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US 2014/0276434 A1Published application
Valved catheter assemblies and related methods
AssigneeB. Braun Melsungen AG
InventorsKevin Woehr, Edwin L. Burnard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Catheter assemblies are described having a catheter hub with a catheter tube and a needle hub with a needle projecting through the catheter tube. The catheter hub has a valve or a septum for stopping or slowing down the flow of fluid in or out of the catheter hub when the valve or septum is closed. The valve has features formed thereon to facilitate venting, opening, closing, or combinations thereof.
Claims20
A catheter assembly comprising:
- a catheter hub comprising an interior cavity, an opening at a proximal end, and a catheter tube attached thereto and extending from a distal end;
- a needle having a needle shaft defining a needle axis projecting distally of an end of a needle hub, said needle projecting through the catheter tube and comprising a needle tip;
- a valve sized and shaped to obstruct fluid flow positioned inside the interior cavity of the catheter hub and in contact with the interior cavity, said valve comprising a valve perimeter surrounding a wall surface comprising a thickness, at least one slit defining at least two flaps, and a void having a void perimeter inwardly positioned relative to the valve perimeter and formed through only part of the thickness of the wall surface;
- and
- a valve opening device slidingly disposed in the catheter hub to actuate the valve, the valve opening device comprising a nose section having a tapered end for pushing the valve to open the slit of the valve and a plunger end having a plunger element extending proximally of the nose section;
- the plunger element being sufficiently rigid to transfer a distally directed force to the nose section to push the valve to open the slit.
3 more elements
A catheter assembly comprising:
- a first hub comprising an interior cavity having a shoulder, a perimeter defining an opening at a proximal end, and a catheter tube having a distal end opening extending distally of the first hub;
- a needle having a needle shaft defining a needle axis projecting distally of an end of a second hub, said needle projecting through the catheter tube and comprising a needle tip;
- a valve sized and shaped to obstruct fluid flow comprising a valve body comprising an outer periphery, said outer periphery comprising at least one vent and said valve body comprising at least one inner slit remote from said outer periphery;
- said valve being positioned inside the interior cavity of the first hub;
- a valve opening device slidingly disposed in the first hub to actuate the valve, the valve opening device comprising a nose section having a tapered end with an opening structured to push the valve to open the plurality of slits and at least one plunger element extending proximally of the nose section and slidable distally when a male implement projects into the opening of the first hub to transfer a distally directed force to the nose section to push the valve to open the at least one slit;
- and
- wherein the valve has at least one void disposed inwardly of the outer periphery.
4 more elements
A catheter assembly comprising:
- a first hub comprising an interior cavity having a shoulder, a perimeter defining an opening at a proximal end, and a catheter tube having a distal end opening extending distally of the first hub;
- a needle having a needle shaft defining a needle axis projecting distally of an end of a second hub, said needle projecting through the catheter tube and comprising a needle tip;
- a valve sized and shaped to obstruct fluid flow comprising a valve body comprising a wall structure comprising a proximal surface, a distal surface, and an outer periphery, said outer periphery comprising at least one vent and said wall structure of the valve body comprising a Y-shaped slit remote from said outer periphery, the Y-shaped slit comprising three flaps and the wall structure comprising reinforcing ribs on the distal surface on at least part of the three flaps;
- said valve being positioned inside the interior cavity of the first hub and remaining inside the interior cavity when the needle is removed from the catheter tube and the first hub;
- and
- a valve opening device slidingly disposed in the first hub to actuate the valve to open the Y-shaped slit;
- a needle protective device positioned proximal of the valve and at least in part around the needle and distal of the proximal end of the second hub in a ready position, the needle protective device movable to prevent unintended needle sticks in a protective position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.