Needleless access port valves

• US 20060217671A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 Access sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24

Abstract

Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves having a pliant valve housing interacting with an inlet connector assembly. The pliant valve housing has an integrally formed valve stem and one or more ports. The valve stem cooperates with a nozzle on the inlet connector assembly to form a slip port, which can open when exerted by force to permit flow or closes when the force is removed.

Claims

1. A needleless injection port valve comprising an inlet connector assembly comprising a nozzle comprising an inlet lumen;

a valve housing comprising at least one port and an integrally molded valve stem positioned at an angle to the at least one port;

the valve stem comprising a hollow interior cavity in constant fluid communication with ambient air;

wherein the inlet connector assembly is secured to the valve housing and the valve stem projects, at least in part, through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly.

2. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, wherein the valve housing comprises a second port.

3. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, wherein the valve housing is made from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.

4. The needleless injection port valve of claim 3, wherein the TPE is a copolyamide thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The needle less injection port valve of claim 1, wherein the inlet connector assembly is made from a plastic material.

6. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, wherein the integrally molded valve stem comprises a generally flat upper surface.

7. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, wherein the integrally molded valve stem comprises an upper top surface having a plurality of protrusions defining flow paths.

8. The needleless injection port valve of claim. 1, wherein the inlet connector assembly is welded to the valve housing.

9. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, wherein the inlet connector assembly comprises a collar.

10. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, wherein the inlet connector assembly comprises a return guide.

11. The needleless injection port valve of claim 10, wherein the return guide comprises a tapered surface.

12. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, further comprising a deflection rib positioned on an exterior surface of the at least one port.

13. The needleless injection port valve of claim 2, further comprising a deflection rib positioned on an exterior surface of the at least one port and on an exterior surface of the second port.

14. The needleless injection port valve of claim 13, further comprising an emergency access port located proximate the deflection rib on the at least one port or the second port.

15. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, wherein the inlet connector assembly comprises a plurality of external threads.

16. The needleless injection port valve of claim 15, further comprising at least one interference rib interposed between the external threads.

17. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder positioned in the inlet lumen of the nozzle.

18. The needless injection port valve of claim 1, further comprising flow channels in the inlet lumen of the nozzle.

19. A needleless injection port valve comprising an inlet connector assembly comprising a nozzle comprising an inlet lumen;

a valve housing comprising at least one port and an integrally molded valve stem positioned at an angle to the at least one port;

the valve stem comprising a hollow interior cavity and at least one rib positioned in the hollow interior cavity for reinforcing a section of the valve stem;

wherein the valve stem projects, at least in part, through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly and the inlet connector assembly is secured to the valve housing along a sealing seam.

20. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the valve housing comprises a second port.

21. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the valve housing is made from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.

22. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the hollow interior cavity is in constant fluid communication with ambient air.

23. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, further comprising a curvilinear base disposed in between the valve stem and the valve housing.

24. The needleless injection port valve of claim 23, wherein the curvilinear base bulges outwardly when the valve stem moves from a first position to a second position.

25. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the inlet connector assembly is made from a plastic material.

26. The needleless injection port valve of claim 25, wherein the rigid plastic is polycarbonate.

27. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the integrally molded valve stem comprises a generally flat upper surface.

28. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the integrally molded valve stem comprises a top surface having a plurality of protrusions defining flow paths.

29. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the inlet connector assembly is welded to the valve housing.

30. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the inlet connector assembly comprises a return guide.

31. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the return guide comprises a tapered surface.

32. The needleless injection port valve of claim 20, further comprising a deflection rib positioned on an exterior surface of the at least one port and of the second port.

33. The needleless injection port valve of claim 20, further comprising an emergency access port located on at least one of the second port or the at least one port.

34. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, further comprising a shoulder positioned in the inlet lumen of the nozzle.

35. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, further comprising flow channels in the inlet lumen of the nozzle.

36. The needleless injection port valve of claim 19, wherein the inlet connector assembly is welded to the valve housing along the sealing seam.

39. The method for supplying fluid through a needleless injection port valve of claim 36, further comprising moving the valve stem from a first position to a second position when the medical implement is inserted through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly.

40. The method for supplying fluid through a needleless injection port valve of claim 39, wherein the valve stem automatically returns to the first position upon removal of the medical implement.

37. A method for supplying fluid through a needleless injection port valve comprising:

(1) providing a valve, the valve comprising;

(a) an inlet connector assembly comprising a nozzle comprising an inlet lumen;

(b) a valve housing comprising at least one port and an integrally molded valve stem positioned at an angle to the at least one port;

the valve stem comprising a hollow interior cavity and a rib positioned in the hollow interior cavity for reinforcing a section of the valve stem;

(c) the valve stem projects, at least in part, through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly and the inlet connector assembly is secured to the valve housing along a sealing seam;

(2) inserting a male end of a medical implement through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly; and

(3) injecting fluid from the medical implement through the inlet lumen.

38. The method for supplying fluid through a needleless injection port valve of claim 37, wherein the inlet connector assembly is welded to the valve housing along the sealing seam.