Blood seal having a spring-biased septum

Abstract

A blood seal having a spring-biased septum is provided for preventing the leakage of blood during the placement and use of vascular catheters and similar devices. The structure of the blood seal includes a housing with an internal channel. A spring-biased septum is placed securely within the channel such that it substantially blocks blood flow through the channel. The spring-biased septum includes an elastic plug having a pre-slit or pre-molded hole and a biasing element disposed about the elastic plug. A needle or other object may be withdrawn through the slit or hole, after which the biasing element forces the hole closed, preventing blood leakage.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A seal, comprising: 
 a housing;    an elastic plug disposed in the housing and having a proximal end, a distal end, an outside longitudinal surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a slit disposed longitudinally through the elastic plug; and    a biasing element disposed in the housing about the elastic plug and in contact with the outside longitudinal surface of the plug.    
     
     
         2 . The seal of    claim 1    wherein the biasing element exerts a radially directed compressive force against the outside longitudinal surface of the elastic plug.  
     
     
         3 . The seal of    claim 2    wherein elastic plug defines a circumference and the biasing element does not extend totally about the circumference.  
     
     
         4 . A catheter assembly, comprising: 
 a catheter;    an adapter connected to the catheter, the adapter defining a cavity therein;    an elastic plug disposed in the adapter and defining a circumference and a slit disposed longitudinally through the elastic plug;    a biasing element disposed in the adapter about the elastic plug and in contact with the circumference; and    a longitudinal element extending through the slit.    
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly of    claim 4    wherein the longitudinal element is a needle.  
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly of    claim 4    wherein the longitudinal element is a stylet.  
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly of    claim 4    wherein the biasing element exerts a radially directed compressive force against the outside longitudinal surface of the elastic plug.  
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly of    claim 7    wherein the biasing element does not extend completely about the circumference.