Swabbable Needle-Free Injection Port Valve System With Zero Fluid Displacement

Abstract

An improved needle-free intravenous injection port assembly is disclosed. Embodiments include a boot valve with a helical surface, a boot valve and septum which mate with mechanical interference, a spike with a rough outer surface coated with a lubricant, a septum having a shoulder and a single continuous swabbable surface, a septum and a boot valve which are pre-punctured, a septum with a frustroconical extension and a combination single piece septum and boot valve. The injection port assembly provides zero fluid displacement during coupling and uncoupling.

1 . An injection port assembly for coupling to and uncoupling from a first fluid pathway of a first connector and for coupling to a device provided with a second connector so as to provide a fluid connection between the first and second connectors, said injection port assembly comprising:
 a body having a first mating structure adapted to mate with the first connector and a second mating structure coupled to said first mating structure and adapted to mate with the second connector,   a resilient barrier substantially contained within said body and compressible from a first position in which fluid flow between said first mating structure and said second mating structure is blocked to a more compressed second position in which fluid flow between said first mating structure and said second mating structure is permitted,   said resilient barrier having an outer wall with a generally helical surface pattern and having a constant outer diameter along a majority of its length.   
     
     
         2 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said resilient barrier increases in thickness by having an inner wall which tapers while said outer wall is constant in diameter.   
     
     
         3 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said inner wall is polygonal.   
     
     
         4 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said resilient barrier includes a boot valve totally contained within said body and a septum at least mostly contained within said body.   
     
     
         5 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spike coupled to said body and mounted within said resilient barrier.   
     
     
         6 . An injection port assembly for coupling to and uncoupling from a first fluid pathway of a first connector and for receiving and passing a fluid into the first fluid pathway from a device provided with a second connector, said injection port assembly comprising:
 a) a body having a first end provided with a first mating structure adapted to mate with the first connector, and a second end provided with a second mating structure adapted to removably couple to the second connector;   b) a hollow spike coupled to and at least partially surrounded by said body, said hollow spike having a penetrating tip, said first mating structure and said hollow spike being in fluid communication with each other; and   c) a resilient barrier substantially contained within said body and extending over said spike and having a tip portion about said tip of said spike, wherein   said resilient barrier is always in compression in said body, and when the second connector is coupled to said second mating structure, said second connector forces said tip portion of said resilient barrier over said spike such that said second connector and said first connector are in fluid communication with each other through said hollow spike and said first mating structure.   
     
     
         7 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said resilient barrier includes a boot valve totally contained within said body and a septum at least mostly contained within said body.   
     
     
         8 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said resilient barrier having a generally helical outer surface pattern along at least a portion of its length.   
     
     
         9 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said resilient barrier has a polygonal inner surface along at least a portion of its length.   
     
     
         10 . An injection port assembly for coupling to and uncoupling from a first fluid pathway of a first connector and for receiving and passing a fluid into the first fluid pathway from a device provided with a second connector, said injection port assembly comprising:
 a body having a first mating structure adapted to mate with the first connector and a second mating structure coupled to said first mating structure and adapted to mate with the second connector,   a resilient barrier substantially contained within and always in compression within said body, and compressible by said device during coupling of said second connector with said second mating structure with zero fluid displacement during coupling from a first position in which fluid flow between said first mating structure and said second mating structure is blocked to a more compressed second position in which fluid flow between said first mating structure and said second mating structure is permitted,   
     
     
         11 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a spike coupled to said body and mounted within said resilient barrier, said spike having a tip, and said resilient barrier in interfering contact with said tip.   
     
     
         12 . An injection port assembly according to  claim 11 ,
 said spike has a roughened surface which is covered with a lubricant.   
     
     
         13 . A method for coupling and uncoupling a device to a fluid pathway, said method comprising:
 coupling an injection port assembly having a resilient valve to the fluid pathway,   coupling the device to the injection port assembly such that the resilient valve is opened putting the device in fluid communication with the fluid pathway with zero fluid displacement during coupling; and   uncoupling the device from the injection port assembly such that the resilient valve is closed and the device is no longer in fluid communication with the fluid pathway with zero fluid displacement during uncoupling.