Fluid Flow Control Device with Retractable Cannula

Abstract

A device having a housing; a cannula projecting forwardly from the housing; a connector useful for attaching the device to a fluid source or receptacle; a fluid flow path establishing fluid communication between the cannula and the connector; a retraction mechanism biasing the cannula away from its projecting position; and an actuator supported by the housing and configured to modify the fluid flow path so as to terminate fluid flow through the device, seal off the fluid flow path, and release the retraction mechanism to retract the cannula into the housing. The subject device is particularly preferred for use in the medical field, for example, as part of an infusion set or as a collection device for blood, or other fluids or flowable matter.

1 . A device comprising:
 a housing;   a cannula projecting from the housing;   a connector attachable to a fluid source or receptacle external to the device;   a fluid flow path permitting fluid flow between the cannula and the connector; and   an actuator having at least a portion that is movable to displace some part of the fluid flow path and thereby terminate or redirect the fluid flow, and to initiate retraction of the cannula.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is movable axially relative to the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is movable rotationally relative to the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the actuator is movable pivotally relative to the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the actuator is movable arcuately relative to the housing. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the connector is part of the actuator. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein a portion of the fluid flow path is part of the actuator. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is movable to terminate or redirect fluid flow through at least part of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is a medical device. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of liquids, gases, suspensions and slurries. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  when used as a clamp in a fluid flow line. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sealing element configured to prevent fluid leakage into or out of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a retraction cavity. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the reaction cavity is part of the actuator. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the retraction cavity is disposed in side-by-side relation to at least part of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cannula retraction mechanism. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the cannula retraction mechanism further comprises a cannula holder and a compressed spring. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the at least one sealing element is an elastomeric O-ring. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the sealing element is disposed between the actuator and a cannula holder. 
   
   
       20 . A device comprising:
 a housing;   a cannula projecting from the housing;   a retraction mechanism operable to move the cannula into the housing;   a connector disposed rearwardly of the retraction mechanism, the connector being attachable to an external fluid source or receptacle;   a fluid flow path establishing fluid communication between the cannula and the connector; and   an actuator having at least a portion that is selectively movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing, the actuator permitting fluid flow through the fluid flow path when disposed in the first position and preventing or redirecting fluid flow when disposed in the second position;   wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position also initiates retraction of the cannula.   
   
   
       21 . A device comprising:
 a housing;   a cannula projecting from the housing;   a connector disposed opposite the cannula that is connectable to a fluid source or receptacle;   a fluid flow path establishing fluid communication between the cannula and the connector;   a cannula retraction mechanism supported by the housing; and   an actuator supported by the housing, at least a portion of the actuator being selectively movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, the actuator permitting fluid flow through the fluid flow path when disposed in the first position and preventing or redirecting fluid flow when disposed in the second position;   wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position also initiates retraction of the cannula.   
   
   
       22 . A medical device as recited in  claim 21 . 
   
   
       23 . The medical device of  claim 22  wherein the connector is one part of a luer connector. 
   
   
       24 . The medical device of  claim 22  wherein the cannula is a needle. 
   
   
       25 . The medical device of  claim 22  configured for use as part of a fluid infusion apparatus. 
   
   
       26 . The medical device of  claim 22  configured for use as part of a fluid collection apparatus. 
   
   
       27 . The medical device of  claim 25  wherein the fluid comprises medicine. 
   
   
       28 . The medical device of  claim 22  wherein the fluid source is a syringe. 
   
   
       29 . The medical device of  claim 25  configured for use in a vascular infusion system. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a cannula holder and a compressed spring. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the actuator comprises at least a portion of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the retraction mechanism biases the cannula away from its projecting position. 
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the actuator comprises a retraction cavity. 
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 33  comprising a retraction cavity that is spaced apart from the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 21  wherein at least a portion of the actuator is slidably disposed inside the housing. 
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 21  wherein at least a portion of the actuator is rotatably connected to the housing. 
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 36  wherein at least a portion of the actuator is mounted in pivotable relation to the housing. 
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the connector is part of the actuator. 
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the connector is attached to a tubing segment. 
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 21  when configured for use as a clamp in a fluid infusion or extraction system. 
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 21  wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position realigns at least part of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 21  wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position displaces at least part of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 21  wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position redirects at least part of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 21  wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position terminates the fluid flow. 
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a sealing member restricting fluid leakage between the actuator and housing. 
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a sealing member restricting fluid leakage into or out of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the tubing segment has an end portion that is held in substantially fixed relation to the connector by friction. 
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the tubing segment is clamped onto the connector. 
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the tubing segment has an end portion that is held in substantially fixed relation to the connector by adhesive. 
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a removable cover for the cannula. 
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the removable cover is attachable to the housing. 
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the housing comprises laterally extending finger grips to facilitate handling by a user. 
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the housing comprises laterally extending wings that facilitate securement of the housing to an underlying support surface. 
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the tubing segment is not moved rearwardly by movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       55 . A medical device useful for infusion therapy or fluid extraction, the device comprising:
 a housing;   a cannula having a tip projecting from the housing;   a cannula holder supporting the cannula;   a connector attachable to a fluid source or receptacle;   a normally open fluid flow path providing fluid communication between the cannula and the connector;   an actuator supported by the housing and movable from a first position to a second position relative to the housing; and   a retraction member biasing the cannula holder toward a position where the cannula tip does not project from the housing;   wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position terminates fluid flow through the fluid flow path by repositioning at least part of the normally open fluid flow path.   
   
   
       56 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position allows the cannula tip to be retracted inside the housing by the retraction member. 
   
   
       57 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the actuator is movable longitudinally relative to the cannula. 
   
   
       58 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the actuator is movable laterally relative to the cannula. 
   
   
       59 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the actuator is movable arcuately relative to the cannula. 
   
   
       60 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the actuator is slidable relative to the housing. 
   
   
       61 . The medical device of  claim 60  wherein the actuator is slidably disposed inside the housing. 
   
   
       62 . The medical device of  claim 59  wherein the actuator is pivotably connected to the housing. 
   
   
       63 . The medical device of  claim 55  used as a vascular access device. 
   
   
       64 . Apparatus comprising the medical device of  claim 55  when used to infuse a fluid. 
   
   
       65 . Apparatus comprising the medical device of  claim 55  when used to extract a fluid. 
   
   
       66 . Apparatus comprising the medical device of  claim 65  when used to extract a body fluid. 
   
   
       67 . Apparatus comprising the medical device of  claim 65  when used to extract a fluid comprising a flowable cellular mass. 
   
   
       68 . Apparatus comprising the medical device of  claim 55  when used to infuse medicine. 
   
   
       69 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the at least part of the fluid flow path is an elongate bore disposed inside the actuator. 
   
   
       70 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the housing further comprises a retraction cavity. 
   
   
       71 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the retraction cavity is disposed in side-by-side relation to the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       72 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the actuator further comprises a retraction cavity. 
   
   
       73 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the connector comprises a female luer fitting. 
   
   
       74 . The medical device of  claim 55  further comprising a fluid sealing member disposed at an end of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       75 . The medical device of  claim 55  where the fluid sealing member is an O-ring disposed in a recess surrounding an end of the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       76 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of liquids, gases, suspensions and slurries. 
   
   
       77 . The medical device of  claim 55 , further comprising a seal disposed circumferentially between the cannula holder and the fluid flow path of the actuator. 
   
   
       78 . The medical device of  claim 77  wherein the seal is a hermetic seal. 
   
   
       79 . The medical device of  claim 77  wherein the seal is repositionable relative to the housing. 
   
   
       80 . The medical device of  claim 55 , further comprising a removable protective cover for the cannula tip. 
   
   
       81 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein an external tube is attached to the connector and wherein retraction of the cannula does not cause axial movement of the tube. 
   
   
       82 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the retraction member is a spring. 
   
   
       83 . The medical device of  claim 82  wherein the retraction member is a compressed spring. 
   
   
       84 . The medical device of  claim 55 , further comprising stabilization wings. 
   
   
       85 . The medical device of  claim 55  wherein the housing further comprises laterally extending finger grips. 
   
   
       86 . A medical device comprising:
 a housing;   a cannula projecting from the housing;   a connector attachable to a fluid source or receptacle external to the device;   a fluid flow path permitting fluid flow between the cannula and the fluid source or receptacle; and   an actuator having at least a portion that is movable relative to the housing to displace some part of the fluid flow path and thereby terminate or redirect the fluid flow, and to initiate retraction of the cannula.   
   
   
       87 . The medical device of  claim 86 , where the displaced part of the fluid flow path is offset from the fluid flow path prior to displacement.