GB1560673A

GB1560673A - Blood line connector including point for infusion

Info

Publication number: GB1560673A
Application number: GB3603876A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sandoz AG
Current assignee: Sandoz AG
Priority date: 1975-09-02
Filing date: 1976-08-31
Publication date: 1980-02-06
Also published as: BE845714A; FR2322614B1; FR2322614A1; DE2639161A1; DE2639161C2; CH602122A5; JPS5233396A

Description

(54) BLOOD LINE CONNECTOR INCLUDING POINT FOR INFUSION (71) We, SANDOZ LTD., of 35 Lichtstrasse, 4002 Basle, Switzerland a Swiss Body Corporate; do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a blood access device for connection in an extracorporeal blood line. The blood access device is particularly suited for connection in an extracorporeal blood line leading to or from an artificial kidney device.

Access to blood in an extracorporeal blood line is normally obtained by means of a hypodermic needle inserted into the blood line through a reseal plug of resilient material, such as of a latex rubber. Also, an access point to blood in an extracorporeal blood line may be provided by an infusion line leading into the extracorporeal blood line. Such blood access points need to be provided at points where it may be necessary to effect infusion, or withdrawal of blood samples.

The present invention provides a blood access device having means for connection to one of a variety of connector elements, each of which is suitable for a different purpose, for example for providing a blood access point for a hypodermic needle, or for providing means for connection to an infusion line.

The blood access device in accordance with the invention comprises a tubular element for connection between two lengths of the blood line, a first tubular branch leading from the tubular element, a reseal plug sealing closed said first tubular branch and providing a blood access point for a hypodermic needle, and a second tubular branch leading from the tubular element and defining first connection means for connection to a connector element having second connection means for mating with said first connection means.

The connector element may be one of a variety of elements, but is preferably selected from a closure element for closing off said second tubular branch, a blood access element which comprises a further resealable plug for providing a further blood access point for a hypodermic needle, and an infusion element having connection means for connection to an infusion line.

The axes of the first and second tubular branches and the axis of the tubular element all conveniently lie in one plane, with the axes of the tubular branches being located on opposite sides of the axis of the tubular element. In addition, the axes of the first and second tubular branches are preferably spaced apart from one another along the axis of the tubular element; in this construction, the point of a hypodermic needle inserted through a reseal plug located in one tubular branch cannot pass into the other tubular branch but will abut against the opposing inside wall of the tubular element.

For this reason, the tubular element is most preferably constructed of hard normally impenetrable plastics material.

The first connection means defined by the second tubular element may comprise a wall defining a frustro-conical bore for receiving a mating frustro-conical male fitting defined by the connector element, and coupling means on the outside of the wall for coupling the connector element to the second tubular element. The coupling means may comprise a pair of radially extending lugs for mating with a female screw thread provided in the connector element.

The invention extends to the combination of the blood access device described above and a connector element such as described above.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, a construction of a blood access device in accordance with the invention and a number of connector elements suitable for connection to said blood access device.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blood access device; Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the blood access device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section of a closure element for connection to the blood access device; Figure 4 is a cross-section of a blood access element for connection to the blood access device; and Figure 5 is a cross-section of an infusion element for connection to the blood access device.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a blood access device. The blood access device 10 comprises a tubular element 12 for connection between two lengths of the blood line. A first tubular branch 14 leads from the tubular element 12 and a reseal plug 16 seals closed said first tubular branch. The reseal plug 16 provides a blood access point for a hypodermic needle. A second tubular branch 18 leads from the tubular element 12 and defines first connection means referred to generally by reference numeral 20.

The first tubular branch 14 and second tubular branch 18 lead radially outwardly of the tubular element 12 and have respective axes which are parallel to one another the said axes being spaced apart from one another along the axis of tubular element 12 so that the point of a hypodermic needle inserted through the reseal plug 16 cannot pass into the second tubular branch 18.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, in conjunction with Figures 3, 4 and 5, the first connection means 20 defined by the tubular element 12 provides means whereby any one of the connector elements shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 may be connected to the tubular element 12. Each of the connector elements shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 have second connection means, each referred to generally by reference numeral 22, for mating with the first connection means 20.

The connector element for connection to the tubular element 12 may be selected from a closure element for closing off said second tubular branch, as shown in Figure 3, a blood access element which comprises a further resealable plug for providing a further er blood access point for a hypodermic needle, as shown in Figure 4, and in infusion element having connection means for connection to an infusion line, as shown in Figure 5.

The first connection means referred to generally by reference numeral 20 in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a wall 24 (see Figure 2) defining a frustro-conical bore 26 for receiving a mating frustro-conical male fitting 28 defined by the connector element (see Figures 3, 4, and 5), and coupling means 30 on the outside of the wall for coupling the particular connector element to the second tubular element 18. Said coupling means 30 is in the form of a pair of radially extending lugs for mating with a female screw thread 32 provided in each of the connector elements shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5.

Bores 34 and 36 are provided in each end of the tubular element 12 for receiving ends of blood tubing in which the blood access device 10 is to be connected.

A cap 37 is mounted over the first tubular branch 14 for maintaining the reseal plug 16 in position. The cap has an aperture 38 through which a hypodermic needle may be passed into and through the reseal plug 16 (see Figure 2).

In Figure 4, a reseal plug 40 is located in position in the connector element by cap 42 having an aperture 44 through which a hypodermic needle may be passed into and through the reseal plug 40. The connector element shown in Figure 4 includes a bore 46 through the male fitting 28, through which fluid may be injected or withdrawn from the tubular element 12 by means of a hypodermic needle.

In Figure 5, a female luer 47 defining a bore 48 for receiving the end of an infusion line is provided, through which fluid may be introduced into the tubular element 12.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A blood access device for connection in an extracorporeal blood line, whicah comprises a tubular element for connection between two lengths of the blood line, a first tubular branch leading from the tubular element, a reseal plug sealing closed said first tubular branch and providing a blood access point for a hypodermic needle, and a second tubular branch leading from the tubular element and defining first connection means for connection to a connector element having second connection means for mating with said first connection means.

2. A blood access device according to claim 1, in which the connector element is selected from a closure element for closing off said second tubular branch, a blood access element which comprises a further resealable plug for providing a further blood access point for a hypodermic needle, and an infusion element having connection means for connection to an infusion line.

3. A blood access device according to claim 1, or claim 2, in which the axes of the first and second tubular branches and the axis of the tubular element all lie in one

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. reference to the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, a construction of a blood access device in accordance with the invention and a number of connector elements suitable for connection to said blood access device. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blood access device; Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the blood access device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section of a closure element for connection to the blood access device; Figure 4 is a cross-section of a blood access element for connection to the blood access device; and Figure 5 is a cross-section of an infusion element for connection to the blood access device. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a blood access device. The blood access device 10 comprises a tubular element 12 for connection between two lengths of the blood line. A first tubular branch 14 leads from the tubular element 12 and a reseal plug 16 seals closed said first tubular branch. The reseal plug 16 provides a blood access point for a hypodermic needle. A second tubular branch 18 leads from the tubular element 12 and defines first connection means referred to generally by reference numeral 20. The first tubular branch 14 and second tubular branch 18 lead radially outwardly of the tubular element 12 and have respective axes which are parallel to one another the said axes being spaced apart from one another along the axis of tubular element 12 so that the point of a hypodermic needle inserted through the reseal plug 16 cannot pass into the second tubular branch 18. Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, in conjunction with Figures 3, 4 and 5, the first connection means 20 defined by the tubular element 12 provides means whereby any one of the connector elements shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 may be connected to the tubular element 12. Each of the connector elements shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 have second connection means, each referred to generally by reference numeral 22, for mating with the first connection means 20. The connector element for connection to the tubular element 12 may be selected from a closure element for closing off said second tubular branch, as shown in Figure 3, a blood access element which comprises a further resealable plug for providing a further er blood access point for a hypodermic needle, as shown in Figure 4, and in infusion element having connection means for connection to an infusion line, as shown in Figure 5. The first connection means referred to generally by reference numeral 20 in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a wall 24 (see Figure 2) defining a frustro-conical bore 26 for receiving a mating frustro-conical male fitting 28 defined by the connector element (see Figures 3, 4, and 5), and coupling means 30 on the outside of the wall for coupling the particular connector element to the second tubular element 18. Said coupling means 30 is in the form of a pair of radially extending lugs for mating with a female screw thread 32 provided in each of the connector elements shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5. Bores 34 and 36 are provided in each end of the tubular element 12 for receiving ends of blood tubing in which the blood access device 10 is to be connected. A cap 37 is mounted over the first tubular branch 14 for maintaining the reseal plug 16 in position. The cap has an aperture 38 through which a hypodermic needle may be passed into and through the reseal plug 16 (see Figure 2). In Figure 4, a reseal plug 40 is located in position in the connector element by cap 42 having an aperture 44 through which a hypodermic needle may be passed into and through the reseal plug 40. The connector element shown in Figure 4 includes a bore 46 through the male fitting 28, through which fluid may be injected or withdrawn from the tubular element 12 by means of a hypodermic needle. In Figure 5, a female luer 47 defining a bore 48 for receiving the end of an infusion line is provided, through which fluid may be introduced into the tubular element 12. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A blood access device for connection in an extracorporeal blood line, whicah comprises a tubular element for connection between two lengths of the blood line, a first tubular branch leading from the tubular element, a reseal plug sealing closed said first tubular branch and providing a blood access point for a hypodermic needle, and a second tubular branch leading from the tubular element and defining first connection means for connection to a connector element having second connection means for mating with said first connection means.

plane, with the axes of the tubular branches being located on opposite sides of the axis of the tubular element.

4. A blood access device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the axes of the first and second tubular branches are spaced apart from one another along the axis of the tubular element.

5. A blood access device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first connection means defined by the second tubular element comprises a wall defining a frustro-conical bore for receiving a mating frustro-conical male fitting defined by the connector element, and coupling means on the outside of the wall for coupling the connector element to the second tubular element.

6. A blood access device according to claim 5, in which the coupling means comprises a pair of radially extending lugs for mating with a female screw thread provided in the connector element.

7. A blood access device for connection in an extracorporeal blood line, which comprises a tubular element for connection between two lengths of the blood line, a first tubular branch leading from the tubular element, a reseal plug sealing closed said first tubular branch and providing a blood access point for a hypodermic needle, a second tubular branch leading from the tubular element and defining first connection means, and a connector element for connection to said second tubular branch and having second connection means for mating with said first connection means.

8. A blood access device for connection in an extracorporeal blood line, substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.