Hazardous material handling system and method

Abstract

A method and system for handling hazardous materials contained in a vial includes an isolation enclosure having an opening selectively sealable about the vial, a bag body portion, and a cap portion. A latching extraction element is attached to the cap portion and has a preceding engaging member to secure the vial to the isolation enclosure, an extraction member to be inserted into the vial and remove material therefrom, and a primary engaging member to secure the vial to the extraction member. A valve is mounted outside the isolation enclosure and controls the flow of fluid from the vial. An adaptor having a reseal member permits flow when coupled to the valve and restricts flow when uncoupled from the valve. Once uncoupled, the adaptor is removably associated with a second valve located remotely from the isolation enclosure, allowing fluid to pass into the second valve.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A material handling system for use with a sealed vial, comprising: 
 an isolation enclosure adapted to completely enclose the vial;    a latching extraction element mounted within the isolation enclosure and including an extraction member having a fluid channel, the extraction member being adapted to be inserted into the vial and to remove material from the vial through the fluid channel; and    a primary engaging member mounted within the isolation enclosure and adapted to secure the vial to the latching extraction element in a fixed position wherein the extraction member extends into the vial for removal of material therefrom.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the isolation enclosure has an opening that is selectively sealable by a closure portion.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the isolation enclosure has a body portion and a cap portion.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the closure portion comprises a fastener located on the body portion and a fitting located on the cap portion, wherein the fastener and fitting mate to selectively seal the opening.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the body portion is a flexible bag.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the body portion is constructed of a material permitting an amount of light to pass through rendering the body portion at least translucent.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cap portion is constructed of a rigid material, and is connected to the latching extraction element.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a preceding engaging member mounted within the isolation enclosure and adapted to secure the vial in a preceding fixed position adjacent to the extraction member such that the extraction member is located outside the vial.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve mounted outside the isolation enclosure in fluid flow contact with the fluid channel and adapted to control the flow of fluid from the vial.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an adaptor having a reseal member, capable of removably associating in fluid flow contact to the valve, wherein the reseal member permits fluid flow when coupled to the valve and restricts fluid flow when uncoupled from the valve.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a second valve at a location remote from the isolation enclosure, the second valve capable of removably associating in fluid flow contact to the adaptor.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction member is a piercing pin.  
     
     
         13 . An adaptor for fluidly connecting to a valve, comprising: 
 a body having an elongated fluid passage therethrough;    a fastening element located at a proximal end of the body for releasably coupling the adaptor to the valve;    an actuating post located at a proximal end of the body and along the fluid passage, adapted to penetrate the valve and open the valve to fluid flow when the adaptor is coupled to the valve; and    a reseal member coupled to the actuating post to permit fluid flow through the adaptor when the adaptor is coupled to the valve and restrict fluid flow through the adaptor when the adaptor is uncoupled from the valve.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the reseal member has a preslit opening that is normally closed due to the resiliency of the reseal member.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the preslit opening is adapted to receive a hollow spiked pin of the valve, opening the adaptor to fluid flow from the valve through the valve hollow spiked pin.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a port located at a distal end of the body and along the fluid passage, adapted to fluidly connect the adaptor to a needleless syringe.  
     
     
         17 . A latching extraction element for use with a sealed vial, comprising: 
 a body portion having an elongated fluid passage therethrough;    a connecting member located at a distal end of the body portion in fluid communication with the fluid passage;    a extraction member located at a proximal end of the body portion in fluid communication with the fluid passage, adapted to enter the vial and to remove material from the vial through the fluid channel;    a primary engaging member mounted on the body portion, adapted to secure the vial to the extraction member in a primary fixed position wherein the extraction member extends into the vial for removal of material therefrom; and    a preceding engaging member mounted on the body portion, adapted to secure the vial in a preceding fixed position adjacent to the extraction member such that the extraction member is located outside the vial.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the primary engaging member has a plurality of latch arms equally spaced peripherally around the body portion and extending from the body portion in the same direction as the extraction member.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the preceding engaging member has a pair of latch arms equally spaced peripherally around the body portion and extending from the body portion in the same direction as the extraction member.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the latch arms of the primary engaging member are in staggered relation to the latch arms of the preceding engaging member on and around the body portion.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction member is a piercing pin.  
     
     
         22 . A method of accessing materials from a sealed vial, comprising: 
 placing the vial in an open impermeable isolation enclosure;    closing the impermeable isolation enclosure;    securing the vial to the impermeable isolation enclosure in a fixed position; and    selectively accessing the contents of the vial externally from the impermeable isolation enclosure, while the vial remains in the fixed position.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of simultaneously piercing the vial and securing the vial to the impermeable isolation enclosure.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of simultaneously removing at least a portion of the contents of the vial and maintaining the contents in isolation.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of transferring the removed portion of the contents while maintaining the contents in isolation.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of securing the vial to the impermeable isolation enclosure in a preceding fixed position prior to closing the impermeable isolation enclosure.  
     
     
         27 . A method of accessing materials from a sealed vial, comprising: 
 placing the vial in an open impermeable isolation enclosure;    closing the impermeable isolation enclosure;    piercing the vial while inside the impermeable isolation enclosure;    removing at least a portion of the contents of the vial; and    transferring the removed portion of the contents and maintaining the contents in isolation, while the vial remains pierced.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of simultaneously securing the vial to the impermeable isolation enclosure in a fixed position while the vial is pierced.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of securing the vial to the impermeable isolation enclosure in a preceding fixed position without piercing the vial prior to closing the impermeable isolation enclosure.  
     
     
         30 . A method of accessing materials from a sealed vial, comprising: 
 securing the vial to the impermeable isolation enclosure in a preceding fixed position;    closing the impermeable isolation enclosure; and    selectively accessing the contents of the vial externally from the impermeable isolation enclosure.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of simultaneously piercing the vial and securing the vial to the impermeable isolation enclosure in a primary fixed position, prior to accessing the contents of the vial.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the steps of removing at least a portion of the contents of the vial, transferring the removed portion while maintaining the contents in isolation.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the steps of simultaneously piercing the vial and securing the vial to the impermeable isolation enclosure in a primary fixed position, prior to accessing the contents of the vial; removing at least a portion of the contents of the vial; and transferring the removed portion and maintaining the contents in isolation while the vial remains pierced and in the primary fixed position.