Port Assembly for Use With Needleless Connector

• US 20100108681A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, David D., Semaan, Gilbert, Jepson, Steven C., Winje, James B., Chamernik, Richard F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,486,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/278
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2044 having slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2051 having tap means, e.g. tap means activated by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/263 where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• 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 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14

Abstract

A port assembly includes a housing with an opening and a bore therethrough, a slit septum disposed in the opening to control access through the opening, a base joined to the housing and having a membrane attached thereto, a perforator having a first end abutting the slit septum and a second end aligned with the membrane, and a resilient member disposed between the perforator and the base. The perforator has first and second lumens, the first lumen extending between the first and second ends of the perforator and the second lumen extending between a point between the first and second ends and the second end. The perforator also has a seal disposed about the first lumen at the first end of the perforator, and a valve associated with the second lumen to limit flow of fluid through the second lumen in the direction of the second end.

Claims

1. A fluid container comprising:

a receptacle for retaining a fluid;

at least one conduit in communication with the receptacle; and

the at least one conduit defined, at least in part, by a port assembly,

the port assembly including a housing with an opening and a bore therethrough, a slit septum disposed in the opening to control access through the opening, a base joined to the housing and having a membrane attached thereto, a perforator having a first end abutting the slit septum and a second end aligned with the membrane, and a resilient member disposed between the perforator and the base,

the perforator having first and second lumens, the first lumen extending between the first and second ends of the perforator and the second lumen extending between a point between the first and second ends and the second end, a seal disposed about the first lumen at the first end of the perforator and a valve associated with the second lumen to limit flow of fluid through the second lumen in the direction of the second end.

2. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the port assembly comprises a space defined between the perforator and an inner surface of the housing with the first end of the perforator spaced from the slit septum, the ratio of volume within the space being greater than 3:

1 relative to volume within the first lumen.

3. The fluid container according to claim 2, wherein the perforator includes a flange disposed between the first and second ends, and a gasket overmolded on the flange, the gasket abutting the bore of the housing.

4. The fluid container according to claim 2, wherein the ratio of volume within the space is 8:

1 relative to volume within the first lumen.

5. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a flap valve.

6. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a slit valve that operates to open and close according to a differential pressure across the valve.

7. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the perforator has an outer surface, and the second lumen is formed at least partially on the outer surface of the perforator.

8. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the perforator comprises a cannula, and the first and second lumens are enclosed within the cannula.

9. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the first lumen is larger than the cross-section of the second lumen.

10. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the fluid container comprises a gondola, the base formed integrally with the gondola and defining the at least one conduit.

11. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the fluid container comprises a port tube, the base disposed in the port tube to define the at least one conduit.

12. A port assembly to be used in a conduit of a fluid container, the port assembly comprising:

a housing with an opening and a bore therethrough,

a slit septum disposed in the opening to control access through the opening,

a base joined to the housing and having a membrane attached thereto,

a perforator having a first end abutting the slit septum and a second end aligned with the membrane,

the perforator also having first and second lumens, the first lumen extending between the first and second ends of the perforator and the second lumen extending between a point between the first and second ends and the second end, a seal disposed about the first lumen at the first end of the perforator and a valve associated with the second lumen to limit flow of fluid through the second lumen in the direction of the second end; and

a resilient member disposed between the perforator and the base.

13. The fluid container according to claim 12, wherein the port assembly comprises a space defined between the perforator and an inner surface of the housing with the first end of the perforator spaced from the slit septum, the ratio of volume within the space being greater than 3:

1 relative to volume within the first lumen.

14. The fluid container according to claim 13, wherein the perforator includes a flange disposed between the first and second ends, and a gasket overmolded on the flange, the gasket abutting the bore of the housing.

15. The fluid container according to claim 13, wherein the ratio of volume within the space is 8:

1 relative to volume within the first lumen.

16. The port assembly according to claim 12, wherein the valve comprises a flap valve.

17. The fluid container according to claim 12, wherein the valve comprises a slit valve that operates to open and close according to a differential pressure across the valve.

19. A port assembly according to claim 17, wherein the bypass comprises passages formed in a surface of the first end of the perforator facing the slit septum.

20. A port assembly according to claim 17, wherein the bypass comprises one or more passages formed along a side surface of the perforator facing the sleeve, each of the one or more passages having a first end in fluid communication with the passage and a second end in fluid communication outside the perforator.

18. A port assembly to be used in a conduit of a fluid container, the port assembly comprising:

a housing with an opening and a bore therethrough,

a slit septum disposed in the bore to control access through the opening, the slit septum including a sleeve having first and second ends and an inwardly-depending ring disposed at the second end of the sleeve,

a base joined to the housing and having a membrane attached thereto,

a perforator having a first end abutting the slit septum, a second end aligned with the membrane, a passage between the first and second ends, and a bypass disposed at the first end of the perforator to permit fluid to flow between the passage and inbetween the inwardly-depending ring and an outer surface of the perforator; and

a resilient member disposed between the perforator and the base.