Medical port with constraining biasing element
Inventors
Chelak, Todd • Kimball, Ian • Adams, Ray • Ransden, Jeffrey
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10368789-B2
Publication Date
2019-08-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medical port has a housing forming an interior with a fluid inlet and a fluid channel extending from the fluid inlet. The housing also has an exterior wall forming at least one radial opening to the interior. In addition to the housing, the medical port also has a resilient valve element within the housing interior configured to control fluid flow through the inlet, and a biasing element movably couplable with the housing. The resilient valve element has a proximate body portion proximate to the radial opening when in the closed mode. The biasing element also has a constraining portion configured to cooperate with the radial opening to contact at least the proximate body portion of the valve element when in the closed mode. The biasing element constraining portion preferably is configured to normally resist radial outward movement of the proximate body portion when in the closed mode.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a medical port for transferring fluid to and from a patient, having an open mode to permit fluid flow and a closed mode to prevent fluid flow. The port includes a housing forming an interior with a fluid inlet and a fluid channel extending from the fluid inlet, and a resilient valve element configured to control fluid flow through the inlet.
The housing also has an exterior wall forming at least one radial opening to the interior. In the closed mode, the resilient valve element includes a proximate body portion proximate to the at least one radial opening, or a radially unconstrained valve portion, and a biasing element movably couplable with the housing includes at least one constraining portion extending into and cooperating with the at least one radial opening to contact the proximate body portion or the given portion.
The constraining portion normally resists radial outward movement of the proximate body portion or the given portion when in the closed mode. The arrangement prevents or limits valve deformation that would otherwise distort pressure transducer waveforms for arterial blood pressure and venous blood pressure monitoring, and the biasing element can be decoupled with the housing exterior prior to transitioning from the closed mode to the open mode.
In additional described configurations, the biasing element may include a ring or a closed top portion configured to substantially cover the fluid inlet, and the port can be integrated into a disinfecting cap with an alcohol-containing sponge or pad positioned between the closed top and the fluid inlet. Optional stop surfaces contact the housing exterior wall to limit radial contraction, and a disinfection feature is described to reduce microbial ingress associated with the medical port.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims. Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on open and closed medical port modes with a resilient valve element and a movably couplable biasing element that cooperates with radial openings to constrain a proximate or radially unconstrained valve portion in the closed mode.
Open and closed medical port with resilient valve control
A medical port having an open mode to permit fluid flow and a closed mode to prevent fluid flow, including a housing forming an interior with a fluid inlet and a fluid channel extending from the fluid inlet, and a resilient valve element within the housing interior configured to control fluid flow through the inlet.
Housing radial openings enabling constraint of valve proximate portion
The housing includes an exterior wall forming at least one radial opening to the interior, where in the closed mode the resilient valve element has a proximate body portion proximate to the at least one radial opening, and the biasing element includes at least one constraining portion extending into and cooperating with the at least one radial opening to contact at least the proximate body portion.
Movably couplable biasing element normally resisting radial outward movement
A biasing element movably couplable with the housing having at least one constraining portion configured to normally resist radial outward movement of the proximate body portion or a given portion when in the closed mode.
Biasing element decoupling prior to transitioning to open mode
The biasing element is movably couplable with the housing exterior and is configured to be decoupled with the housing exterior prior to the medical port being transitioned from the closed mode to the open mode.
The independent claims collectively require open and closed modes for fluid flow control, a housing with radial openings to the interior, a resilient valve element with a proximate body portion or radially unconstrained valve portion in the closed mode, and a movably couplable biasing element with constraining portions that normally resist radial outward movement through the radial openings in the closed mode. One independent claim further requires decoupling of the biasing element prior to transitioning to the open mode.
Stated Advantages
Reduces waveform distortion or artifacts in arterial blood pressure waveform and venous blood pressure waveform monitoring caused by valve deformation.
Enables in-line pressure monitoring using the medical port with a pressure transducer or strain gauge.
Provides improved inlet covering and disinfection by integrating a disinfecting cap with an alcohol-containing sponge or pad to reduce microbial ingress.
Documented Applications
Medical port use for arterial blood pressure waveform and venous blood pressure waveform monitoring, including coupling with a pressure transducer or strain gauge.
Use as a sample port formed by the housing together with the resilient valve element.
Integration of the medical port into a disinfecting cap arrangement with an alcohol-containing disinfecting pad or sponge for reducing microbial ingress.
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