Surgery – Container for blood or body treating material – or means used...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-18
2001-01-30
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Container for blood or body treating material, or means used...
C604S415000, C206S807000, C215S324000, C215S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179821
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to an access port for an associated container, and more particularly to an access port having a pierceable membrane, and an outer cover portion that is frangibly removable therefrom, whereby the membrane of the access port remains sealed until the cover portion is removed and a piercing member is inserted through the membrane for fluid access to the contents of the container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART
Administration of intravenous solutions and the like for patient healthcare is typically effected through the use of solution containers having one or more access ports, some of which are sealed by pierceable membrane elements. Such pierceable membranes act to seal the contents of the container until access is required, with the membrane being pierceable through the use of a piercing member such as a spike of an associated tubing set or a hypodermic needle. The piercing member can be manipulated to penetrate the membrane, thereby fluidly connecting the hollow interior of the piercing member with the interior of the container. Flow of liquid through the access port, via the piercing member, is thus provided in a convenient and efficient fashion.
In order to avoid contamination of the solution within a container, the pierceable membrane of a container is typically provided with a suitable overcap or closure which covers the membrane and seals it against contamination prior to the juncture at which the contents of the container are to be used. Of course, the provision of such a protective closure adds to the manufacturing cost of the container. Additionally, the protective closure can be subject to inadvertent damage attendant to handling of the container, which can impair the sealing integrity of the closure and thus render the container unsuitable for use.
The present invention is directed to an improved access port element having a pierceable membrane, and an integral protective cover which facilitates efficient and economical use thereof, with the port element configured to maintain its sealing integrity attendant to normal handling and use of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A membrane port embodying the principles of the present invention is configured for mounting on an associated container of known construction, such as a flexible bag for an intravenous solution. The membrane port includes an integral pierceable membrane element which can be penetrated by an associated piercing pin or like element for joining a tubing set or other fluid handling arrangement in fluid communication with the interior of the container. Notably, the membrane port is provided with an integral cover portion which is frangibly, removably joined to the port so that the seal integrity of the port is maintained prior to removal of the cover portion. The cover portion is configured for convenient manipulation and removal when access to the contents of the container is required.
In accordance with the illustrated embodiments, the present membrane port includes a port body having a generally tubular flow port portion, and a removable cover portion sealing one end of the flow port portion. The flow port portion includes a pierceable membrane which can be penetrated by an associated piercing member of known construction to allow fluid flow through the tubular port portion. Such a piercing member (sometimes referred to as a “spike”) is typically joined to an associated tubing set to provide access to the contents of a container to which the membrane port is fitted.
The cover portion of the membrane port is removably joined to the flow port by a frangible connector portion. By fracture of the connector portion, the cover portion can be separated from the flow port portion, thereby providing access to the pierceable membrane from the end of the flow port portion which is initially sealed by the cover portion. In a preferred embodiment, the cover portion includes at least one outwardly extending projection to facilitate grasping of the cover portion for its manipulation and removal by fracture of the connector portion.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the flow port portion includes an outwardly extending, preferably outwardly flared, load-absorbing region to which the frangible connector portion is joined. By this configuration, an annular space is defined between the flow port portion and the cover portion. The load-absorbing region is positioned intermediate the openable end of the flow port portion and the pierceable membrane. The provision of the load-absorbing region has been found to reduce premature failure of the connector portion while still permitting the connector portion to be fractured as required for removal of the cover portion.
In the preferred form, the tubular flow port portion includes an insertion section which extends outwardly from the load-absorbing region, with the insertion section thus being configured to receive a piercing member such as a spike associated with a tubing set. The insertion section desirably acts to guide the movement of the piercing member as it is inserted into the flow port portion to pierce the membrane of the port. The insertion section also desirably acts to isolate and separate the interior passage of the flow port portion from the frangible connector portion, helping to avoid “touch contamination” attendant to removal of the cover portion.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
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patent: 5728087 (1998-03-01), Niedospial, Jr.
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patent: 2333944 (1973-07-01), None
patent: 9728775 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 2030956 (1979-08-01), None
Caspary Glenn A.
Saunders Ralph E.
Cho David J.
Weiss John G.
Woodworth Brian R.
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