Universal needlefree bag access device
View Patent ↗An attachment arrangement has a housing and a needle located within the housing. The arrangement allows administration ports of different sizes to be inserted into and secured within the housing. In certain embodiments, compliant retainers secure the administration port within the housing. In certain other embodiments, the administration port is secured within the housing when the housing is compressed against the administration port by a housing compression element. Once the administration port is secured within the housing, a fluid-tight seal is formed between the attachment device and the administration port.
1. An attachment arrangement for attaching a connector to an administration port of a fluid container, comprising:
a housing having a receiving chamber with an insertion opening at one end of the housing, the receiving chamber configured to receive the administration port, the receiving chamber having a single, unitary circumferential wall with a continuous edge surrounding the opening and at least one compliant retainer attached to the wall of the receiving chamber, the retainer configured to non-removably engage the administration port when the administration port is inserted into the receiving chamber and to secure the administration port within the receiving chamber; and
a needle at least partially disposed within the receiving chamber and configured to pierce the administration port upon insertion of the administration port into the receiving chamber.
2. The attachment arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of compliant retainers projecting inwardly from the wall of the receiving chamber.
3. The attachment arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the compliant retainers project inwardly at a non-perpendicular angle from the receiving chamber wall and away from the insertion opening.
4. The attachment arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the compliant retainers include a first portion extending substantially parallel to the receiving chamber wall and a second portion that is biased to project inwardly from the receiving chamber wall and away from the opening, the second portion configured to flex towards the chamber wall during insertion of the administration port within the receiving chamber and being inflexible towards the opening.
5. The attachment arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the compliant retainers include a first end connected to the housing and a second end on the second portion, the second end contacting the inserted administration port to secure the administration port within the receiving chamber.
6. The attachment arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion including a bottom ridge, wherein the lower portion connects to the bottom ridge of the upper portion.
7. The attachment arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the compliant retainers comprise a connecting portion at the first ends configured to connect the compliant retainers to the bottom ridge of the upper portion of the housing.
8. The attachment arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the lower portion of the housing connects to the bottom ridge of the housing such that the lower portion of the housing secures the compliant retainers to the housing.
9. The attachment arrangement of claim 8 , further comprising a snap connection that connects the lower and upper portions of the housing.
10. The attachment arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the connecting portion is a hook configured to hook over the bottom ridge.
11. The attachment arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the compliant retainers are positioned symmetrically around the receiving chamber to center the administration port within the receiving chamber.
12. The attachment arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the compliant retainers form an expandable opening within the receiving chamber configured to accommodate administration ports of different diameters.
13. The attachment arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a needleless connector coupled to the lower portion of the housing and the needle.
14. The attachment arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the needleless connector is at least one of a closed male luer, a needleless female valve, an open male luer, an open female luer, or a drip chamber and IV set.