Needleless injection site

• US 5,512,043 A
• Filed: 03/03/1994
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Level 1 Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Verkaart, Wesley H.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/205,259
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 604/246, 604/247, 604/249, 604/83, 137/605, 137/853, 251/61.1, 251/4
• US Class Current: 604/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 Access sites
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7889 Sleeve

Abstract

An injection site designed for use with a needleless syringe includes a housing placed in an infusion line and an inlet for engaging the syringe and conveying a fluid to be mixed with the infusate to the interior of the housing. A liner within the housing controls flow of fluid through the inlet by sealing the inlet when the pressure in the housing is equal to or exceeds the pressure in the syringe. The housing is made of two parts, each of which includes a flange. When assembled, the spaced flanges are on opposite ends of the liner, which is not directly attached to the housing, to limit movement of the liner to maintain its position in the housing.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid comprising

a housing having a first inlet for receiving said first fluid, a second inlet for receiving said second fluid, and an outlet for dispensing said first and second fluids,

sealing means for sealing said second inlet when the fluid pressure of said first fluid is equal to or exceeds the fluid pressure of said second fluid, and

means for maintaining the axial position of said sealing means within said housing,

wherein said sealing means comprising an elastic element capable of deforming radially inwardly along its entire length and is separate from and not attached to said housing, whereby said second fluid can pass over opposed ends of said sealing means during mixing.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises retaining means for retaining said sealing means in said housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said retaining means comprises at least one flange for engaging said sealing means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said housing is cylindrical and said sealing means is cylindrical and coaxial with said housing.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first inlet and said outlet are aligned with the cylindrical axis of said housing.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises spaced flanges on opposite ends of said sealing means.

7. A needleless injection site comprising

housing means forming a cavity, said housing means having a first fluid inlet to said cavity, a fluid outlet from said cavity, and a second fluid inlet to said cavity,

a liner in said cavity for resiliently engaging said second fluid inlet and controlling the flow of said second fluid into said cavity,

wherein said liner is not attached to said housing, is maintained in position by spaced flanges at opposite ends of said cavity, and is capable of deforming radially inwardly along its entire length, whereby said second fluid can pass over ends of said liner.

8. An injection site according to claim 7 wherein said cavity is generally cylindrical and said second fluid inlet is in an outer wall of said housing, said liner is generally cylindrical, and said flanges extend radially inward from said outer wall of said housing.

9. An injection site according to claim 8 wherein said housing means comprises a first housing portion and a cap portion secured together, said housing portion including said outer wall.

10. An injection site for facilitating injection of an injected fluid into a flowing fluid comprising a housing having an injection port for admitting said injected fluid to said flowing fluid and a flexible liner for covering said injection port when said injected is not injected and moving away from said injection port when said fluid is injected to permit passage of said fluid through said injection port, wherein said housing comprises axially spaced positioning means for positioning said liner and said liner is capable of deforming radially inwardly along its entire length is detached from said housing, and is located between said positioning means for maintaining the axial position of said liner, whereby said injected fluid can pass over opposed ends of said liner for mixing with said flowing fluid.