Medical valve with fluid escape space

• US 20060200086A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George A. Lopez
• Original Assignee: George A. Lopez
• Inventors: Lopez, George A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/10 Coring prevention means, e.g. for plug or septum piecing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/262 having a fluid space within the valve remaining the same upon connection and disconnection, i.e. neutral-drawback valve
• 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 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24

Abstract

A medical valve has a body and a flexible element. The body includes a wall structure defining an internal cavity having an inside and an outside. The body also has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has an opening sufficiently large to receive a tip of a delivery end of a medical implement which transfers fluid through the delivery end. The body has a fluid escape space in its wall structure. The flexible element is adapted to be moved into a compressed state upon insertion of the tip of the medical implement into the opening. The flexible element is sufficiently resilient to return to a decompressed state upon removal of the tip of the medical implement from the opening. The fluid escape space is in fluid communication with the outside of the cavity when the seal is in its compressed state.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a first liquid through a medical valve, said valve comprising a body having an outer surface and an inner surface, said body having an access end and a patient end, said access end having an opening configured to receive a medical implement spout, and a seal within the cavity of said body, said seal having an outer surface, which, together with the inner surface of the body, generally defines an internal cavity, said valve containing a second liquid in said internal cavity, said body further including a liquid escape space leading from said internal cavity to said out surface of said body, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a medical implement spout into the opening in the access end of said body;

compressing said seal toward the patient end of the body by applying a force to the medical implement;

causing said second liquid to egress from said internal cavity through said liquid escape space; and

transferring said first liquid through said medical valve.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said liquid escape space comprises at least one groove in said body and wherein causing said second liquid to egress from said internal cavity further comprises expelling said second liquid through said at least one groove.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one groove extends from said access end of said body toward said patient end of said body and wherein causing said second liquid to egress from said internal cavity through said liquid escape space further comprises causing said second liquid to move generally from the patient end of the body and egress from the access end of the body.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one groove extends from said access end of said body toward said patient end of said body and wherein causing said second liquid to egress from said internal cavity through said liquid escape space further comprises causing said second liquid to move generally non-parallel to the outer surface of said body and egress at an angle generally non-parallel to the spout.

5. A method of transferring a first liquid, comprising the steps of:

inserting a spout of a medical implement containing a first liquid into an opening in a proximal end of a body of a medical valve, said body including a wall structure defining an internal cavity having an inside and an outside;

compressing a seal located within said cavity of said body in a direction away from said spout by applying a force to the medical implement;

expelling a second liquid from said cavity of said body to a point outside said cavity through a liquid escape space in said body of said valve, wherein said liquid escape space places the outside of said body and a space between said wall structure and said seal in fluid communication even when said spout is inserted into the opening and the seal is compressed; and

forcing said first liquid through said spout and through said medical valve.