Intravenous drug access system

Abstract

An intravenous drug access system. In one embodiment of the invention, the drug access system includes an IV bag having an inlet port and outlet port, whereby the inlet port is a female luer integral therewith. The integral female luer fitting may be fitted with a sealed end cap comprising a male luer insert with a closed end. An alternative embodiment of the present invention comprises a discrete pre-molded connector made with one spike at one end and a female luer fitting at the opposing end. The spike is used to penetrate a standard IV bag through a conventional inlet port.

1 . A medical connector for use in transferring fluids to a drug access bag having at least one inlet port, the medical connector comprising: 
 a housing having a first and second end and an internal conduit defined therein;    a puncture member at the first end of the housing adapted to be inserted into the inlet port and configured to permit fluid transfer between said bag and said connector;    a protective flange surrounding at least a portion of the puncture member to minimize contamination of said puncture member due to inadvertent contact with contaminated surfaces;    an interlocking coupling disposed between the protective flange and the puncture member adapted to attach the connector to an inlet port on the drug access bag;    a female luer fitting at the second end of the housing adapted to mate with a corresponding male luer fitting of a discrete connector or valve; and    a resilient seal element within the second end of the housing, configured to expand to an open position when pushed by a male luer to thereby permit the passage of fluid therethrough, further configured to reseal upon removal of the male luer.    
   
   
       2 . The medical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the medical connector is adapted to surround at least a portion of an IV bag.  
   
   
       3 . The medical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the female luer includes external threads surrounding said luer to form a luer lock.  
   
   
       4 . The medical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a needleless valve.  
   
   
       5 . The medical connector of  claim 4 , wherein the female luer includes a protective membrane to seal the contents of the bag therein, said membrane being penetrable by the application of a male luer into said female luer.  
   
   
       6 . The medical connector of  claim 5 , further comprising a male luer end cap adapted to sealably enclose the female fitting.  
   
   
       7 . The medical connector of  claim 6 , further comprising a coupling integral with the housing to receive and retain at least a portion of the inlet port.  
   
   
       8 . The medical connector of  claim 1 , wherein said puncture member comprises a spike having a tip and at least one aperture at or near said tip.  
   
   
       9 . The medical connector of  claim 4 , wherein the needleless valve comprises a cavity with a resilient seal disposed therein, the seal being adapted to be moved to a compressed position to permit fluid flow through the valve upon insertion of a medical implement, and the seal being adapted to resiliently return to an uncompressed position and obstruct fluid flow upon removal of the medical implement.  
   
   
       10 . The medical connector of  claim 1 , in combination with a drug access system comprising a bag adapted to contain medicinal fluids having an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port configured to transfer said fluids to a patient, said inlet port of integral construction with said bag and adapted to receive fluids therethrough for introduction into said bag, said inlet port being further configured to sealably connect to the medical connector, said inlet port comprising a housing defining an internal conduit for fluid communication between said medical connector and said bag.  
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the inlet port further comprises external threads surrounding said female luer end to form a luer lock.  
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the female luer includes a protective membrane to seal the contents of the bag therein, said membrane being penetrable by the application of a male luer into said female luer.  
   
   
       13 . The combination of  Claim 12 , further comprising a male luer end cap adapted to sealably enclose the female luer.  
   
   
       14 . A medical connector for use in transferring fluids to or from a medical fluid bag having at least one inlet port, the medical connector comprising: 
 a housing having a first and second end and an internal conduit defined therein;    a puncture member at the first end of the housing adapted to be inserted into the inlet port to permit fluid transfer between said bag and said connector;    a female luer fitting at the second end of the housing for mating with a corresponding male luer fitting of a discrete connector or valve;    a resilient seal within the second end of the housing, configured to expand to an open position when pushed by a male luer to thereby permit the passage of fluid therethrough, further configured to reseal upon removal of the male luer.    
   
   
       15 . The medical connector of  claim 14 ,, wherein the medical connector is configured to at least partially surround a portion of an IV bag.  
   
   
       16 . A method of transferring fluid to a drug access bag having an inlet port using a medical connector, the method comprising: 
 a housing having a first and second end and an internal conduit defined therein;    inserting a puncture member at the first end of the housing into the inlet port to permit fluid transfer between said bag and said connector;    providing a protective flange surrounding at least a portion of the puncture member to minimize contamination of said puncture member due to inadvertent contact with contaminated surfaces;    attaching the connector to an inlet port on the drug access bag with an interlocking coupling between the protective flange and the puncture member;    mating a female luer fitting at the second end of the housing with a corresponding male luer fitting of a discrete connector valve;    expanding a resilient seal element within the second end of the housing to an open position by pushing with a male luer to permit the passage of fluid therethrough; and    removing the male luer to allow the resilient seal element to contract.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising surrounding at least a portion of the IV bag with a portion of the medical connector.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 providing a protective membrane in the female luer to seal the contents of the bag therein; and    penetrating said protective membrane with a male luer when inserting the male luer into said female luer.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 providing a coupling attached to the housing;    inserting at least a portion of the inlet port in the coupling; and    retaining at least a portion of the inlet port in the coupling.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 providing, in the needlelesss valve, a cavity with a resilient seal disposed therein;    inserting a medical implement, thereby moving the seal to a compressed position to permit fluid flow through the valve;    removing the medical implement, thus permitting the seal to be adapted to resiliently return to an uncompressed position and obstruct fluid flow.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 providing a drug access system comprising a bag adapted to contain medicinal fluids having an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port configured to transfer said fluids to a patient, said inlet port of integral construction with said bag and adapted to receive fluids therethrough for introduction into said bag, said inlet port further comprising a housing defining an internal conduit for fluid communication between said medical connector and said bag; and    sealably connecting the medical connector to said inlet port.