CATHETER DEVICES WITH VALVES AND RELATED METHODS
FIG5D is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the catheter assembly of FIG1 in which the catheter hub is now connected with a male Luer and the valve actuator is advanced distally to push open the valve
The distally directed force moves the valve opener 150 in the distal direction until the geometries of the male tip 220 and the proximal opening of the catheter hub stop further distal advancement of the male tip, which is shown in FIG5D. In an example, a female Luer taper of the catheter hub 102 and a male Luer taper of the male tip 220 register and block distal advancement of the male tip further into the opening of the catheter hub. A seal is provided by the Luer engagement to prevent fluid from leaking out the proximal opening of the catheter hub.
schematic cross-sectional view
150
actuator
155
arms
138
bushing
102
catheter hub
['1. A needle assembly (100) comprising: a needle hub (106) with a needle (108) extending from a distal end of the needle hub; a catheter hub (102) having an interior surface defining an interior cavity (130); a catheter tube (104) attached to the catheter hub (102) and having the needle (108) extending through the catheter tube (104) and having a needle tip (110) extending out a distal opening (112) of the catheter tube (104) in a ready to use position; a valve (136) positioned in the interior cavity (130) of the catheter hub (102), said valve (136) comprising a valve body (402) having an outer perimeter positioned in a bore section (146) of the catheter hub (102), a proximal receptacle (410) on a proximal end, a distal receptacle (415) on a distal end, and a valve disc (50) located between the proximal receptacle (410) and distal receptacle (415); an actuator (150) positioned in the interior cavity (130) of the catheter hub (102), the actuator (150) is configured to open the valve (136), the actuator (150) comprising: a body (151) having a nose section (161) and an activation end (315), the activation end (315) is located within the proximal receptacle (410) and is configured to push the valve disc (50) to open the valve (136); and an extension leg (152) on a proximal end of the actuator (150), the extension leg having an engagement section (330) having a surface for supporting; a safety clip (132) having a proximal wall (280), a proximal opening (284) on the proximal wall (280), a resilient arm (290) with an end (333); wherein the end (333) of the arm (290) is supported by the surface of the engagement section (330) when the safety clip (132) is in the interior cavity (130) of the catheter hub (102) in the ready to use position.', '4. The needle assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the actuator (150) further comprises: one or more guide arms (155) extending radially from the body (151) of the actuator (150), the one or more guide arms (155) configured to engage one or more slots (510) on the interior surface of the catheter hub (102), the engagement between the one or more guide arms (155) and the one or more slots (510) configured to prevent rotation of the actuator (150) within the catheter hub (102).', '10. A method of manufacturing a needle assembly (100) comprising: providing a catheter hub (102) with a catheter tube (104) with a distal opening (112), said catheter hub (102) comprising a hub body (102a) defining an interior cavity (130) and a proximal opening; positioning a bushing (138) inside the catheter hub (102) and against the catheter tube (104) and positioning a valve (136) proximal of the bushing (138); the valve comprising a valve body (402) having a distal valve section (406) and a proximal valve section (404) defining a proximal receptacle (410), and wherein the distal valve section (406) is located in a bore section (146) of the interior cavity (130) and the bore section (146) contacts the distal valve section (406) to secure the valve (136) inside the interior cavity (130); positioning a valve opener (150) adjacent the valve (136) and inside the interior cavity (130) of the catheter hub (102) so that a nose section (161) of the valve opener (150) is located inside the proximal receptacle (410), the valve opener (150) comprising an extension leg (152) on a proximal end of the valve opener (150), the extension leg having an engagement section (330); positioning a safety clip (132) in the interior cavity (130) of the catheter hub (102) so that an end (333) of an arm (290) of the safety clip (132) is located over the engagement section (330), the engagement section (330) having a surface to support the safety clip (132) when the safety clip (132) is in the interior cavity (130) of the catheter hub (102); placing a needle (108), which is attached to a needle hub (106), through the catheter hub (102), the valve (136), the valve opener (150), the safety clip (132) and the catheter tube (104) so that a tip (110) of the needle (108) extends out the distal opening (112) of the catheter tube (104).']