Effectiveness of Needleless Vial Adaptors and Blunt Cannulas for Drug Administration in a Microgravity EnvironmentFluid Isolation in the medication vial: Air/ fluid isolation maneuvers were used to move the medication to the septum end of vial. This isolation may be achieved in multiple ways based on the experience of the astronaut with fluid management in microgravity. If vial adaptors/blunt cannula or syringe assembly is inserted into the to vial before fluid isolation commences, the stability of this assembly should be considered in an effort to limit the risk of "slinging off" of the vial during isolation. Alternatively, fluid isolation can be performed prior to attaching the syringe/vial adaptor assembly. Terrestrial practices for medication withdrawal from a nonvented vial require injection of an equivalent amount of air as the expected medication volume prior to withdrawing liquid. In microgravity, this action is still valid, however the injection of additional air into the vial creates a multitude of micro bubbles and increases the volume of medication mixed with air that then must be withdrawn to achieve the desired drug volume in syringe. This practice is more likely to be required when using vials >30ml in size and injection volumes >10mL. It is felt that based on the microgravity flight, the practice of air injection is more of a hindrance than help.
Document ID
20100018590
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hailey, M. (Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Bayuse, T. (Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
May 9, 2010
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-20579
Meeting Information
Meeting: 81st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association