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US 11,433,227 B2Granted
Medical connector contamination prevention systems
OwnerJoseph P. Schultzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system relating to improved medical-connector contamination prevention. More particularly, this invention relates to a reduced-touch contamination system for small-bore fluid connectors, including male and female Luer-type connectors.
Claims32
An apparatus configured to receive a female Luer connector, the apparatus comprising:
- a male Luer connector comprising a conical connector and a circumferential collar oriented about a longitudinal axis, the conical connector comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the circumferential collar comprising a distal end and an inner surface, wherein:
- the inner surface of the circumferential collar surrounds the proximal portion of the conical connector and does not surround the distal portion of the conical connector, and
- the inner surface of the circumferential collar is threaded and defined by a plurality of peaks and valleys;
- and
- a shield comprising a distal terminating periphery substantially surrounding the longitudinal axis at a distal end of the shield, the shield oriented about the longitudinal axis and surrounding the distal portion of the conical connector, wherein:
- the shield extends beyond the distal portion of the conical connector;
- the shield comprises an inner bore extending from the distal portion of the conical connector to the distal end of the shield, the inner bore of the shield having a diameter larger than a diameter of an inner bore of the circumferential collar;
- the shield is positionally fixed relative to the circumferential collar;
- and
- the shield comprises a continuous inner surface,
- wherein the shield extends beyond the circumferential collar a distance of between 2.1 mm and 3.6 mm.
8 more elements
An apparatus configured to receive a female Luer connector, the apparatus comprising:
- a male Luer connector comprising a conical connector and a circumferential collar oriented about a longitudinal axis, the conical connector comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein:
- the circumferential collar comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the circumferential collar,
- the inner surface of the circumferential collar surrounds the proximal portion of the conical connector and does not surround the distal portion of the conical connector, and
- the inner surface of the circumferential collar is threaded and defined by a plurality of peaks and valleys;
- and
- a shield comprising a distal terminating periphery substantially surrounding the longitudinal axis at a distal end of the shield, the shield oriented about the longitudinal axis and surrounding the distal portion of the conical connector;
- wherein:
- the shield comprises an inner bore extending from the distal portion of the conical connector to the distal end of the shield a distance of between 2.1 mm and 3.6 mm, the inner bore having a diameter greater than 8.1 mm.
5 more elements
An apparatus configured to receive a female Luer connector, the apparatus comprising:
- a male Luer connector comprising a conical connector and a circumferential collar oriented about a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a shield comprising an inner bore extending from the distal portion of the conical connector to a distal end of the shield and a distal terminating periphery at the distal end of the shield, the shield oriented about the longitudinal axis and surrounding a distal portion of the conical connector, and the distal terminating periphery extending beyond a distal end of the conical connector wherein:
- an inner diameter of the shield is greater than 8.1 mm,
- the inner bore of the shield is cylindrical,
- the inner bore of the shield comprises a continuous and threadless inner surface
- and
- the shield is frangible.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.