# US 10,500,390 B2 · Medical connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,390 B2 - Document ID: US10500390B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/709,677 - Filed: 2017-09-20 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-20 - Assignees: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yasuhiro Ueda; Takeshi Toyama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500390B2 ## CPC - A61M 39/1011: {Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence)} - A61M 39/04: having pierceable self-sealing members - A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings - A61M 39/22: 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)} - A61M 39/1033: {Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors or bayonet-connectors} - A61M 2039/1016: {Unlocking means providing a secure or comfortable disconnection} - A61M 2039/1027: {Quick-acting type connectors} - A61M 2205/0216: Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking - A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production - 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)} ## Abstract A medical connector of the present invention is characterized in that: when a male connector portion is inserted into a female connector portion, a first locking portion is engaged with the female connector portion to achieve a first locked state as well as a second locked state; when the second locked state is released by operation of a second unlock operating portion and the female connector portion is moved in a disengagement direction with respect to the male connector portion, the locking member is moved in the disengagement direction together with the female connector portion while keeping the first locked state; and when the female connector portion is rotated with respect to the male connector portion, the first locked state is released. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical connector comprising: a connector body comprising a male connector portion and a cover portion surrounding an outer periphery of the male connector portion; a locking member located inside the cover portion and being movable with respect to the cover portion within a predetermined range in a direction along an axis of the male connector portion, the locking member comprising a first locking portion; a second locking portion; and an unlock operating portion; wherein the first locking portion is configured to engage with a female connector portion of another medical connector and to bring the female connector portion into a first locked state, wherein the second locking portion is configured to, while the female connector portion is in the first locked state, bring the female connector portion into a second locked state in which the female connector portion cannot be moved in a disengagement direction with respect to the male connector portion, wherein the unlock operating portion is configured to release the female connector portion from the second locked state, wherein, when the male connector portion is inserted into the female connector portion, the female connector portion is brought into the first locked state and the second locked state, wherein, when the second locked state is released by operation of the unlock operating portion, and the female connector portion is moved in the disengagement direction with respect to the male connector portion, the locking member is moved in the disengagement direction together with the female connector portion while the first locked state is maintained, and wherein, when the female connector portion is rotated with respect to the male connector portion, the first locked state is released. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein: when the male connector portion is inserted into the female connector portion, the locking member is pushed by the female connector portion and undergoes movement to a proximal end side of the male connector portion, the locking member undergoes elastic deformation along with the movement of the locking member to the proximal end side of the male connector portion, and the first locking portion is engaged with the female connector portion along with the elastic deformation of the locking member, and when the female connector portion is rotated with respect to the male connector portion at the time of releasing the first locked state, the locking member undergoes rotation together with the female connector portion, the locking member undergoes restoration from the elastic deformation along with the rotation of the locking member, and the first locked state is released along with the restoration of the locking member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical connector according to claim 2, wherein: when the male connector portion is inserted into the female connector portion, the locking member is pushed by the female connector portion and is moved to the proximal end side of the male connector portion while being rotated in a first rotating direction, and a direction in which the female connector portion is rotated with respect to the male connector portion at the time of releasing the first locked state is a second rotating direction that is opposite the first rotating direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The medical connector according to claim 3, wherein: a first abutting surface is located on an inner peripheral surface of the cover portion, a second abutting surface is located on an outer peripheral surface of the locking member, at least one of the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface is formed along a helical trajectory, and when the second abutting surface is pressed against the first abutting surface, the locking member is rotated in the first rotating direction with respect to the male connector portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The medical connector according to claim 4, wherein the second locking portion is configured to bring the female connector portion into the second locked state by engaging the female connector portion with the cover portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The medical connector according to claim 5, wherein: the second locking portion comprises an engagement protruding portion located at the cover portion and protruding radially inward, the engagement protruding portion is configured to be engaged with an engagement recessed portion on an outer peripheral surface of the female connector portion, the engagement protruding portion is a part of a swing lever that is integrally formed with the cover portion; and the unlock operating portion is an operating portion of the swing lever. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The medical connector according to claim 4, wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of elastic members, the first locking portion comprises a plurality of engagement portions provided on distal end sides of the plurality of elastic members, a first inner diameter portion having a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter portion having a second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter are located on the inner peripheral surface of the cover portion, and when the locking member is pushed by the female connector portion and moved to the proximal end side of the male connector portion, each of the plurality of elastic members is elastically deformed radially inward along with movement from the first inner diameter portion to the second inner diameter portion, and the first locking portion is engaged with the female connector portion along with the elastic deformation of the plurality of elastic members. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The medical connector according to claim 7, wherein: the plurality of engagement portions protrude radially inward, and the plurality of engagement portions are configured to engage with a plurality of engagement recessed portions on an outer peripheral surface of the female connector portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The medical connector according to claim 8, wherein the second locking portion is configured to bring the female connector portion into the second locked state by engaging the female connector portion with the cover portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The medical connector according to claim 9, wherein: the second locking portion comprises an engagement protruding portion located at the cover portion and protruding radially inward, the engagement protruding portion is configured to be engaged with an engagement recessed portion on the outer peripheral surface of the female connector portion, the engagement protruding portion is a part of a swing lever that is integrally formed with the cover portion; and the unlock operating portion is an operating portion of the swing lever. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The medical connector according to claim 7, wherein the second locking portion is configured to bring the female connector portion into the second locked state by engaging the female connector portion with the cover portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical connector according to claim 11, wherein: the second locking portion comprises an engagement protruding portion located at the cover portion and protruding radially inward, the engagement protruding portion is configured to be engaged with an engagement recessed portion on an outer peripheral surface of the female connector portion, the engagement protruding portion is a part of a swing lever that is integrally formed with the cover portion; and the unlock operating portion is an operating portion of the swing lever. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The medical connector according to claim 2, wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of elastic members, the first locking portion comprises a plurality of engagement portions provided on distal end sides of the plurality of elastic members, a first inner diameter portion having a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter portion having a second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter are located on an inner peripheral surface of the cover portion, and when the locking member is pushed by the female connector portion and moved to the proximal end side of the male connector portion, each of the plurality of elastic members is elastically deformed radially inward along with movement from the first inner diameter portion to the second inner diameter portion, and the first locking portion is engaged with the female connector portion along with the elastic deformation of the plurality of elastic members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The medical connector according to claim 13, wherein: the plurality of engagement portions protrude radially inward, and the plurality of engagement portions are configured to engage with a plurality of engagement recessed portions on an outer peripheral surface of the female connector portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The medical connector according to claim 3, wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of elastic members, the first locking portion comprises a plurality of engagement portions provided on distal end sides of the plurality of elastic members, a first inner diameter portion having a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter portion having a second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter are located on an inner peripheral surface of the cover portion, and when the locking member is pushed by the female connector portion and moved to the proximal end side of the male connector portion, each of the plurality of elastic members is elastically deformed radially inward along with movement from the first inner diameter portion to the second inner diameter portion, and the first locking portion is engaged with the female connector portion along with the elastic deformation of the plurality of elastic members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medical connector according to claim 15, wherein: the plurality of engagement portions protrude radially inward, and the plurality of engagement portions are configured to engage with a plurality of engagement recessed portions on an outer peripheral surface of the female connector portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein the second locking portion is configured to bring the female connector portion into the second locked state by engaging the female connector portion with the cover portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The medical connector according to claim 17, wherein: the second locking portion comprises an engagement protruding portion located at the cover portion and protruding radially inward, the engagement protruding portion is configured to be engaged with an engagement recessed portion on an outer peripheral surface of the female connector portion, the engagement protruding portion is a part of a swing lever that is integrally formed with the cover portion; and the unlock operating portion is an operating portion of the swing lever. ### Claim 19 A method of connecting a medical connector to another medical connector, the method comprising: providing a medical connector comprising: a connector body comprising a male connector portion and a cover portion surrounding an outer periphery of the male connector portion; a locking member located inside the cover portion and being movable with respect to the cover portion within a predetermined range in a direction along an axis of the male connector portion, the locking member comprising a first locking portion; a second locking portion; and an unlock operating portion; wherein the first locking portion is configured to engage with a female connector portion of said another medical connector and to bring the female connector portion into a first locked state, wherein the second locking portion is configured to, while the female connector portion is in the first locked state, bring the female connector portion into a second locked state in which the female connector portion cannot be moved in a disengagement direction with respect to the male connector portion, and wherein the unlock operating portion is configured to release the female connector portion from the second locked state; inserting the male connector portion into the female connector portion such that the female connector portion is brought into the first locked state and the second locked state; releasing the second locked state by operating the unlock operating portion, and moving the female connector portion in the disengagement direction with respect to the male connector portion, such that the locking member is moved in the disengagement direction together with the female connector portion while the first locked state is maintained; and rotating the female connector portion with respect to the male connector portion such that the first locked state is released.