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US 11,071,852 B2Granted
Medical connectors and methods of use
AssigneeICU Medical, Inc.
InventorsGeorge A. Lopez, Thomas F. Fangrow, Bob Foret
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical connector for use in a fluid pathway includes a substantially transparent housing having a proximal end with a proximal opening and a distal end with a distal opening, and a cavity extending therebetween. The connector provides a substantially visible fluid flow path extending through a substantial portion of the connector.
Claims19
A method of manufacturing a medical connector for use in a fluid pathway, the method comprising:
- providing a housing comprising:
- a proximal region with a proximal opening,
- a distal region with a distal opening, and
- a housing cavity extending between the proximal and distal openings, the housing being transparent such that at least a portion of the housing cavity is visible through the housing;
- providing a valve member comprising:
- an interior valve cavity, the valve member being disposed within the housing cavity and being transparent such that at least a portion of the interior valve cavity is visible through the valve member, and
- a proximal opening being biased towards a closed position to obstruct fluid flow through the proximal opening,
- wherein the valve member is configured to selectively obstruct fluid communication between the housing proximal opening and the interior valve cavity when the valve member is provided in a first position and to permit fluid communication between the housing proximal opening and the interior valve cavity when the valve member is in a second position;
- and
- providing a support member being fixed relative to the housing, the support member comprising:
- an elongate portion being positioned in the interior valve cavity,
- a proximal tip portion,
- a distal region,
- an inner conduit extending from proximate to the proximal tip portion to the distal region,
- at least one opening extending through the support member to the inner conduit,
- wherein the support member is transparent in that at least a portion of the inner conduit is visible through the support member, and
- wherein the proximal tip portion and the at least one opening of the support member protrude through the proximal opening of the valve member to permit fluid communication between the housing proximal opening and the interior valve cavity when the valve member is in the second position, and
- wherein at least the portion of the inner conduit is visible through at least a portion of each of the housing, the valve member, and the support member.
15 more elements
A method of manufacturing a medical connector for use in a fluid pathway, the method comprising:
- providing a housing comprising:
- a base comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the base comprising a male luer opening,
- a transparent housing body comprising:
- a proximal end,
- a distal end being connected to the proximal end of the base, and
- a proximal opening being located at the proximal end, and
- an internal cavity extending within the housing body from the proximal end of the housing body to the proximal end of the base;
- providing a transparent valve member being disposed within the internal cavity of the housing body, the valve member comprising:
- an interior cavity,
- a proximal end that substantially fills the proximal opening of the housing body, and
- a proximal opening in the proximal end of the valve member,
- wherein the valve member is configured to selectively seal the proximal opening of the housing body and to obstruct fluid communication between the proximal end of the housing body and the distal end of the base when the valve member is in a first position and to permit fluid communication between the proximal end of the housing body and the distal end of the base when the valve member is in a second position;
- and
- providing a transparent support member being configured to be received within the valve member, the support member comprising:
- a proximal tip portion being located in a proximal region,
- a distal end,
- an inner conduit extending from the proximal region to the distal end of the support member, and
- at least one opening in the proximal region, the at least one opening providing fluid access between an exterior of the support member and the inner conduit,
- wherein the tip portion and support member opening are configured to protrude through the valve proximal opening such that at least a portion of the support member opening is positioned proximal from the valve member proximal opening to permit the inner conduit to provide fluid communication between the proximal end of the housing body and the distal end of the base when the valve member is in the second position,
- wherein a fluid flow path permitting the fluid communication between the proximal end of the housing body and the distal end of the housing body is visible through at least a portion of each of the transparent housing body, the transparent valve member, and the transparent support member;
- and
- wherein the valve member is not secured between the housing body and the base when the valve member is in the second position.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.