Needleless valve system fluid control

• US 9,114,244 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Yeh, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, WENG WAH
• Application Number:
  US13/360,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20130197453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 604/246, 604/247, 604/249, 604/256
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2433 Valve comprising a resilient or deformable element, e.g. flap valve, deformable disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/263 where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24

Abstract

A needleless valve system includes a cannula comprising a cannula tip; a valve comprising a valve tip, wherein the valve is disposed around the cannula; and a housing comprising a housing tip, wherein the cannula tip, the valve tip, and the housing tip comprise a flat surface when the needleless valve system is in a sealed position.

Claims

1. A needleless valve system comprising:

a cannula comprising a cannula tip, a central lumen, and a radially extending opening in fluid communication with the central lumen;

a resiliently compressible valve comprising a valve tip, wherein said valve is disposed around said cannula and a protrusion of the valve is received radially within the radially extending opening, and

a housing comprising a housing tip, wherein said cannula tip, said valve tip, and said housing tip comprise a flat surface when said needleless valve system is in a sealed position;

wherein when the needleless valve system changes from the sealed position to an open position, the valve deforms and withdraws the protrusion of the valve out of the opening.

2. The needleless valve system of claim 1, wherein said needleless valve system does not require a split septum valve.

3. The needleless valve system of claim 1, wherein said cannula and said valve are co-axially disposed in said housing.

4. The needleless valve system of claim 1, wherein the cannula comprises a radially extending second opening.

5. The needleless valve system of claim 1, wherein said protrusion is radially extending.

6. The needleless valve system of claim 5, wherein said valve further comprises:

a shoulder disposed opposite said protrusion, wherein said shoulder is configured to resist withdrawal of the protrusion out of the opening by engaging an inner wall of the housing.

7. The needleless valve system of claim 1, wherein said valve is configured to be compressed coaxially within said housing by a male luer.

8. The needleless valve system of claim 1, wherein said valve further comprises:

ridges disposed along and extending radially inward from an inner surface of said valve that engages the cannula, wherein said ridges are configured for wiping fluid off of an outer surface of said cannula.

9. The needleless valve system of claim 1, further comprising:

a base joined with said housing, wherein said cannula is formed in said base.

10. A needleless valve system comprising:

a cannula co-axial with a longitudinal axis of said needleless valve system, said cannula comprising a radially extending port disposed along an outer wall of said cannula; and

a deformable valve extending around the cannula and having a protrusion extending radially inward configured for sealing said port by extending radially within the port, and a shoulder disposed opposite said protrusion and extending radially outward, the shoulder configured to resist withdrawal of the protrusion out of the opening by engaging an inner wall of a housing.

11. The needleless valve system of claim 10, wherein said needleless valve system does not require a split septum valve.

12. A method for controlling fluid flow in a needleless valve system, said method comprising:

providing (i) a cannula comprising a central lumen and a radially extending port in fluid communication with the central lumen and (ii) a resiliently compressible valve disposed around said cannula, a protrusion of the valve being received radially within the port while the valve system is in a sealed configuration;

opening the valve system by longitudinally depressing said valve such that said protrusion is withdrawn out of said port, thereby allowing fluid to flow through said port and within said central lumen.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sealing said port by longitudinally expanding the valve such that the protrusion is radially received within the port.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein opening said valve system further comprises depressing said valve by a needleless device.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

preventing radial deformation of said valve at said port from back pressure in said cannula.

16. The method of claim 15,

wherein the preventing radial deformation comprises engaging an inner wall of a housing, extending about the valve and cannula, with a shoulder of the valve.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a flat surface at a port of a housing that encompasses the valve and cannula, wherein said cannula and said valve are co-planar at said port of said housing.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

wiping fluid off of an outer surface of said cannula by said valve as the valve is longitudinally expanded.