Medical valve

• US 20020193752A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn
• Original Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn
• Inventors: Lynn, Lawrence A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,470,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/153 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of venous or arterial blood, e.g. with syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2044 having slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2062 with directional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0054 Multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/263 where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 Access sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A medical valve comprises a housing having an inlet end and a fluid outlet end, and a flexible elastomeric plug defining an upper face. At least a portion of the plug is moveable along said housing in response to the application of a male luer against said upper face. The plug defines an elastomeric flow path within said plug. The flow path defines a distal aperture. The luer displaces at least a portion of the elastomeric plug in a first direction along said housing and the displacing force distorts the plug increasing the volume of the flow path within the plug and enlarge at least a portion of the fluid flow path between said upper face of the plug and outlet end. When the male luer is withdrawn the plug returns to its original shape and thereby elastically decreases the volume of said flow path, to cause at least a portion of residual fluid in said flow path to be expelled through the distal aperture so that at least a portion of the residual fluid within the elastomeric plug is expelled in a different direction then the direction of luer withdrawal. In one embodiment the flow path exits the plug along its lateral wall

Claims

1. A medical valve comprising a tubular housing having an inlet end and a fluid outlet end, and a flexible elastomeric plug defining an upper face, at least a portion of the plug being moveable along said housing in response to the application of a displacing member against said upper face, said plug defining an elastomeric flow path within said plug said flow path terminating in a distal aperture, said displacing member displacing at least a portion of said plug in a first direction along said housing, said displacing force further distorting said plug to increase the volume of the interior flow path of said plug and enlarge at least a portion of said fluid flow path between said upper face of said plug and outlet end, and in response to retraction of said displacing member said plug moving in a direction along said housing opposite said first direction to elastically decrease the volume of said flow path and to cause at least a portion of residual fluid in said flow path to be expelled from said flow path out said distal aperture..

2. A medical valve as in claim 1 further comprising said plug defining a longitudinal axis, said plug being compressed by said displacing member to increase the width of said flow path transverse to said longitudinal axis.

3. A medical valve as in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said elastomeric flow path comprises a deformable slit along said plug.

4. A medical valve as in claim 3 wherein said slit is closed when said face is positioned adjacent said inlet.

5. A medical valve as in claim 1 wherein said inlet is sized to receive at least a portion of said displacing member.

6. A medical valve as in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric plug includes an upper face positioned adjacent said inlet.

7. The medical valve as in claim 3 wherein said plug defines a lateral wall, said slit extending to an aperture extending through the lateral wall.

8. A medical valve as in claim 1 wherein said displacing member is a male luer said inlet being sized to receive at least a portion of said male luer.

9. A valve as in claim 1 further including a contact member adjacent said plug, said elastomeric plug being intermediate said displacing member and said contact member when said displacing member is advanced into said inlet.

10. A medical valve as in claim 9 wherein said contact member is connected with said housing.

11. A medical valve as in claim 9 wherein said contact member is integral with said housing.

12. A medical valve as in claim 9 wherein said plug is elongated along said longitudinal axis and a defines a length said length being shortened by deformation of said plug between said displacing member and said contact member said shortening of said plug deforming said slit to open said slit and thereby increase the interior volume of said flow path.

15. The medical valve of claim 14 wherein:

the housing comprises a tubular chamber and a central opening sized to receive a portion of a displacing member; and

the reseal member is disposed within the central opening.

16. The medical valve of claim 15 wherein:

the reseal member is deformable such that the application of compressive pressure thereto via the insertion of the displacing member into the central opening facilitates the movement thereof to the second position whereat the aperture is opened, and the removal of the compressive pressure therefrom via the withdrawal of the displacing member from within the central opening facilitates return thereof to the first position whereat the aperture is closed and the reservoir is contracted to force at least a portion of any fluid retained therein out the distal aperture.

19. The valve of claim 18, wherein said perforation is a slit.

20. The valve of claim 18, wherein said elastomeric member is elongated to define a longitudinal axis, said slit extending along said axis.

21. The valve of claim 18, wherein said slit extends through said elastomeric member adjacent said distal end.

22. The valve of claim 18, wherein said distal end is configured to define a narrow distal tip for compression against said contact member.

23. The valve of claim 18, wherein said slit extends through said elastomeric member adjacent said distal end.

24. The valve of claim 18, wherein said perforation extends through said member adjacent said distal end.

25. The valve of claim 18, wherein said contact member is rigid.

26. The valve of claim 18, wherein said contact member is mounted adjacent said bore.

27. The valve as in claim 1 wherein said member is compressed in a longitudinal direction by said male luer.

28. The valve as in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric member defines a lateral wall, said aperture being positioned adjacent the lateral wall.

13. A needleless valve comprising a tubular housing having an inlet end for receiving a male luer, a fluid outlet end, and a flexible plug having a central flow path and defining an upper face adjacent said inlet and a distal aperture, at least one portion of said plug being displaceable along said housing in response to the application of a displacing force against said upper face by said male luer, said at least one portion being displaced by said male luer in a first direction along and cooperating with said housing to deform said plug and increase the volume of the flow path of said plug and further open a fluid flow path between said male luer and said outlet end, said plug, in response to withdrawal of said male luer from said inlet end, moving in a direction along said housing opposite said first direction to decrease the volume of said flow path, and to close said flow path between said inlet and outlet ends and to further cause at least a portion of said residual fluid in said flow path to be expelled from said valve through said distal aperture.

14. An medical valve for controlling, upon the advancement and withdrawal of a displacing member, the flow of a fluid between a fluid reservoir and a patient, the valve comprising:

a housing having an inlet and a fluid outlet, a flow passage, and an elastomeric reseal member disposed within the housing and movable along said flow passage, said reseal member having an proximal face and a distal aperture, and movable between a first position whereat flow through the reseal is obstructed thereby and a second position whereat fluid is permitted to flow through the reseal and through the flow passage; and

an expandable and contractible reservoir disposed within the reseal and adapted to retain a volume of fluid when expanded;

the reseal member being cooperatively engaged to the housing such that the movement of the reseal member to the second position allows the reservoir to be filled with fluid, and the movement of the reseal member to the first position facilitates the contraction of the reservoir and the forcing of at least a portion of any fluid retained therein out the distal aperture.

17. A medical fluid administration system for use in cooperation with a displacing member and for controlling the flow of fluid between a fluid reservoir and a fluid line, said system comprising a body having a cavity in communication with a fluid line and a proximal opening adapted to receive a displacing member, said body including a contact member, said system including a sealed piston positioned within said body intermediate said contact member and said proximal opening, said piston defining a flow path having a seal, said piston being movable by said displacing member between a first position in which said seal prevents fluid flow through said piston and a second position in which fluid flow is permitted through said piston, advancement of said displacing member along said body pressing said piston against said contact member, said piston being deformed between said contact member and said displacing member, said piston including a flow space through the interior of said piston, which automatically and reversibly increases in size upon said deformation, and which contracts in size when said compressing force is relieved by retraction of said displacing member, so that fluid can flow through said flow path in contact with said interior of said piston when said piston is deformed by said displacing member and is prevented from flowing when said deformation is relieved..

18. A luer receiving medical valve for selectively opening and closing medicinal fluid communication, the valve comprising:

a. a flexible elastomeric member having a proximal end and a distal end and further having a sealed perforation at least partially through said member;

b. a housing defining an inlet defining a bore for receiving said male luer, said elastomeric member being mounted adjacent said inlet, said bore having a longitudinal axis, said member being sized such that at least a portion of said elastomeric member is displaceable along the longitudinal axis of said bore when said luer is advanced into said inlet;

c. a contact member adjacent said elastomeric member, said elastomeric member being positioned intermediate said contact member and said inlet, said member being elastically deformed intermediate said male luer and said contact member when at least a portion of said elastomeric member is pressed against said contact member by advancement of said male luer along said bore, said deformation being transmitted through said piston to deform and open said perforation without penetration of said contact member into said perforation;

d. said elastomeric member rebounding to close said perforation when said elastomeric member is free from compressive force induced by said luer, so that fluid may flow through said perforation in contact with said member when said elastomeric member is compressed by said male luer but fluid is prevented from flowing through said perforation when said elastomeric member is free from compressive force by said male luer.