Luer-receiving medical valve and fluid transfer method

• US 5,549,651 A
• Filed: 05/25/1994
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn
• Original Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn
• Inventors: Lynn, Lawrence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KNIGHTS, LAIRD
• Application Number:
  US08/248,646
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 251/4, 251/334, 251/340, 251/347, 251/349, 128/912, 604/33, 604/169, 604/200, 604/204, 604/231, 604/236, 604/237, 604/246, 604/247, 604/249, 604/250, 604/256, 604/283, 604/905
• US Class Current: 604/537
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2044 having slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/02 Access sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• 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

Abstract

A medical valve is provided that includes a housing having a main conduit and a branch extending from the main conduit and in fluid communication with it. The bore of the branch has an elastomeric septum piston disposed therewithin and at least a portion of the elastomeric septum piston is movable by either compression or by a longitudinal advancement along the secondary bore towards the bore of the main conduit. In one embodiment, the septum piston is cylindrical and includes a centrally positioned slit. The bore of the branch includes two opposing projecting members along a distal portion of the bore which effectively narrow the diameter of the bore. When the elastomeric member is pushed from a proximal position to a distal position, it is transversely compressed by the projecting members to open the slit and allow fluid passage. After removal of the longitudinal displacement force the septum piston retracts away from the distal portion back to the proximal portion.

Claims

1. A medical valve for selectively providing fluid communication between a primary fluid system and a secondary fluid system, the valve being selectively activated by a male luer having a distal end and an opening therethrough, the valve comprising:

a. a tubular housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end and a bore extending from said proximal end to said distal end, the bore defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion defined by cylindrical walls for receiving a male luer and a distal portion, the distal portion including at least one region having a narrower transverse width than said proximal portion,

b. an elastomeric septum piston defining a longitudinal axis and disposed within said bore, said septum piston having a perforation extending along the longitudinal axis of said septum piston, said perforation being closed when said septum piston is free from external compressive force, at least a portion of said septum piston being displaceable along the longitudinal axis of said bore from a first proximal position wherein said perforation is closed to a second distal position wherein said perforation is open, said septum piston being displaced by a distal end of a male luer when a male luer is inserted into said proximal portion, said septum piston in said second distal position being compressed by said region to open said perforation through said septum piston, and thereby to provide fluid communication from said opening, through said septum piston and into a primary fluid system.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein said perforation is a slit.

3. The medical valve of claim 2 wherein said slit defines a long, transverse axis and wherein said region is defined by at least one projecting member, said member projecting in alignment toward said long transverse axis of said slit so that when at least said portion of said septum piston is longitudinally displaced along said bore and is compressed by said projecting member, said slit being shortened along said transverse axis by said compression so that said slit opens to provide a flow channel through said perforation to provide fluid communication from said open distal luer end through said septum piston.

20. A medical valve of claim 1 wherein when the septum piston is in said second distal position, said perforation is substantially free from penetrating structure.

4. A medical valve for receiving a male luer having an open distal end and for selectively providing fluid communication, said valve comprising:

a. a male luer having a distal end and an opening therethrough;

b. a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a bore, the bore defining a longitudinal axis extending through said housing from said proximal end to said distal end;

c. said housing including a proximal portion for receiving said male luer end and a distal portion;

d. an elastomeric septum piston disposed within said bore, the septum piston being moveable along the longitudinal axis of said housing from a proximal position adjacent said proximal portion to a distal position adjacent said distal portion, the septum piston having a sealed perforation extending through said septum piston, said distal region compressing said septum piston when said septum piston is displaced by the distal end of said male luer from said proximal position into said distal position, said compression of said septum piston inducing an opening through said septum piston.

5. The medical valve of claim 4 wherein said septum piston is sized to seal said bore.

6. The medical valve of claim 4 wherein said septum piston is generally cylindrical.

7. The medical valve of claim 4 wherein said compressing portion induces a compressing member, said compressing member projecting into said bore.

8. The medical valve of claim 7 wherein said septum piston defines a longitudinal axis and wherein said compressing member compresses said septum piston transverse to said longitudinal axis.

9. The medical valve of claim 4 wherein said region comprises said bore having a region having variance in maximum dimension transverse to said axis, said septum piston defining a longitudinal axis and a maximum dimension transverse to said axis of said septum and wherein said maximum dimension of said septum piston is greater than the transverse dimension of said bore along said region.

10. The medical valve of claim 4 wherein said region comprises said distal portion having a reduced maximum transverse dimension relative to said proximal portion.

21. A medical valve of claim 4 wherein when the septum piston is in said distal position, said perforation is substantially free from penetrating structure.

11. A medical valve for the transfer of fluid from a fluid receptacle in fluid communication with a connection terminal having an open male end to a tubing system in fluid communication with a patient'"'"'s blood vessel, the valve comprising:

a. an outer region support housing defining a longitudinal axis;

b. a lumen extending within said outer region support housing, said lumen having an inlet and an outlet;

c. flexible elastomeric occluding member for occluding said inlet, said flexible elastomeric occluding member having an outer face for contact with a male end of a connection terminal and further having a perforation therethrough, said perforation having an upper end adjacent said outer face, at least a portion of said flexible elastomeric occluding member being displaceable along said outer region support housing from a first position wherein said upper end of said perforation is closed to a second position wherein said upper end of said perforation is open;

d. at least one portion of said outer region support housing being sized and configured to narrow said lumen, said at least one portion functioning to compress said flexible elastomeric occluding member, displacement of said flexible elastomeric occluding member inducing compression of said perforation to open said perforation and to provide fluid communication between an open male end of a connection terminal and said outlet.

12. The medical valve of claim 11 wherein said flexible elastomeric occluding member has an elongated portion that is elongated in one dimension transverse to said longitudinal axis.

13. The medical valve of claim 11 wherein said perforation is a slit.

14. The medical valve of claim 11 wherein said outer region support housing includes at least one biasing portion projection from said outer region support housing, said flexible elastomeric occluding member engaging said biasing portion upon displacement of said flexible elastomeric occluding member into said second position to bias said flexible elastomeric occluding member and to thereby open said perforation.

22. A medical valve of claim 11 wherein when the septum piston is in said second, position said perforation is substantially free from penetrating structure.

15. A medical valve for selectively providing the communication between a primary fluid system and a secondary fluid system, the valve comprising:

a. a tubular housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end and a bore extending from said proximal end to said distal end, the bore defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including at least one region having a narrower transverse width than said proximal portion,

b. an elastomeric septum piston defining a longitudinal axis and disposed within said bore, said septum piston having a perforation extending along the longitudinal axis of said septum piston, said perforation being closed when said septum piston is free from external compressive force, at least a portion of said septum piston being displaceable along the longitudinal axis of said bore from a first proximal position wherein said perforation is closed, to a second distal position wherein said perforation is open, said septum piston in said distal position being compressed by said region to open said perforation through said septum piston, and thereby to provide fluid communication between the primary and secondary fluid systems through said septum piston.

16. The medical valve of claim 15 wherein said perforation is a slit.

17. The medical valve of claim 16 wherein said slit defines a long, transverse axis and wherein said region is defined by at least one projecting member, said at least one projecting member projecting in alignment toward said long transverse axis of said slit so that when at least a portion of said septum piston is longitudinally displaced along said bore and is compressed by said at least one projecting member, said slit is shortened when so compressed so that said slit opens to provide a flow channel through said perforation.

18. The medical valve of claim 15 wherein said septum piston is generally cylindrical.

19. The medical valve of claim 15 wherein said tubular housing has a generally circular cross-section.

23. A medical valve of claim 15 wherein when the septum piston is in said second distal position, said perforation is substantially free from penetrating structure.