EXTRAVASCULAR SYSTEM VENTING

• US 20080287906A1
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Burkholz, Jonathan Karl, Stout, Marty L., Harding, Weston F., Cindrich, Christopher N., Kommireddy, Dinesh S., Christensen, Kelly D., Powell, Wade A., Hillman, Jason, Stokes, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,377,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/205 comprising air venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters

Abstract

A vascular access device may form part of an extravascular system and function as an adapter including a gas permeable vent. A method of venting a medical device may include providing a vascular access device as part of an extravascular system, providing a gas permeable vent within the vascular access device, venting gas from the system through the vent, and closing the vent.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a vascular access device, wherein the vascular access device forms part of an extravascular system and is an adapter for at least two other vascular access devices, wherein the adapter includes;

a gas permeable vent, wherein at least a portion of the vent remains with the adapter after the vent is closed.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least two other vascular access devices includes at least one catheter.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a removable vent plug secured to a ventable end cap, wherein the ventable end cap seals to close the vent and remains on the adapter after the removable vent plug is removed from the adapter.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a gas flow path that is replaced by a fluid flow path when the vent is closed.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a pull tab, a ventable material in communication with the pull tab, and a seal in removable communication with the pull tab.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a microfiber material.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a first porous plug and a second porous plug, wherein the first porous plug is separated from the second porous plug by an air space.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent closes upon insertion of a portion of a Luer into the adapter.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent closes upon insertion of a portion of a Luer access device into the adapter.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent closes upon actuation of a valve.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a rigid and porous conical plug, and wherein the plug is displaced upon insertion of the tip of a Luer into the adapter.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent closes upon actuation of a one-way ratcheting mechanism.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a hydrophobic structure that is displaced when the adapter is accessed by an other vascular access device.

14. A method of venting a medical device, comprising:

providing a vascular access device, wherein the vascular access device forms part of an extravascular system and is an adapter for at least two other vascular access devices;

providing a gas permeable vent as a part of the adapter;

venting gas from the extravascular system through the vent;

closing the vent; and

maintaining at least a portion of the vent with the adapter after closing the vent.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the vent includes a ventable end cap and a removable vent plug secured to the ventable end cap, further comprising:

removing the vent plug from the ventable end cap; and

sealing the vent with the ventable end cap.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein closing the vent includes replacing a gas flow path with a fluid flow path.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the vent includes a pull tab secured to a seal, and wherein closing the vent includes pulling the pull tab.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein venting gas from the extravascular system through the vent includes venting gas through a microfiber.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein venting gas from the extravascular system through the vent includes venting gas through a first porous plug, a second porous plug, and an air space between the first porous plug and the second porous plug.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising inserting at least a portion of a Luer into the adapter to close the vent.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising inserting at least a portion of a Luer access device into the adapter to close the vent.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein closing the vent includes actuating a valve.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising displacing at least a portion of the vent with at least a portion of one of the at least two other vascular access devices.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein closing the vent includes ratcheting a vent closure mechanism.

25. A medical device, comprising:

means for accessing the vascular system of a patient, wherein the means for accessing is connectable to an extravascular system; and

means for venting the extravascular system, wherein the means for venting forms part of the means for accessing.