# US 11,027,111 B2 · Connector system for releasably connecting fluid conduits

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- Number: US 11,027,111 B2
- Document ID: US11027111B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/802,412
- Filed: 2020-02-26
- Published: 2020-06-18
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-19
- Assignees: WilMarc Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: WilMarc Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Paul C. Ciccone; William A. Coulson; Marcia Coulson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027111B2

## CPC

- A61M 39/1011: {Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence)}
- 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 39/26: Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof {(check valves A61M39/24)}
- F16L 37/23: by means of balls
- F16L 37/26: in which the connection is made by transversely moving the parts together, with or without their subsequent rotation
- F16L 37/32: at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
- F16L 37/34: at least one of the lift valves being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve being telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall
- A61M 2039/1016: {Unlocking means providing a secure or comfortable disconnection}
- A61M 2039/1027: {Quick-acting type connectors}
- A61M 2039/1044: {Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources}
- A61M 2039/268: {wherein the stem portion is moved for opening and closing the valve, e.g. by translation, rotation}
- A61M 2205/0205: Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
- A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback
- A61M 2205/582: by tactile feedback
- A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback
- 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)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a connector system for releasably connecting together tubes, for example medical tubing, and methods of making and using such a connector system, whereby the connector system includes a female coupler having a first passageway, a male coupler having a second passageway, a catch movably coupled to the female coupler, and a catch-receiving element coupled to the male coupler. The connector system further includes a release element movably coupled to the female coupler, whereby travel of the release element along or over a female coupler outer surface of the female coupler disengages the catch from the catch-receiving element to achieve a disconnected condition of the connector system. Further disclosed herein are embodiments of a connector system for releasably connecting together tubes, whereby the connector system includes at least one valve biased by a valve-biasing member disposed external to or outside of the fluid flow path.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector system for releasably connecting tubes, comprising:
a female coupler comprising a first conduit defining a first passageway;
a first valve disposed within said female coupler, said first valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said first passageway;
a male coupler comprising a second conduit defining a second passageway;
a second valve disposed within said male coupler, said second valve operable to interrupt fluid flow through said second passageway;
wherein upon releasable matable axial coupling of said female and male couplers, an axial position of said female coupler is fixed in relation to said male coupler, thereby achieving a connected condition of said connector system;
wherein in said connected condition, said first valve urges said second valve toward a second valve open position and said second valve urges said first valve toward a first valve open position to dispose said first and second passageways in fluidic communication to provide a fluid flow path;
wherein said first and second valves are biased by corresponding first and second resiliently flexible members, said first resiliently flexible member comprising a first plurality of resiliently flexible members which dispose in circumferentially spaced-apart relation to define a first internal space therebetween, said second resiliently flexible member comprising a second plurality of resiliently flexible members which dispose in circumferentially spaced-apart relation to define a second internal space therebetween:
wherein:
in a non-flexed condition, said first resiliently flexible member biases said first valve toward said first valve closed position;
in a non-flexed condition, said second resiliently flexible member biases said second valve toward said second valve closed position;
in a flexed condition, said first resiliently flexible member allows said first valve to travel within said first valve seat toward said first valve open position away from said first port to provide a first passageway open condition; and
in a flexed condition, said second resiliently flexible member allows said second valve to travel within said second valve seat toward said second valve open position away from said second port to provide a second passageway open condition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector system of claim 1, wherein said first and second valves abuttingly engage to dispose said first and second passageways in fluidic communication to provide said fluid flow path.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The connector system of claim 2, wherein:
a first valve outer surface of said first valve disposes adjacent a first conduit inner surface of said first conduit; and
a second valve outer surface of said second valve disposes adjacent a second conduit inner surface of said second conduit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The connector system of claim 3, further comprising:
a first fluid-tight seal between said first valve outer surface and said first conduit inner surface; and
a second fluid-tight seal between said second valve outer surface and said second conduit inner surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The connector system of claim 4, further comprising:
a first o-ring disposed about said first valve outer surface to provide said first fluid tight seal between said first valve outer surface and said first conduit inner surface; and
a second o-ring disposed about said second valve outer surface to provide said second fluid tight seal between said second valve outer surface and said second conduit inner surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The connector system of claim 5, wherein:
a portion of said first conduit inner surface provides a first valve seat in which said first valve is movable; and
a portion of said second conduit inner surface provides a second valve seat in which said second valve is movable.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The connector system of claim 6, wherein:
upon travel of said first valve within said first valve seat in a first direction to a first valve closed position, said first valve sealably occludes a first port in fluid communication with said first passageway to provide a first passageway closed condition in which fluid flow through said first passageway is interrupted; and
upon travel of said second valve within said second valve seat in a first direction to a second valve closed position, said second valve sealably occludes a second port in fluid communication with said second passageway to provide a second passageway closed condition in which fluid flow through said second passageway is interrupted.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising:
a first angled surface disposed in axially-adjacent relation to said first plurality of resiliently flexible members; and
a second angled surface disposed in axially-adjacent relation to said second plurality of resiliently flexible members.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The connector of claim 8, wherein:
upon urging by said second valve, said first plurality of resiliently flexible members move axially toward said first angled surface to receive said first angled surface within said first internal space while urging said first plurality of resiliently flexible members to flex about said angled surface toward said flexed condition; and
upon urging by said first valve, said second plurality of resiliently flexible members move axially toward said second angled surface to receive said second angled surface within said second internal space while urging said second plurality of resiliently flexible members to flex about said second angled surface toward said flexed condition.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The connector of claim 9, wherein:
said first valve and said first resiliently flexible member are formed as a one-piece construct; and
said second valve and said second resiliently flexible member are formed as a one-piece construct.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The connector of claim 9, wherein:
said first valve and said first resiliently flexible member are molded as a one-piece construct; and
said second valve and said second resiliently flexible member are molded as a one-piece construct.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The connector of claim 9, wherein said first and second resiliently flexible members dispose outside of said fluid flow path.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein said first and second valves have an identical configuration.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein:
said first valve disposes entirely axially inward from a female coupler matable end; and
said second valve disposes entirely axially inward from a male coupler matable end.