Catheter access system and method

• US 5,417,667 A
• Filed: 04/18/1994
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hyprotek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hyprotek, Inc.
• Inventors: Tennican, Patrick O., Phipps, L. Myles, Michaelsen, Russell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/228,699
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 604/82, 604/83, 604/85, 604/89, 604/93, 604/191, 604/212, 604/246, 604/248, 604/249, 604/258, 604/403, 206/828, 222/135, 222/137, 128/DIG. 12
• US Class Current: 604/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 Access sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/19 having more than one chamber , e.g. including a manifold coupling two parallelly aligned syringes through separate channels to a common discharge assembly surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0655 with flat slides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

A catheter access system includes upper and lower laminated sheets. The upper sheet is integrally molded to form a plurality of longitudinally-extending syringe channels. The second sheet extends along the syringe channels to enclose them from beneath and to form a plurality of syringe barrels. An independently operable syringe plunger is slidably received within each syringe barrel. A syringe barrel selection valve is formed between the upper and lower sheets. It has a plurality of individually-selectable valve inlets, as well as a single valve outlet for fluid connection to a catheter access line in a patient. The laminated upper and lower sheets define individual fluid passages connecting individual syringe barrels to corresponding individual valve inlets. The syringe barrel selection valve can be turned to provide fluid communication between the valve outlet and any one of the syringe barrels.

Claims

1. A catheter access system comprising:

an integrally molded first sheet forming a plurality of syringe channels, the syringe channels projecting outwardly from the first sheet and having longitudinal lengths formed along the first sheet;

a second sheet laminated to the first sheet, the second sheet extending along the syringe channels to enclose the syringe channels along their longitudinal lengths, the enclosed syringe channels defining a plurality of syringe barrels;

an independently operable syringe plunger slidably received within each syringe barrel;

a syringe barrel selection valve associated within the laminated first and second sheets, the syringe barrel selection valve having a plurality of individually-selectable valve inlets, the syringe barrel selection valve having a valve outlet for fluid connection to a catheter access line in a patient; and

the laminated first and second sheets defining individual fluid passages connecting individual syringe barrels to corresponding individual valve inlets.

2. The catheter access system of claim 1 wherein the individual fluid passages are formed between the laminated first and second sheets.

3. The catheter access system of claim 1 wherein the individual fluid passages are formed by furrows in at least one of the first and second sheets.

4. The catheter access system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the laminated first and second sheets has a longitudinal extent which is greater than a combined longitudinal extent of the syringe barrels and the syringe selection valve.

5. The catheter access system of claim 1 wherein the second sheet is planar, the individual fluid passages being formed by furrows in the first sheet.

6. The catheter access system of claim 1, the second sheet being integrally molded to form a plurality of syringe channels in the second sheet opposite corresponding syringe channels of the first sheet, corresponding syringe channels of the first and second sheets defining the plurality of syringe barrels.

7. The catheter access system of claim 1 wherein the syringe channels have rectangular cross-sections.

8. The catheter access system of claim 1, the syringe barrels adjoining each other in parallel and side-by-side relationship.

9. The catheter access system of claim 1, the syringe barrel selection valve including a generally cylindrical valve housing projecting from the first sheet, the syringe barrels adjoining each other in parallel and side-by-side relationship, the side-by-side syringe barrels having forward ends which are longitudinally staggered in juxtaposition to the cylindrical valve housing.

10. The catheter access system of claim 1, the syringe barrel selection valve comprising:

a generally cylindrical valve housing formed between the first and second sheets;

a valve body within the cylindrical valve housing, the valve body being rotatable to provide fluid communication between a selectable one of the valve inlets and the valve outlet.

11. The catheter access system of claim 1, the syringe barrel selection valve comprising:

a generally cylindrical valve housing formed between the first and second sheets, the valve housing having an excurved circumferential sidewall;

a valve body within the cylindrical valve housing, the valve body having an excurved circumferential sidewall which is complementary in size and shape to the valve housing sidewall, the valve body being rotatable to provide fluid communication between a selectable one of the valve inlets and the valve outlet.

12. The catheter access system of claim 1 and further comprising a flexible outlet tube, the syringe barrel selection valve comprising a rotatable valve body positioned within the laminated first and second sheets, the flexible outlet tube having a first end which is connected to the valve body to be aligned by rotation of the valve body with a selected one of the valve inlets, the flexible outlet tube having a second end for connection to the catheter access line.

13. A catheter access system comprising:

an integrally molded upper sheet forming a plurality of generally rectangular syringe channels, the syringe channels having longitudinal lengths formed along the upper sheet, each syringe channel having a top wall and a pair of side walls;

a lower sheet laminated to the upper sheet, the lower sheet being planar and extending along the syringe channels to form bottom walls along the syringe channels;

the top, bottom, and side walls defining a plurality of syringe barrels which extend from rearward ends to forward ends along the laminated upper and lower sheets;

an independently operable syringe plunger slidably received within each syringe barrel;

the upper sheet being molded to form a valve housing projecting from the upper sheet, the valve housing having individual valve inlets corresponding to individual syringe barrels, the valve housing having a valve outlet for fluid connection to a catheter access line in a patient;

individual fluid passages formed between the upper and lower sheets, the individual fluid passages connecting individual syringe barrels to corresponding individual valve inlets; and

a valve body mounted for movement within the valve housing to provide fluid communication between a selectable one of the valve inlets and the valve outlet.

14. The catheter access system of claim 13 wherein the individual fluid passages are formed by furrows in the upper sheet.

15. The catheter access system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the laminated upper and lower sheets has a longitudinal extent which is greater than a combined longitudinal extent of the syringe barrels and the valve housing.

16. The catheter access system of claim 13, the syringe barrels adjoining each other in parallel and side-by-side relationship.

17. The catheter access system of claim 13 wherein the valve housing is generally cylindrical, the valve body being rotatable within the cylindrical valve housing.

18. The catheter access system of claim 13 wherein the valve housing has an excurved circumferential sidewall, the valve body having a mating excurved circumferential sidewall, the valve body being rotatable within the cylindrical valve housing.

19. The catheter access system of claim 13, the valve housing being generally cylindrical, the syringe barrels adjoining each other in parallel and side-by-side relationship, the forward ends of the side-by-side syringe barrels being longitudinally staggered in juxtaposition to the cylindrical valve housing.

20. The catheter access system of claim 13 and further comprising a flexible outlet tube, the valve body being rotatable within the valve housing, the flexible outlet tube having a first end which is connected to the valve body to be aligned by rotation of the valve body with a selected one of the valve inlets, the flexible outlet tube having a second end for connection to the catheter access line.

21. A method of fabricating a catheter access system comprising the following steps:

molding a plurality of syringe channels in a first sheet, the syringe channels projecting outwardly from the first sheet and having longitudinal lengths formed along the first sheet;

molding a valve housing in the first sheet;

molding a plurality of fluid passages along the first sheet, the fluid passages connecting individual syringe channels to the valve housing;

laminating a second sheet to the first sheet in a manner which extends the second sheet along the syringe channels to enclose the syringe channels along their longitudinal lengths, the enclosed syringe channels defining a plurality of syringe barrels;

positioning an independently operable syringe plunger for slidable movement within each syringe barrel;

positioning a valve body within the valve housing to provide fluid communication between a valve outlet and a selectable one of the fluid passages.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the step of molding the fluid passages comprises molding a plurality of furrows in the first sheet, the laminated second sheet enclosing the furrows to form the fluid passages.

23. A method as recited in claim 21 and further comprising molding a plurality of syringe channels in the second sheet opposite corresponding syringe channels of the first sheet, corresponding syringe channels of the first and second sheets defining the plurality of syringe barrels.

24. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the step of molding the syringe channels comprises molding rectangular syringe channels.