Degassing method and system

Abstract

A system and method for degassing a fluid in a syringe comprising and inserting the fluid into a negative pressure device. The system may include a holder for holding the syringe; a guide affixed to the holder; a slide for holding a plunger of the syringe, the slide being movably attached to the guide; and a locking mechanism opposite the holder for maintaining a position of the slide. The fluid degasses when the locking mechanism maintains the position of the slide. The system may also include a piercing element adjacent the holder for piercing the syringe. The system and method may also be used for removing fluid from a negative pressure device.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . A method for degassing a fluid comprising:
 inserting a syringe into a degassing tool;   drawing a fluid into the syringe;   closing the syringe;   retracting a plunger of the syringe to create a vacuum in a portion of a barrel of the syringe;   locking the plunger using the degassing tool;   expelling gas dissolved in the fluid into the vacuum in the portion of the syringe; and   expelling the gas in the vacuum out of the syringe.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is insulin. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the syringe is closed with a stopcock. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the plunger is disposed in a slidable portion of the degassing tool. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein expelling gas dissolved in the fluid into the vacuum in the portion of the syringe comprises shaking the syringe while the syringe is disposed in the degassing tool. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein expelling the gas in the vacuum out of the syringe comprises opening the stopcock. 
   
   
       32 . A method for degassing a fluid and inserting the fluid into a negative pressure device implanted in a patient comprising:
 inserting a syringe into a degassing tool;   drawing a fluid into the syringe;   closing the syringe;   retracting a plunger of the syringe to create a vacuum in a portion of a barrel of the syringe;   locking the plunger using the degassing tool;   expelling gas dissolved in the fluid into the vacuum in the portion of the syringe;   expelling the gas in the vacuum out of the syringe;   inserting the syringe into the negative pressure device; and   opening the syringe.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the fluid is insulin. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the plunger is disposed in a slidable portion of the degassing tool. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein expelling gas dissolved in the fluid into the vacuum in the portion of the syringe comprises shaking the syringe while the syringe is disposed in the degassing tool. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising piercing a portion of the barrel of the syringe. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the portion of the barrel of the syringe pierced is adjacent the fluid and opposite the implanted device. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the barrel of the syringe is pierced such that no pieces of the barrel dislodge into the fluid. 
   
   
       39 . A method for filling a negative pressure device comprising:
 inserting a syringe into a degassing tool;   closing the syringe;   retracting a plunger of the syringe to create a vacuum in a portion of a barrel of the syringe;   locking the plunger using the degassing tool;   inserting the syringe into the negative pressure device; and   opening the syringe.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the syringe is inserted into the negative pressure device using a needle.