Infusion port

Disclosed is an infusion port for regulating the inflow of an aqueous solution of an aqueous-solution pack into an external ringer spike as at least part of the ringer spike is inserted or withdrawn. The infusion port comprises an inflow part, a securing part, and a cover part. The inflow part is formed with at least one first inflow hole into which the ringer spike is inserted, so as to allow the inflow of the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack as the ringer spike is inserted. Consequently, as the first inflow hole of the inflow part moves outside or inside the securing part, it is possible to regulate the flow of the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack through the first inflow hole and into the ringer spike disposed inside the inflow part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an infusion port, and more particularly, to such an infusion port that is configured to be engaged with an inlet port of an aqueous-solution pack so that a patient can be administered with a drug solution contained in the aqueous-solution pack.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, an aqueous solution such as nutritional supplement, distilled water, and the like, including physiological salt solution and glucose is stored in an aqueous-solution pack having a certain shape in hospitals, etc., where a medical treatment or a surgical operation is performed on a patient. In addition, the infusion port is engaged with an inlet port connected to a lower end of the aqueous-solution pack, and a ringer spike is inserted into a sealing cap disposed at a lower end of the infusion port in order to supply the aqueous solution to the patient so that the aqueous solution can be administered to the patient. A conventional infusion port entails a problem in that the sealing cap is formed of a rubber material, which contributes to an increase in the overall expense incurred to manufacture the infusion port due to a high unit price. Moreover, when the ringer spike is inserted into the sealing cap, it is torn to create rubber fragments, which may be in turn introduced into the infusion port. Thus, since noxious substances harmful to the human body are produced from the rubber fragments of the sealing cap, they may be mixed with the aqueous solution. Further, the noxious substances mixed with the aqueous solution may be administered to the patient due to leakage of an additive added to the sealing cap during the manufacture of the sealing cap of a rubber material, leading to a serious deterioration in safety of the patient.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem associated with the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an infusion port which can prevent foreign substances, additives and the like from leaking and being introduced into the infusion port by eliminating the necessity of use of the sealing cap of a rubber material, and can be used in a medical application such as an aqueous solution pack, a blood bag, and the like in which the manufacturing cost can be saved.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, in one aspect, the present invention provides an infusion port regulating the inflow of an aqueous solution of an aqueous-solution pack into an external ringer spike as at least part of the ringer spike is inserted into or withdrawn from the infusion port, the infusion port comprising: an inflow unit configured to allow the ringer spike to be inserted thereto and having at least one first inflow hole formed thereon so as to allow for the inflow of the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack as the ringer spike is inserted into the infusion port; a securing unit configured to surround at least part of the inflow unit and having a movement hole formed at one end thereof such that the first inflow hole of the inflow unit is moved to the outside or the inside of the securing unit as the ringer spike is inserted into or withdrawn from the infusion port, and configured to secure the inflow unit when the first inflow hole is moved to the outside of the securing unit; and a cover unit configured to house the securing part therein and having a second inflow hole formed at one end so as to allow for the inflow of the aqueous solution into the cover unit through the second inflow hole upon the partial insertion of the cover unit into an inlet port disposed at the aqueous-solution pack.

Preferably, the infusion port may further include a securing cap configured to be engaged to the cover unit so that it secures the inflow unit upon the withdrawal of the ringer spike from the infusion port, and having a central hole formed on one side thereof so as to allow for the insertion and withdrawal of the ringer spike into and from the securing cap through the central hole. In addition, the infusion port may further include a contamination preventive cap configured to be engaged to the securing cap so as to prevent the central hole of the securing cap from being exposed to the outside.

Preferably, the securing cap may further include a barrier membrane configured to cover the central hole of the securing cap and formed of a flexible material to allow for the insertion and withdrawal of the ringer spike into and from the securing cap through the barrier membrane.

In addition, preferably, the securing cap may further include a retaining protrusion formed along the circumference of the central hole thereof, and the securing unit may further include a first retaining step formed at a lower end thereof so as to be engaged with the retaining protrusion of the securing cap. In addition, the cover unit may further include a second retaining step formed at a lower end thereof so as to be engaged with the first retaining step of the securing unit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the securing unit and the inflow unit may further include a stepped part formed thereon so as to allow the securing unit to secure the inflow unit upon the insertion of the ringer spike thereto.

In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the securing unit and the inflow unit may further include a first inclined part formed thereon so as to allow the securing unit to secure the inflow unit upon the insertion of the ringer spike thereto.

In the meantime, the inflow unit may have a predetermined coefficient of elasticity to allow the ringer spike to be firmly inserted into the inflow unit upon the insertion of the at least part of the ringer spike thereto.

Advantageous Effects

According to the infusion port of the present invention, the inflow unit can be moved through the movement hole of the securing unit. Thus, when the inflow unit is moved to the outside of the securing unit to cause the first inflow hole of the inflow unit to be exposed to the outside of the securing unit, the aqueous solution contained in the aqueous-solution pack flows into the inflow unit through the first inflow hole so that it can be administered to a body of a patient through the ringer spike.

In addition, when the inflow unit is moved to the inside of the securing unit to cause the first inflow hole of the inflow unit to enter the securing unit, the aqueous solution contained in the aqueous-solution pack is prevented from flowing into the inflow unit through the first inflow hole. Thus, when the ringer spike is separated from the inflow unit, the aqueous solution contained in the aqueous-solution pack can be prevented from flowing to the outside of the infusion port.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention can be variously modified in various embodiments and specific embodiments will be described and shown in the drawings. The invention is not limited to the embodiments, but it should be understood that the invention includes all the modifications, equivalents, and replacements belonging to the spirit and the technical scope of the invention.

Terms, “first”, “second”, and the like, can be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited to the terms. The terms are used only to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first element can be designated by a second element without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, a second element can also be designated by a first element.

The terminology herein is merely used to describe specific embodiments of the present invention, but is not intended to limit the present invention. It should be noted that, in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms, “a,” “an,” or “the”, includes plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should be appreciated that the terms “comprise(s)”, “comprising”, “include(s)”, and “including”, or “have(has)” when used in this specification and in the following claims are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, acts, elements, components or combination thereof, but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, acts, elements, components or combination thereof.

The terms same as ones defined in a commonly-used dictionary should be interpreted as including the meaning in accordance with the meaning in the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted as being ideally or excessively literally unless they are defined clearly in this specification.

Now, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating an infusion port according to one embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled state of the infusion port ofFIG. 1, andFIG. 3is a cross-sectional view illustrating an engagement state of an infusion port according to one embodiment of the present invention, a ringer spike, and an aqueous-solution pack.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, an infusion port100according to this embodiment includes an inflow unit110, a securing unit120, a cover unit130, a securing cap140, and a contamination preventive cap150.

The inflow unit110allows at least part of an external ringer spike300, i.e., an upper portion of the ringer spike300to be inserted thereto. The inflow unit110includes a top surface112formed a circular shape and a first side surface114extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. The upper portion of the ringer spike300is inserted to the inside of the first side surface114.

The inflow unit110can have a predetermined coefficient of elasticity to allow the upper portion of the ringer spike300to be firmly inserted into the inflow unit110upon the insertion of the upper portion of the ringer spike300thereto. For example, the inflow unit110may be formed of a polypropylene material having the predetermined coefficient of elasticity so that the upper portion of the ringer spike300can be inserted into the inflow unit110. In addition, the inflow unit may include a first stepped part, i.e., a first movement-preventing step114aformed at a lower portion of the first side surface114thereof in such a fashion as to be constructed in a stepped manner along the outer circumference of the first side surface114.

Further, the inflow unit110includes at least one first inflow hole116formed at an upper portion of the sidewall114contacting with the top surface112on the outer surface, i.e., the first side surface114of the inflow unit110. The first inflow hole116is formed symmetrically based on the center of the inflow unit110as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and can have a quadrangular shape. Alternatively, the first inflow hole116may have a circular or polygonal shape, and may be formed in asymmetrically based on the center of the inflow unit110

The securing unit120is formed to surround the first side surface114of the inflow unit110, and has a movement hole122formed at a top end of the securing unit120. The first inflow hole116of the inflow unit110is moved to the outside or the inside of the securing unit120as the ringer spike is inserted into or withdrawn from the infusion port.

When the upper portion of the ringer spike300is inserted into the inflow unit110accommodated in the securing unit120, the top surface112and the upper portion of the first side surface are moved to the outside of the securing unit120through the movement hole122along the movement direction of the ringer spike300. On the other hand, when the upper portion of the ringer spike300is withdrawn from the inflow unit110, the top surface112and the upper portion of the first side surface114are moved to the inside of the securing unit120through the movement hole122along the movement direction of the ringer spike300. At this time, the upper portion of the first side surface114is preferably moved to the outside of the securing unit120in an exposed manner.

The securing unit120can include a second movement-preventing step124formed along the outer circumferential surface thereof. When the inflow unit110is exposedly moved to the outside of the securing unit120through the movement hole112, the first movement-preventing step114ais retained by the second movement-preventing step124so that the inflow unit110can be fixed, but not exposed to the outside of the securing unit120in its entirety

Besides, the securing unit120can include a second stepped part, i.e., a first retaining step126formed at a bottom thereof to be opposed to the top thereof in such a fashion as to be constructed in a stepped manner along the outer circumference of the bottom thereof. The first retaining step126is formed to be larger than the securing unit120, and can be formed as a “” shaped protrusion so as to be engaged with the securing cap140, which will be described later.

Although not shown, the first retaining step126may be formed as a “” shaped protrusion to surround the lower end of the inflow unit110so that when the ringer spike300is withdrawn from the inflow unit110, the inflow unit110can be fixedly retained at the lower end thereof by the first retaining step126, but not moved in the movement direction of the ringer spike300.

The cover unit130houses the securing unit120therein, and is partly inserted into an inlet port210disposed at the bottom of the aqueous-solution pack200.

The cover unit130may be formed in a tapered shape that is gradually reduced in diameter as it goes toward the bottom from the top thereof so as to be firmly inserted into the inlet port210. A part of the cover unit130inserted into the inlet port210is defined as an upper portion of the cover unit130, and a part opposed to the upper portion of the cover unit130is defined as a lower portion of the cover unit130.

The cover unit130includes a second inflow hole132formed at the top end thereof so as to allow for the inflow of the aqueous solution into the cover unit130through the second inflow hole. In addition, the cover unit130may include a third movement-preventing step134formed on the outer circumference of the upper portion thereof. When the upper portion of the cover unit130is inserted into the inlet port210, a bottom of the inlet port210is retained by the third movement-preventing step134so that the cover unit130can be firmly inserted and secured into the inlet port210.

The cover unit130may include a fourth movement-preventing step136formed on the outer circumference of the lower portion thereof so as to correspond to the second movement-preventing step124of the securing unit120when the securing unit120is accommodated in the cover unit130. When securing unit120is accommodated in the cover unit130, the second movement-preventing step124of the securing unit120is retained by the fourth movement-preventing step136so that the securing unit can be prevented from escaping to the outside and the securing unit120can be stably secured to the inside of the cover unit130.

In addition, the cover unit130may include a second retaining step138formed at a bottom thereof so as to correspond to the first retaining step126of the securing unit120. The second retaining step138can be engaged with the first retaining step126along the outer circumferential surface of the first retaining step126in a concavo-convex relation. In addition, the outer circumferential surface of the second retaining step138is brought into close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the securing cap140so that the cover unit130can be engaged with the securing cap140.

Meanwhile, the inlet port210is formed as a flue that is opened at a top and a bottom thereof. The aqueous solution can be injected into the top of the inlet port210and can be introduced into the cover unit130through the second inflow hole132of the cover unit130.

The securing cap140is engaged with the cover unit130so that when the ringer spike300is withdrawn from the inflow unit110, the securing cap140secures the inflow unit110which is moved together with the ringer spike300in the movement direction of the ringer spike300so as to prevent the inflow unit110from escaping to the outside of the infusion port100.

In this embodiment, the securing cap140includes a bottom surface142that is formed in a circular shape and a second side surface144that is formed so as to surround the outer surface of the second retaining step138.

The securing cap140includes a central hole142aformed at the center of the bottom surface142thereof so as to allow for the insertion and withdrawal of the ringer spike300into and from the securing cap through the central hole. In addition, the securing cap140includes a retaining protrusion142bformed in a “” shape along the circumference of the central hole142athereof in such a fashion as to be spaced apart from the central hole142aby a predetermined interval. The outer circumferential surface of the retaining step142ais brought into close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first retaining step126of the securing unit120so that the securing cap140can be engaged with the securing unit120in a concavo-convex relation. Besides, a lower end of the inflow unit110can be brought into close contact with a top surface of the retaining protrusion142b.

In the meantime, a top of the bottom surface142is brought into close contact with a lower end of the securing unit120and a lower end of the cover unit130, and the bottom surface142can be brought into close contact with the contamination preventive cap, which will be described later.

The second side surface144surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the second retaining step138to secure the second retaining step138. The first retaining step126and the second retaining step138are engaged with each other in a concavo-convex relation between the second side surface144and the retaining protrusion142bso that the securing cap140can secure the cover unit130and the securing unit120.

The securing cap140is formed to cover the central hole142a, and further include a barrier membrane146formed of a flexible material to allow for the insertion and withdrawal of the ringer spike300into and from the securing cap through the barrier membrane.

The barrier membrane146can be formed to cover the central hole142aso a to prevent the foreign substances from being introduced into the inflow unit110, the securing unit, and the cover unit130through the central hole142aprior to the use of the infusion port100. In addition, since the ring spike300is required to pierce the barrier membrane146in order to use the infusion port100, the barrier membrane146can be used for the purpose of confirming whether the infusion port100has been used and preventing the re-use of the infusion port100.

The contamination preventive cap150is formed to surround the bottom surface142and a part of the second side surface144of the securing cap140so as to be engaged with the securing cap140. The contamination preventive cap150can serve to cover the central hole142aand the barrier membrane146of the bottom surface142so as to prevent the central hole142aand the barrier membrane146from being exposed to the outside and contaminated. In addition, the contamination preventive cap150can be removed from the securing cap140and can be discarded to insert the ringer spike300into the securing cap140when the infusion port is used.

Further, the contamination preventive cap150may be formed in various manners such as an easy film, a flip-off type, and the like.

Hereinafter, the operation and effects of the present invention in which the infusion port100and the ringer spike300are engaged with each other will be described with reference toFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 3, the contamination preventive cap150is removed from the securing cap140, and then the bottom surface142and the barrier membrane146are sterilized by being rubbed with alcohol-impregnated cotton in order to administer the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack200to a patient. Then, when a top of the ringer spike300is inserted into the inflow unit110while piecing the barrier membrane146, it is brought into close contact with a top surface112of the inflow unit110. Thereafter, an advancing force of the ringer spike300acts in the direction of the aqueous-solution pack200to cause the inflow unit110to be exposedly moved to the outside of the securing unit120through the movement hole122of the securing unit120so that the first inflow hole116of the inflow unit110is exposed to the inside of the cover unit130.

Then, the aqueous solution contained in the aqueous-solution pack200is introduced into the cover unit130through the second inflow hole132of the cover unit130via the inlet port210, and then flows into the first inflow hole116exposed to the inside of the cover unit130. Thereafter, the aqueous solution flowing into the inflow unit110through the first inflow hole116is introduced into an aqueous solution-introducing hole310formed at a top of the ringer spike300, and then is administered to the patient through a tube connected to a bottom of the ringer spike300.

In this case, the ringer spike300is required to be firmly inserted into the inflow unit110so as to prevent the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack200from being leaked to an empty space which may be created between the inflow unit110and the ringer spike300.

Thereafter, the ringer spike300is moved in the direction opposite to the aqueous-solution pack200in order to withdraw the ringer spike300out of the infusion port100after completion of the administration of the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack200to the patient. Then, the inflow unit110engaged to the ringer spike300is moved together with the ringer spike300so that the first inflow hole116is moved to the inside of the securing unit120. In addition, the bottom of the inflow unit110is retained by the retaining protrusion142bso that the inflow unit110can be stably secured, but not continue to be moved in the movement direction of the ringer spike300.

Thus, the introduction of the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack200into the cover unit130is blocked, but not moved to the inside of the inflow unit110so that although the ringer spike300is separated from the infusion port100, the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack200does not flow out of the infusion port100any more.

In the meantime, although not shown, the infusion port100may be constructed such that the first movement-preventing step114ais formed only at the lower portion of the first side surface114of the inflow unit110or the first retaining step126is formed only at the bottom of the securing unit120so that the securing unit120can secure the inflow unit110upon the insertion and withdrawal of the ringer spike300.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the ringer spike300is inserted into the inflow unit110, the top of the inflow unit110is moved to the inside of the cover unit130through the movement hole122of the securing unit120so that the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack200introduced into the inflow unit110through the first inflow hole116can flow into the aqueous solution-introducing hole310of the ringer spike300and then can be administered to a body of the patient.

Moreover, when the ringer spike300is moved in the direction opposite to the aqueous-solution pack200so as to withdraw the ringer spike300from the infusion port100, the inflow unit110engaged with the ringer spike300is moved together with the ringer spike300and simultaneously the first inflow hole116of the inflow unit110is moved to the inside of the securing unit120. Thus, the introduction of the aqueous solution of the aqueous-solution pack200into the inflow unit110can be interrupted.

FIG. 4is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating an infusion port according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The infusion port according to this embodiment is substantially the same as that shown inFIG. 1except a part of the inflow unit and a part of the securing unit. Thus, in this embodiment, the same elements as those described in the above embodiment ofFIG. 1are designated by the same reference numerals, and thus the repeated description thereof will be omitted to avoid redundancy.

Referring toFIG. 4, in the infusion port400according to another embodiment of the present invention, the first side surface114of the inflow unit110may include a first inclined part which is formed inclinedly so as to be gradually increased in diameter as it goes toward the bottom from the top surface112thereof so as to be firmly inserted into the inlet port210. In addition, the outer surface of the securing unit120may include a second inclined part that is formed inclinedly so as to be gradually increased in diameter as it goes toward the first retaining step126from the movement hole122thereof so as to be firmly inserted into the inlet port210.

In the case where the inflow unit110is moved to the outside of the securing unit120through the movement hole122, since the bottom of the inflow unit110is larger in diameter than the top of the inflow unit110, it can be secured stably without being moved to the outside of the securing unit120. At this time, preferably, the diameter of the top surface112of the inflow unit110and an upper portion of the inflow unit110is smaller than that of the movement hole122of the securing unit120so that the upper portion of the inflow unit110is easily moved to the outside of the securing unit120through the movement hole122. In addition, since the diameter of the bottom of the inflow unit110is larger than that of the movement hole122, the bottom of the inflow unit110is prevented from being moved to the inside of the cover unit130through the movement hole122.

Although not shown, the infusion port400may be constructed such that the first inclined part is formed only at a part of the first side surface114of the inflow unit110or the second inclined part is formed only at a part of the outer surface of the securing unit120so that the securing unit120can secure the inflow unit110upon the insertion and withdrawal of the ringer spike300. Alternatively, the first inclined part is formed only on the first side surface114of the inflow unit110or the second inclined part is formed only on the outer surface of the securing unit120.

While the infusion port according to the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with specific exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the construction and operation described and illustrated herein. Therefore, since it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to the embodiments without departing from the technical spirit and scope of the present invention disclosed in the appended claims, the aforementioned description and the accompanying drawings should be construed to be merely illustrative of the present invention, but not to limit the technical spirit of the present invention.