Intravenous catheter fitting with protective end seal

• US 5,041,097 A
• Filed: 02/26/1990
• Issued: 08/20/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerry W. Johnson, Lana Lea Davis
• Original Assignee: Gerald W. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Gerald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daley, Kathleen A.
• Application Number:
  US07/485,285
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 604/167, 604/169, 604/278, 604/164, 604/256, 604/264, 604/280, 604/273, 604/244
• US Class Current: 604/167.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0606 without means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence

Abstract

An intravenous catheter has an elongate small diameter flexible tubular front portion and a rear base portion which has an interior bore in communication with the interior of the tubular portion for connection to a needle or other fluid injection or withdrawal members. A thin flexible membrane seal formed of resilient stretchable material is secured over the opening at the rear of the catheter base. The elasticity of the membrane seal allows the beveled front end of a needle to be pushed through the membrane and puncture the seal as it passes through and will not tear, but will stretch as the forward motion of the needle continues and conform to the profile of front portion of the needle base and allow it to engage the interior of the catheter base. The needle may be inserted into the catheter in the usual manner and the needle and catheter may be used just as any standard catheter-needle assembly. When the needle is withdrawn from the catheter, the membrane seal resumes its original position, except that it has a very tiny hole where the needle penetrated. Under normal use conditions, the resilient material of the membrane seal will close the hole to a diameter so small that no leakage occurs. Thus, the membrane seal prevents fluid, i.e., blood, from leaking from the catheter until such time as the connection is made at the base to complete the fluid injection or withdrawal procedure.

Claims

1. An intravenous catheter assembly for fluid injection or withdrawal comprising

a tubular fluid handling fitting having a fluid passageway therethrough with a tubular front extension sized for insertion into a vein and an opening at the rear end for connection to fluid injection or withdrawal means, and

a resilient flexible membrane seal on said fitting effectively covering said rear end opening,

said seal being sufficiently elastic to allow penetration thereof by a needle when inserted into said opening, and resuming its initial position after withdrawal of the needle to substantially close the penetration hole to prevent appreciable leakage of fluid from said rear end opening, and further including

a connector connected to fluid injection or withdrawal means and fitted into said rear end opening and through said membrane opening, said membrane opening being stretched to surround said connector and contractible to seal against blood leakage when said connected is removed.

2. An intravenous catheter assembly according to claim 1 including

a hypodermic needle inserted through said flexible membrane seal and through said tubular front extension with the end of the needle exposed to permit insertion of the needle and tubular extension together into a vein,

said membrane seal having the opening made by said needle stretched to surround the rear portion of said needle, whereby

after insertion into a vein, said needle may be disconnected and withdrawn from said catheter fitting to leave only said catheter tubular front end portion hypodermically and intravenously installed and allowing said resilient flexible membrane seal to contract to its original position with said membrane opening substantially closed to prevent leakage of blood therethrough.

3. An intravenous catheter assembly according to claim 1 in which

said flexible membrane seal is heat sealed to the rear end surface of said fitting surrounding said rear opening therein.

4. An intravenous catheter assembly according to claim 1 in which

said flexible membrane seal is adhesively sealed to the rear end surface of said fitting surrounding said rear opening therein.

5. An intravenous catheter assembly according to claim 1 in which

said flexible membrane seal is stretched over the rear end surface of said fitting surrounding said rear opening therein and secured to a side wall of said fitting.

6. An intravenous catheter assembly according to claim 1 in which

said flexible membrane seal is stretched over the rear end surface of said fitting surrounding said rear opening therein and secured by a clamping ring to a side wall of said fitting.

7. An intravenous catheter assembly according to claim 1 in which

said fitting has a flat rear end surface and a peripheral flange surrounding said rear opening, and

said flexible membrane seal is adhesively sealed to said flat rear end surface.

8. An intravenous catheter assembly according to claim 1 in which

said fitting has a flat rear end surface and a peripheral flange surrounding said rear opening, and

said flexible membrane seal is stretched over said peripheral flange surrounding said rear opening therein and secured to a side wall of said fitting.

9. An intravenous catheter assembly for fluid injection or withdrawal comprising

a tubular fluid handling fitting having a fluid passageway therethrough with a tubular front extension sized for insertion into a vein and an opening at the rear end for connection to fluid injection or withdrawal means, and

a resilient flexible membrane seal on said fitting effectively covering said rear end opening,

said seal being sufficiently elastic to allow penetration thereof by a needle when inserted into said opening, and resuming its initial position after withdrawal of the needle to substantially close the penetration hole to prevent appreciable leakage of fluid from said rear end opening.

a hypodermic needle inserted through said flexible membrane seal and through said tubular front extension with the end of the needle exposed to permit insertion of the needle and tubular extension together into a vein,

said hypodermic needle having a connector for connection to a fluid injection or withdrawal means supporting the needle for insertion and withdrawal into and out of said tubular extension,

said fitting having said rear opening sized to receive said connector,

said membrane seal having the opening made by said needle stretched to surround the rear portion of said needle and said connector, whereby

after insertion into a vein, said needle and connector may be disconnected and withdrawn from said catheter fitting to leave only said catheter tubular front end portion hypodermically and intravenously installed and allowing said resilient flexible membrane seal to contract to its original position with said membrane opening substantially closed to prevent leakage of blood therethrough.

10. An intravenous catheter assembly for fluid injection or withdrawal comprising

a tubular fluid handling fitting a fluid passageway therethrough with a tubular front extension sized for insertion into a vein and an opening at the rear end for connection to fluid injection or withdrawal means, and

a resilient flexible membrane seal on said fitting effectively covering said rear end opening,

said seal being sufficiently elastic to allow penetration thereof by a needle when inserted into said opening, and resuming its initial position after withdrawal of the needle to substantially close the penetration hole to prevent appreciable leakage of fluid from said rear end opening,

a hypodermic needle inserted through said flexible membrane seal and through said tubular front extension with the end of the needle exposed to permit insertion of the needle and tubular extension together into a vein,

said hypodermic needle having a connector for connection to a fluid injection or withdrawal means supporting the needle for insertion and withdrawal into and out of said tubular extension,

said fitting having said rear opening sized to receive said connector,

said membrane seal having the opening made by said needle stretched to surround the rear portion of said needle and said connector, whereby

after insertion a vein, said needle and connector may be disconnected and withdrawn from said catheter fitting to leave only said catheter tubular front end portion hypodermically and intravenously installed and allowing said resilient flexible membrane seal to contract to its original position with said membrane opening substantially closed to prevent leakage of blood therethrough, and further including

a second connector and tubing associated therewith for transferring fluid to or from said fitting,

said second connector being fitted into said rear opening after removal of said needle connector with said membrane opening stretched to surround said second connector to permit transfer of fluid to or from said fitting.