# US 10,369,350 B2 · Closed male luer device for use with needleless access devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,350 B2 - Document ID: US10369350B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/478,157 - Filed: 2017-04-03 - Published: 2017-07-20 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-06 - Assignees: CareFusion 303, Inc. - Applicants: CareFusion 303, Inc. - Inventors: George Michel Mansour; Matthew Paul Fried - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369350B2 ## CPC - A61M 39/26: Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof {(check valves A61M39/24)} - A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings - A61M 39/1011: {Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence)} - A61M 2039/261: {where the fluid space within the valve is increasing upon disconnection} - A61M 2039/266: {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} - A61M 2039/267: {having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector} - A61M 2039/268: {wherein the stem portion is moved for opening and closing the valve, e.g. by translation, rotation} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A medical connector is described which is formed by a body having an inlet port, an outlet port through a male luer portion of the body, and a fluid path between the inlet port and the at least one outlet ports. A retractable post extends through the fluid path in the male luer sealing a tip of the male luer thereby closing the fluid path when the connector in not activated. There is a seal between the retractable post and the body that forms a fluid volume within a portion of the cavity. The fluid path passes through the fluid volume. When actuated, the retractable post is forced away from the tip of the male luer, thereby opening the fluid path through the medical connector and decreasing the fluid volume. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical connector comprising: a body comprising a cavity, an inlet port, and an outlet port through a male luer portion of the body; an elastic seal comprising a seating ring and a cup portion, the seating ring coupled to the body with the cup portion positioned in the cavity to separate the cavity into an air volume and a fluid volume, wherein a fluid path extends between the inlet port, the fluid volume, and the outlet port; and a post extending through the fluid path in the male luer, wherein, when the connector is in a closed configuration, the fluid path through the outlet port is sealingly closed by the post, and when the connector is in an open configuration, the post is moved away from the outlet port to (i) open the fluid path, and (ii) urge the cup portion further into the cavity to increase the air volume and decrease the fluid volume in the cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the post is positioned between the elastic seal and the outlet such that the post is urged toward the outlet port by the elastic seal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, wherein a spring is positioned between the body and the post such that the post is urged toward the outlet port by the spring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, comprising a barb arm extending from the post and along an outer surface of the male luer, wherein, when the connector is activated, the barb arm is engaged by a secondary device to urge the barb arm and the post. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The medical connector of claim 4, wherein the body comprises a vent passage between the air volume and an outer surface of the connector, and the barb arm extends through the vent passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a vent passage between the air volume and an outer surface of the connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, wherein a seal ring is positioned between the post and the body such that the air volume is fluidly isolated from the fluid volume. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a inner channel extending along an inner surface of the body between the inlet and outlet port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, wherein a portion of the fluid path, between the outlet port and the cavity, extends between an outer surface of the post and an inner surface of the body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the post comprises an outer surface having a protrusion configured, such that the outer surface of the post is separated from an inner surface of the male luer portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the male luer portion comprises a outer channel extending along an outer surface of the male luer portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical connector of claim 11, wherein the outer channel extends from the outlet port to a periphery of a tip of the male luer. ### Claim 13 A method for providing a negative displacement medical connector, the method comprising: providing a fluid path extending between an inlet port, a cavity, and an outlet port of a body, the outlet port forming a male luer portion of the body; providing an elastic seal having a seating ring and a cup portion, the seating ring coupled to the body with the cup portion positioned in the cavity to separate the cavity into an air volume and a fluid volume; positioning a post in the male luer with the cup portion engaged against a portion of the post to urge the post toward the outlet port to seal the fluid path through the outlet port when the connector is in a closed configuration; and moving the post away from the outlet port to (i) open the fluid path, and (ii) urge the cup portion further into the cavity to increase the air volume and decrease the fluid volume in the cavity when the connector is in an open configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein moving the post away from the outlet port comprises engaging a portion of the post with a secondary device comprising a female luer portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, comprising disengaging the secondary device to permit the post to seal the fluid path through the outlet port while increasing the fluid volume, thereby drawing a fluid into the medical connector through the inlet port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein drawing a fluid into the medical connector through the inlet port comprises drawing the fluid through an outer channel extending along on an outer surface of the male luer portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein moving the post comprises engaging a barb arm, extending from the post and along an outer surface of the male luer, with a secondary device comprising a female luer portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein moving the post toward the outlet port comprises urging the post with a spring positioned between the body and the post. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein urging the cup portion into the cavity comprises permitting air to move through a vent passage between the air volume and an outer surface of the connector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein forming an air volume and a fluid volume of the cavity comprises positioning a seal ring between the post and the body such that the air volume is fluidly isolated from the fluid volume.