Safe intravenous infusion port injectors

• US 6,245,056 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack M. Walker, Jack W. Shields
• Original Assignee: Jack M. Walker, Jack W. Shields
• Inventors: Walker, Jack M., Shields, Jack W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/249,712
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 604/181, 604/244, 604/264, 604/272, 604/403, 604/412-415, 604/905, 604/202, 604/200, 604/201, 604/239, 604/240, 604/243, 604/539, 604/183, 604/533, 604/523
• US Class Current: 604/539
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 Access sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/04 having pierceable self-sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/14 for connecting tubes having sealed ends needle sets A61M5/162; having valves closing automatically on disconnection of line A61M39/26

Abstract

We describe connectors for safely and conveniently injecting measured doses of sterile liquid medications into a patient via one or more infusion ports in intravenous access assemblies. Each connector comprises a tubular injector divided by a rigid septum which holds a hollow needle sharp on each end safely recessed in a leading and in a trailing chamber. The leading chamber snugly holds the trailing limb and penetrable cap of an inserted standard infusion port. The trailing recess snugly holds the leading end of a cartridge with a leading penetrable diaphragm, a bore containing liquid medication, a cartridge piston and trailing bore suitable for insertion of a separate cartridge plunger having markers for measuring doses delivered; or, alternatively, the pentrable cap and trailing limb of second similar infusion port attached by trailing tubing to a large measured volume infusion source. When assembled such that the trailing cap of infusion port is penetrated by the needle in the leading chamber and the leading diaphragm of the cartridge or, alternatively, the leading penetrable cap on a second infusion port is penetrated by the needle in the trailing chamber, such that flow can proceed through the needle, precisely measured doses of sterile liquid medication can be injected into the venous access assembly without possibilities for the user to touch, get stuck or finger-contaminate the needle or its contents. Unique features added to increase the efficiency of the system are a biased leading end on the tubular injector to conveniently and securely accommodate a Y-infusion port; an eccentric needle in the connector, such that rotation prevents the leading sharp end of the needle from passing through the infusion port cap via the same track; and an easily removed biased cap for keeping the cartridge diaphragm sterile.

Claims

1. A connector for the conveyance of a fluid medication from a cylindrical cartridge to an infusion limb having a penetrable cap disposed on an intravenous access assembly, the cylindrical cartridge being a tube with a central bore having an open trailing end, a leading end sealed by a puncturable septum and a piston slidably disposed within the central bore between the leading end and the open trailing end, and a fluid medication contained in the central bore between the piston and the puncturable septum, wherein when the puncturable septum is punctured by a hollow bore needle and the piston is advanced through the central bore to a stop distance from the leading end of the cylindrical cartridge beyond which stop distance the piston cannot be further advanced, the fluid medication is substantially entirely ejected from the cartridge, said connector comprising:

(a) a tubular injector having a central bore and two open ends, said central bore being subdivided into a leading chamber and a trailing chamber by a rigid septum; and

(b) a double-ended hollow bore needle supported by and extending through said septum, said hollow bore needle providing fluid communication between said leading and trailing chambers, said double-ended hollow bore needle having a trailing end with a sharp tip recessed within said trailing chamber and projecting into the trailing chamber from said rigid septum a distance less than or equal to said stop distance, and an opposing end with a sharp tip extending into and enclosed by said leading chamber such that neither end of said double-ended hollow bore needle projects beyond the open ends of said tubular injector, said open ended leading chamber dimensioned to receive said infusion limb therewithin, thereby enabling said opposing end of said hollow bore needle to puncture said penetrable cap on said infusion limb, and wherein at least one of said open ends of said tubular injector is cut on a bias.