MEDICAL VALVE AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20060264891A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Lopez, George A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,717,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• 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 method of establishing a fluid flow path through a medical connector having a housing with a hollow interior and a proximal end and a distal end, comprising:

positioning a seal element at least partially within the interior, the seal element having a proximal end and a distal end and a wall with inner and outer surfaces defining an internal cavity of the seal element, the seal having a first position in which the proximal end of the seal element is substantially closed, obstructing fluid flow through the connector, at least a portion of the seal element near the seal element proximal end contacting a surface of the interior of the housing near the housing proximal end in the first position, and at least one of the surfaces having alternating radially inwardly and radially outwardly extending surfaces, the seal element having a second position configured to permit fluid flow through the connector, the seal element further having a first axial height H1 when in the first position and a second axial height H2 when the seal in the second position;

moving the seal distally within the housing interior by inserting a medical implement having an end through the proximal end of the housing into the interior of the housing, the end of the medical implement contacting the seal solely at the proximal end of the seal element upon insertion of the implement in the interior of the housing;

changing the height of the seal element from H1 to H2, where H1 is greater than H2; and

establishing fluid flow through the housing.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the positioning step further comprises the step of positioning the proximal end of the seal element substantially flush with the proximal end of the medical connector.