Vascular access device time sensitive status indication

• US 8,540,944 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• 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:
  US12/868,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 422/400, 422/405, 422/50, 422500-503, 604/93, 436/180, 116/305, 116/314
• 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 having a body; and

a photochromic material incorporated within at least a portion of the body, the photochromic material changing the color of light reflected by the color-changing material from a first color to a second color after being exposed to ambient or UV light for a predetermined amount of time.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the vascular access device includes a septum, the septum having a slit extending through the septum.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the photochromic material includes a colorless isomer that contains a spiro carbon atom.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the photochromic material includes a photochromic dye.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount of time is approximately twenty four hours.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the photochromic material is a high intensity UV light sensitive material.

7. A medical device comprising:

a vascular access device having a body;

a color-changing material included within or on the body, the color-changing material changing the color of light reflected by the color-changing material from a first color to a second color when the medical device has reached an infection risk threshold, wherein the color-changing material is configured to change color in response to oxidation, moisture absorption, or polymer crystallization of the color-changing material.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the color-changing material is a coating on the body of the medical device.

9. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the color-changing material is incorporated within at least a portion of the body.

10. The medical device of claim 7, further comprising a septum disposed within the body, the septum having a slit extending through the septum.

11. A medical device comprising:

a vascular access device having a body; and

a color-changing material included within or on the body, the color-changing material changing the color of light reflected by the color-changing material from a first color to a second color when the medical device has reached an infection risk threshold, wherein the color-changing material includes a colorless isomer that contains a spiro carbon atom.

12. The medical device of claim 11, further comprising a septum disposed within the body, the septum having a slit extending through the septum.

13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the color-changing material is incorporated within at least a portion of the body.