Needleless access port valves
Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves having a pliant valve housing interacting with an inlet connector assembly. The pliant valve housing has an integrally formed valve stem and one or more ports. The valve stem cooperates with a nozzle on the inlet connector assembly to form a slip port, which can open when exerted by force to permit flow or closes when the force is removed.
1. A needleless injection port valve comprising an inlet connector assembly comprising a nozzle comprising an inlet lumen; a valve housing comprising at least one port and an integrally molded valve stem positioned at an angle to the at least one port; the valve stem comprising a hollow interior cavity and at least one rib positioned in the hollow interior cavity for reinforcing a section of the valve stem; wherein the valve stem projects, at least in part, through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly and the inlet connector assembly is secured to the valve housing along a sealing seam.
2. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve housing comprises a second port.
3. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve housing is made from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.
4. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the hollow interior cavity is in constant fluid communication with ambient air.
5. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , further comprising a curvilinear base disposed in between the valve stem and the valve housing.
6. The needleless injection port valve of claim 5 , wherein the curvilinear base bulges outwardly when the valve stem moves from a first position to a second position.
7. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the inlet connector assembly is made from a plastic material.
8. The needleless injection port valve of claim 7 , wherein the plastic is polycarbonate.
9. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the integrally molded valve stem comprises a generally flat upper surface.
10. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the integrally molded valve stem comprises a top surface having a plurality of protrusions defining flow paths.
11. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the inlet connector assembly is welded to the valve housing.
12. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the inlet connector assembly comprises a return guide.
13. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the return guide comprises a tapered surface.
14. The needleless injection port valve of claim 2 , further comprising a deflection rib positioned on an exterior surface of the at least one port and of the second port.
15. The needleless injection port valve of claim 2 , further comprising an emergency access port located on at least one of the second port or the at least one port.
16. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , further comprising a shoulder positioned in the inlet lumen of the nozzle.
17. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , further comprising flow channels in the inlet lumen of the nozzle.
18. The needleless injection port valve of claim 1 , wherein the inlet connector assembly is welded to the valve housing along the sealing seam.
19. A method for supplying fluid through a needleless injection port valve comprising:
(1) providing a valve, the valve comprising:
(a) an inlet connector assembly comprising a nozzle comprising an inlet lumen;
(b) a valve housing comprising at least one port and an integrally molded valve stem positioned at an angle to the at least one port; the valve stem comprising a hollow interior cavity and a rib positioned in the hollow interior cavity for reinforcing a section of the valve stem;
(c) the valve stem projects, at least in part, through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly and the inlet connector assembly is secured to the valve housing along a sealing seam;
(2) inserting a male end of a medical implement through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly; and
(3) injecting fluid from the medical implement through the inlet lumen.
20. The method for supplying fluid through a needleless injection port valve of claim 19 , wherein the inlet connector assembly is welded to the valve housing along the sealing seam.
21. The method for supplying fluid through a needleless injection port valve of claim 18 , further comprising moving the valve stem from a first position to a second position when the medical implement is inserted through the inlet lumen of the inlet connector assembly.
22. The method for supplying fluid through a needleless injection port valve of claim 21 , wherein the valve stem automatically returns to the first position upon removal of the medical implement.