Needleless connector having check valve with lip seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12350464-B2
Application number	US-202418626966-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2024
Priority date	Jul 30, 2020
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A valve member for a connector includes a head portion, a body portion, and a circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from an outer surface of the head portion. The head portion includes a top section defining a first seal portion. The body portion extends longitudinally from the head portion and defines a second seal portion at a proximal end thereof. The second seal portion is disposed distally to the first seal portion. The circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first and second seal portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve member for a connector, the valve member comprising:
a head portion including a top section and an outer side surface, the outer side surface comprising a notch and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a first seal portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, and the circumferential lip seal extending radially from the outer side surface and comprising a continuous perimeter; and
a body portion having a proximal end forming a second seal portion and extending longitudinally from the head portion to a distal end of the body portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first and second seal portions and is flexible such that the circumferential lip seal can deflect toward or away from the first seal portion.

2. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first seal portion is smaller than a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the second seal portion.

3. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein a distance that the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer side surface of the head portion is smaller than a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first seal portion.

4. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the top section includes a top planar surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the top planar surface.

5. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the top section includes a top planar surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the top planar surface.

6. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises a column section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axial center of the head portion.

7. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises a column section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the axial center of the head portion.

8. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises a column section defining an axial center of the head portion, and wherein the notch is an arcuate-shaped recess within the column section.

9. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the head portion or the circumferential lip seal comprises an elastomeric material.

10. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lip seal comprises silicone or a silicone compound.

11. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the body portion is shaped as an elongate tubular member having an open end at the distal end of the body portion and a closed end proximal to the second seal portion of the body portion.

12. A needleless connector, comprising:
a housing having a proximal end defining an inlet port of the housing, a distal end defining an outlet port of the housing, and an inner surface defining an internal cavity extending between the inlet and outlet ports; and
a valve member disposed within at least a portion of the internal cavity and movably retained within the housing, the valve member comprising a head portion and a body portion, the head portion including a top section and an outer side surface, the outer side surface comprising a notch and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a first seal portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, and the circumferential lip seal extending radially from the outer side surface and comprising a continuous perimeter, and the body portion having a proximal end forming a second seal portion and extending longitudinally from the head portion to a distal end of the body portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first and second seal portions and is flexible such that the circumferential lip seal can deflect toward or away from the first seal portion;
wherein, in a closed state of the valve member, the first seal portion and the continuous perimeter of the circumferential lip seal is engaged against the inner surface of the housing, and in an open state of the valve member, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the housing and the first seal portion of the head portion, and the continuous perimeter of the circumferential lip seal is engaged against at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing to obstruct fluid from flowing from the internal cavity towards the first seal portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal deflects toward the inlet port of the housing when the valve member moves from the closed state toward the open state.

13. The needleless connector of claim 12 , wherein a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first seal portion is smaller than a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the second seal portion.

14. The needleless connector of claim 12 , wherein a distance that the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer side surface of the head portion is smaller than a distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first seal portion.

15. The needleless connector of claim 12 , wherein a diameter of the circumferential lip seal is greater than a diameter of the inner surface at the inlet port.

16. The needleless connector of claim 15 , wherein the circumferential lip seal deflects to an inverted shape as the valve member reciprocates within the housing between the open state and the closed state.

17. The needleless connector of claim 12 , wherein the top section includes a top planar surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the top planar surface.

18. The needleless connector of claim 12 , wherein the top section includes a top planar surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the top planar surface.

19. The needleless connector of claim 12 , wherein the head portion further comprises a column section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axial center of the head portion.

20. A method for providing a needleless connector comprising:
providing a housing having a proximal end defining an inlet port of the housing, a distal end defining an outlet port of the housing, and an inner surface defining an internal cavity extending between the inlet and outlet ports; and
providing a valve member comprising a head portion and a body portion, the head portion including a top section and an outer side surface, the outer side surface comprising a notch and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a first seal portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, and the circumferential lip seal extending radially from the outer side surface and comprising a continuous perimeter, and the body portion having a proximal end forming a second seal portion and extending longitudinally from the head portion to a distal end of the body portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first and second seal portions;
wherein the valve member is disposed within at least a portion of the internal cavity such that the head portion and the circumferential lip seal are movable relative to the inlet port.

Assignees

• Carefusion 303 Inc

Inventors

• Feith Raymond
• Zollinger Chris J

Classifications

• A61M2205/0216

  Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking · CPC title

• A61M2039/267

  having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector · CPC title

• A61M2039/2433

  Valve comprising a resilient or deformable element, e.g. flap valve, deformable disc · CPC title

• A61M2039/263

  where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection · CPC title

• A61M2039/262

  having a fluid space within the valve remaining the same upon connection and disconnection, i.e. neutral-drawback valve · CPC title