Connector for a medical device

A wound dressing tubing connector comprising a first unit and a second unit which are releasably connectable and which when connected form a fluid path through the connector wherein the first unit comprises an inlet and an outlet and the second unit comprises an inlet and an outlet, in which the outlet of the first unit and the inlet of the second unit when the first and second unit are connected together define the fluid path, and wherein the first unit and the second unit are connectable to form an air and fluid tight seal;

• and
• wherein the first unit and/or the second unit comprises:
• a connector body having a fluid-flow bore of fixed lateral extent extending between the said inlet and the said outlet, the fluid-flow bore forming at least part of the said fluid path;
• the said connector body having a tube-receiver portion at one end thereof to receive an end of a wound-dressing tube;
• the said connector body having a pressure regulator valve which is spaced from the tube-receiver portion along the fluid flow bore;
• the pressure regulator valve having a valve body which extends from a side of the fluid flow bore;
• the said valve body having a valve bore which intersects with the said fluid-flow bore, such that the pressure regulator valve is in fluid communication with the said fluid path;
• the pressure regulator valve having a valve seal and a spring which are in the said valve body to close the said valve bore;
• the spring is configured to act against the valve seal to close the pressure regulator valve when the pressure in the fluid path reaches a differential pressure relative to atmospheric pressure that is greater than or equal to the positive force of the spring, the pressure regulator valve being configured such that when the pressure in the fluid path is sufficiently low, whereby a differential pressure created relative to atmospheric pressure is equivalent to the positive force of the spring, the spring force is overcome to release the valve seal so that atmospheric air enters the valve bore and flows over the said spring along the valve bore to the said fluid flow bore in order to equalise the pressure in the fluid path.