Luer Receiver and Method for Fluid Transfer

• US 20080048144A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Lynn, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 8,808,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/149.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/153 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of venous or arterial blood, e.g. with syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2044 having slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2062 with directional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0054 Multiple layers
• 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 39/045 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: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

An improved luer lock receiving septum having a configuration which provides rapid and tight resealing and yet allows penetration of the septum by the luer tip with a low penetration force. The elongated septum includes an upper portion of enlarged diameter having a target surface, a central slit, and a central, lower septum extension projecting about the slit below the upper portion and into a housing so that following luer insertion there is provided sufficient room for both the laterally displaced extension of the septum, the luer taper, and the housing to be received into a conventional luer lock connector. The septum is further preferably configured to minimize or eliminate the negative pressure deflection normally associated with the withdrawal of the large diameter luer cannula from an enclosed fluid filled lumen or chamber, by substantially isolating the lumen or chamber from the septum material displacement resultant from luer insertion. In an exemplary embodiment, the luer receiving septum is provided at a port of a stop cock.

Claims

1. A luer receiving valve, for fluid connection with a luer lock connector including a male luer having a distal tip, the luer receiving valve comprising:

a housing defining a proximal portion, a chamber, an inlet and an outlet, the proximal portion being sized to be received into and lockingly engaged within the luer lock connector;

an elastomeric member comprising a septum defining a longitudinal axis and mounted to said housing so as to be disposed at least partially within the inlet, said septum having an proximal portion and a proximal face;

a sealed slit extending at least partially through the septum, the slit being sized to receive at least a portion of said male luer into said septum through said face and through at least a portion of said slit, at least a portion of said septum being displaced lateral to said longitudinal axis by the penetrating male luer when the male luer is advanced into said septum;

the housing being configured to apply an axial force to the elastomeric member to axially displace at least a portion of the elastomeric member, the axial force inducing a radial sealing force to the slit.

2. The luer receiving valve of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the septum proximal portion is displaced axially by the housing.

3. The luer receiving valve of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a proximal end, a portion of the elastomeric member being displaced axially by said end.

4. The luer receiving valve of claim 3, wherein the elastomeric member defines a central portion and a lateral portion, the proximal end of the housing applying an axial force to the lateral portion.

5. The luer receiving valve of claim 1, wherein the axial displacement of the elastomeric member by the housing elongates at least a portion of the elastomeric member.

6. The luer receiving valve of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a distally facing restraining portion, at least a portion of the septum being positioned under the distally facing restraining portion.

7. The luer receiving valve of claim 6, wherein the septum defines a narrow extension projecting distally and the housing defines a distally facing restraining portion, the distally facing restraining portion and the septum being configured to prevent proximal displacement of the extension during proximal displacement of the upper portion such that the septum is stretched by the axial force the axial force being transmitted radially through the septum to the enhance the sealing for the slit.

8. The luer receiving valve of claim 1 wherein the valve further comprises at least one inwardly projecting ledge adjacent the inlet, at least a portion of the septum being seated on the ledge.

9. The luer receiving valve of claim 8 wherein the ledge is configured to restrain the septum against axial displacement during insertion of the luer into the septum.

10. A luer receiving valve for receiving a male luer of a luer lock connector comprising:

a housing having an inlet and a proximal portion sized to be received into the luer lock connector adjacent the inlet, the proximal portion of the housing having inner walls, the housing having a channel for fluid passage; and

an elastomeric member comprising a septum positioned within the channel and having a resealable slit to allow for insertion and penetration of a male luer into the slit, the septum being displaced laterally toward the inner walls by the penetrating insertion of the male luer;

the housing defining a proximally facing surface, the elastomeric member being mounted to the housing such that the septum is displaced axially by the proximally facing surface, the axial displacement at least enhancing the sealing of the the slit.

11. The luer receiving valve of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a distally facing restraining portion, at least a portion of the septum being positioned under the distally facing restraining portion.

12. The luer receiving valve of claim 11, wherein the distally facing restraining portion prevents proximal displacement of the septum in response to the longitudinal force induced by the proximally facing surface such that the septum is stretched and elongated by the axial force.

13. A luer receiving valve for receiving a male luer of a luer lock connector comprising:

a housing defining a longitudinal axis, the housing having a channel for fluid passage; and

an elastomeric member comprising a septum positioned within the channel and having a resealable slit configured to allow the male luer to penetrate into and through at least a portion of the slit;

the housing being configured to apply a longitudinal force to the elastomeric member to longitudinally elongate at least a portion of the elastomeric member, the longitudinal elongation inducing a radial sealing force to the slit.

14. A luer receiving valve, for fluid connection with a luer lock connector including a luer tip, the luer receiving valve comprising:

a housing defining a proximal portion, a chamber, an inlet and an outlet; and

an elastomeric member comprising a septum mounted to said housing so as to be disposed at least partially within the inlet, said septum having an outer face and a sealed slit, said proximal portion being sized to be received into and lockingly engaged with said luer lock connector when said luer tip is advanced against said septum;

the septum having a longitudinal axis, an upper portion with said outer face and an extension portion projecting downwardly from said upper portion, said slit extending from adjacent said outer face through said upper portion and at least partially through said extension portion, the extension portion having a width in a direction transverse to said slit that is less than a transverse width of the upper portion;

the septum and the slit therein being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of said male luer end into the septum through the face and through at least a portion of the slit, at least a portion of the septum being displaced lateral to the longitudinal axis by the luer tip when the luer tip is advanced into the septum to define a displaced septum portion;

the housing applying an axial force to the elastomeric member septum adjacent the inlet to axially displace at least a portion of the elastomeric member, the axial force inducing a radial sealing force to the slit.

15. A method for increasing the radial seal of a slit through an elastomeric member comprising a septum of a luer receiving medical valve the method comprising;

mounting the septum at least partially within a housing so that at least a portion of the elastomeric member is elastically displaced axially by the housing when the septum is at rest within the housing, the elastic displacement inducing a radially directed sealing force along at least a portion of the slit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the housing includes at least one holding member, the method further comprising the step of mounting the septum within the housing so that the holding member restrains at least one portion of the septum against axial displacement so that at least a portion of the septum is elastically stretched by the axial displacement.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the housing defines a proximally facing surface, the method further comprising the step of mounting the elastomeric member to the housing such that a portion of the elastomeric member is displaced axially by the proximally facing surface, the axial displacement radially sealing the slit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the housing includes a distally facing restraining portion, at least a portion of the septum being positioned under the distally facing restraining portion, the method further comprising using the restraining portion to prevent axial displacement of at least a portion of the septum, such that the axial displacement induced by the proximally facing surface causes axial elongation of at least a portion of the septum.