Medical valve and method of use

• US 20060206059A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• 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 7,717,887 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 2039/262 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, a second portion, and an internal cavity, the first portion having a proximal end including an opening, the first portion configured to receive a delivery end of a first medical implement, the second portion of the housing having a distal end including internal threads and a downwardly extending tube, a first region of the internal cavity positioned near the proximal end of the first portion of the housing and having at least a first cross-sectional width, a second region of the internal cavity in a distal direction from the first region having at least a 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, an external surface, and a radially outwardly extending portion, 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 and 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 fills essentially completely the opening of the housing and further comprises an orifice extending between an external surface of the proximal end of the seal element and the internal cavity of the seal element, the orifice configured to facilitate fluid flow through the valve when the seal element is in the second position, wherein an outward portion of the radially outwardly extending portion is positioned between the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing; and

a rigid element positioned within the internal cavity of the seal element, the rigid element configured to assist in maintaining the position of the seal element when the seal element moves from the first position to the second position.