Vented connector for medical fluid vessels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10806917-B2
Application number	US-201916393144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2019
Priority date	Sep 8, 2014
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A connector for medical fluid vessels includes a fluid-seal fitting such as a male plug defining a lumen and mating with a cooperating connector, a mechanical fastener such as a screw thread for mating with the cooperating connector, and an outer housing positioned around the plug to form an annular space. Optionally, a cap can be provided with a fluid-seal fitting such as a male plug for mating with the lumen of the connector. The connector includes one or more vent openings for drainage and air-drying of any residual fluid in the annular space when capped, as well as for breaking a vacuum to prevent fluid backflow and thus ensure more accurate dosing. In some embodiments, the vent openings are provided in the outer housing. And in some embodiments, the vent openings are provided in the cap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical tubing connector comprising:
a first connector portion configured for connecting to a mating second connector;
a tube engagement portion integral with and opposite the first connector portion and configured for connecting to a medical tube;
a liquid passage extending along an axis through the first connector portion and the tube engagement portion, the first connector portion including a continuous outer surface for sealing engagement with the mating second connector;
an annular portion integral with and surrounding the first connector portion, the annular portion comprising a threaded inner surface; and
a connecting portion connecting the first connector portion to the annular portion, the connecting portion including a discontinuity permitting liquid to pass through the connecting portion so that liquid is prevented from pooling between the first connector portion and the annular portion;
wherein the connecting portion is defined by spaced apart connecting supports extending between the first connector portion and the annular portion, wherein the spaced apart connecting supports comprise handles configured to manipulate rotational movement of the first connector portion about an axis with respect to the mating second connector, each connecting support comprising a first section extending from the annular portion and a second section projecting from the first section and extending from the first section to the first connector portion, the second section engaging the first connector portion at a location radially spaced apart from the location at which the first section extends from the annular portion.

2. The medical tubing connector of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion discontinuity comprises a drain.

3. The medical tubing connector of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion discontinuity comprises at least one aperture.

4. The medical tubing connector of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion discontinuity comprises at least one slot.

5. The medical tubing connector of claim 1 , wherein the annular portion comprises a collar concentrically oriented about the first connector portion.

6. The medical tubing connector of claim 1 , wherein the first connector portion extends to a distal end outside the annular portion.

7. The medical tubing connector of claim 1 , wherein the first connector portion, the connecting portion, and the annular portion are formed as one piece of material.

8. The medical tubing connector of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion defines a drain permitting liquid to pass through the connecting portion so that liquid is prevented from pooling between the first connector portion and the annular portion.

9. The medical tubing connector of claim 1 , wherein the first connector portion extends to a distal end outside the annular portion.

10. A medical tubing connector comprising:
a male plug configured for connecting to a cooperating connector;
a vessel-attaching portion integral with and opposite the male plug and configured for connecting to a medical tube;
a lumen extending along an axis through the male plug and the vessel-attaching portion, the male plug including a continuous outer surface for sealing engagement with the cooperating connector;
an outer housing integral with and surrounding the first connector portion, the outer housing comprising an outer housing sidewall having inner screw threads; and
a connecting portion connecting the male plug to the outer housing, the connecting portion including a discontinuity permitting liquid to pass through the connecting portion so that liquid is prevented from pooling between the male plug and the outer housing;
wherein the connecting portion is defined by spaced apart connecting portions extending between the male plug and the outer housing, wherein the spaced apart connecting portions comprise handles configured to manipulate rotational movement of the male plug about an axis with respect to the cooperating connector, each spaced apart connecting portion comprising a first section extending from the outer housing and a second section projecting from the first section and extending from the first section to the male plug, the second section engaging the male plug at a location radially spaced apart from the location at which the first section extends from the outer housing.

11. The medical tubing connector of claim 10 , wherein the connecting portion discontinuity comprises at least one vent.

12. The medical tubing connector of claim 10 , wherein the outer housing comprises a collar concentrically oriented about the male plug.

13. The medical tubing connector of claim 10 , wherein the male plug extends to a distal end outside the outer housing.

14. The medical tubing connector of claim 10 , wherein the male plug, the connecting portion, and the outer housing are formed as one piece of material.

15. The medical tubing connector of claim 10 , wherein the connecting portion defines a vent permitting liquid to pass through the connecting portion so that liquid is prevented from pooling between the male plug and the outer housing.

Assignees

• Neomed Inc

Inventors

• Ingram Aaron N
• Davis Benjamin Martin
• Costello Mark M
• Doherty Tony
• Burke John

Classifications

• A61M39/20 Primary

  Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes · CPC title

• A61J1/1412

  Containers with closing means, e.g. caps · CPC title

• A61M2039/205

  comprising air venting means · CPC title

• A61M39/10 Primary

  Tube connectors; Tube couplings {(A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014)} · CPC title