Vascular access device

• US 20040127853A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glade H. Howell
• Original Assignee: Glade H. Howell
• Inventors: Howell, Glade H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,691,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/167.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0613 with means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0693 including means for seal penetration
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1825 for check valves with flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7771 Bi-directional flow valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7877 With means for retaining external means in bias opposing position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7881 Apertured plate

Abstract

A vascular access device having a spring-biased septum is provided for preventing the leakage of blood during the placement and use of vascular catheters and similar devices. The structure of the device includes a housing with an internal channel. A spring-biased septum is placed securely within the channel such that it substantially blocks blood flow through the channel. The spring-biased septum includes an elastic plug having a pre-slit or pre-molded hole and a biasing element disposed about the elastic plug. A needle or other object may be withdrawn through the slit or hole, after which the biasing element forces the hole closed, preventing blood leakage.

Claims

1. A septum and needle assembly comprising:

a needle having a proximal end and a distal end with an opening at the proximal end, wherein the needle defines a notch therein adjacent to the distal end, and wherein a notch distance is defined as the distance between a proximal end of the notch and a distal end of the opening in the distal end of the needle;

a housing; and

a septum disposed in the housing and having a length greater than the notch distance, wherein the needle is slidingly disposed within the septum.

2. The septum and needle assembly of claim 1 wherein a slit is disposed within the septum and the needle is slidingly disposed within the slit.

3. The septum and needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tube attached to and in fluid communication with the housing.

4. The septum and needle assembly of claim 3 further comprising a female adapter attached to the tube.

5. The septum and needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a biasing element operably engaged to the septum, urging the septum to a closed condition.

6. The septum and needle assembly of claim 5 wherein the biasing element is a C-shaped clip.

7. The septum and needle assembly of claim 6 wherein the septum has a dumbbell shape and the C-shaped clip is directly engaged to the septum.

8. A vascular access device including:

a catheter;

a housing in fluid connection with the catheter;

a septum disposed within the housing and having a length;

a needle slidingly disposed with respect to the catheter, the needle having a proximal end and a distal end with an opening at the proximal end, wherein the needle defines a notch therein adjacent to the distal end, and wherein a notch distance is defined as the distance between a proximal end of the notch and a distal end of the opening in the distal end of the needle;

a finger grip attached to the needle at its proximal end;

wherein the length of the septum is greater than the notch distance.

9. The vascular access device of claim 8 wherein the septum includes an elastic plug disposed in the housing and having a proximal end, a distal end, an outside longitudinal surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a slit disposed longitudinally through the elastic plug.

10. The vascular access device of claim 9 further comprising a biasing element disposed in the housing about the elastic plug and in contact with the outside longitudinal surface of the plug, wherein the biasing element is in a single fixed location with respect to the housing and continuously exerts a biasing force on the plug.

11. The vascular access device of claim 9 wherein said elastic plug further comprises an annular groove disposed in the outer surface of the plug.

12. The vascular access device of claim 9 further comprising a biasing element disposed in the housing about the elastic plug and in contact with the outside longitudinal surface of the plug, wherein the biasing element is in a single fixed location with respect to the housing and continuously exerts a biasing force on the plug, wherein said elastic plug further comprises an annular groove disposed in the outer surface of the plug and wherein the biasing element is placed in contact with the annular groove.

13. A catheter assembly, comprising:

a catheter;

an adapter connected to the catheter, the adapter defining a cavity therein;

an elastic plug disposed in the adapter and defining a length, a circumference and a slit disposed longitudinally through the elastic plug;

a biasing element disposed in the adapter about the elastic plug and in contact with the circumference at a permanently fixed position; and

a removable needle extending through the slit, the needle having a proximal end and a distal end with an opening at the proximal end, wherein the needle defines a notch therein adjacent to the distal end, and wherein a notch distance is defined as the distance between a proximal end of the notch and a distal end of the opening in the distal end of the needle.

14. The catheter assembly of claim 13 wherein the biasing element exerts a radially directed compressive force against the outside longitudinal surface of the elastic plug.

15. The catheter assembly of claim 13 wherein the biasing element does not extend completely about the circumference.

16. The catheter assembly of claim 13 wherein the elastic plug is mounted to the adapter at a fixed axial position.

17. The catheter assembly of claim 13 wherein the biasing element is a C-shaped clip.

18. The catheter assembly of of claim 13 wherein the elastomeric plug has a dumbbell shape.

19. The catheter assembly of claim 13 further comprising a tube in fluid communication with the adapter and a finger grip attached to the needle at its proximal end.

20. The catheter assembly of claim 19 wherein the biasing element is a c-shaped clip that does not extend completely about the circumference of the elastic plug but does exerts a radially directed compressive force against the outside longitudinal surface of the elastic plug.