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 A needle or other object may be withdrawn through the slit or hole, after which the biasing element forces the hole closed, preventing blood leakage.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 and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A spring-biased septum for use in a medical device comprising: 
 an elastic plug having a slit disposed longitudinally through the plug;    a biasing element contacting the plug and disposed such that the biasing element urges the longitudinal slit into a closed position.    
     
     
         2 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 1  wherein the biasing element is placed in contact with the outer surface of the elastic plug.  
     
     
         3 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said elastic plug further comprises an annular groove disposed in the outer surface of the plug.  
     
     
         4 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said biasing element is disposed within said annular groove.  
     
     
         5 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said slit is formed such that a hypodermic needle can be passed through said slit.  
     
     
         6 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 1  wherein the biasing element comprises a C-shaped spring.  
     
     
         7 . A spring-biased septum comprising: 
 an elastic plug comprising an annular groove;    a slit disposed longitudinally through the elastic plug; and    a biasing element contacting said plug and disposed within the annular groove of the elastic plug such that the biasing element substantially closes the slit to fluid leakage.    
     
     
         8 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the elastic plug is constructed of a biocompatible elastomer.  
     
     
         9 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the elastic plug is constructed of latex or polyisoprene.  
     
     
         10 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the biasing element comprises a C-shaped spring.  
     
     
         11 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the C-shaped spring is constructed of a metal or a metal alloy.  
     
     
         12 . A spring-biased septum as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the C-shaped spring is constructed of spring steel.  
     
     
         13 . A blood seal comprising: 
 a housing;    an internal channel disposed through the housing;    an elastic plug disposed within and substantially blocking the internal channel;    a slit disposed longitudinally through the elastic plug; and    a biasing element contacting the elastic plug such that the biasing element substantially closes the slit to fluid leakage.    
     
     
         14 . A blood seal as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the elastic plug further comprises an annular groove disposed in the outer surface of the plug.  
     
     
         15 . A blood seal as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a needle disposed longitudinally within the internal channel such that at least a portion of the needle passes through the hole in the elastic plug.  
     
     
         16 . A blood seal as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a wire disposed longitudinally within the internal channel such that at least a portion of the wire passes through the hole in the elastic plug.  
     
     
         17 . A blood seal as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the wire is attached to a needle.  
     
     
         18 . A blood seal as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a cannula disposed longitudinally within the internal channel such that at least a portion of the cannula passes through the hole in the elastic plug.  
     
     
         19 . A blood seal as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a rigid plug retainer disposed within the internal channel such that the rigid plug retainer surrounds and radially compresses at least part of a length of the elastic plug.  
     
     
         20 . A method of introducing a catheter into a blood vessel comprising the steps of: 
 gaining access to the blood vessel by means of a needle comprising a proximal end and a distal end comprising a sharp tip, said needle being disposed longitudinally within a catheter having a proximal end connected to a housing and a distal end, such that the sharp tip of the needle projects beyond the distal end of the catheter and at least part of the proximal end of the needle is disposed within a slit in a spring-biased septum that is disposed within and substantially blocks an internal channel through the housing, said spring-biased septum comprising an elastic plug and a biasing element;    introducing the distal end of the catheter into the blood vessel; and    withdrawing the needle from the blood vessel without removing the distal end of the catheter from the blood vessel by pulling on a finger grip attached to the proximal end of the needle such that the needle is withdrawn through the spring-biased septum.    
     
     
         21 . A method of introducing a catheter into a blood vessel as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the elastic plug comprises an annular groove and the biasing element is disposed within said annular groove.  
     
     
         22 . A method of introducing a catheter into a blood vessel comprising the steps of: 
 gaining access to the blood vessel by means of a needle comprising a proximal end and a distal end comprising a sharp tip, said needle being disposed longitudinally within a catheter having a proximal end in fluid connection with a housing and a distal end, such that the sharp tip of the needle projects beyond the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the needle is attached to a wire, at least part of said wire being disposed within a slit in a spring-biased septum that is disposed within and substantially blocks an internal channel through the housing, said spring-biased septum comprising an elastic plug and a biasing element;    introducing the distal end of the catheter into the blood vessel; and    withdrawing the needle from the blood vessel without removing the catheter from the blood vessel by pulling on a finger grip attached to the wire such that the wire and the needle are withdrawn through the spring-biased septum.    
     
     
         23 . A method of introducing a catheter into a blood vessel as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the elastic plug comprises an annular groove and the biasing element is disposed within said annular groove.