US5360413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Needleless access device
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
•
Filing: 1993-05-19
•
Granted: 1994-11-01
•
Expires: 2013-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A needleless access device and method of using the device is disclosed. The needleless access device has a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a channel formed therethrough. Movably friction fitted in the channel adjacent the inlet opening is a piston. The piston is biased upwardly by a stretchable element. The stretchable element allows the top of the piston to be depressed by a syringe to a level adjacent internal flow channels to permit injection and aspiration of fluids through the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael H. Leason
- 👤 Rick R. Ruschke
- 👤 Ralph L. Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M39/00; A61M39/22; A61M39/26; A61M2039/263; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7879
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A needleless access device comprising: a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough; a moveable piston inside said channel having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased by a biasing member so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston, the piston comprising a wiper seal formed on a top section of said piston for sealing the inlet opening and wiping the surface of the channel surrounding the piston during actuation and release of the piston; and a valve inside said housing comprising a valve member at the bottom of said piston and a valve seat, the valve member normally being biased against said valve seat by said biasing member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A needleless access device comprising: a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough; a moveable piston inside said channel having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased by a biasing member so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston, the piston comprising a wiper seal formed on a top section of said piston for sealing the inlet opening and wiping the surface of the channel surrounding the piston during actuation and release of the piston; and a valve inside said housing comprising a valve member at the bottom of said piston and a valve seat, the valve member normally being biased against said valve seat by said biasing member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein the biasing is provided by a stretchable member attached to the piston.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The needleless access device of claim 2 wherein said stretchable member has at least one fluid flow opening therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The needleless access device of claim 2 wherein said stretchable member is comprised of rubber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The needleless access device of claim 2 wherein the housing comprises a cap and a body and wherein said stretchable member further comprises one or more ribs captured between said cap and said body to hold said stretchable member in position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The needleless access device of claim 2 wherein the piston and the stretchable member are molded as a unitary member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The needleless access device of claim 2 wherein the biasing is provided by a coil spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein the perimeter of the top surface of the piston is not inward of the inlet opening when the piston is in its biased position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The needleless access device of claim 8 wherein the top surface of the piston extends outwardly of the inlet opening when the piston is in its biased position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a cap and said channel comprises a fluid passageway through said cap defined by a cap wall, the piston being located within said channel, and said cap includes at least one flow channel having an opening into the fluid passageway and formed in the side of the cap wall for allowing fluids injected through said inlet to flow around said piston when the piston is forced to a position just below the opening of said flow channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein said inlet opening and channel form a standard female luer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 comprising an additional inlet in fluid communication with said outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said inlet and said outlet comprises a tubing connection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein the top surface of the piston is flush with the inlet opening when the piston is in its biased position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein the biasing member comprises a stretched elastomeric element and the valve member comprises a portion of the elastomeric element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein the biasing member comprises a coil spring and the valve member comprises a radially extending portion of the piston.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The needleless access device of claim 1 wherein the valve inside the housing has sufficient sealing force to prevent backflow.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a channel therethrough; b) a moveable piston having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening; and c) a center support pin in said piston and protruding out of the top of said piston for transmitting force applied at the top of the pin to the bottom of the piston.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a channel therethrough; b) a moveable piston having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening; and c) a center support pin in said piston and protruding out of the top of said piston for transmitting force applied at the top of the pin to the bottom of the piston.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The needleless access device of claim 18 wherein said center support pin has a contoured top surface shaped to prevent occlusion of a syringe tip during injection or aspiration of fluid through the device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The needless access device of claim 18 having a gap at the top of the piston between the support pin and the inside of the piston.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The needleless access device of claim 18 wherein the center support pin is inserted-molded in said piston.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The needleless access device of claim 18 wherein the center support pin is glued into said piston.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
101 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough; b) a moveable piston inside said channel and having a top surface, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; and c) a wiper seal formed on a top section of said piston for wiping the surface of the channel surrounding the piston during actuation and release of the piston.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
101 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough; b) a moveable piston inside said channel and having a top surface, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; and c) a wiper seal formed on a top section of said piston for wiping the surface of the channel surrounding the piston during actuation and release of the piston.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The needleless access device of claim 23 wherein the wiper seal contacts the sides of said channel when the piston is fully actuated to keep said piston aligned within said channel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
130 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough; b) a moveable piston inside said channel having a top surface, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston, the piston comprising a wiper seal formed on a top section of said piston for sealing the inlet opening and wiping the surface of the channel surrounding the piston during actuation and release of the piston; and c) a stretchable member attached to the piston to provide said biasing, the stretchable member having at least one fluid flow opening therethrough.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
130 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough; b) a moveable piston inside said channel having a top surface, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston, the piston comprising a wiper seal formed on a top section of said piston for sealing the inlet opening and wiping the surface of the channel surrounding the piston during actuation and release of the piston; and c) a stretchable member attached to the piston to provide said biasing, the stretchable member having at least one fluid flow opening therethrough.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needleless access device of claim 25 wherein said inlet opening and channel form a standard female luer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
150 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing comprising a cap, the housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough including a fluid passageway through said cap defined by a cap wall; b) a moveable piston located within said channel having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; and c) the cap including at least one flow channel having an opening into the fluid passageway and formed in the side of the cap wall for allowing fluids injected through said inlet to flow around and past the bottom of said piston when the piston is forced to a position just below the opening of said flow channel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
150 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing comprising a cap, the housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough including a fluid passageway through said cap defined by a cap wall; b) a moveable piston located within said channel having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; and c) the cap including at least one flow channel having an opening into the fluid passageway and formed in the side of the cap wall for allowing fluids injected through said inlet to flow around and past the bottom of said piston when the piston is forced to a position just below the opening of said flow channel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
139 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing comprising a cap, the housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough comprising a fluid passageway through said cap defined by a cap wall; b) a moveable piston located within said fluid passageway and having a top surface, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased by a biasing member so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; c) the channel also comprising at least one longitudinal flow channel formed in the side of said cap wall for bypassing said piston; and d) a valve inside said housing for sealing said longitudinal flow channel to prevent backflow from said outlet to said inlet.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
139 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing comprising a cap, the housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough comprising a fluid passageway through said cap defined by a cap wall; b) a moveable piston located within said fluid passageway and having a top surface, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased by a biasing member so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with or extends outwardly of the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; c) the channel also comprising at least one longitudinal flow channel formed in the side of said cap wall for bypassing said piston; and d) a valve inside said housing for sealing said longitudinal flow channel to prevent backflow from said outlet to said inlet.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
116 words
A needleless access device comprising: a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough, said housing comprising a cap and a body sealed together by a sonic weld; a moveable piston having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased by a biasing member so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; and a valve inside said housing comprising a valve member at the bottom of said piston and a valve seat, the valve member normally being biased against said valve seat by said biasing member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
116 words
A needleless access device comprising: a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough, said housing comprising a cap and a body sealed together by a sonic weld; a moveable piston having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased by a biasing member so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; and a valve inside said housing comprising a valve member at the bottom of said piston and a valve seat, the valve member normally being biased against said valve seat by said biasing member.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
146 words
A needleless access device comprising: a housing comprising a cap having an inlet opening therein and a body having an outlet opening therein, the housing having a channel therethrough, the channel comprising a fluid passageway through said body; a moveable piston having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased by a stretchable biasing member attached to the piston so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; a valve inside said housing comprising a valve at the bottom of said piston and a valve seat, the valve member normally being biased against said valve seat by said biasing member, said body fluid passageway comprising a contoured wall to prevent cutting or tearing the stretchable member during actuation of said piston.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
146 words
A needleless access device comprising: a housing comprising a cap having an inlet opening therein and a body having an outlet opening therein, the housing having a channel therethrough, the channel comprising a fluid passageway through said body; a moveable piston having a top surface and a bottom, the piston being adjacent said inlet opening and biased by a stretchable biasing member attached to the piston so that the top surface of the piston is normally generally flush with the inlet opening to facilitate aseptic treatment of the top surface of the piston; a valve inside said housing comprising a valve at the bottom of said piston and a valve seat, the valve member normally being biased against said valve seat by said biasing member, said body fluid passageway comprising a contoured wall to prevent cutting or tearing the stretchable member during actuation of said piston.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
A needleless access device comprising; a cap having an inlet opening and a channel formed therein; a piston movably friction fitted in said channel and being biased to seal said inlet opening; a stretchable member connected said piston to provide said biasing; and a body having an outlet opening formed therein, said body attached to said cap, said stretchable member having edges locked between said body and said cap.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
69 words
A needleless access device comprising; a cap having an inlet opening and a channel formed therein; a piston movably friction fitted in said channel and being biased to seal said inlet opening; a stretchable member connected said piston to provide said biasing; and a body having an outlet opening formed therein, said body attached to said cap, said stretchable member having edges locked between said body and said cap.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The needleless access device of claim 31 wherein the cap further comprises one or more flow channels exposed when said piston is forced in said channel in a direction opposite said inlet opening.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
100 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a cap having an inlet opening and a channel formed therein; b) a piston movably friction fitted in said channel and being biased to seal said inlet opening, the piston having a top and bottom, being of a soft material and comprising an insert molded center core pin for providing rigidity to the piston; c) a stretchable member connected to said piston to provide said biasing; and d) a body having an outlet opening formed therein, said body attached to said cap, said stretchable member having edges locked between said body and said cap.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
100 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a cap having an inlet opening and a channel formed therein; b) a piston movably friction fitted in said channel and being biased to seal said inlet opening, the piston having a top and bottom, being of a soft material and comprising an insert molded center core pin for providing rigidity to the piston; c) a stretchable member connected to said piston to provide said biasing; and d) a body having an outlet opening formed therein, said body attached to said cap, said stretchable member having edges locked between said body and said cap.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The needless access device of claim 33 wherein the top surface of the center support pin protrudes out of the top of the piston.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
77 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing comprising a cap and a body, the housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough; b) a moveable piston within said channel and biased toward said inlet opening; and c) a stretchable member attached to the piston to provide said biasing, the stretchable member comprising one or more ribs captured between said cap and said body to hold said stretchable member in a biased position.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
77 words
A needleless access device comprising: a) a housing comprising a cap and a body, the housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a channel therethrough; b) a moveable piston within said channel and biased toward said inlet opening; and c) a stretchable member attached to the piston to provide said biasing, the stretchable member comprising one or more ribs captured between said cap and said body to hold said stretchable member in a biased position.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for operating a needleless access device comprising a moveable piston fitted in a cap having an inlet opening and channel formed therein for receiving a syringe, said cap including at least one flow channel having an entrance opening into said channel formed in the side wall of the cap, said piston comprising a wiper seal sealing said channel above the entrance opening to said flow channel and said piston being biased towards the inlet opening by a stretchable member; comprising the step of: inserting a syringe through said inlet opening and using the syringe to force said piston down said channel to a location where said wiper seal moves past said opening to said at least one flow channel to permit injection and aspiration of fluids through the device.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for operating a needleless access device comprising a moveable piston fitted in a cap having an inlet opening and channel formed therein for receiving a syringe, said cap including at least one flow channel having an entrance opening into said channel formed in the side wall of the cap, said piston comprising a wiper seal sealing said channel above the entrance opening to said flow channel and said piston being biased towards the inlet opening by a stretchable member; comprising the step of: inserting a syringe through said inlet opening and using the syringe to force said piston down said channel to a location where said wiper seal moves past said opening to said at least one flow channel to permit injection and aspiration of fluids through the device.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of withdrawing the syringe from said inlet opening to allow said stretchable member to contract and seal against said sap to prevent back flow, and to allow said wiper seal to slide along said channel and wipe said channel clean.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the at least one flow channel is formed longitudinally in the cap wall.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the inlet opening and channel form a standard female luer and the syringe comprises a standard male luer, and at the location where the wiper seal moves past said opening to at least one flow channel, the female and male luers mate to prevent fluid from flowing out of the inlet opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |