Safety drug handling device

Abstract

A drug mixing system including at least one receptacle port adaptor adapted to be inserted into a port of a fluid receptacle, at least one syringe adaptor adapted to be attached to a syringe and to the at least one receptacle port adaptor and at least one vial adaptor adapted for connection to a vial containing a drug and adapted for connection to the at least one syringe adaptor, the system being characterized in that at least one of the receptacle port adaptor, the at least one syringe adaptor and the at least one vial adaptor being vented to the atmosphere in a manner which prevents release to the atmosphere of possibly harmful contents of the vial in a liquid, solid or gaseous form.

1 - 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . A method comprising:
 attaching a luer fitted hypodermic syringe having a plunger to a syringe adaptor;   connecting said syringe adaptor having said syringe attached thereto, to a vial adaptor, having a drug containing vial attached thereto;   retracting said plunger, thus drawing a part of the contents of said vial into said syringe;   storing the drug left in the vial by storing the vial and vial adaptor joined thereto in a suitable facility for further use,   the vial adaptor being vented to the atmosphere in a manner which prevents release to the atmosphere of possibly harmful contents of said vial.   
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 64 , wherein the suitable facility is a cooling facility. 
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 64 , wherein the vial adaptor comprises:
 a spike adapted for penetrating said vial;   a mechanical lock for locking said vial adaptor to said vial once said spike penetrates said vial; and   a membrane vent operative to vent said vial adaptor to the atmosphere.   
     
     
         67 . The method according, to  claim 66 , wherein the membrane vent includes a filter and a hydrophobic membrane. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein mechanical lock irreversibly locks said vial adaptor to said vial. 
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 64 , further comprising:
 pushing said plunger, thus injecting said part of the contents of said vial into an infusion   
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 64 , farther comprising:
 inserting a receptacle port adaptor into a port in a receptacle containing a fluid;   connecting said syringe adaptor having said syringe attached thereto, to said receptacle port adaptor; and   pushing said plunger, thus injecting said part of the contents of said vial into said receptacle.   
     
     
         71 . A method for handling a drug formulation comprising:
 attaching a vial adaptor to a vial containing the drug formulation;   attaching at least one syringe adaptor having a syringe port to said vial adaptor, at least one of said syringe adaptor and said vial adaptor being vented to the outside atmosphere via a filter which prevents vapors of said drug formulation from escaping to the outside atmosphere and prevents micro-organisms and contaminants from the outside atmosphere from reaching an interior of said vial, said vial adaptor and said at least one syringe adaptor;   attaching a syringe, to said syringe port;   following withdrawal at least some of said drug formulation from said vial, storing a remainder of said drug formulation in said vial having said at vial adaptor attached thereto.