Medical valve and method of use

• US 20060200091A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George A. Lopez
• Original Assignee: George A. Lopez
• Inventors: Lopez, George A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,717,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/10 Coring prevention means, e.g. for plug or septum piecing members
• 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 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• 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: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 2/00 Non-electric light sources using luminescence using excitation by radioactivity G21H3/02, H01J65/06, H01J65/08; using excitation by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation H01J65/04; Light sources using electrochemiluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A closed system, needleless valve device includes a generally tubular body defining an internal cavity. On the proximal end of the body there is an opening which is preferably sufficiently large to receive an ANSI standard tip of a medical implement. The distal end of the body has a generally tubular skirt. The valve also includes a hollow spike having a closed tip. The spike includes at least one longitudinal 18-gauge hole located distal the tip, and is seated inside the cavity such that the tip is below the proximal end of the body. An annular support cuff is connected to the spike which seals off a portion of the cavity of the body such that an upper cavity containing the tip is defined. The valve also includes a plastic, resilient silicone seal which fills the upper cavity and opening and covers the tip of the spike so as to present a flush surface. An adaptor enables the valve to be attached to a resealable container.

Claims

1. A medial valve, comprising:

a housing comprising a first portion having a proximal end including an opening configured to receive a delivery end of a first medical implement, a second portion having a distal end including internal threads and a downwardly extending tube, and an internal cavity, the housing further comprising a first region positioned near the proximal end having a first cross-sectional width, a second region positioned in a distal direction from the first region having a second cross-sectional width , the second cross-sectional width being larger than the first cross-sectional width;

a seal element comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an internal cavity, and an external surface comprising a radially outwardly extending portion, wherein an outward portion of the outwardly extending portion is positioned between the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing to secure the radially outwardly extending portion with a tight fit, the seal element adapted to move from a first position in which the proximal end of the seal element is positioned adjacent the opening of the housing to a second position in which the proximal end of the seal element is positioned in a distal direction from its location in the first position, the proximal end of the seal element further comprising an orifice extending between an external surface of the seal element and the internal cavity of the seal element, the orifice being in an open position when fluid is permitted to flow through the valve and being in a closed position when fluid is not permitted to flow through the valve.