Needleless access port valves

• US 8,408,226 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B Braun Medical Incorporated (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: B Braun Medical Incorporated (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Raines, Kenneth C., Janders, Michael J., Peppel, Peter, Pascal, Benjamin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rost, Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US12/509,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 298/901.27, 294/58, 298/901.26, 298/901.24, 251/149.1, 251/149.7, 251/149.6, 604/34, 604/167.04, 604/249, 604/256, 137/315.07, 137/15.18, 137/1
• US Class Current: 137/15.18
• 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 2039/0054 Multiple layers
• 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 2205/0222 Materials for reducing friction
• 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: Y10T 137/0491 Valve or valve element assembling, disassembling, or replacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/60 Assembling or disassembling flexible tube or sleeve type valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49417 including molding or casting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling

Abstract

Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves incorporating a piston comprising slit along an upper piston section for accommodating fluid flow. The slit is closed by the relative geometry of the piston and the valve housing, which acts to terminate fluid flow from between the inlet and outlet of the valve assembly.

Claims

1. A method of making a piston for use in an access port valve, said method comprising:

molding a piston, said piston comprising a neck section of reduced diameter compared to a body section, which defines an interior cavity;

an exterior wall surface, and a base; and

cutting a slit only partially across the reduced diameter of the neck section along a radial dimension to form a flow path at the slit and the exterior wall surface of the piston;

said slit comprising an upper slit section, said upper slit section having a first slit surface and a second slit surface;

wherein the first slit surface and the second slit surface abut one another before placing the piston into a valve housing of the access port valve.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the slit further comprises a first lower slit section and a second lower slit section formed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body section.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the slit comprises a Y-shape configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting step comprises a blade being vibrated by an ultrasonic generator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the piston comprises an antimicrobial composition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the piston further comprises a lower helical slit section along a longitudinal axis.

7. A method of making a piston for use in an access port valve, said method comprising:

molding a piston, the piston comprising a top surface, a flange, a neck section located below the flange, a body section defining an interior cavity, an exterior wall surface and a base; and

cutting a slit in the neck section for providing a fluid path through the neck section and the exterior wall surface of the body section;

the slit comprising an upper slit section,

wherein the cutting creates a straight line and a straight seam only partially across the top surface before placing the piston into a valve housing of the access port valve to form a flow path between an interior surface of the valve housing and the exterior wall surface of the body section.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the slit further comprises a first lower slit section and a second lower slit section formed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body section.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the slit comprises a Y-shape configuration.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising placing the piston into a valve housing.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the piston comprises an antimicrobial composition.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the piston further comprises a lower helical slit section along a longitudinal axis.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the straight line created by the cut extends partially through the top surface.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the straight line created by the cutting is continuous from one side towards an opposite side of the top surface.

15. A method of making a piston for use in an access port valve, said method comprising:

molding a piston, the piston comprising a top surface, a flange, a neck section located below the flange, a body section defining an interior cavity, an exterior wall surface and a base;

cutting a slit in the neck section for providing a fluid path through the neck section;

the slit comprising an upper slit section, said upper slit section having a first slit surface and a second slit surface;

wherein the first slit surface and the second slit surface contact one another and wherein the cutting creates a straight line having a straight seam only partially across the top surface of the piston before placing the piston into a housing of the access port valve to form a flow path between an interior surface of the valve housing and the exterior wall surface of the body section.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the slit further comprises a first lower slit section and a second lower slit section formed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body section.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the slit comprises a Y-shape configuration.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the piston comprises an antimicrobial composition.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the straight line created by the cut extends partially through the top surface.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of placing the piston into a housing of the port access the device.