Medical valve and method of use

• US 7,722,576 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Lopez, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERDICHEVSKY, AARTI
• Application Number:
  US11/417,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 604/246, 604/249
• US Class Current: 604/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/10 Coring prevention means, e.g. for plug or septum piecing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/262 having a fluid space within the valve remaining the same upon connection and disconnection, i.e. neutral-drawback valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 2/00 Non-electric light sources using luminescence using excitation by radioactivity G21H3/02, H01J65/06, H01J65/08; using excitation by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation H01J65/04; Light sources using electrochemiluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A closed system, needleless valve device includes a generally tubular body defining an internal cavity. On the proximal end of the body there is an opening which is preferably sufficiently large to receive an ANSI standard tip of a medical implement. The distal end of the body has a generally tubular skirt. The valve also includes a hollow spike having a closed tip. The spike includes at least one longitudinal 18-gauge hole located distal the tip, and is seated inside the cavity such that the tip is below the proximal end of the body. An annular support cuff is connected to the spike which seals off a portion of the cavity of the body such that an upper cavity containing the tip is defined. The valve also includes a plastic, resilient silicone seal which fills the upper cavity and opening and covers the tip of the spike so as to present a flush surface. An adaptor enables the valve to be attached to a resealable container.

Claims

1. A medical valve adapted to facilitate fluid flow between a first medical implement including a male Luer and a second medical implement, the medical valve comprising:

a housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal cavity, the proximal end having an opening adapted to receive a male Luer of a first medical implement and the distal end adapted for connection to a second medical implement, the cavity including a rigid fluid conduit therein, the cavity having a neck portion adjacent the opening having at least a first cross-sectional width and a main portion distal the neck portion having at least a second cross-sectional width, the second cross-sectional width being larger than the first cross-sectional width;

a seal element having a proximal end, a neck portion, and a distal end, the seal element positioned at least partially in the cavity and adapted to move by insertion of the male Luer into the housing from a first position where at least a portion of the seal element bears against the housing to a second position, the proximal end of the seal in the first position being substantially flush with the opening of the housing to facilitate antiseptic wiping at a proximal end of the valve, at least a portion of the proximal end and at least a portion of the neck portion of the seal element being closer to the distal end of the seal element when in the second position than in the first position, the seal element further comprising an external wall comprising at least one recess when the seal element is in the first position to accommodate movement of the seal element within the cavity;

the seal element in the first position having a first cross-sectional width adjacent the opening, a second cross-sectional width in the neck portion of the cavity, and a third cross-sectional width in the main portion of the cavity, the second cross-sectional width being smaller than the first cross-sectional width and the third cross-sectional width.

2. The medical valve of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing comprises an inner conduit configured to engage with a standard female luer fitting.

3. The medical valve of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the housing further comprises a skirt surrounding the inner conduit and comprising a protruding thread configured to provide for locking engagement with a standard female luer fitting.

5. The medical valve of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing comprises an inner conduit configured to engage with a standard female luer fitting.

6. The medical valve of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the housing further comprises a skirt surrounding the inner conduit and comprising a protruding thread configured to provide for locking engagement with a standard female luer fitting.

4. A medical valve adapted to facilitate fluid flow between a first medical implement including a male Luer and a second medical implement, the medical valve comprising:

a housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal cavity with a spike disposed therein, the proximal end having an opening adapted to receive a male Luer of a first medical implement and the distal end adapted for connection to a second medical implement, the cavity having a neck portion adjacent the opening having at least a first cross-sectional width and a main portion distal the neck portion having at least a second cross-sectional width, the second cross-sectional width being larger than the first cross-sectional width;

a seal element having a proximal end, a neck portion, and a distal end, the seal element positioned at least partially in the cavity and adapted to move by insertion of the male Luer into the housing from a first position where at least a portion of the seal element bears against the housing to a second position, the proximal end of the seal in the first position being substantially flush with the opening of the housing to facilitate antiseptic wiping at a proximal end of the valve, at least a portion of the proximal end and at least a portion of the neck portion of the seal element being closer to the distal end of the seal element when in the second position than in the first position, the seal element further comprising an external wall comprising at least one recess when the seal element is in the first position to accommodate movement of the seal element within the cavity;

the seal element in the first position having a first cross-sectional width adjacent the opening, a second cross-sectional width in the neck portion of the cavity, and a third cross-sectional width in the main portion of the cavity, the second cross-sectional width being smaller than the first cross-sectional width and the third cross-sectional width.