US3659587A - Valved connector arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A valved connector arrangement having a pair of tubes and a slitted transverse elastic disk partition normally separating and disconnecting the interior of the two tubes, one of the two tubes being slidable toward and away from the slitted disk partition to effect mechanical opening and permit self-reclosing of the slitted partition. In the embodiment, the other tube is fixed, and the two tubes are pointed at their outer ends to enable their use in a multiple sample blood collecting needle arrangement, including a removable vacuum collecting container with a rubber stopper engageable by one of the pointed tubes.

Description

I United States Patent 1 1 3,659,587

Baldwin May 2, 1972 541 VALVED CONNECTOR 3,494,352 2/1970 Russo et al. 128/2 R ARRANGEMENT 3,585,996 6/1971 Reynolds et al. 128/214.4

[72] Inventor: Brian E. Baldwin, Wilmette, 111. Primary Examiner Hugh Chamblee 73 Assignee: Affiliated Hospital Products, Inc., St. WWW-Remand PIPPm'JY- Louis, Mo.

[57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 30, 1970 A valved connector arrangement having a pair of tubes and a 1 PP 51,047 slitted transverse elastic disk partition normally separating and disconnecting the interior of the two tubes, one of the two [52] Us. Cl. 128/2 F 128/218 NV 128/DIG 5 tubes being slidable toward and away from the slitted disk par- [51] A61m 05/00 A6lb 05/10 tition to effect mechanical opening and permit self-reclosing [58] Field of Search /2 R 2 F NV 214 4 of the slitted partition. In the embodiment, the other tube is 128/221 fixed, and the two tubes are pointed at their outer ends to enable their use in a multiple sample blood collecting needle ar- 56] References Cited rangement, including a removable vacuum collecting container with a rubber stopper engageable by one of the pointed UNITED STATES PATENTS tubes- 1,180,665 4/1916 McElroy ..128/218 NV UX 13 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,587

8 Si1oets1-Shcet l BRIAN BALDWIN INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm vm mm BRIAN E. BALDWIN INVENTOR 1k 7 1/ i- ATTQNEY Patented May 2, 1972 BmWrA/h N on Patented May 2, 1972 .8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

BRIAN E. BALDWIN INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 BRIAN E. BALDWIN FIG. 5b

INVENTOR I15 ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1972 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 BRIAN E. BALDWIN Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,587

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 70

BRIAN E. BALDWIN INVENTOR Patented May 2, 1972 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 BRIAN E. BALDWIN INVENTOR VALVED CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT This invention relates to a valved connector arrangement, and more particularly to a valved needle connector arrangement for use in enabling the collection of multiple samples of blood.

For various reasons, including the automation of blood chemistry analysis and the lower cost of such analysis, it is now often desirable to collect multiple blood samples from a single venipuncture. Under such a system of multiple sample blood collection, at times as many as eight samples being taken during one sequence, a suitable venipuncture needle is inserted into a vein, and a plurality of suitable containers, commonly being evacuated glass vials with rubber stoppers, are suitably sequentially separately connected to the venipuncture needle assembly. In effecting such sample collection with succeeding containers, it is desirable that the needle assembly be provided with means for preventing the flow of blood from the vein in the interim prior to and between individual collections. In the prior art, various valved arrangements have been proposed for effecting this operation, although none of such arrangements, to my knowledge, have been entirely satisfactory.

For instance, in one commercial arrangement, a venipuncture needle is provided, the butt end of which is pointed and sealed off, and a side opening is formed in the butt end section which is normally closed 05 by a close fitting elastic tube which is pushed back and accordian-folded along the needle or cannula as the pointed butt end is inserted into the rubber stopper of a vacuum container for collection of blood. Upon separation of the needle from the rubber stopper, the elasticity of the tube tends to return it over the side opening to thereby cut off the blood flow. However, as the blood exits at right angles to the axis of the tube through the side opening, the stream of blood strikes the side wall of the vacuum container at a high velocity, creating what is known as hemolysis, or the mechanical breakdown of the blood cells. This is not desirable, as it interferes with the desired analysis. In addition, as the elastic sleeve may lose its elasticity over a period of storage time, the desired quick return of the tube may not be maintained. Further, the desired rapid return of the elastic tube from its accordion-folded position to its normal closure position is normally effected by the application of substantial amounts of lubricants, such as silicone oil, which can be detrimental to the chemical analysis of the blood sample. It is also extremely difficult and costly to produce tubing with the degree of required tolerance to effect both full blood flow cutoff and fast return of the tube sleeve. Further, the return of the rubber or other elastic sleeve past the side opening in the butt end of the tube produces a sizeable droplet by the scooping action of the butt end of the sleeve in passing the side opening in the cannula. The accumulation of these droplets when four, five, or six samples are taken is normally sufficient to soil the holder, thereby essentially defeating the purpose of the unit, which is to prevent this soil contamination and the resulting hazard to the user.

A further arrangement has included a double-ended needle arrangement, including a single tube or cannula which is pointed at each end, the butt end of the cannula having normally disposed thereover an elastic loose fitting sleeve which is closed at its outer end and which may be folded down over the butt end of the cannula, whereupon the butt end point punctures the elastic cover tube wall and effects communication between the opposite pointed end of the needle or cannula and a container or other device or body which may be penetrated by the butt end. While this device, with its straightthrough blood flow action, effectively removes the hemolysis problem and some of the other problems associated with the first described device, the valving arrangement is not altogether satisfactory, as such must normally be manually controlled by the operator to assure reclosure of the butt end of the needle by the elastic cover tube upon removal of the sam ple container therefrom.

It has also been proposed in a recent U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,35 2 to Russo, et al., to provide a valved needle arrangement with one cannula rigidly secured for venipuncture, and a second cannula being double-ended (i.e., pointed at both ends) and slidable to pierce a puncturable self-sealing partition normally disposed between the two cannula for the purpose of effecting fluid disconnection between the two cannula. However, the double-ended slidable cannula is purposely made loosely fitting in this arrangement, and enables the passage of air from the ambient atmosphere into any chamber containing the inner pointed end of the slidable cannula, thereby enabling air passage into the blood collecting container while such is connected thereto. In addition, by virtue of this loose, oversized fitting of the slidable cannula, this cannula may easily be rotated during container attachment or removal, or in the interim periods. With such rotational translation of the position of the double-ended cannula, which has a bevel-pointed inner end, may contact and pierce the rubber partition at various rotational positions, thereby effectively cutting out a plug from the rubber partition. As a result, after two, three, or more penetrations of the rubber partition by the double-pointed needle, the partition may no longer be able to restrain fluid passage therethrough upon removal of the double-ended slidable needle therefrom. In fact, in some embodiments constructed pursuant to the teachings of this patent, it has been found that only one or two punctures of the partition by the double-ended cannula have resulted in sufficient puncture of the disk partition to prevent complete reclosure and rescaling thereof upon removal of the double ended cannula whereupon fluid flow is no longer cut 05 upon removal of the double-ended cannula from the partition. The device is also difficult to use in that the apparently necessarily thick partition and the associated surrounding structure, in the only disclosed construction, render the partition quite difficult to puncture with the slidable cannula.

It is a major feature of the present invention to provide an improved valved connector arrangement which is particularly well adapted to enabling the taking of multiple samples of blood or other desired fluid, and which provides for full cutoff of blood flow between samples.

Still a further feature of the invention is to provide an improved valve arrangement which enables two normally disconnected tubes to be selectively interconnected in fluid flow relation, or to be disconnected from one another in fluid flow relation, which valving arrangement does not require the employment of a piercing point for the effecting of fluid connection.

Still a further object and feature of the invention is the provision of a multiple sample blood collecting arrangement incorporating two relatively movable needles or cannulas which are initially and normally in fluid disconnection from one another, the adjacent ends of each of the two cannulas being normally in connection with respective ones of two individual chambers which are likewise in fluid disconnection from one another, the fluid disconnection being effected by a slitted partition unit having pre-formed lips normally resiliently held in contiguous relation with one another, and the sliding movement of one of the cannulas effecting opening of the lips of the partition unit to connect the two cannulas and the two chambers, both chambers being sealed from the atmosphere except through the respective central bores of the respective cannulas, thereby preventing undesired air contamination or air bubbles in the fluid sample as by air passage about the periphery of the slidable cannula.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment constructed in accordance with the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple sample blood collecting arrangement incorporating the present invention, preparatory to use.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the major portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view in perspective and enlarged to better illustrate the operating valve elements.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view, with certain parts in phantorn and some parts omitted for clarity, illustrating the major operating valve portions of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the embodiment being shown in the normal fluid cutofl position.

FIG. 4a is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the enlargement and parts as shown in FIG. 4, being taken on the line 4a-4a of FIG. 4b.

FIG. 4b is a transverse diagrammatic view of the slitted disk partition and associated elements, taken on theline 4b-4b of FIG. 4a, the hub being shown in phantom lines for clarity of illustration as in each of FIGS. 4 and 4a.

FIGS. 5, 5a, and 5b are respectively perspective, longitudinal section, and transverse diagrammatic views, partially in phantom for clarity of illustration similar to the views of FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b, illustrating the opening of the slitted disk partition by the blunt ended slidable cannula.

FIGS. 6, 6a, and 6b are diagrammatic views similar to those of FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b, 5, 5a, and 5b, and showing the respective positions of the two cannulas and the slitted disk partition in the fully open position.

FIG. 6c is an enlarged diagrammatic illustration of a portion of the upper corner section of the disk partition slit lips and the adjacent cannular wall, within the corresponding rectangular position of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7, 7a, and 7b are similar to FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b, and diagrammatically illustrate one possible normal configuration of the slitted disk partition after removal of the slidable cannula therefrom and reclosure of the slit. I

FIGS. 8 through 10 illustrate various closure configurations of the slitted disk partition after removal of the slidable cannula therefrom.

Referring now in detail to the figures in the drawings, the invention is illustrated as applied to a multiple sample blood collecting assembly generally indicated at 11, including a valvedneedle connector assembly 21 which may be removably connected to asyringe barrel 51 for ease of sequential connection of the valvedneedle connector assembly 21 to successiveblood collecting containers 61, as generally illustrated in FIG. 1 preparatory to container attachment.

The valvedneedle connector assembly 21 in the illustrative embodiment takes the form of ahub 25 which may be formed of maleable metal, such as aluminum, and having a venipuncture hollow needle orcannula 23 rigidly secured in its forward or nose end as by crimping as indicated at 25c. Cannula 23 may be provided with a suitable sharpenedend 23a, as by forming a beveled point, as'is conventional in the art. A protective sheath 24 (or sheaths) of plastic or other suitable material may be removably frictionably secured onto thehub 25 for protection and hygiene prior to time of usage in performing the desired venipuncture and blood sampling.

Thehub 21 may be suitably removably secured to the nose end 52 of thesyringe barrel 51, as through the medium ofhub connector wings 25h which are removably inserted into wingreceiving bayonette slots 53a formed on the forward ornose end wall 53 of the syringe barrel, and extending radially outwardly from the hub receiving central bore opening 53a formed in theforward wall 53. As in conventional bayonette slot connections, the wing receivingbayonette slot 530 may be provided with quarter-turn laterally connecting securing slots to enable the securing 6f the hub connecting wings by insertion of thehub 25 withwings 25h into the bore opening 53 and slots 53a and rotating the hub 21 a quarter-tum. As an aid in frictional retention of the hub connecting wings 25): within the slots 53a anelastic retainer ring 33, which may be suitably formed of plastic, rubber, or the like, forms and defines the rear wall of slots 53a, thereby providing a snug securing fit for thewings 25h.Retainer ring 33 may be suitably secured in place by an in-tumed circumferentialfrictional retention lip 53b on the rear face offorward wall 53.

The valvedneedle connector assembly 21 further includes asecond cannula 31 which is employed to puncture and effect fluid connection to a suitable collector device, which preferably is a suitably evacuatedvacuum collection container 61 which may take the form of aglass vial 63 having a rubber stopper closure, such evacuated containers being conventional in the art.

Cannula 31 andcannula 23 are normally in fluid disconnection from one another, this fluid disconnection being effected by aslitted rubber partition 27, fonned by disk having a precut slit, which is secured transversely within thehub 25 through the medium of a securingbushing seal element 29. As will be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, theinner end 23b of the forward orvenipuncture cannula 23 ten-ninates within a chamber formed within thehub 25 and defined by a forward taperedwall 25b and the forward surface of the slittedrubber disk partition 27.Cannula 31 likewise has its inner end 31b terminating in its normal retracted position, within a chamber formed by the forward inner tapered wall of the securingbushing seal 29 and the interfacing rear wall of theslitted rubber disk 27. This chamber is normally substantially effectively sealed both from the forward chamber adjacent theend 23b ofcannula 23 and from the outside atmosphere. To this end, theslitted disk 27 is secured in place within thehub 25 by compressive ringpinching of thedisk 27 against the shoulder 25a inhub 25 by the annular forward taperedbushing nose 29b, thereby effectively securing thedisk 27 in place and forming a hermetic seal between the shoulder 25a andbushing nose 29b. In addition, thebushing 29 is provided with a frictional guide surface andseal section 290 of relatively short length, which effectively seals the inner end 31b and bore 31c of thecannula 31 relative to the outside atmosphere or other external environment about outer orbutt end 31a of thecannula 31. This sealing action of theseal section 29c may be readily effected by forming this seal section of a slightly undersize to form an interference fit with the cylindrical outer surface 31d of thecannula 31.

Bushingseal 29 may be suitably secured within thehub 25 as by crimping or indenting the annular wall of the hub around, or at spaced positions aroundfits circumference, as indicated at 253, to thereby anchor the bushing seal in place within thehub 25. Prior to and during effecting this crimp securing of thebushing seal 29 within thehub 25, it is desirable that thebushing seal 29 be pressed forward with itsnose end 29b pinching into the rear wall of the seateddisk 27 under pressure, the crimping 25g of the hub being effective to anchor thebushing seal 29 in place with thedisk 27 compressed against theshoulder 25h by thering nose 29b of the bushing seal. Withslitted rubber disk 27 of approximately 40-50 durometer, approximately 0.030 inch thick and 0.160 inch diameter, and with aring nose 29b diameter of 0.125 inch, and a transverse radius of curvature of the nose approximately 0.002 inch, it has been found that an axial compressive force of approximately 3 to 5 pounds acting on thebushing seal 29 toward the forward end of thehub 25 provides a desirable extent of pinching of therubber disk 27, the taperedbushing nose 29b and shoulder 25a.

Bushingseal 31 may be suitably formed of acetel resin, such as that manufactured under the trade name Delrin, or of nylon or other relatively stable plastic material, although acetel resin is considered best due to its good strength at high heat, and the low coefficient of friction of this material to stainless steel, of which theslidable cannula 31 is normally formed, and the further property for acetel resin of dimensional stability under various storage conditions.

The shoulder 25a should have sufficient width to provide an adequate seating and sealing surface. It has been found that reliable seating of theplastic bushing seal 29 may be effected with a relatively sharp circular or ring-formingnose end 29b, engaging the disk partition in the zone backed by approximately the middle to the inner edge of the shoulder 25a. Thus, with an inside diameter of the large section of thehub 25, adisk 27 of approximately 0.030 thickness and outside diameter of approximately 0.!60 inch, a suitable diameter of the taperedbushing nose 29b may be 0.125 inch. These dimensions are suitable for cannula tubing diameters of approximately 0.036 inch.

Theslitted disk partition 27 is provided with adiametrally extending slit 27a, formed as by cutting with a sharp knife, the lips 27aa of which slit are normally held in a contiguous interfacing relation by the elastic nature of the rubber material forming thepartition 27. It has been found that ethylene propylene rubber is satisfactory as the material for thedisk partition 27, particularly as it will withstand the heat of sterilization, although it does not have the best mechanical characteristics. In the small sizes of the illustrative embodiment, silicone rubber has been found to have insufficient strength to withstand penetration by the end of the cannula without some tearing. Other rubbers having better mechanical characteristics may be utilized, including natural rubber, and other synthetic rubbers, although most other such rubbers require the use of gas or chemical sterilization rather than heat sterilization, due to deterioration at the high heat sterilization temperatures normally employed. However, if gas or chemical sterilization is acceptable in a given instance or if other sterilization may be sufficiently effective, or if sterilization is not required, it will be apparent that such other rubber compounds or other elastic materials of better mechanical characteristics may be employed in such instances, as may be desired.Slit 27a extends part way across the zone formed by the annular inner surface of the shoulder a. With the shoulder 25a having an outer diameter of approximately 0.159 inch and an inner edge diameter of approximately 0.100 inch, an ethylenepropylene rubber disk 27 of approximately 0.159-0.l60 diameter and adisk 27 thickness of approximately 0028-0031 inch, and with the outer diameter 37d of thecannula 31 being expended at its flared inner end from its cylindrical outer diameter of 0.036 inch to 0.042 inch outer diameter, it has been found that approximately 0.094 inch is a suitable transverse length for theslit 27a.

Cannula 31 is axially slidable within thebushing seal 29 toward and away from theslitted disk 27 to effect opening of the slit lips 27aa during interposition thereof within the lips, and self-reclosure of the lips 27aa upon withdrawal of thecannula 31 from between the lips 27aa and away from thedisk 27. In order to prevent theslidable cannula 31 from being pulled out of thebushing seal 29, the inner end of 31b of the slidable cannula is flared as with a suitable flaring tool. As noted above, in one illustrative embodiment employing 0.036 inch diameter tubing forcannula 31, a flaring of the end 31b to an outer diameter of 0.042 inch has been found to be satisfactory. While symmetrical flaring is desirable, as shown, it has been found that such is not necessary for operability in retaining thecannula 31 in place and in effecting the desired opening and closure-enabling of theslitted disk partition 27. The flared end 31b may be slightly rounded at its outer peripheral edge surface, if desired, to aid in smoother opening of theslit 27a and to reduce possible surface abrasion action thereby on thedisk 27 in opening theslit 27a. While other retention stop means may be formed on thecannula 31 as by adding or forming a flange rearwardly of the inner end 31b, such are normally more expensive and less desirable than the simple flared end stop as illustrated.

The outer opposite orbutt end 31a of thecannula 31 is suitably pointed for penetration of therubber stopper 65 secured in the end of thevial 63. To this end, the pointed end 310 may be suitably formed as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, as by first forming a beveled point and then bending such toward the central axis of the needle.

In operation, as illustrated in the succeeding FIGS. 4-7, taken in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2, thevenipuncture cannula 23 is inserted into the patients vein, with theslidable cannula 31 being in the normal or cutoff position as illustrated in each of FIGS. 1-4. With thecannula 23 in the patients vein, the evacuatedblood collection container 61 is moved to the forward end of thesyringe barrel 51 bringing therubber stopper 65 into contact with the pointedbutt end 31a of thecannula 31.

Further forward movement of thecontainer 61, while holding thesyringe barrel 51, causes thebutt end point 31a to embed itself in therubber stopper 65, thereby closing the open butt end of thecannula 31. This action also starts the forward motion of the slidable cannula toward thedisk partition 27, causing thedisk partition 27 to be engaged by the flared inner end 3112 of thecannula 31.

Continued forward motion of. thecontainer 61 causes the flared inner end 31b of thecannula 31 to push the lips 27aa of the slit apart, as indicated in FIGS. 5, 5a, and 5b, thecannula 31 then continuing to move between the parted lips 27aa until its inner end 31b engages with the interfacinginner end 23b of the fixedcannula 23. Thus fluid communication is established between the respectiveinterior bores 23c and 31c of the twocannulas 23 and 31 immediately upon opening of the lips as indicated in FIG. 5, as well as in the forwardmost position of thecannula 31 as indicated in FIG. 6. It will be noted that the parted lips form a generally cat-eye appearance, being generally puckered forwardly toward thecannula 23 in the open position. There will normally be a small eye opening 27abc, formed between the adjacent parted lips 27aa at the junction immediately adjacent the outer cylindrical anular surface 31d of the cannula and the lip corner junction zone. This small eye opening may be fairly minute, as the lips 27aa tend to stay in contact along a substantial length thereof adjacent the outer comer of the slit, as indicated along the line 2741b in FIG. 60. However, it has been found that normally a small eye opening will be present, as indicated at 270b, on both sides of the tube at the corner junction of the tube wall 31d with the lip interface, this small eye opening being approximately 0.00l0.005 inch in the illustrative general size range discussed above. Upon some retraction or withdrawal of the cannula end 31b toward thedisk partition 27, the forward puckering of the lips 27aa will be generally eliminated, and the small eye opening 27abc may tend to be larger. In view of the substantially hermetic sealing effected about the periphery of therubber disk partition 27, by the shoulder 25a andtapered bushing nose 2% on the one hand and the interference fit ofseal section 29c with the outer cylindrical surface 31d ofcannula 31, the fluid connection effected between the two chambers on each side of thedisk partition 27 by the small eye opening 27abc does not effect connection of thebores 23c and 310 of the cannulas to the outside atmosphere.

Upon thecannula 31 sliding forwardly to the position of FIG. 6, and abutting the facingadjacent end 23b of fixedcannula 23, continued forward motion of thecontainer 61 toward the nose end of the syringe barrel will result in corresponding further penetration of thecannula 31 in and through thestopper 65. Upon the emergence of the open pointed end 310 of the cannula into the interior of theglass vial 63, it will be seen that full fluid connection is thereby effected between the patients vein and the interior of theglass vial 63, through the medium of the fluid flow interconnectedcannulas 23 and 31. Due to the evacuated condition of theglass vial 63, the blood will thereupon flow through thecannulas 23 and 31 into theglass vial 63.

When a desired quantity of blood has been collected in theglass vial 63, it is only necessary for the operator to withdraw thecontainer 61 from thesyringe barrel 51 to effect cutoff of the blood flow through thecannulas 23 and 31. During the initial withdrawal action of thecontainer 61, the frictional resistance between thecannula 31 and therubber stopper 65 will effect motion of thecannula 31 with thestopper 65, thereby sliding thecannula 31 rearwardly through theslit 27a to its initial quiescent stop position as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 7. Further withdrawal movement of thecontainer 61 will result in the stopper being pulled off and separated from theslidable cannula 31. However, inasmuch as thecannula 31 has already moved to its rearrnost position, theslide 270 will have thereupon been reclosed under the self-reclosing elastic action of therubber disk partition 27. Accordingly, the valvedneedle connector assembly 21 is again in closed position and ready for the connection thereto of afurther blood container 61, following the same container connection and disconnection steps described above. Thus, succeeding individual samples of blood may be taken with individual evacuatedcontainers 61 or other suitable containers or receptacles without effecting loss of blood through the needle connector assembly in the periods prior to, between, or after the sample collections.

Whileslide 27a may reclose to a position essentially as shown in FIG. 4, with the two opposite faces of thedisk partition 27 essentially flat, and the lips 27aa essentially restored to their initial coplanar position, such is not always the case, as in some instances various slightly differently configured return positions of the lips 270a will be effected in the closed position thereof upon withdrawal of the flared end 31b ofcannula 31 therefrom. One such form is schematically shown in FIGS. 7, 7a, 7b, and 8, in which the slit tends to form something of a dimple on its forward face, with a corresponding slight surface raising in the zone of theslit 27a on the rear face adjacent tocannula 31. Nevertheless, the lips 27m: in such instance are in fact effectively closed and in contiguous relation with one another, and the desired fluid disconnection between the twocannulas 23 and 31 is effected, with consequent shutoff of fluid flow. Such slit puckering or indenting of the disk surface on the forward face is though to be the result of the withdrawal action of the flared end 31b ofcannula 31, and the slightly uneven springback action which may result between the two lips as the flared end leaves the slit lips 27aa.

Other encountered reclosure conditions of the lips 2711a are indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The return configuration of FIGS. 9 and 10 may be brought about by uneven or assymetrical formation of the flared end 31b. However, notwithstanding the slight pucker or assymetrical formation of the reclosed lips 27aa, they are nevertheless in contiguous interfacing relation in this reclosed condition and thereby effect the desired fluid cutoff.

In this respect, the fluid cutoff of a control valve for blood collection purposes may normally be considered to be effective if the valve will withstand a pressure differential of approximately 10 centimeters of water. The present illustrative embodiment has been found to-be quite adequate for this purpose, and in fact may be made to withstand substantially higher differential pressures for this and other purposes as may be required, by suitable variation in the thickness and size of thevalve partition 27 and the other associated parts. Thus, while the invention is particularly applicable to, and finds particular utility, in the medical field for enabling the collection of multiple samples of blood from a single venipuncture, the invention is in fact useful as a general purpose valve arrangement and may also be used for other medical applications requiring selective valve cutoff action. In this respect, the sliding action of the cannula ortube 31 may be accomplished in other desired manners than through the intercoupling thereof to a collection vial stopper, as for instance by manual shifting of the cannula forward and rearwardly as may be desired. In such instance, thecannula 31 may form a simple tube which may itself be connected through rigid or flexible tubing to another fluid source or discharge point, and thecannula 23 may or may not in such instance be pointed, as the indicated use may require.

It has been found that the single straight slit is highly superior to other possible slit formations for this invention, as other configurations tend not to fully close, and have other mechanical drawbacks. The most desirable and repeatedly successful form of slit is effected by two contiguous interengaging slit lips which are elastically returned into contiguous relation upon withdrawal of the slidable cannula.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a single illustrative and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, in addition to those variations discussed supra, the general valve construction formed by the two tubes and separating slit partition may be utilized in other configurations and for other purposes than as herein illustrated. Also, while the illustrated embodiment employs awing connection 25h for connection with a bayonette slot opening, thevalved connector assembly 21 may employ ahub 25 or other housing which has a different mode of connection to a syringe barrel or other unit; as for instance, the hub assembly may incorporate a male threaded portion on the rear thereof for threaded engagement with a complementary female threaded opening in a syringe barrel or other user attachment. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the particular illustrative embodiment but only by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is: 1. A valved needle arrangement comprising: a housing having a cavity formed therein, first and second cannulas connecting with said housing and each having an open end thereof connecting in fluid flow relation with a portion of said cavity, an elastic partition in said housing cavity and normally separating said cannulas in fluid flow disconnection from one another, said partition having a pre-formed self-closing transverse slit therein and extending therethrough and with interfacing normally contiguous lips for passage accommodation therethrough of one of said cannulas to enable fluid flow communication between said cannulas, one of said cannula being longitudinally slidable toward and away from said partition and being generally longitudinally aligned with said pre-formed slit, said one slidable cannula having a blunt end movable within said cavity and selectively engageable with said partition in the zone of said slit to laterally separate and open the normally closed lips of said slit in said partition as a function of longitudinal sliding movement of said one cannula toward and into lip-parting engagement with said partition; the lips of said partition slit being elastically selfclosing upon longitudinal movement of said one cannula away from said partition. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, second said cannula being in fixed relation with said housmg. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, at least one of said two cannulas having a pointed punctureeffecting end at its outer end. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, both of said two cannulas having pointed puncture-effecting outer ends. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, said second cannula being secured in fixed relation in said housing. 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, said one slidable cannula having a transversely extending stop formed thereon and disposed within said cavity to limit longitudinal movement of said one cannula. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, said stop comprising an enlargement of the blunt inner end of said one cannula. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, said cannula enlargement comprising a flared end of said one cannula. 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, said slit being linear and forming a cat-eye shape upon lipseparation by passage of said one cannula therethrough. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, said cat-eye shape slit opening forming lateral apertures on opposite lateral sides of said one cannula. l 1. Apparatus according to claim 10, said housing having a bushing portion forming a close interference fit sleeve seal about said one cannula for sealed sliding friction fit therebetween, and said housing being effectively unitary with the other said cannula. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a vacuum-operating liquid collecting container engageable in fluid-flow relation with said one slidable cannula,

said one slidable cannula being slidable toward and away from said partition as a function of connection and disconnection thereof with said container. 13. Apparatus according to claim 1, said pre-fonned slit having a straight line configuration with parallel interfacing contiguous lips.

Claims (13)

1. A valved needle arrangement comprising: a housing having a cavity formed therein, first and second cannulas connecting with said housing and each having an open end thereof connecting in fluid flow relation with a portion of said cavity, an elastic partition in said housing cavity and normally separating said cannulas in fluid flow disconnection from one another, said partition having a pre-formed self-closing transverse slit therein and extending therethrough and with interfacing normally contiguous lips for passage accommodation therethrough of one of said cannulas to enable fluid flow communication between said cannulas, one of said cannula being longitudinally slidable toward and away from said partition and being generally longitudinally aligned with said pre-formed slit, said one slidable cannula having a blunt end movable within said cavity and selectively engageable with said partition in the zone of said slit to laterally separate and open the normally closed lips of said slit in said partition as a function of longitudinal sliding movement of said one cannula toward and into lip-parting engagement with said partition; the lips of said partition slit being elastically self-closing upon longitudinal movement of said one cannula away from said partition.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, second said cannula being in fixed relation with said housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, at least one of said two cannulas having a pointed puncture-effecting end at its outer end.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, both of said two cannulas having pointed puncture-effecting outer ends.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, said second cannula being secured in fixed relation in said housing.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, said one slidable cannula having a transversely extending stop formed thereon and disposed within said cavity to limit longitudinal movement of said one cannula.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, said stop comprising an enlargement of the blunt inner end of said one cannula.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, said cannula enlargement comprising a flared end of said one cannula.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, said slit being linear and forming a cat-eye shape upon lip-separation by passage of said one cannula therethrough.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, said cat-eye shape slit opening forming lateral apertures on opposite lateral sides of said one cannula.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, said housing having a bushing portion forming a close interference fit sleeve seal about said one cannula for sealed sliding friction fit therebetween, and said housing being effectively unitary with the other said cannula.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a vacuum-operating liquid collecting container engageable in fluid-flow relation with said one slidable cannula, said one slidable cannula being slidable toward and away from said partition as a function of connection and disconnection thereof with said container.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, said pre-formed slit having a straight line configuratiOn with parallel interfacing contiguous lips.

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