Medical valve with positive flow characteristics

• US 20060276758A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas F. Fangrow Jr
• Original Assignee: Thomas F. Fangrow Jr
• Inventors: Fangrow, Thomas F. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/418,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0205 for injecting media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0258 for vascular access, e.g. blood stream access
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/027 having a particular valve, seal or septum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/263 where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 Access sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/06 Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof
• 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 valve for selectively permitting a fluid flow between first and second medical implements is disclosed. The valve has a housing with an interface suitable for receiving a connector portion of a first medical device such as a catheter, and a seal made of a flexible material. The seal has a first end in fluid communication with the interface, a second end suitable for receiving the second medical device, and at least one slit in fluid communication with the first end and the second end. The slit defines a restricted fluid flow path and a relatively small interior volume when in an undisturbed state, defines an expanded fluid flow path and a larger interior volume upon the introduction of the second medical instrument into the slit, and retracts to define a restricted flow path and a small interior volume upon the withdrawal of the second medical device from the seal.

Claims

1. A medical valve for selectively permitting fluid to flow between a first medical device and a second medical device, the valve comprising:

a housing having an interface suitable for receiving a connector portion of the first medical device, the housing having an upstream end, a downstream end, and an outer surface, the outer surface of the housing being generally cylindrical with a curved profile having a maximum diameter near the upstream end and the downstream end and a minimum diameter between the upstream end and the downstream end, the housing comprising an outer layer of a soft, pliant material disposed over the outer surface; and

a seal element having a downstream end in fluid communication with the interface, an upstream end suitable for receiving the second medical device, and a normally substantially closed passage in fluid communication with the downstream end and the upstream end;

the seal element comprising;

a body made of flexible material and having a downstream end and an upstream end opposite the downstream end;

a lead lumen formed in the downstream end of the body and in fluid communication with the passage;

a neck formed at the upstream end of the body; and

a transverse flange at an end of the neck opposite the body, the transverse flange having at least one opening in fluid communication with the passage.