U.S. patent application number 15/218375 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-17 for self-capping syringe assembly with one-way valve.
The applicant listed for this patent is Covidien LP. Invention is credited to James Carlyon.
Application Number | 20160331902 15/218375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41118276 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160331902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carlyon; James |
November 17, 2016 |
SELF-CAPPING SYRINGE ASSEMBLY WITH ONE-WAY VALVE
Abstract
A syringe assembly is disclosed which includes a syringe body
defining a fluid reservoir, a plunger assembly including a plunger
rod and a sealing member supported on the plunger rod, and a luer
cap releasably secured to a distal end of the syringe body. The
luer cap includes a luer-type connector member and a fluid outlet.
A one way valve is supported within the fluid outlet of the luer
cap to prevent flow from the fluid outlet back into the fluid
reservoir of the syringe body.
Inventors: |
Carlyon; James; (Farmington,
MO) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Covidien LP |
Mansfield |
MA |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
41118276 |
Appl. No.: |
15/218375 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12412652 |
Mar 27, 2009 |
9408971 |
|
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15218375 |
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61040929 |
Mar 31, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 5/28 20130101; A61M
2005/3128 20130101; A61M 5/3134 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61M 5/28 20060101
A61M005/28; A61M 5/31 20060101 A61M005/31 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A luer cap comprising: an outer body portion configured and
dimensioned to frictionally and releasably engage a distal end of a
syringe body, an inner body portion spaced from the outer body
portion defining a fluid outlet, a luer type connector member
positioned between the outer cylindrical body portion and the inner
body portion adapted to engage an I.V. catheter assembly, and a one
way valve supported within the fluid outlet.
17. The luer cap according to claim 16, further including a
helical-type coupling member formed on the outer cylindrical body
portion.
18. The luer cap according to claim 17, wherein the helical-type
coupling member is positioned within an annular channel defined
between the outer cylindrical body portion and the inner body
portion.
19. The luer cap according to claim 16, wherein the inner body
portion has a tapered outer surface.
20. The luer cap according to claim 16, wherein the one way valve
includes a duckbill type valve.
21. The luer cap according to claim 16, wherein the one way valve
is positioned and configured to allow fluid to flow from the outlet
opening upon an increase in pressure within the fluid
reservoir.
22. The luer cap according to claim 16, wherein the one-way valve
is positioned and configured to move to an open position in
response to an increase in pressure within the one way valve.
23. A self-capping syringe assembly comprising: a syringe body
defining a fluid reservoir and an outlet opening; a plunger
assembly including a plunger rod and a sealing member supported on
a distal end of the plunger rod; and a luer cap including an outer
body portion configured and dimensioned to frictionally and
releasably engage a distal end of the syringe body, an inner body
portion spaced from the outer body portion defining a fluid outlet,
a luer type connector member positioned between the outer body
portion and the inner body portion adapted to engage an I.V.
catheter assembly, and a one way valve supported within the fluid
outlet.
24. The self-capping syringe assembly according to claim 23,
wherein the luer cap further includes a helical-type coupling
member formed on the outer body portion.
25. The self-capping syringe assembly according to claim 24,
wherein the helical-type coupling member is positioned within an
annular channel defined between the outer body portion and the
inner body portion.
26. The self-capping syringe assembly according to claim 23,
wherein the inner body portion has a tapered outer surface.
27. The self-capping syringe assembly according to claim 23,
wherein the one way valve includes a duck-bill type valve.
28. The self-capping syringe assembly according to claim 23,
wherein the one way valve is positioned and configured to allow
fluid to flow from the outlet opening upon an increase in pressure
within the fluid reservoir.
29. The self-capping syringe assembly according to claim 23,
wherein the one-way valve is positioned and configured to move to
an open position in response to an increase in pressure within the
one way valve.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/412,652, filed Mar. 27, 2009, which claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/040,929, filed Mar. 31, 2008,
each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to syringes and, more
particularly, to a syringe having a luer cap including anti-reflux
capabilities for transfer to an indwelling catheter.
[0004] 2. Background of Related Art
[0005] Intravenous or I.V. catheters which are inserted into a
patient's vasculature, e.g., vein, to facilitate a variety of
different medical procedures, including blood withdrawal,
medication delivery, dialysis, etc., over an extended period of
time are well known in the art. Such I.V. catheters minimize the
pain and discomfort to a patient associated with multiple needle
injections which may be required during a hospital stay.
[0006] One problem associated with I.V. catheters is that I.V.
catheters are susceptible to clotting and may also lead to
infection. More particularly, if blood stagnates within the
catheter, the blood will eventually clot and occlude the catheter
lumen. Further, stagnant blood provides a food source for
planktonic bacteria which may form a biofilm and cause
infection.
[0007] To overcome these problems, systems have been developed for
flushing I.V. catheters after fluid has been injected into or
removed from the catheter. In one such system, a syringe having a
luer connector which is pre-filled with a fluid or lock solution,
e.g., saline or heparin, is connected to the I.V. catheter and
fluid is dispensed from the syringe to flush any medicament, blood
or other fluid from the catheter.
[0008] Typically, an I.V. catheter includes a valve structure
connected to a proximal end of the catheter which imparts either
neutral or positive (distal direction) displacement upon the fluid
in the catheter when a syringe is detached from the valve
structure. One problem associated with known valve structures is
that repeated access increases the potential for introducing
bacteria and other microorganisms into the catheter leading to
infection. Furthermore, at times, these valve structures don't
eliminate the existence of reflux, i.e., fluid or blood flow back
into the distal end of the catheter. As discussed above, reflux may
result in clotting of the catheter or infection and is
undesirable.
[0009] Accordingly, a continuing need exists in the medical arts
for a syringe type flush system which can be easily connected to an
I.V. catheter assembly, operated in a conventional manner and used
as a means for capping or sealing off the proximal end of the
catheter without causing reflux, thus obviating the need for
reusable valve structures.
SUMMARY
[0010] A self-capping syringe assembly with a one way valve is
disclosed which includes a syringe body defining a fluid reservoir
and an outlet opening, a plunger assembly including a plunger rod
and a sealing member supported on the plunger rod and a luer cap
releasably secured to a distal end of the syringe body for
providing a means to seal an inlet end of an I.V. catheter. The
luer cap includes a luer-type connector member and defines a fluid
outlet positioned to communicate with the outlet opening of the
syringe body. A one-way valve is positioned within the fluid outlet
to allow fluid to flow from the outlet opening through the fluid
outlet but to prevent flow from the fluid outlet back into the
outlet opening.
[0011] In one embodiment, the syringe body includes a hub portion
defining a recess dimensioned to receive the luer cap. The luer cap
can be frictionally retained in the recess of the hub portion.
[0012] In one embodiment, an outer surface of the luer cap includes
a first plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs and the
inner surface of the hub portion of the syringe body includes a
second plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs which
define channels dimensioned to slidably receive the first plurality
of spaced longitudinally extending ribs to frictionally retain the
luer cap within the hub portion of the syringe body.
[0013] In one embodiment, the one way valve is a duck-bill type one
way valve. The luer cap can include an outer cylindrical body
portion and an inner tapered body portion wherein the inner tapered
body portion defines the fluid outlet. The outer cylindrical body
and the inner tapered body portion can be spaced to define an
annular channel wherein a helical-type coupling member is defined
within the annular channel.
[0014] A luer cap is also disclosed which includes an outer
cylindrical body portion configured and dimensioned to frictionally
engage a syringe body, an inner body portion spaced from the outer
body portion defining a fluid outlet, and a one way valve supported
within the fluid outlet. A helical-type coupling member can be
formed on the outer cylindrical body portion.
[0015] The coupling member can be positioned within an annular
channel defined between the outer cylindrical body portion and the
inner body portion. The inner body portion can have a tapered outer
surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Various embodiments of the presently disclosed self-capping
syringe assembly with one way valve are disclosed herein with
reference to the drawings, wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the
presently disclosed self-capping syringe assembly with one way
valve;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded, side perspective view of the
self-capping syringe assembly with one way valve shown in FIG.
1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side perspective view of the one-way
valve of the self-capping syringe assembly with one way valve shown
in FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the self-capping
syringe assembly with one way valve shown in FIG. 1 with the
plunger in a retracted position prior to operation of the
system;
[0021] FIG. 5 is an enlarged side, cross-sectional view of the
distal end of the self-capping syringe assembly with one way valve
shown in FIG. 4 with the plunger rod moved to the advanced
position; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the
distal end of the self-capping syringe assembly with one way valve
shown in FIG. 5 with the plunger rod fully advanced and the luer
cap disengaged from the hub of the syringe body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Embodiments of the presently disclosed self-capping syringe
assembly with one way valve and its method of use will now be
described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like
reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in
each of the several views. In this description, the term proximal
is generally used to indicate the relative nearness of a referenced
item to a user of the device and the term distal is used to
indicate the relative remoteness of a referenced item to a user of
the device.
[0024] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one embodiment of the presently
disclosed self-capping syringe assembly with one way valve shown
generally as 10. Briefly, syringe assembly 10 includes a plunger
assembly 12, a luer cap 14, and a syringe body 16. Plunger assembly
12 includes a plunger rod 20 and a sealing member 22. Sealing
member 22 is supported on a distal end 20a of plunger rod 20 and
defines a stepped throughbore 26 (FIG. 4). A proximal end of
plunger rod 20 has a finger engagement member 28. Distal end 20a of
plunger rod 20 includes a large diameter transverse disc portion
30, a small diameter disc portion 32 and an intermediate step
portion 34 connecting disc portions 30 and 32. When sealing member
22 is supported on plunger rod 20, a distal face 30a (FIG. 2) of
disc portion 30 abuts a proximal face 22a of sealing member 22 such
that small diameter disc portion 32 and intermediate step portion
34 are positioned within stepped throughbore 26 of sealing member
22. Sealing member 22 can be formed from an elastomeric material,
e.g., rubber, neoprene, etc. and is deformable to receive distal
end 20a of plunger rod 20.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, syringe body 16 defines a fluid
reservoir 24 (FIG. 4) which is dimensioned to slidably receive
plunger assembly 12 such that sealing member 22 slidably engages an
inner wall 50 of syringe body 16. A proximal open end 16a of
syringe body 16 includes a gripping flange 52 and a distal end 16b
of syringe body 16 includes a cylindrical hub portion 54. A wall 56
(FIG. 4) formed at the distal end of reservoir 24 defines an outlet
opening 58 which communicates with reservoir 24. Cylindrical hub
portion 54 defines cavity 54a (FIG. 6) dimensioned to releasably
receive luer cap 14.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, a series of spaced
longitudinally extending ribs 60 are positioned about an inner
surface of hub portion 54. As will be discussed in further detail
below, ribs 60 are configured to releasably retain luer cap 14
within hub portion 54 of syringe body 16.
[0027] Luer cap 14 includes an outer cylindrical body portion 64
and an inner tapered body portion 66 which defines a fluid outlet
or channel 68. Fluid outlet 68 is positioned to be in fluid
communication with outlet opening 58 of syringe body 16 such that
outlet 68 communicates with reservoir 24. The outer surface of
outer cylindrical body portion 64 includes a plurality of spaced
longitudinally extending ribs 70. Each of ribs 70 is dimensioned to
be frictionally retained between a pair of ribs 60 of hub portion
54 to frictionally retain luer cap 14 within cavity 54a of hub
portion 54. Ribs 60 and 70 prevent relative rotation between hub
portion 54 and luer cap 14 during securement of syringe assembly 10
to an I.V. or indwelling catheter assembly (not shown). A sealing
member 71, e.g., an elastic 0-ring, can be positioned between an
outer surface of luer cap 14 and an inner surface of hub portion 54
to prevent fluid leakage about luer cap 14. As illustrated, the
engaging surfaces of ribs 60 and 70 can be roughened, ribbed,
knurled or the like to improve retention of luer cap 14 within
cavity 54a of hub portion 54. It is envisioned that luer cap 14 can
be retained within hub portion 54 using other known means of
retention, e.g., detents, frangible structure, etc
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a one-way valve 40 is supported
within fluid outlet 68 of luer cap 14. One-way valve 40 is
configured to allow fluid to flow from fluid reservoir 24 through
outlet opening 58 and through fluid outlet 68 but to prevent fluid
from flowing from fluid outlet 68 back into reservoir 24. Valve 40
can be dimensioned such that when luer cap 14 is retained within
cavity 54a of hub portion 54, the proximal face of body 42 of valve
40 contacts hub portion 54 on a surface that surrounds outlet
opening 58 to prevent the release of pressure around luer cap 14.
One-way valve 40 is illustrated as a duck-bill type check valve.
Check valve 40 is formed of a resilient material which defines an
opening 40a which is normally closed but will open when the
pressure within body 42 of valve 40 exceeds a predetermined minimum
pressure. This will occur when plunger assembly 12 is moved towards
the advanced position. It is envisioned that a variety of different
types of one-way valves can be used including spring-loaded valves,
ball valves, valves having resilient slits, etc.
[0029] Outer cylindrical body portion 64 and inner tapered body
portion 66 define an annular channel 74 (FIG. 6). Body portion 64
includes an internal thread 76 (FIG. 2) which forms a helical-type
coupling member. Coupling member 76 is configured to releasably
engage a helical coupling member of an I.V. or indwelling catheter
assembly (not shown) to secure syringe assembly 10 to the catheter
assembly.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, when syringe assembly 10 is used to
flush an indwelling catheter (not shown), luer cap 14 is secured to
the indwelling catheter via coupling member 76. Prior to actuation
of syringe assembly 10, plunger assembly 12 is in a retracted
position with sealing member 22 spaced from distal wall 56 of
syringe body 18.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, when plunger assembly 12 is moved from
the retracted position to the advanced position, fluid is forced
from reservoir 24, through outlet opening 58 into fluid outlet 68
and into one-way valve 40. When the pressure in fluid outlet 68
exceeds a predetermined minimum, one-way valve 40 opens to allow
fluid to flow from fluid outlet 68 into an indwelling catheter. It
is noted that the entire contents of fluid reservoir 24 need not be
dispensed from syringe assembly 10, i.e., one way valve 40 will
function to seal fluid outlet 68 after only a portion of fluid
reservoir 24 is dispensed. Thus, the plunger assembly does not have
to be moved to its fully advanced position to effect operation of
one way valve 40.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 6, after the desired amount of fluid has
been dispensed from syringe assembly 10, syringe body 16 can be
separated from luer cap 14 and the indwelling catheter (not shown)
by holding one of luer cap 14 and syringe body 16 stationary and
manually separating the components. When separated, luer cap 14
remains connected to an inlet end of the indwelling catheter to
seal the inlet end of the indwelling catheter and prevent reflux
from occurring.
[0033] It will be understood that various modifications may be made
to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, a variety of
different techniques or devices can be used to retain the luer cap
within the hub portion of the syringe body including frangible
couplings, detents, interlocking components, etc. Although syringe
assembly 10 has been disclosed as being suitable for use with
indwelling catheters, syringe assembly 10 may also be used in other
medical applications. Therefore, the above description should not
be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of
preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other
modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended
hereto.
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