Vascular access device septum venting

• US 8,066,670 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Wayne K., Cluff, Ken, Frodsham, Joe, McKinnon, Austin Jason, Stout, Marty L., Harding, Weston F., Miner, Tom M., Ekberg, Troy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHELL, LAURA C
• Application Number:
  US11/935,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 604/122, 604/126, 604/246, 604/124, 604/125, 60416701-16706, 604/168.01, 604236-238, 604/247, 604/533, 604537-539, 604/256
• US Class Current: 604/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0036 characterised by a septum having particular features, e.g. having venting channels or being made from antimicrobial or self-lubricating elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/205 comprising air venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2426 Slit valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/266 where the valve comprises venting channels, e.g. to insure better connection, to help decreasing the fluid space upon disconnection, or to help the fluid space to remain the same during disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/04 having pierceable self-sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves

Abstract

A vascular access device may include a septum and a gas permeable vent in communication with at least a portion of the septum. The vent may be capable of venting gas from an extravascular system to which the vascular access device is capable of attaching. A method of venting a medical device may include providing a vascular access device having a septum and forming part of an extravascular system, providing a gas permeable vent in communication with at least a portion of the septum, and venting gas from the extravascular system through the gas permeable vent of the device.

Claims

1. A medical connector device, comprising:

a body, having an interior chamber and a first male connector end and a second female connector end, and a septum disposed within the interior chamber which is selectively actuated;

a gas permeable vent capable of venting a gas from the interior chamber of the body to the exterior of the body; and

a movable vent plug disposed within the gas permeable vent and being selectively movable to close the gas permeable vent to gas venting upon contact with the septum.

2. The medical connector device of claim 1, wherein the vent includes high-density polyethylene fibers.

3. The medical connector device of claim 1, wherein the vent plug includes a porous material.

4. The medical connector device of claim 1, wherein the male and female connectors are Luer connectors.

5. The medical connector device of claim 1, wherein the movable vent plug includes a solid portion and a gas permeable hydrophobic portion.

6. The medical connector device of claim 5, wherein the gas permeable hydrophobic portion extends from the interior chamber through the vent to the exterior of the body when the movable vent plug is in an open position.

7. The medical connector device of claim 6, wherein when the movable vent plug is in a closed position the gas permeable hydrophobic portion does not extend into the interior chamber and the solid portion of the vent plug covers the vent.

8. The medical connector device of claim 1, wherein the solid portion of the movable vent plug includes a sloped surface that responds to septum activation by moving the movable vent plug from an open position to a closed position.

9. The medical connector device of claim 8, wherein the sloped surface of the movable vent plug is in contact with the septum when the septum is not being actuated.

10. The medical connector device of claim 1, wherein the movable vent plug responds to an opening motion of the septum by moving in a lateral direction away from the septum opening.

11. The medical connector device of claim 1, comprising two vents and two movable vent plugs.

12. A method of venting a medical device, comprising:

providing a vascular access device comprising a body, having an interior chamber and a first male connector end and a second female connector end, and a septum disposed within the interior chamber which is selectively actuated;

providing a gas permeable vent capable of venting a gas from the interior chamber of the body to the exterior of the body;

providing a movable vent plug at least partially within the gas permeable vent;

venting gas through the gas permeable vent of the vascular access device; and

selectively closing the vent by activating the septum, such that contact between the septum and the vent plug closes the vent.

13. A medical connector device, comprising:

a body, having an interior chamber and a first male connector end and a second female connector end, and a septum disposed within the interior chamber which is selectively actuated;

a vent forming a fluid connection between the interior chamber and the exterior of the body; and

a movable vent plug disposed within the vent, the movable vent plug having a solid portion and a gas permeable hydrophobic portion, the gas permeable hydrophobic portion extending from the interior chamber through the vent when the movable vent plug is in an open position, and the solid portion of the vent plug covering the vent when the movable vent plug is in a closed position, wherein the solid portion of the vent plug includes a surface that responds to septum activation by moving the movable vent plug from the open position to the closed position.