Catheter and Seal Assembly

Abstract

A laboratory specimen sealed within a chamber on an animal holder may be injected or otherwise administered material such as drugs and radioactive imagining materials from the ambient, or outside the chamber, through a sealed catheter assembly. The animal holder can be mounted on imaging machines such as MRI, X-ray, PET, CT and like imaging machines. Biologically contaminated animals are isolated within the chamber from the ambient, yet may be injected from outside the chamber thereby protecting lab technicians from contamination and isolating the animal from additional contamination from an ambient environment, such as an imaging laboratory.

1 . A catheter and seal assembly comprising:
 a catheter tube having an axis, and   a seal provided on said catheter tube, said seal having an axially and radially compressible plug portion, said plug portion having a radially-extending sealing wall and an axially-extending and axially tapering sealing wall.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a radially necked down sleeve and a radially enlarged flange coupled to said catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said plug portion comprises a concave radially inner wall portion and an arched radially outer wall portion. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plug portion further comprises a radially-extending front wall and wherein said front wall is axially spaced from said sealing wall and wherein said front wall is smaller than said sealing wall. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said front wall and said sealing wall each comprises radially-extending planar walls. 
     
     
         6 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A catheter and seal assembly, comprising:
 a catheter tube having an axis and a first end and a second end;   a needle provided on said first end of said catheter tube; and   an axially and radially compressible elastomeric plug provided on said catheter tube and configured to form a seal.   
     
     
         14 . The catheter and seal assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a fluid fitting provided on said second end of said catheter tube. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter and seal assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a locating sleeve provided on said catheter tube adjacent to said plug. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter and seal assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising an annular flange provided on said catheter tube adjacent to said plug. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter and seal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said plug comprises a concave bottom wall. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter and seal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said plug comprises an axially tapered plug. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter and seal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said plug comprises an arched upper portion. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter and seal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said plug comprises a planar front radial wall and a planar rear radial wall. 
     
     
         21 . The catheter and seal assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said front wall is smaller than said rear wall.