Port assembly for use with needleless connector

• US 7,905,873 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Rondeau, Georges, Henaut, Eric J., Di Stefani, Gianni
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak; Leslie R
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARCETICH, ADAM M
• Application Number:
  US12/167,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 604/403, 604/408, 604/409, 604/411, 604/415, 604/416, 604/905, 251/84, 251/89, 251/142, 251/205, 251/213
• US Class Current: 604/403
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/221 Frangible or pierceable closures within tubing A61M39/14 takes precedence; frangible closures for containers A61J1/14
• 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: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A port assembly includes a valve housing with an inlet opening, a valve disposed in the valve housing to control access through the inlet opening, and a base having an outlet opening that is initially occluded by a membrane. A pivot is disposed within the base and has a cutting surface disposed within the base, the cutting surface rupturing the membrane at least in part as the pivot is pivoted about an axis between first and second positions. The port assembly may be used in a fluid container that includes a receptacle for retaining a fluid, and at least one conduit in communication with the receptacle. The at least one conduit is defined, at least in part, by the port assembly.

Claims

1. A fluid container comprising:

a receptacle for retaining a fluid;

at least one conduit in communication with the receptacle; and

the at least one conduit defined, at least in part, by a port assembly,

the port assembly including a valve housing with an inlet opening, a resealable valve disposed in the valve housing to control access through the inlet opening, a base having an outlet opening that is initially occluded by a membrane, and a pivot having a first end that the valve housing is attached to and moveable with, the first end enclosing the valve in the valve housing, and a second end disposed within and sealed to the base and having a cutting surface, the resealable valve selectively controlling fluid communication between the inlet opening and the outlet opening with the cutting surface rupturing the membrane at least in part as the pivot is pivoted about an axis between first and second positions.

2. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the pivot is rotatably attached to the base.

3. The fluid container according to claim 2, wherein the base has a base flange and the pivot includes at least one hook that cooperates with the base flange to attach the pivot to the base.

4. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the base has a longitudinal bore with a first open end and a second closed end, the second closed end defined in part by the membrane, and the pivot has an elongated shaft, the elongated shaft being disposed in the longitudinal bore with the cutting surface disposed adjacent the second end of the longitudinal bore.

5. The fluid container according to claim 4, further comprising a sealing member disposed about the elongated shaft, the sealing member disposed between the longitudinal bore and the elongated shaft with the elongated shaft disposed within the longitudinal bore.

6. The fluid container according to claim 5, wherein the elongated shaft includes a fluid passage therethrough.

7. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a luer activated valve.

8. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the fluid container comprises a gondola, the base formed integrally with the gondola and defining the at least one conduit.

9. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the fluid container comprises a port tube, the base disposed in the port tube to define the at least one conduit.

10. A fluid container comprising:

a receptacle for retaining a fluid;

at least one conduit in communication with the receptacle; and

the at least one conduit defined, at least in part, by a port assembly,

the port assembly including a valve housing with an inlet opening, a valve disposed in the valve housing to control access through the inlet opening, a base having an outlet opening that is initially occluded by a membrane, and a pivot disposed within the base and having a cutting surface disposed within the base, the cutting surface rupturing the membrane at least in part as the pivot is pivoted about an axis between first and second positions,

the base having a tab and the pivot having a notch, the tab being received within the notch to lock the pivot in the second position.

11. The fluid container according to claim 10, wherein the base has a second tab and the pivot has a second notch, the second tab being received with the second notch to limit movement of the pivot from the first position to the second position.

12. The fluid container according to claim 10, the pivot having a ramp leading to the first notch.

13. The fluid container according to claim 10, wherein the base has a base flange and the pivot includes at least one hook that cooperates with the base flange to rotatably attach the pivot to the base.

14. The fluid container according to claim 10, wherein the base has a longitudinal bore with a first open end and a second closed end, the second closed end defined in part by the membrane, and the pivot has an elongated hollow shaft, the elongated shaft being disposed in the longitudinal bore with the cutting surface disposed adjacent the second end of the longitudinal bore and a seal formed between the bore and the shaft to cause fluid to flow through the hollow shaft.

15. The fluid container according to claim 14, wherein the pivot comprises at least one arm depending radially outwardly from the shaft, the arm including an angled edge that at least in part defines the cutting surface.

16. The fluid container according to claim 15, wherein the base has a projection and the pivot has a recess, the projection of the base disposed in the recess of the pivot to assist in pivoting the pivot about the axis and to maintain the pivot aligned with the axis.

17. A port assembly to be used in a conduit of a fluid container, the port assembly comprising:

a valve housing with an inlet opening;

a resealable valve disposed in the valve housing to control access through the inlet opening;

a base having an outlet opening that is initially occluded by a membrane; and

a pivot having a first end that the valve housing is attached to and moveable with, the first end enclosing the valve in the valve housing, and a second end disposed within and sealed to the base and having a cutting surface, the resealable valve selectively controlling fluid communication between the inlet opening and the outlet opening with the cutting surface rupturing the membrane at least in part as the pivot is pivoted about an axis between first and second positions.

18. The port assembly according to claim 17, wherein the pivot is attached to the base.

19. The port assembly according to claim 18, wherein the base has a base flange and the pivot includes at least one hook that cooperates with the base flange to attach the pivot to the base.

20. The port assembly according to claim 17, wherein the base has a longitudinal bore with a first open end and a second closed end, the second closed end defined in part by the membrane, and the pivot has an elongated shaft, the elongated shaft being disposed in the longitudinal bore with the cutting surface disposed adjacent the second end of the longitudinal bore.

21. The port assembly according to claim 20, further comprising a sealing member disposed about the elongated shaft, the sealing member disposed between the longitudinal bore and the elongated shaft with the elongated shaft disposed within the longitudinal bore.

22. The port assembly according to claim 21, wherein the elongated shaft includes a fluid passage therethrough.

23. The port assembly according to claim 17, wherein the base has a tab and the pivot has a notch, the tab being received within the notch to lock the pivot in the second position.

24. The port assembly according to claim 23, wherein the base has a second tab and the pivot has a second notch, the second tab being received with the second notch to limit movement of the pivot from the first position to the second position.

25. The port assembly according to claim 17, wherein the valve comprises a luer activated valve.