Luer receiver and method for fluid transfer

• US 8,403,894 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Lynn, Lawrence A., Harding, Weston F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desanto, Matthew F
• Application Number:
  US11/928,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 60416701-16706, 604/201, 604/203, 604236-238, 604246-256
• US Class Current: 604/256
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/153 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of venous or arterial blood, e.g. with syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2044 having slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2062 with directional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0054 Multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/263 where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 Access sites
• 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: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

An improved luer lock receiving septum having a configuration which provides rapid and tight resealing and yet allows penetration of the septum by the luer tip with a low penetration force. The elongated septum includes an upper portion of enlarged diameter having a target surface, a central slit, and a central, lower septum extension projecting about the slit below the upper portion and into a housing so that following luer insertion there is provided sufficient room for both the laterally displaced extension of the septum, the luer taper, and the housing to be received into a conventional luer lock connector. The septum is further preferably configured to minimize or eliminate the negative pressure deflection normally associated with the withdrawal of the large diameter luer cannula from an enclosed fluid filled lumen or chamber, by substantially isolating the lumen or chamber from the septum material displacement resultant from luer insertion. In an exemplary embodiment, the luer receiving septum is provided at a port of a stop cock.

Claims

1. A luer receiving valve for receiving a male luer mounted within a threadable luer lock connector shroud, the valve comprising:

a luer valve housing having an inlet and a proximal portion sized to be received into the luer lock connector adjacent the inlet, the proximal portion of the housing having inner walls, the housing having a channel for fluid passage;

a septum positioned within the channel, the septum defining an upper portion, a distal end and a resealable slit configured to allow insertion and penetration of the male luer into the slit;

the septum comprising a distally projecting extension extending distally from the upper portion, the extension defining opposing walls on opposing sides of the slit, the opposing walls being of lesser transverse dimension perpendicular to the slit than the transverse dimension of the upper portion perpendicular to the slit;

the housing defining opposing internal walls lateral to the opposing walls of the extension, the septum being displaced laterally toward the opposing internal walls of the housing by the penetrating insertion of the male luer into the slit, the housing having a transversely enlarged portion distal the proximal portion,

the septum and the slit defining a sealed distal slit end, the septum further having a transversely enlarged region distal the extension, at least a portion of said region of the septum being positioned adjacent the transversely enlarged portion of the housing,

the septum being configured so that at least a portion of the septum is displaced laterally within the transversely enlarged portion of the housing when the luer tip is advanced into the transversely enlarged portion,

the transversely enlarged portion of the housing being configured to provide a reservoir for receiving the laterally displaced portion of the septum.

2. The luer receiving valve of claim 1, wherein the male luer defines a distal tip, the tip defining a point of maximum penetration through the slit when shroud is fully threaded over the proximal portion of the housing, and wherein the transversely enlarged housing portion is configured such that at least a portion of the male luer is within the enlarged housing portion when the tip reaches the point of maximum penetration.

3. The luer receiver of claim 2, wherein an open space is within the transversely enlarged portion of the housing adjacent the transversely enlarged septum region for receiving the displaced portion of the septum.

4. The luer receiver of claim 2, wherein the transversely enlarged region of the septum is mounted within the transversely enlarged portion of the housing such that the distal tip of the male luer rests within the transversely enlarged region of the septum when the tip reaches the point of maximum penetration.

5. The luer receiver of claim 1 wherein the septum further defines an elastomeric open flow channel adjacent the sealed distal slit end formed by a hollow region of the septum extending distally from adjacent the sealed distal slit end, a wall of the hollow region being deflected outwardly by the male luer when the male luer penetrates into the slit adjacent the sealed distal slit end to enlarge the elastomeric flow channel, said wall of the hollow region deflecting inwardly upon withdrawal of the male luer to narrow the elastomeric flow channel.

6. The luer receiving valve of claim 5, wherein the wall of the hollow region defines a distal end and the housing defines a flow channel distal the septum, the distal end of the wall of the hollow region being mounted to the housing to form a connection between the elastomeric flow channel and the housing flow channel.

7. The luer receiver of claim 1, wherein the transversely enlarged portion of the housing is positioned distal the luer lock connector shroud when the shroud is fully threaded over the proximal portion.

8. The luer receiver of claim 1, wherein the transversely enlarged housing portion is larger in at least one transverse dimension than the threadable luer lock connector shroud so that the transversely enlarged housing portion is too large transversely to be received into the threadable luer lock connector shroud so that the transversely enlarged housing portion functions as a stop preventing additional advancement of the male luer through the septum.

9. The luer receiver of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a rigid flow channel distal at least a portion of the septum for receiving flowing liquid from the male luer when the luer has been inserted into the septum.

10. The luer receiver of claim 1, wherein the male luer of the luer lock connector defines a tip and the tip defines a point of maximum penetration when the luer lock connector is fully advanced into the septum, the slit being wedged open distal the point of maximum penetration by the tip to provide fluid connection between the male luer and the flow channel.

11. A luer receiving valve, for fluid connection between a flow channel and a luer lock connector, the connector including a male luer having a distal tip, the luer receiving valve comprising:

a housing defining a proximal portion, a chamber, an inlet and an outlet, the proximal portion being sized to be received into and lockingly engaged within the luer lock connector;

an elastomeric septum defining a longitudinal axis and mounted to said housing so as to be disposed at least partially within the proximal portion and the inlet so that at least a portion of the septum is received into the luer lock connector when the proximal portion is received into the luer lock connector, said septum having an proximal face; and

a sealed slit extending at least partially through the septum, the slit being sized to receive at least a portion of said male luer into said septum through said face and through at least a portion of said slit, at least a portion of said septum being displaced lateral to said longitudinal axis within at least the proximal portion by the penetrating male luer when the male luer is advanced into said septum;

wherein the slit defines a distal end and a forceful slit seal adjacent the distal end and a slit seal length along the longitudinal axis of the septum, the slit seal length being sufficient such that the male luer does not project beyond the distal end of the slit seal when the luer lock connector is fully threaded over the proximal portion of the housing.

12. A luer receiving valve, for fluid connection between a flow channel and a luer lock connector, the connector including a male luer having a distal tip, the luer receiving valve comprising:

a housing defining a proximal portion, an inlet, and an outlet, the proximal portion being sized to be received into and lockingly engaged within the luer lock connector, the housing having a distal transversely enlarged housing portion;

an elastomeric septum defining a longitudinal axis and mounted to said housing so as to be disposed at least partially within the proximal portion and the inlet so that at least a portion of the septum is received into the liter lock connector when the proximal portion is received into the luer lock connector, said septum having a distal transversely enlarged region mounted at least partially within the distal transversely enlarged housing portion, the septum further having a proximal face; and

a slit extending at least partially through the septum, the slit being sized to receive at least a portion of said male luer into said septum through said face and through a portion of said slit, the slit defining a slit seal having a distal end, at least a portion of said septum being displaced lateral to said longitudinal axis within at least the proximal portion by the penetrating male luer when the male luer is advanced into said septum;

the distal tip of the male luer defining a point of maximum penetration when the luer lock connector is fully advanced into the septum, and wherein the distal end of the slit seal and at least a portion of the transversely enlarged region of the septum are positioned distal to the point of maximum penetration, the slit being wedged open distal the point of maximum penetration by the tip to provide fluid connection between the male luer and the flow channel.