Piston for a needleless valve system

• US 8,801,678 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Panian, Tyler Devin, Yeh, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOHR, LEAH C
• Application Number:
  US13/355,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 604/905, 604/256, 251149-1493
• US Class Current: 604/256
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0009 Assemblies therefor designed for particular applications, e.g. contrast or saline injection, suction or irrigation
• 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 2039/0072 Means for increasing tightness of the septum, e.g. compression rings, special materials, special constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• 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: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0413 with reciprocating pumps, e.g. membrane pump, piston pump, bellow pump B05B9/0409 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 1/01 characterised by the use of particular materials F16J1/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A piston for a needleless valve system comprising a head portion configured to be disposed in the needleless valve system and controlling fluid flow through the needleless valve system. The head portion comprising a continuous top surface, and an opening disposed proximate the continuous top surface, wherein the continuous top surface is non-planar when the opening is in an open position.

Claims

1. A piston for a needleless valve system, the piston comprising:

a continuous top surface without a slit therethrough;

an opening disposed proximate to and separated from the top surface, the opening having an open position and a closed position; and

a spacer disposed in the opening,

wherein the top surface is non-planar when the opening is in the open position.

2. The piston of claim 1, wherein the top surface is planar when the opening is in the closed position.

3. The piston of claim 1, wherein the top surface comprises a depression when the opening is in the open position.

4. The piston of claim 1, further comprising a head portion, wherein the opening passes through the head portion.

5. The piston of claim 4, wherein the opening is disposed along a diameter of the head portion.

6. The piston of claim 1, wherein the opening is oval-like.

7. The piston of claim 4, further comprising a compression feature disposed along a circumference of the head portion.

8. The piston of claim 7, wherein the compression feature comprises a bulge.

9. The piston of claim 1, wherein the open position is a relaxed state of the opening.

10. A needleless valve system comprising:

a housing comprising a fluid port; and

a piston disposed in said housing, the piston comprising;

a continuous top surface without a slit therethrough, the top surface having a periphery configured to sealingly mate with the fluid port to block flow through the fluid port; and

an opening disposed proximate to the top surface, the opening having an open position and a closed position,

wherein the top surface is non-planar when the opening is in an open position.

11. The needleless valve system of claim 10, wherein the housing is configured to engage with a needleless syringe.

12. The needleless valve system of claim 10, wherein the housing is further configured to be fluidly connected with a catheter.

13. The needleless valve system of claim 10, wherein:

the valve system has an open position and a closed position;

the top surface is displaced from the port such that the port is not fluidly sealed when the valve system is in the open position; and

the top surface is non-planar when the top surface is displaced from the port.

14. The needleless valve system of claim 13, wherein:

the top surface is proximate to the port with the periphery sealingly engaged with the port such that the port is fluidly sealed when the valve system is in the closed position; and

the top surface is planar when the top surface is proximate to the port.

15. The needleless valve system of claim 10, further comprising a head portion, wherein the opening passes through the head portion.

16. The needleless valve system of claim 15, wherein the opening is disposed along a diameter of the head portion.

17. The needleless valve system of claim 10, further comprising a spacer disposed in the opening.

18. The needleless valve system of claim 15, wherein the piston further comprises a compression feature disposed along a circumference of the head portion.

19. The needleless valve system of claim 18, wherein the compression feature comprises a bulge.

20. A method for flow control, the method comprising the step of:

connecting a needleless device to a port of a housing of a needleless valve system, wherein the port is sealed by a piston having a continuous top without a slit therethrough, the top surface being proximate to the port and planar with a periphery that is in sealing contact with the port thereby sealing the port when no needleless device is connected to the port, and wherein connection of a needleless device to the port displaces the top surface from the port thereby opening the port, and wherein the top surface is non-planar due to an opening that is proximate to and separated from the top surface moving from a closed position to an open position when the top surface is displaced from the port.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

allowing fluid to flow from the needleless device into the port and around the displaced and non-planar top surface.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

removing the needleless device from the port thereby allowing the top surface to return to a position proximate to the port, thereby sealing the port.

23. A piston for a needleless valve system, the piston comprising:

a continuous top surface without a slit therethrough;

an opening disposed proximate to and separated from the top surface, the opening having an open position and a closed position, the open position comprises a relaxed state of the opening, and

wherein the top surface is non-planar when the opening is in the open position.