J1/2096 |
| A | A61 | A61J1/201 |
| A | A61 | A61J1/2075 |
| A | A61 | A61J1/2082 |
| Y | Y10 | Y10T137/9029 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
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
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,499 |
|---|---|
| Title | Pressure-regulating vial adaptors |
| Assignee(s) | ICU Medical, Inc. |