Needle with sealing valve

• US 20050043684A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Voorhees, Earl W. Jr., Basta, Michael, Sanford, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,470,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/164.130
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0606 without 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: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3293 characterised by features of the needle hub

Abstract

A needle assembly having a hollow needle with a pointed distal end and a proximal end is disclosed. The assembly also includes a needle hub having a distal hub end fixedly connected to the needle, a proximal hub end having an opening, and a passageway extending therethrough between the distal end and the proximal end. A valve is disposed within the passageway, wherein the valve comprises a sealing member having at least one through-opening disposed therein and a plunger disposed proximate the sealing member and slidable between a first position wherein the at least one through-opening is closed such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are not in fluid communication with each other and a second position wherein the plunger biases the at least one through-opening to an open position, such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are in fluid communication with each other. A method of using the needle assembly is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A needle assembly comprising:

a hollow needle having a pointed distal end and a proximal end;

a needle hub having a distal hub end fixedly connected to the needle, a proximal hub end having an opening, and a passageway extending therethrough between the distal hub end and the proximal hub end; and

a valve disposed within the passageway, wherein the valve comprises a sealing member having at least one through-opening disposed therein and a plunger disposed proximate the sealing member and slidable between a first position wherein the at least one through-opening is closed such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are not in fluid communication with each other and a second position wherein the plunger biases the at least one through-opening to an open position, such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are in fluid communication with each other.

2. The needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the needle hub comprises a one-piece construction.

3. The needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member and the plunger are both wholly disposed within the passageway.

4. The needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises a support member disposed in the passageway between the plunger and the needle hub.

5. The needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the needle hub further comprises a longitudinal axis extending therethrough.

6. The needle assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seal is generally disposed about the longitudinal axis.

7. The needle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a bulb releasably connected to the proximal end of the needle hub.

8. A method of inserting a guide wire into a blood vessel comprising:

providing the needle assembly according to claim 1;

providing a body having a luer connector extending therefrom;

providing a guide wire having a distal end;

releasably connecting the body to the proximal end of the hub, wherein the luer connector disposes the plunger in a distal direction, wherein the plunger biases the at least one through-opening from a closed position to an open position;

inserting the pointed distal end of the needle into the blood vessel;

confirming proper placement of the needle in the blood vessel by drawing blood into the body;

removing the body from the needle assembly, wherein the luer connector is disposed away from the plunger, wherein the sealing member biases the plunger in a proximal direction, and wherein the at least one through-opening returns to the closed position;

inserting the distal end of the guide wire into the passageway, through the at least one through-opening, through the hollow needle and into the blood vessel; and

removing the needle assembly from the blood vessel by sliding the needle assembly proximally along the guide wire.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein providing the body comprises providing a syringe.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein providing the body comprises providing a bulb.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising connecting a syringe to the bulb.

12. A needle assembly comprising:

a hollow needle having a pointed distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end;

a needle hub having a distal hub end fixedly connected to the needle, a proximal hub end having an opening, and a passageway extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis between the distal hub end and the proximal hub end; and

a valve disposed within the passageway, wherein the valve comprises a sealing member having at least one through-opening disposed along the longitudinal axis and a plunger disposed proximate the sealing member and slidable between a first position wherein the at least one through-opening is closed such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are not in fluid communication with each other and a second position wherein the plunger biases the at least one through-opening to an open position, such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are in fluid communication with each other.

13. The needle assembly according to claim 12, wherein the needle hub comprises a one-piece construction.

14. The needle assembly according to claim 12, wherein the sealing member and the plunger are both wholly disposed within the passageway.

15. The needle assembly according to claim 12, wherein the valve further comprises a support member disposed in the passageway between the plunger and the needle hub.

16. The needle assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a bulb releasably connected to the proximal end of the needle hub.

17. A combination passageway and valve comprising:

a passageway comprising;

a first end;

a second end;

a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;

a passage fluidly communicating the first end and the second end; and

a wall forming the passageway; and

a valve disposed in the passage between the first end and the second end, wherein the valve comprises;

a sealing member having at least one through-opening disposed along the longitudinal axis; and

a plunger disposed proximate the sealing member and slidable between a first position wherein the at least one through-opening is closed such that the first end and the second end are not in fluid communication with each other and a second position wherein the plunger biases the at least one through-opening to an open position, such that the first end and the second end are in fluid communication with each other.

18. The combination passageway and valve according to claim 17, wherein the valve further comprises a support member disposed in the passage between the plunger and the wall.