Vascular access device time sensitive status indication

• US 8,257,663 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Crawford, Mark A., Stout, Marty L., Harding, Weston F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nagpaul, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US12/868,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 422/400, 422/405, 422500-502, 604/93, 285/3, 285/260, 116/200
• US Class Current: 422/405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1402 Priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3132 having flow passages for injection agents at the distal end of the barrel to bypass a sealing stopper after its displacement to this end due to internal pressure increase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/284 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0291 Labels or tickets undergoing a change under particular conditions, e.g. heat, radiation, passage of time
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A vascular access device for communicating with the vascular system of a patient may include a status indicator. The status indicator may detect and signal that a period of time has elapsed in relation to the use of the vascular access device.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a vascular access device; and

an elastomeric septum coupled to the vascular access device and having a color-changing material, the color-changing material having an absorbent surface, the color-changing material being configured to change color when the absorbent surface absorbs a liquid.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the color-changing material is disposed on a top, external surface of the elastomeric septum.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the color-changing material is embedded in the elastomeric septum.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the color-changing material includes a colored substrate disposed in the external surface of the elastomeric septum, a surface of the colored substrate becoming transparent when it absorbs a liquid.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the color-changing material includes a moisture sensitive layer.

6. A medical device comprising:

a vascular access device; and

an elastomeric septum coupled to the vascular access device, the elastomeric septum including a color-changing material configured to change color when a top, external surface of the elastomeric septum is swabbed with liquid alcohol, the color-changing material including one of a pH sensor and an alcohol sensor.

7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the elastomeric septum has a slit extending therethrough.

8. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the color-changing material is disposed on a top, external surface of the elastomeric septum.

9. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the color-changing material is embedded in the elastomeric septum.

10. A medical device comprising:

a vascular access device; and

an elastomeric septum coupled to the vascular access device and having a color-changing material which includes at least one removable layer of colored material.

11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the at least one removable layer of colored material includes multiple layers of different colored materials.

12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the at least one removable layer of colored material is at least slightly alcohol soluble.

13. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric septum has a slit extending therethrough.