SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEALING A SEPTUM WITHIN A CATHETER DEVICE

• US 20130090608A1
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Stout, Marty L., Isaacson, S. Ray, Burkholz, Jonathan Karl
• Granted Patent: US 9,089,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/256
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0036 characterised by a septum having particular features, e.g. having venting channels or being made from antimicrobial or self-lubricating elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0063 Means for alignment of the septum, e.g. septum rim with alignment holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0072 Means for increasing tightness of the septum, e.g. compression rings, special materials, special constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/10 Flow characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/20 having means for promoting or enhancing the flow, actively or passively
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/00 Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use for respiratory devices, e.g. tracheal tubes A61M16/00; artificial heart valves A61F2/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49959 Nonresilient fastener

Abstract

Systems and methods for sealing and venting a septum of an intravenous catheter device. Implementations of the present invention include a compact, molded septum that is retained within an inner lumen of a catheter adapter such that slowed or stopped flow of air and/or a fluid is permitted to pass between the compact septum and an inner wall surface of the catheter adapter via one or more fluid pathways. In some instances, a snap ring is provided to secure the position of the compact septum within the catheter adapter, a fluid pathway being provided through the snap ring.

Claims

1. An intravenous catheter assembly comprising a septum having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface, a portion of the distal end forming a seal with a distal ledge of a catheter adapter, the outer surface of the septum further comprising a non-sealing centering rib and a fluid pathway interposed between the outer surface of the septum and the distal ledge of the catheter adapter.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a snap ring having a first surface that is in contact with an inner surface of the catheter adapter, and further comprising a second surface that is in contact with the septum.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the portion of the distal end of the septum is chamfered.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal ledge of the catheter adapter is chamfered.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway comprises a channel formed on the portion of the distal end of the septum.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the fluid pathway comprises a channel provided through the snap ring.

7. The septum of claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway comprising a fluid channel forming a portion of the distal end and the outer surface.

8. The septum of claim 1, wherein the non-sealing centering rib comprises a plurality of non-sealing centering ribs coupled to a circumferential surface of the septum.

9. The septum of claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway comprising a gap interposed between the outer surface of the septum and an inner surface of the catheter adapter.

10. The septum of claim 9, wherein a height of the gap is equal to a height of the non-sealing centering rib.

11. A method for manufacturing an intravenous catheter assembly, comprising:

providing a septum having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface;

disposing the septum into an inner lumen of a catheter adapter, an outer surface of the septum forming a seal with an inner surface of the catheter adapter;

providing a first fluid pathway between the outer surface of the septum and the inner surface of the catheter adapter;

interposing a snap ring between the outer surface of the septum and the inner surface of the catheter adapter;

securing the position of the septum within the catheter adapter via the snap ring; and

providing a second fluid pathway through the snap ring.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising steps for:

chamfering the inner surface of the catheter adapter;

chamfering the outer surface of the catheter adapter; and

positioning the first fluid pathway between the chamfered inner surface of the catheter adapter and the chamfered outer surface of the septum.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step for positioning a plurality of centering ribs between a circumferential surface of the septum and the inner surface of the catheter adapter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid pathway comprises a gap interposed between a first centering rib and a second centering rib.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step for configuring the geometry and dimension of the first or second fluid pathway to slow the flow rate of a fluid or air through the first or second fluid pathways.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step for configuring the geometry and dimension permits passage of air and prevents passage of fluid through the first or second fluid pathways.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the centering rib comprises a plurality of bumps spaced around an outer perimeter of the septum and interposed between the circumferential surface of the septum and the inner surface of the catheter adapter.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step for providing a positive feature on the inner surface of the catheter adapter, wherein the positive feature contacts and retains the snap ring in a desired position within the inner lumen of the catheter adapter.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step for providing an annular channel on the inner surface of the catheter adapter, wherein the annular channel received and retains the snap ring in a desired position within the inner lumen of the catheter adapter.

20. A compact septum comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface having a channel for receiving a snap ring, wherein the snap ring couples the compact septum to an inner surface of a catheter adapter to retain the compact septum at a desired position within an inner lumen of the catheter adapter.