IV injection and sampling site having septum with multiple openings

Claim 2

A site adapted to receive blunt or sharp penetrators, the site comprising: a) a housing having an outside end and a passageway extending inwardly from the outside end, the passageway having an inside diameter and defining an axial direction; b) an elastomeric septum located in the passageway of the housing, the septum having inside and outside ends relative to the housing; and c) a plurality of openings extending substantially through the septum from the inside end to the outside end generally in the axial direction, wherein the septum has an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the passageway such that the septum is radially compressed within the housing, wherein the plurality of holes are normally sealed when the septum is located in the passageway of the housing; the housing supporting the septum such that a blunt cannula penetrate one of the openings in the septum rather than merely deflect the septum when the blunt cannula is pressed against the outside end of the septum, with the elastomeric material of the septum sealingly engaging the blunt cannula to prevent leakage and maintaining the other openings in the septum in sealed condition.

Claim 3

A site according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are located in a pattern centered about an axial center of the septum.

Claim 4

A site according to claim 2, wherein the pattern is generally circular and has a diameter about half as long or less as a diameter of the septum at its outside end.

Claim 5

A site according to claim 2, wherein the septum further comprises a bore in the inside end, the bore being formed in the axial direction, and further wherein each of the plurality of openings lies within a diameter of the bore.

Claim 6

A site according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings comprises at least three holes.

Claim 7

A site adapted to receive blunt or sharpened penetrators, the site comprising: a) a housing having an outside end and a passageway extending inwardly from the outside end, the passageway having an inside diameter and defining an axial direction; b) an elastomeric septum located in the passageway of the housing, the septum having inside and outside ends relative to the housing, the septum further comprising a bore formed in the inside end of the septum, the bore being formed in the axial direction; and c) a plurality of openings extending substantially through the septum from the inside end to the outside end generally in the axial direction, the plurality of openings being located in a generally circular pattern centered about an axial center of the septum, the pattern having a diameter about half as long or less as a diameter of the septum at its outside end, wherein each of the plurality of openings lies within a diameter of the bore, and further, wherein the septum comprises an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the passageway such that the septum is radially compressed within the housing, wherein the plurality of openings are normally sealed when the septum is located in the passageway of the housing; the housing supporting the septum such that a blunt cannula will penetrate one of the openings in the septum rather than merely deflect the septum when the blunt cannula is pressed against the outside end of the septum, with the elastomeric material of the septum sealingly engaging the blunt cannula to prevent leakage and maintaining the other openings in the septum in sealed condition.

Claim 8

A site adapted to receive blunt or sharpened penetrators, the site comprising: a) a housing having an outside end and a passageway extending inwardly from the outside end, the passageway having an inside diameter and defining an axial direction; b) an elastomeric septum located in the passageway of the housing, the septum having inside and outside ends relative to the housing, the septum further comprising a bore formed in the inside end of the septum, the bore being formed in the axial direction; and c) a plurality of openings extending substantially through the septum from the inside end to the outside end generally in the axial direction, the plurality of openings being located in a generally circular pattern centered about an axial center of the septum, the pattern having a diameter about half as long or less as a diameter of the septum at its outside end, wherein each of the plurality of openings lies within a diameter of the bore, and further, wherein the septum comprises an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the passageway such that the septum is radially compressed within the housing, wherein the plurality of openings are normally sealed when the septum is located in the passageway of the housing; the housing supporting the septum such that a blunt cannula will penetrate one of the openings in the septum rather than merely deflect the septum when the blunt cannula is pressed against the outside end of the septum, with the elastomeric material of the septum sealingly engaging the blunt cannula to prevent leakage and maintaining the other openings in the septum in sealed condition.

Claim 9

A site according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of openings comprises at least three holes.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of compressing the septum transverse to the axial direction.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 8, further comprising inserting a sharp penetrator through at least one of the plurality of openings when a blunt penetrator is not inserted through any of the holes in the septum.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of openings are located in a pattern generally centered about an axial center of the septum; the step of inserting a blunt penetrator including inserting the blunt penetrator through one of the openings located in the pattern.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 11, wherein the pattern is generally circular and has a diameter about half as long or less as a diameter of the septum at its outside end; the step of inserting the blunt penetrator through one of the openings located in the pattern comprising inserting the blunt penetrator through one of the openings located in the generally circular pattern.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of molding an elastomeric septum and forming a multiplicity of openings further comprises molding the septum with the plurality of openings formed therein.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of molding an elastomeric septum and forming a multiplicity of openings comprises forming the plurality of openings after the septum is formed.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of molding an elastomeric septum further comprises molding a bore in the inside end of the septum, the bore having a diameter, the bore being formed in the axial direction, and further wherein each of the plurality of openings has a longitudinal axis extending from the opening within the diameter of the bore.

Claim 21

A site adapted to receive blunt or sharp penetrators, the site comprising: a housing having an outside end and a passageway extending inwardly from the outside end, the passageway having an inside diameter and defining an axial direction; an elastomeric septum located in the passageway of the housing, the septum having inside and outside ends relative to the housing, and a multiplicity of openings extending substantially through the septum from the inside end to the outside end generally in the axial direction, the openings being normally sealed to prevent fluid leakage through the septum; the housing supporting the septum such that a blunt cannula will penetrate one of the openings in the septum rather than merely deflect the septum when the blunt cannula is pressed against the outside end of the septum, with the elastomeric material of the septum sealingly engaging the blunt cannula to prevent leakage.

Claim 22

A site adapted to receive blunt or sharp penetrators, the site comprising: a housing having an outside end and a passageway extending inwardly from the outside end, the passageway having an inside diameter and defining an axial direction; an elastomeric septum located in the passageway of the housing, the septum having inside and outside ends relative to the housing, and a multiplicity of openings extending substantially through the septum from the inside end to the outside end generally in the axial direction, the openings being normally sealed to prevent fluid leakage through the septum; the housing supporting the septum such that a blunt cannula will penetrate one of the openings in the septum rather than merely deflect the septum when the blunt cannula is pressed against the outside end of the septum, with the elastomeric material of the septum sealingly engaging the blunt cannula to prevent leakage.

Claim 23

A site according to claim 17 wherein the septum has an outside diameter, the housing including ledges defining a septum-receiving portion of the passageway, the ledges defining openings having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the septum to support the septum against deflection when a blunt cannula is introduced into the septum.

Claim 24

A site according to claim 18 wherein, before assembly of the septum in the passageway of the housing, the septum has an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the septum-receiving portion of the passageway such that the septum is radially compressed within the housing.

Claim 25

A site according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of openings are located in a pattern centered about an axial center of the septum.

Claim 26

A site according to claim 20, wherein the pattern is generally circular and has a diameter about half as long or less as a diameter of the septum at its outside end.

Claim 27

A site according to claim 21, wherein the septum further comprises a bore extending into the septum from the inside end of the septum, the bore being formed in the axial direction, the bore having a diameter, each of the multiplicity of openings having a longitudinal axis extending from the opening within a diameter of the bore.

Claim 28

A site according to claim 22, wherein the multiplicity of openings comprises at least three holes.

Claim 29

A site according to claim 17, wherein the multiplicity of openings comprises at least ten holes.

Claim 30

A site according to claim 24, wherein the multiplicity of openings comprises at least fifteen holes.