Needle holder for a vial

Abstract

A multi-vial dispensing cassette provides serial dispensement into a plurality of dispense vials. Needle holders may be provided for one or more vials in the cassette and at clip may be incorporated into the needle holder.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A needle holder for a vial, the needle holder comprising:
 a needle holder body defining first and second elongate needle passageways therethrough, the needle passageways extending substantially normal to an end surface of the needle holder body which engages a pierceable septum of a vial, the needle passageways being in overlying registry with the septum of the vial; and   a clip mechanism, disposed on a top of the needle holder body, positionable between a first position allowing fluid flow through at least one conduit attached to a needle and a second position pinching the at least one conduit attached to the needle to close so as to prevent fluid flow therethrough.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The needle holder of  claim 19 , wherein the needle holder body further comprising a first needle shoulder surface and a second needle shoulder surface, wherein the first and second elongate needle passageways are respectively disposed. 
     
     
         22 . The needle holder of  claim 21 , wherein the first needle shoulder surface and the second needle shoulder surface have different heights relative to the end surface. 
     
     
         23 . The needle holder of  claim 19 , wherein the needle holder body further comprising a cap cavity, disposed at a bottom of the needle holder body, for receiving a cap of the vial. 
     
     
         24 . The needle holder of  claim 23 , wherein the needle holder body further comprising a plurality of deflectable detents, disposed adjacent to the cap cavity, for releasably engaging the cap of the vial. 
     
     
         25 . The needle holder of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second elongate needle passageways extend from the end surface of the needle holder body to the cap cavity. 
     
     
         26 . The needle holder of  claim 19 , wherein the clip mechanism further comprises a cradle having a body with a top surface and a locking clip slidable over the top surface of the cradle between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         27 . The needle holder of  claim 26 , wherein the locking clip further comprises a horizontal base and a vertical body extending away from the horizontal base. 
     
     
         28 . The needle holder of  claim 27 , wherein the locking clip further comprising a tip and a first pair of detents extending away from the vertical body, opposing each other. 
     
     
         29 . The needle holder of  claim 28 , wherein the locking clip further comprising a second pair of detents extending away from the vertical body, opposing each other. 
     
     
         30 . The needle holder of  claim 26 , wherein the cradle defines a least one recess for receiving the at least one conduit. 
     
     
         31 . The needle holder of  claim 30 , wherein the least one recess is defined by the locking clip and a hook formed at one end of the locking clip. 
     
     
         32 . The needle holder of  claim 26 , wherein the cradle defines two recesses for receiving two conduits. 
     
     
         33 . The needle holder of  claim 32 , wherein each of the two recesses is defined by the locking clip and a hook formed at one end of the locking clip. 
     
     
         34 . The needle holder of  claim 28 , wherein the clip mechanism further comprises a locking head, disposed on the top surface of the body of the cradle, through which the locking clip slides through. 
     
     
         35 . The needle holder of  claim 29 , wherein, when the locking head engages the second pair of detents, the locking head prevents the cradle from moving toward the first position. 
     
     
         36 . A method for controlling a flow of a fluid in a conduit, connected to a needle, into or out of a vial, comprising:
 inserting the needle into a needle holder;   inserting the conduit into a recess of a cradle;   securing the conduit in the cradle through a hook on the cradle; and   sliding a locking clip toward the conduit into a first position that allows the conduit to move freely.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , where sliding the locking clip on the cradle toward the conduit further comprises
 sliding the locking clip through a locking head, and   engaging a first pair of detents on the locking clip to the locking head.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising sliding the locking clip toward the conduit into a second position that prevents fluid in the conduit to flow freely. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising pressing, by the locking clip, the conduit to stop the fluid from flowing freely.