Patent Application
20110118659
1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a valve connector for a multi-port syringe assembly.
2. Prior Art
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are sometimes treated with an injection of a steroid directly into the tendon sheath of the patient's hand. When correctly administered the steroid can reduce inflammation and improve mobility of the hand. It has been found that steroids can cause atrophy of tissue surrounding the tendon sheath. When extracting the syringe needle some of the steroid may leak into the surrounding tissue and cause patient discomfort. One technique employed to reduce steroid leakage is to unscrew the syringe from the needle while the needle is still in the hand, attach a syringe full of anesthetic, and inject some anesthetic into the tendon. This is done to clear steroid out the needle before the syringe needle is pulled out of the hand. Having to unscrew one syringe and attaching another syringe to the inserted needle is a cumbersome technique for injecting anesthetic.
A connector valve assembly for a plurality of syringes. The connector includes a housing that has a pair of proximal ports, and a distal port in fluid communication with the proximal ports through first and second proximal channels. The assembly may have a first one-way valve located within the first proximal channel to allow fluid flow in a first direction and a second one-way valve located within the second proximal channel that allows fluid flow in an opposite second direction. Alternatively, the assembly may have a two-way valve located in the first proximal channel.
Disclosed is a multi-port syringe assembly that allows fluid to be drawn into or injected out of the assembly. For example, the assembly may include one syringe that is used to aspirate fluid from a patient and another syringe to inject a medical fluid into the patient. As one medical application, the first syringe can withdraw fluid from a patient and the second syringe can be used to inject a steroid into the patient. The assembly may include a third syringe so that a second medical fluid can be injected into the patient. With a three syringe assembly an anesthetic can be injected into the patient before aspiration of fluid. Alternatively, the assembly may have a two-way valve located in the first proximal channel. The two-way valve allows for the ejection of fluid from the first syringe when in a first position and the aspiration of fluid into the first syringe when in a second position.
Referring to the drawings more particularly by numbers,
The assembly 10 may include a connector valve assembly 24 attached to the syringes 12 and 14. The connector 24 includes a housing 26 that has a first proximal port 28 and a second proximal port 30. The first proximal port 28 is connected to a flange 32 of the first syringe 12. The second proximal port 30 is connected to a flange 34 of the second syringe 14. The housing 26 and flanges 32 and 34 are constructed so that a user can easily connected and disconnect the syringes 12 and 14 from the connector assembly 24.
The connector assembly housing 26 has a distal port 36 that is in fluid communication with a needle 38 that is attached to the housing 26. The distal port 36 and needle 38 are in fluid communication with the syringes 12 and 14 through a pair of proximal channels 40 and 42 and a distal channel 44. Each channel 40 and 42 may have a check valve 46 and 48, respectively. The check valves 46 and 48 prevent fluid from one syringe 12 or 14 from being injected into the other syringe 14 or 12. By way of example, the check valves 46 and 48 may be duck-bill valves constructed from a rubber or plastic material. The connector 24 may be constructed from a molded plastic material.
The syringes 12 and 14 can be arranged in a parallel relative relationship as shown, or can be attached to the connector 24 so as to be at an oblique angle relative to each other. One of the syringes 12 or 14 can contain a steroid and the other syringe 14 or 12 may contain an anesthetic. The assembly 10 may be used to sequentially inject the steroid and anesthetic into a hand.
In operation, a user can attach the needle 38 and syringes 12 and 14 to the connector assembly 24. The needle 38 can be attached to the connector assembly 24 before or after attachment of the syringes 12 and 14 to the assembly 24. The needle 38 can then be inserted into a patient. The plunger 16 of the first syringe 12 is depressed to inject a first medical fluid into the patient through the needle 38. The first medical fluid flows through the first one-way valve 46 but is blocked from flowing into the second syringe 14 by the second one-way valve 48. By way of example, the first medical fluid may be a steroid. The plunger 20 of the second syringe 14 is then depressed to inject a second medical fluid into the patient. The second medical fluid flows through the second one-way valve 48 but is blocked from flowing into the first syringe 14 by the first one-way valve 46. By way of example, the second medical fluid may be an anesthetic. The needle 38 is then pulled out of the patient's hand.
The assembly 10′ can be used to both aspirate and inject fluid into a patient. By way of example, the needle may be inserted into a patient and the second plunger 20 may be pulled to aspirate patient fluid. The second one-way valve 48′ allows fluid to flow into the second syringe 14. The first plunger 16 may then be depressed to inject medical fluid, such as a steroid, into the patient. The medical fluid flows through the one-way valve 46. The second one-way valve 48′ prevents flow of the medical fluid into the second syringe 14.
The syringe assembly 10″′ allows for the injection of two different fluids and the aspiration of fluid with one device. For example, an anesthetic can be ejected from the first syringe 12 when the valve 60 is in one position. The valve 60 can then be moved to another position to allow patient fluid to be aspirated into the first syringe 12. A second medical fluid such as a steroid can then be ejected from the second syringe 14.
Although embodiments with 2 and 3 valves and syringes are shown and described, it is to be understood that the assembly may have any number of valves/syringes. Additionally, although automated valves are shown and described, it is to be understood that the valves can be configured to be manually opened or closed by the user.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.
