Split septum assembly for an intravenous injection site

Inventors

Winsor, Chris

Assignees

Nexus Medical LLC

Abstract

An intravenous injection site having a split septum assembly interfit with the site for the intravenous administration of fluids to a patient. The split septum assembly has a resilient and compressible split septum having an axially-formed slit for receipt of a blunt cannula, needle, or other medical device through said slit, a septum holder for receipt of the split septum, and a septum housing for receipt of the combined septum holder and split septum. The septum includes a body and a flange extending radially from the body. A projection extends from the flange. The septum is mounted within the septum holder, and the septum holder is mounted within the septum housing to provide axial compression of the flange. This axial compression presents a double hermetic seal that significantly minimizes or prevents proximal leakage of fluid through the slit or around the septum holder when the cannula is removed.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a split septum assembly for coupling with a miniaturized intravenous injection site used to administer fluids to a patient. The split septum assembly presents an axial length extending along an axis of a fluid passageway when coupled with the site, with a distal end oriented towards a patient and a proximal end oriented towards a clinician. The split septum is resilient and compressible, and includes an axially-formed slit for receipt of a blunt cannula, needle, or other medical device through the slit.

The split septum assembly includes a generally cylindrical septum body presenting a radial-most outer surface with an outer diameter, and an annular flange circumscribing the radial-most outer surface at a distal end of the septum body. The axial length of the septum body is greater than an axial length of the flange, and the flange extends radially to present a radial-most outer edge having an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the septum body. The flange includes a proximally-extending locating projection annularly formed on the flange, with the septum body configured to be positioned within a septum holder such that the septum flange extends beyond a transverse periphery of the septum holder.

A septum holder receives the split septum and includes an annular locking ring formed on the radial-most outer surface of the septum holder, with the locking ring used in combination with a septum housing. The septum housing has a proximal end open for positioning of the combined septum holder and split septum and a distal end open to the fluid passageway of the injection site. The septum housing includes a proximally-extending annular locating groove for receipt of the locating projection and a radially-extending annular locking groove for interconnecting with the locking ring, where the locking ring shape is symmetrical in cross section in a pre-use position and asymmetrical in cross section in an in-use position.

Claims Coverage

Two independent claims are identified. Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on a resilient and compressible split septum with an axially-formed slit, an annular flange and locating projection arrangement, and a septum holder and septum housing interface that uses an annular locking ring and locating groove/locking groove with a pre-use symmetric and in-use asymmetric locking ring cross-sectional shape.

The claims are directed to the same structural system: a resilient compressible split septum with an axially-formed slit, an annular flange with a proximally-extending locating projection, a septum holder carrying an annular locking ring with symmetrical pre-use and asymmetrical in-use cross-sectional shapes, and a septum housing with a proximally-extending annular locating groove and a radially-extending annular locking groove that interconnects with the locking ring.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications