Systems and methods for providing a flushable catheter assembly
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorsMarty L. Stout, Weston F. Harding, S. Ray Isaacson, Austin Jason McKinnon
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Abstract
The present invention extends generally to a vascular access device that employs a septum and septum activator designed to minimize or eliminate the possibility that fluid will flow into interstitial spaces between the septum activator and the body of the vascular access device. The septum activator can be configured with a proximal end that has an outer diameter that is at least as great as the diameter of the lumen within which the septum activator is contained.
Claims20
A vascular access device comprising:
- a body including a first lumen that extends from a proximal end of the body to a distal end of the body;
- a septum positioned within the first lumen of the body, the septum having a distal end and a proximal end, the septum contacting an inner wall of the body to form a seal between the distal end and the proximal end of the body to thereby prevent fluid flow between the distal end and the proximal end of the body;
- and
- a septum activator forming a second lumen that extends from a proximal end of the septum activator to a distal end of the septum activator, the septum activator being initially positioned within the first lumen proximal to the distal end of the septum and subsequently forced through the distal end of the septum thereby creating a fluid path through the septum and the second lumen of the septum activator, wherein the proximal end of the septum activator has an outer diameter that is at least as great as a diameter of the inner wall of the body thereby forming a seal between an outer surface of the proximal end of the septum activator and the inner wall of the body to prevent fluid from flowing between the outer surface of the proximal end of the septum activator and the inner wall of the body.
The vascular access device of 9, wherein the one or more fins contact the proximal end of the septum to limit the distal movement of the septum activator.
A vascular access device comprising:
- a body including a first lumen that extends from a proximal end of the body to a distal end of the body, wherein the diameter of the first lumen at the distal end is less than the diameter of the first lumen at the proximal end;
- a septum positioned within the first lumen of the body, the septum having a tubular section forming a second lumen and a membrane section positioned proximal to the tubular section, the tubular section being partially contained within the distal end of the body such that a proximal portion of the tubular section extends into the proximal end of the body, the proximal portion of the tubular section having an outer diameter that is less than the diameter of the first lumen at the proximal end of the body, the proximal portion of the tubular section further including one or more openings to allow fluid to pass from outside the tubular section into the second lumen, the membrane section having an outer diameter at least as great as the diameter of the first lumen at the proximal end;
- and
- a septum activator forming a third lumen that extends from a proximal end to a distal end of the septum activator, the distal end of the septum activator having one or more slots comprising openings into the third lumen, the septum activator being initially positioned within the first lumen proximal to the membrane section of the septum, and when forced distally, the distal end of the septum activator, including at least a portion of the one or more slots, extends distally past the membrane section thereby creating a fluid pathway from the third lumen, through the slots, through the one or more openings in the tubular section and into the second lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.