Male luer with fluid path and vent path seals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308362-B2
Application number	US-201313797688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A male needleless connector includes a body having a male fitting with a distal port, a valve disposed within the body and having a first position wherein the valve seals the port and a second position wherein the valve does not seal the port, and a sliding seal disposed over a portion of the male fitting and having a first configuration wherein a first portion of the sliding seal is in sealing contact with the male fitting and a second configuration wherein the first portion is not in sealing contact with the male fitting. Moving the sliding seal to the second configuration opens the seal between the sliding seal and the male fitting and displaces the valve to the second position, thereby opening the seal between the valve and the port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A male needleless connector comprising:
a body having a male fitting with a port;
a valve disposed within the body and having a first position wherein the valve seals the port and a second position wherein the valve does not seal the port; and
a sliding seal disposed over a portion of the male fitting and having a first configuration wherein a first portion of the sliding seal is in sealing contact with the male fitting to seal a vent path and a second configuration wherein the first portion is not in sealing contact with the male fitting,
wherein moving the sliding seal to the second configuration opens the seal between the sliding seal and the male fitting to open the vent path and displaces the valve to the second position, thereby opening the seal between the valve and the port.

2. The male needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the male fitting comprises an external surface having a Luer taper.

3. The male needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the sliding seal is proximate to a proximal end of the sliding seal.

4. The male needleless connector of claim 3 , wherein the sliding seal comprises a second portion that is fixedly sealed to the body.

5. The male needleless connector of claim 4 , wherein the second portion is proximate to a distal end of the sliding seal.

6. The male needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises at least one finger disposed within a portion of the sliding seal and external to a portion of the male fitting.

7. The male needleless connector of claim 6 , wherein the sliding seal comprises a shoulder proximate to a proximal end of the at least one finger, the shoulder configured such that displacement of the shoulder in a distal direction causes the shoulder to contact the proximal end of the at least one finger and, upon further distal displacement, displace the valve away from the first position toward the second position.

8. The male needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a sealing tip disposed within the male fitting, the sealing tip having a first portion configured to seal the port when the valve is in the first position and a second portion that forms a sliding seal with the male fitting in all positions between the first and second positions.

9. The male needleless connector of claim 8 , wherein the valve comprises a fluid passage passing from a distal end of the valve to an opening disposed between the first and second portions of the sealing tip so as to form a portion of a fluid path when the valve is displaced from the first position.

10. The male needleless connector of claim 9 , further comprising a bellows disposed within the body and distal to the valve, the bellows having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the fluid passage of the valve.

11. The male needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the vent path extends between the sliding seal and the male fitting.

12. A needleless connector set, comprising:
male connector comprising:
a body having a male fitting with a port;
a valve disposed within the body and having a first position wherein the valve seals the port and a second position wherein the valve does not seal the port; and
a sliding seal disposed over a portion of the male fitting and having a first configuration wherein a first portion of the sliding seal is in sealing contact with the male fitting and a second configuration wherein the first portion is not in sealing contact with the male fitting, the sliding seal comprising a second portion fixedly sealed to the body, wherein moving the sliding seal to the second configuration opens the seal between the sliding seal and the male fitting and displaces the valve to the second position, thereby opening the seal between the valve and the port; and

a female connector comprising:
a body having a distal surface, an opening on the distal surface having a first diameter, a first internal passage extending from the opening, and a cavity extending from a proximal end of the first internal passage, the cavity having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter; and
a collapsible valve disposed within the body and having first and second positions, the collapsible valve having a distal end with a diameter that is greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter, a second internal passage, and a slit passing from the distal end to the second internal passage, wherein the distal end of the collapsible valve is approximately flush with the distal surface of the body and the slit is closed when the collapsible valve is in the first position, and wherein the distal end of the collapsible valve is disposed within the cavity and the slit is open when the collapsible valve is in the second position,

wherein the male and female connectors are disposed in their respective first positions when not mated and disposed in their respective second positions when mated.

13. The connector set of claim 12 , wherein the male fitting comprises an external surface having a Luer taper and the first internal passage has a corresponding Luer taper.

14. The connector set of claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the sliding seal is proximate to a proximal end of the sliding seal.

15. The connector set of claim 12 , wherein the second portion is proximate to a distal end of the sliding seal.

16. The connector set of claim 12 , wherein the valve comprises at least one finger disposed within a portion of the sliding seal and external to a portion of the male fitting.

17. The connector set of claim 16 , wherein the sliding seal comprises a shoulder proximate to a proximal end of the at least one finger, the shoulder configured such that displacement of the shoulder in a distal direction causes the shoulder to contact the proximal end of the at least one finger and, upon further distal displacement, displace the valve away from the first position toward the second position.

18. The connector set of claim 12 , wherein the valve comprises a sealing tip disposed within the male fitting, the sealing tip having a first portion configured to seal the port when the valve is in the first position and a second portion that forms a sliding seal with the male fitting in all positions between the first and second positions.

19. The connector set of claim 18 , wherein the valve comprises a fluid passage passing from a distal end of the valve to an opening disposed between the first and second portions of the sealing tip so as to form a portion of a fluid path when the valve is displaced from the first position.

20. The connector set of claim 19 , further comprising a bellows disposed within the body of the male connector and distal to the valve, the bellows having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the fluid passage of the valve.

21. A needleless connector comprising:
a body comprising a fluid path, a vent path, and a male fitting;
a valve disposed within the male fitting; and
a seal coupled to the body and slidingly disposed over a portion of the male fitting,
wherein the valve and seal respectively block the fluid and vent paths when the connector is in an unconnected configuration, and
wherein the fluid and vent paths are open when the connector is in a connected configuration.

Assignees

• Mansour George Michel
• Panian Tyler Devin
• Carefusion 303 Inc

Inventors

• Mansour George Michel
• Panian Tyler Devin

Classifications

• A61M2039/268

  wherein the stem portion is moved for opening and closing the valve, e.g. by translation, rotation · CPC title

• A61M39/26 Primary

  Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof {(check valves A61M39/24)} · CPC title

• A61M2039/266

  where the valve comprises venting channels, e.g. to insure better connection, to help decreasing the fluid space upon disconnection, or to help the fluid space to remain the same during disconnection · CPC title

• A61M39/10

  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

• A61M39/22 Primary

  Valves or arrangement of valves {(A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405)} · CPC title