Control of fluid flow with internal cannula

Claim 2

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet having a circumferential end wall, the valve body further comprising a substantially rectangular well and an upstanding tubular cannula extending from a central portion of the well, towards the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet and a bore with a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet for providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; and a movable plug comprising a flexible head with a closed slit, the flexible head having a first position sealing the inlet, the flexible head being flush with the circumferential end wall of the inlet when in the first position, thereby facilitating antiseptic swabbing of the plug, the movable plug further comprising a flexible body coupled to the flexible head, the flexible body comprising elongated legs sitting in the well of the valve body, such that when the flexible head is moved to a second position over the first portion of the tubular cannula, the slit is opened, enabling the flow of fluid through the passage of the tubular cannula and the elongated legs are flexed, providing a return force for returning the flexible head to its first position.

Claim 3

The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the valve body has an exterior surface with a rectangular exterior cross-section.

Claim 4

The flow control device of claim 2, wherein the flexible head has an internal open area below the slit, the open area including inclined wedges to provide a mechanical advantage for opening the slit when the flexible head is moved from the first position to the second position over the first portion of the tubular cannula.

Claim 5

The flow control device of claim 3, wherein the flexible head has a bore portion below the inclined wedges, the bore portion having an inner surface in sealing contact with the first portion of the tubular cannula when the flexible head is in the first position.

Claim 6

The flow control device of claim 4, wherein the inner surface is in sealing contact with an outside wall of the tubular cannula as the flexible head is moved from the first position to the second position.

Claim 7

The flow control device of claim 3, further including means for permitting the depression of the flexible head by a member external thereto, over the tubular cannula.

Claim 8

The flow control device of claim 6, wherein the external member has a tip with a Luer taper.

Claim 9

The flow control device of claim 6, wherein the inlet extends to a tapered bore which is spaced from the movable plug, the tapered bore providing space for the flexible head to expand into, as the flexible head is moved from the first position to the second position.

Claim 10

The flow control device of claim 8, wherein the tapered bore leads to a bore portion with an essentially constant diameter adjacent the first portion of the tubular cannula.

Claim 11

The flow control device of claim 6, wherein the flexible head has a top portion including an exterior circumferential side wall tapered outwardly toward the circumferential end wall of the inlet when the flexible head is in the first position, whereby the taper of the flexible head promotes the sealing of the inlet.

Claim 12

The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the legs flex outwardly when the movable plug is depressed.

Claim 13

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a well with a central portion and a tubular cannula extending from the central portion toward the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet, a bore with a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet, the bore providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; a plug comprising a flexible body, a base sitting in the well of the valve body and a flexible head coupled to the flexible body, the flexible head sealing the inlet and having a closed slit with a longitudinal axis; the first portion of the tubular cannula and the flexible head being engageable with each other to open the slit, and the flexible head having an open area below the slit including two opposed inclined wedges each having flat surfaces converging towards the longitudinal axis of the slit for providing a mechanical advantage as the first portion of the tubular cannula opens the slit by engaging the inclined wedges.

Claim 14

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a well with a central portion and a tubular cannula extending from the central portion toward the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet, a bore with a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet, the bore providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; a plug comprising a flexible body, a base sitting in the well of the valve body and a flexible head coupled to the flexible body, the flexible head sealing the inlet and having a closed slit with a longitudinal axis; the first portion of the tubular cannula and the flexible head being engageable with each other to open the slit, and the flexible head having an open area below the slit including two opposed inclined wedges each having flat surfaces converging towards the longitudinal axis of the slit for providing a mechanical advantage as the first portion of the tubular cannula opens the slit by engaging the inclined wedges.

Claim 15

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a well with a central portion, a tubular cannula extending from the central portion toward the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet and a bore having a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet for providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; a movable plug comprising a flexible body having a base sitting in the well of the valve body, a flexible head coupled to the flexible body and having a closed slit, the flexible head having a position sealing the inlet, the flexible head being depressible over the first portion of the tubular cannula from the position sealing the inlet, to open the slit; and the valve body further comprising a tapered bore extending from the inlet, the tapered bore being spaced from the movable plug such that when the flexible head of the movable plug is depressed over the first portion of the tubular cannula, the flexible head expands into the tapered bore.

Claim 16

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a well with a central portion, a tubular cannula extending from the central portion toward the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet and a bore having a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet for providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; a movable plug comprising a flexible body having a base sitting in the well of the valve body, a flexible head coupled to the flexible body and having a closed slit, the flexible head having a position sealing the inlet, the flexible head being depressible over the first portion of the tubular cannula from the position sealing the inlet, to open the slit; and the valve body further comprising a tapered bore extending from the inlet, the tapered bore being spaced from the movable plug such that when the flexible head of the movable plug is depressed over the first portion of the tubular cannula, the flexible head expands into the tapered bore.

Claim 17

The flow control device of claim 13, wherein the inlet has a first portion at its external end with a first diameter and the valve body has a tapered portion and an interior portion with a second diameter greater than the first diameter, wherein the first portion is connected to the interior portion through the tapered portion.

Claim 18

The flow control device of claim 14, wherein the flexible head has an internal open area below the slit, including inclined wedges for providing a mechanical advantage as the first portion of the tubular cannula opens the slit by engaging the inclined wedges.

Claim 19

The flow control device of claim 15, wherein the valve body has a rectangular cross-section.

Claim 20

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet having a circumferential end wall, the valve body further comprising a well and an upstanding tubular cannula extending from a central portion of the well, towards the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet and a bore with a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet for providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; and a movable plug comprising a flexible head with a closed slit, the flexible head having a first position sealing the inlet, the flexible head being flush with the circumferential end wall of the inlet while in the first position, thereby facilitating antiseptic swabbing of the plug, the movable plug further comprising a flexible body coupled to the flexible head, the flexible body comprising elongated legs sitting in the well of the valve body, such that when the flexible head is moved to a second position over the first portion of the tubular cannula, the slit is opened, enabling the flow of fluid through the passage of the tubular cannula and the elongated legs are flexed, providing a return force for returning the flexible head to its first position.

Claim 21

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet having a circumferential end wall, the valve body further comprising a well and an upstanding tubular cannula extending from a central portion of the well, towards the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet and a bore with a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet for providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; and a movable plug comprising a flexible head with a closed slit, the flexible head having a first position sealing the inlet, the flexible head being flush with the circumferential end wall of the inlet while in the first position, thereby facilitating antiseptic swabbing of the plug, the movable plug further comprising a flexible body coupled to the flexible head, the flexible body comprising elongated legs sitting in the well of the valve body, such that when the flexible head is moved to a second position over the first portion of the tubular cannula, the slit is opened, enabling the flow of fluid through the passage of the tubular cannula and the elongated legs are flexed, providing a return force for returning the flexible head to its first position.

Claim 22

The flow control device of claim 17, wherein the flexible body comprises two opposed, elongated legs, each having a first portion proximate the flexible head and a second portion sitting in the well, wherein the distance between the first portions of each leg is less than the distance between the second portions of each leg.

Claim 23

The flow control device of claim 18, wherein the well is substantially rectangular and the second portion of the legs are connected to a substantially rectangular base sitting in the well.

Claim 24

The flow control device of claim 18, wherein when the legs are sufficiently flexed by movement of the flexible head from the first position to the second position, the legs fold over themselves.

Claim 25

The flow control device of claim 20, wherein the well is substantially rectangular and the second portion of the legs are connected to a substantially rectangular base sitting in the well.

Claim 26

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet having a circumferential end wall, the valve body having an exterior surface with at least one flat side for being positioned on the surface of a patient, the valve body further comprising an internal well and an upstanding tubular cannula extending from a central portion of the well, towards the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet and a bore with a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet for providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; and a movable plug comprising a flexible head with a closed slit, the flexible head having a first position sealing the inlet, the flexible head being flush with the circumferential end wall of the inlet while in the first position, thereby facilitating antiseptic swabbing of the plug, the movable plug further comprising a flexible body coupled to the flexible head, such that when the flexible head is moved to a second position over the first portion of the tubular cannula, the slit is opened, enabling the flow of fluid through the passage of the tubular cannula and the flexible body is flexed, providing a return force for returning the flexible head to its first position.

Claim 27

A flow control device comprising: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet having a circumferential end wall, the valve body having an exterior surface with at least one flat side for being positioned on the surface of a patient, the valve body further comprising an internal well and an upstanding tubular cannula extending from a central portion of the well, towards the inlet, the tubular cannula having a first portion proximate the inlet and a bore with a first open end in the first portion and a second open end at the outlet for providing a passage for fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet; and a movable plug comprising a flexible head with a closed slit, the flexible head having a first position sealing the inlet, the flexible head being flush with the circumferential end wall of the inlet while in the first position, thereby facilitating antiseptic swabbing of the plug, the movable plug further comprising a flexible body coupled to the flexible head, such that when the flexible head is moved to a second position over the first portion of the tubular cannula, the slit is opened, enabling the flow of fluid through the passage of the tubular cannula and the flexible body is flexed, providing a return force for returning the flexible head to its first position.