ELASTIC SEALING MEMBER

• US 3,853,127 A
• Filed: 04/03/1973
• Issued: 12/10/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard G. Spademan
• Original Assignee: Richard G. Spademan
• Inventors: Spademan, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pace, Channing L.
• Application Number:
  US05/347,438
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214.4 215/47,DIG.3 277/237
• US Class Current: 604/167.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1406 Septums, pierceable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/197 by the seal material
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for closing a perforation in an elastic sealing member upon the withdrawal of a penetrating instrument therefrom. Means are provided for generating a non-uniform stress in the member in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of penetration. The stress is generated by utilizing a sealing member having a first surface of a first configuration for sealing against a second surface having a second configuration. For use in or about a passageway having a wall surface configuration closely identical to that of a facing surface of the sealing member, a sleeve having a different surface configuration is used between the sealing member and the wall surface. In this manner effective resealable plugs, diaphragms and combination seals are provided.

Claims

1. In a method wherein a penetrating instrument is caused to pierce a solid wall of an elastic sealing member and wherein said instrument causes a perforation in said wall, the improvement comprising the steps of:

generating a first force of a first magnitude in said sealing member along a first axis of said member and generating a second force of a second magnitude in said sealing member along a second axis of said member, said second axis being angularly displaced from said first axis, said first and said second forces serving to generate in said sealing member a greater stress along said first axis than along said second axis for closing said perforation caused by said penetrating instrument when said instrument is withdrawn from said member.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the step of:

generating said first and said second forces in a plane substantially normal to the axis of penetration of said sealing member by said penetrating instrument.

3. A method according to claim 2 comprising the steps of:

forming said sealing member with a first surface having a first geometrical surface configuration; and

placing said first surface of said sealing member against a second surface in facing relationship of a second member, said second surface having a second geometrical surface configuration different from said first for generating said first and said second forces in said sealing member.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said first geometrical surface configuration is circular and said second geometrical surface configuration is non-circular.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said first and said second forces are compressive.

6. A method according to claim 3 wheRein said first and said second forces are tensile.

7. A method according to claim 3 wherein said first and said second forces are compressive, said second member is a member having a passageway to be sealed and said second surface is a portion of an interior wall surface of said passageway in said second member, and wherein said second surface in cooperation with said first surface serves to generate said compressive forces in said sealing member.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said second member is a sleeve.

9. A method according to claim 3 wherein said first and said second forces are tensile, said second member is a member having a passageway to be sealed and said second surface is a portion of an exterior wall surface about said passageway in said second member, and wherein said second surface in cooperation with said first surface serves to generate said tensile forces in said sealing member.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said second member is a sleeve.

11. In a resealable fluid delivery apparatus including a penetrable elastic sealing member having a wall surface of a first configuration, an instrument for penetrating a solid wall of said sealing member and wherein said instrument causes a perforation in said sealing member, the improvement comprising:

a means for distorting said elastic sealing member until said wall surface assumes a second geometrical configuration for generating a first force along a first axis in said sealing member and a second force along a second axis in said sealing member for closing said perforation in said sealing member upon withdrawal of said penetrating instrument therefrom, said first and said second forces serving to generate in said sealing member a greater stress in a direction angularly displaced relative to said perforation in said sealing member.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first and said second forces are generated in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said perforation.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said distorting means comprises:

a passageway in said apparatus for receiving said sealing member, said passageway having a wall surface of said second geometrical configuration facing in sealing relationship said wall surface of said sealing member.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said apparatus has a passageway and said distorting means comprises:

a sleeve inserted between said passageway and said sealing member for receiving said sealing member, said sleeve having a wall surface of said second geometrical configuration in facing relationship with the wall surface said sealing member of said first geometrical configuration.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first and said second forces are compressive.

16. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first and said second forces are tensile.