Injection port valve

• US 20040195538A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B Braun Medical Incorporated (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: B Braun Medical Incorporated (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Peppel, Peter W., Bartholomew, Joel M., Raines, Kenneth C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,871,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/149.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/266 where the valve comprises venting channels, e.g. to insure better connection, to help decreasing the fluid space upon disconnection, or to help the fluid space to remain the same during disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24

Abstract

Injection port valves are generally discussed herein and more particularly to port valves that have a valve housing with a nozzle having an inlet opening, a body section, a skirt section, an interior cavity, and a valve seat at an intersection of the first nozzle and the body section in the interior cavity. A piston may be positioned within the interior cavity of the valve housing having a body section having an exterior surface, an upper piston section, a seal surface, and a piston cavity, and wherein the body section includes a wall layer that emits lubricant from within the wall layer to the exterior surface. A nut, which may be a Luer nut, having a flow passage in communication with a discharge nozzle having a discharge lumen may be attached to an end of the skirt section of the valve housing to thereafter connect to an infusion line. A spring can be positioned within the piston cavity and abutting against the nut, wherein when used, the spring being in a first position when the seal surface of the piston is abutted against the valve seat of the valve housing, and the spring being in a second position when the seal surface of the piston is separated from the valve seat.

Claims

1. An injection port valve comprising:

a valve housing comprising a first nozzle having an inlet opening, a body section, a skirt section, an interior cavity, and a valve seat located in the interior cavity;

a piston positioned within the interior cavity of the valve housing, the piston comprising a body section having an exterior surface, a seal surface, and a piston cavity, wherein the body section comprises a wall layer that emits liquid silicone from within the wall layer to the exterior surface, and wherein the seal surface is abutted against the valve seat of the valve housing;

a nut comprising a flow passage in communication with a discharge nozzle comprising a discharge lumen attached to an end of the skirt section of the valve housing; and

wherein the inlet opening of the first nozzle is in fluid communication with the discharge lumen of the discharge nozzle when the seal surface is spaced apart from the valve seat.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the first nozzle comprises male threads.

3. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a plug and a spirng positioned in the piston cavity of the piston.

4. The valve of claim 1, wherein the nut is a Luer nut.

5. The valve of claim 1, wherein the nut comprises a skirt section, and wherein the skirt section and the discharge nozzle cooperate to engage an infusion line.

6. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a second nozzle having a second inlet opening and a second nozzle axis, and wherein the second nozzle axis is positioned at angle of about 25 degrees to about 65 degrees from a first axis of the first nozzle.

7. The valve of claim 6, wherein the second nozzle defines a second lumen and wherein the second lumen is in liquid communication with the discharge lumen of the discharge nozzle.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the nut further comprises a radially extending flange, and wherein the radially extending flange is welded to the end of the skirt section.

9. The valve of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity of the valve housing comprises a plurality of flow channels.

10. The valve of claim 3, wherein the plug comprises a head section and wherein the head section comprises a plurality of flow channels.

11. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a resilient member positioned within the piston cavity, and wherein the resilient member biases the seal surface of the piston against the valve seat of the valve housing.

12. The valve of claim 1, wherein the piston comprises an interior surface and wherein the wall layer emits liquid silicone from within the wall layer to the interior surface.

13. A method for making an injection port valve comprising:

forming a piston assembly, wherein the piston assembly comprises a piston having a body section having an exterior surface, a seal surface, and a piston cavity, wherein the piston is made by mixing a two-part liquid silicone rubber material together to form the body section, and wherein the body section comprises a wall having a wall thickness that emits liquid silicone from within the wall to the exterior surface;

installing the piston assembly into an interior cavity of a valve housing, the valve housing comprising a cylinder end and a valve seat;

wherein the seal surface is seated against the valve seat; and

installing a nut comprising a plurality of flow passages and a discharge nozzle proximate the cylinder end of the valve housing.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a plug and a spring positioned in the piston cavity.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of gluing or welding a radially extending flange section of the nut with the cylinder end of the valve housing.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising forming a vent hole in the nut for venting trapped air from within the piston assembly.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the valve housing comprises a first nozzle having a first nozzle axis and a second nozzle having a second nozzle axis.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the interior cavity of the valve housing further comprises a first set of flow channels positioned above a second set of flow channels.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the plug comprises a plurality of flow passages.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the two-part liquid silicone rubber material comprises a first part comprising a noble metal catalyst based on platinum or a combination of palladium and rhodium, and a second part comprising a silicone hydride-functional cross-linker with polydimethyl siloxane polymer and fluorosilicone fluid.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising a resilient member positioned within the piston cavity, and wherein the resilient member biases the seal surface against the valve seat.

22. An injection port valve comprising:

a piston positioned inside a valve housing, the piston comprises a wall having a wall surface that emits medical lubricant from within the wall to the wall surface when the piston is compressed;

a Luer nut attached to an opening of the valve housing, the Luer nut comprising a flow passage and a discharge nozzle defining a port; and

wherein the valve housing further comprises a first nozzle defining an inlet opening, and wherein the inlet opening, the flow passage, and the port of the discharge nozzle are in fluid communication when a syringe tip is inserted into the inlet opening.

23. The valve of claim 22, wherein the piston is made by injection molding a two-part liquid silicone rubber material into a mold.

24. The valve of claim 22, wherein the piston is made by the process of forming a homogeneous sheet silicone and then cutting and forming a section of the homogeneous sheet that can be fed into a heated compression or a transfer mold.

25. The valve of claim 22, wherein the first nozzle comprises male threads.

26. The valve of claim 22, wherein the Luer nut comprises a threaded skirt section.

27. The valve of claim 22, further comprising a second nozzle positioned at an angle relative to the first nozzle.

28. The valve of claim 22, wherein the inside of the valve housing comprises a plurality of flow channels.

29. The valve of claim 22, wherein the inside of the valve housing comprises a first set of upper flow channels and a second different set of lower flow channels.

30. The valve of claim 22, further comprising a spring positioned within an interior piston cavity.

31. The valve of claim 27, wherein the second nozzle is in constant fluid communication with the port of the discharge nozzle.

32. The valve of claim 22, wherein the medical lubricant comprises liquid silicone.

33. The valve of claim 22, wherein the Luer nut comprises a second flow passage.