Valve connector

• US 6,273,869 B1
• Filed: 10/23/1997
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vincent L. Vaillancourt
• Original Assignee: Vincent L. Vaillancourt
• Inventors: Vaillancourt, Vincent L.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/956,902
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 604/86, 604/88, 604/523, 604/274, 604/905
• US Class Current: 604/86
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

The hollow cannula is made with a smooth tip to avoid sharp corners on the inside diameter or outside diameter in order to avoid scraping or scoring of a slit or pre-pre-pierced septum during passage through the septum. The cannula may be employed in various types of embodiments including swabable valve connectors.

Claims

1. The combination of

a pre-pierced septum of elastomeric material having a passage therein;

and

a hollow needle for penetrating said septum through said passage, said needle having an open promixal end for passage of fluid therethrough, said end having a peripheral wall terminating in a smooth surface at said end for penetrating into said septum, said smooth surface being continuous without a sharp edge.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said peripheral wall is folded inwardly to define said rounded surface.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises means on said septum for circumferentially compressing said septum to close said passage.

4. In combination,

a longitudinally collapsible sleeve;

an elastomeric septum at one end of said sleeve, said septum having a passage therein; and

a hollow cannula for penetrating said septum through said slit in response to collapsing of said sleeve relative to said cannula, said cannula having an open end for passage of fluid therethrough, said end having a peripheral wall terminating in a smooth surface at said end for penetrating into said septum, said smooth surface being continuous without a sharp edge.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 which further comprises a retaining ring disposed circumferentially about said septum, said ring having an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of said septum to circumferentially compress said septum an amount sufficient to maintain said passage in a closed state upon movement of said septum from said cannula.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said ring is split.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 4 which further comprises a coiled spring disposed concentrically of said sleeve and abutting said septum for biasing said sleeve to an extended condition with said septum spaced from said cannula.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said spring has an inside diameter about said septum less than an outside diameter of said septum.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 7 which further comprises a tubular housing having one end of said sleeve mounted therein and being concentrically spaced from said sleeve and said spring to accommodate longitudinal collapsing of said sleeve.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises a tube mounted in and extending from said housing coaxially of said cannula, said tube communicating with said cannula to convey fluid therebetween.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 which further comprises a needle passing coaxially through said septum, said cannula and said tube.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 10 which further comprises a guide wire passing coaxially through said septum, said cannula and said tube.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 which further comprises a luer connector removably connected to said housing, said luer connector abutting said septum and collapsing said sleeve relative to said cannula for passage of said guide wire into said open distal end of said cannula.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises a conduit transverse to and communicating with said tubular housing to define a T-connector.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tubular housing has a side port communicating therewith to define a Y-site connector.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sleeve has a flange at an end opposite said septum for abutment of one end of said spring thereon.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 16 which further comprises a tubular housing having said sleeve and said spring disposed concentrically therein, said housing having an internal shoulder receiving said flange of said sleeve thereon.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said septum has a conically shaped recess facing said distal end of said septum.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said distal end of said needle is spaced from said septum to define a gap of 0.080 inches.

20. The combination of

a tubular housing;

a hollow cannula concentrically mounted within said tubular housing, said cannula having an open end with a peripheral wall terminating in a smooth surface at said end;

a septum of elastomeric material having a passage therein mounted at one end of said housing in facing relation to said end of said cannula, and

a coiled spring concentrically of said cannula and disposed in abutment with said housing and said septum to bias said septum away from said cannula and into circumferential compression with said end of said housing.

21. The combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said septum has an annular skirt slidably receiving said distal end of said cannula, said skirt being disposed concentrically within said spring.

22. The combination as set forth in claim 21 wherein said septum has a face flush with said end of said housing to allow swabbing thereof.

23. The combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said housing is a female luer housing.

24. The combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said housing has an intermediate section extending from said end thereof and being of an inside diameter larger than said outside diameter of said septum.

25. A bloodless IV catheter needle assembly comprising

a tubular housing;

a tube extending coaxially from said housing;

a hollow cannula mounted in said housing coaxially of and in communication with said tube, said cannula having an open end with a peripheral wall terminating in a smooth surface at said end;

a longitudinally collapsible sleeve disposed about said cannula in seated relation, said sleeve having an elastomeric septum at one end disposed in facing relation to said end of said cannula said septum having a passage therein to permit passage of said cannula through said septum; and

a coiled spring concentrically of said sleeve and abutting said septum to bias said septum away from said end of said cannula.

26. The combination as set forth in claim 25 wherein said housing has an integral shoulder and said cannula has a bell-shaped base at one end abutting said shoulder.

27. The combination as set forth in claim 26 wherein said sleeve has one end stretched over said base of said cannula end which further comprises a ring circumferentially disposed about said one end of said sleeve and said base to secure said sleeve to said base.

28. The combination as set forth in claim 25 wherein said distal end of said canula is spaced from said septum to define a gap therebetween of 0.080 inches.

29. The combination as set forth in claim 25 wherein said septum has a conically shaped recess facing said distal end of said cannula.

30. The combination of

A septum of elastomeric material having a slit therein;

and

a hollow cannula for penetrating said septum through said slit and said septum, sand cannula having an open end for passage of fluid therethrough, said end having a peripheral wall terminating in a rounded surface at said end for penetrating into said septum, said rounded surface being continuous without a sharp edge.

31. The combination as set forth in claim 30 wherein said peripheral wall is of uniform thickness.

32. The combination as set forth in claim 30 wherein said peripheral wall is folded inwardly to define said rounded surface.

33. The combination as set forth in claim 30 wherein said cannula has an outside diameter in a range of from 0.032 to 0.058 inches and said septum is of cylindrical shape with an outside diameter in a range of from ¼

to ½

inches.

34. The combination as set forth in claim 30 wherein said peripheral wall is cylindrical.