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US 12,447,325 B2Granted
Medical connector with elongated portion within seal collar
AssigneeICU Medical, Inc.
InventorThomas F. Fangrow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to medical connectors with a housing comprising a proximal body member and a base member that form an internal cavity with a proximal abutment surface. An elastomeric seal with a collar and without a guide member is positioned within the internal cavity. A rigid, hollow elongated portion is located within the internal cavity such that in an open configuration, a tip of the elongated portion is more proximal than a proximal surface of the elastomeric seal.
Claims21
A medical connector comprising:
- a housing comprising a proximal region and a base region, the proximal region comprising a proximal opening and a slanted internal abutment surface;
- a rigid, hollow elongated portion that is stationary with respect to the housing, the elongated portion comprising a closed proximal tip located within the proximal region in a position proximal from the internal abutment surface of the proximal region of the housing, an internal fluid passageway within the elongated portion, and at least one side opening into the internal fluid passageway positioned distal from the closed proximal tip;
- and
- an elastomeric seal with a closed position and an open position, the seal comprising a proximal end, a collar that is wider than a region of the seal immediately proximal from the collar and that is wider than a region of the seal immediately distal from the collar, a distal end, and a portion of the seal comprising an undulating contour shape positioned between the collar and the distal end of the seal, the undulating contour shape being configured to facilitate resilient compression of the seal;
- wherein the proximal end of the seal is generally flush with the proximal opening of the proximal region of the housing so as to permit wiping for effective disinfection;
- wherein the seal is integrally formed of a single piece of material from the proximal end of the seal to the distal end of the seal adjacent to the base region of the housing;
- wherein in a vertical section view of the closed position of the medical connector, a shape of a first portion of an internal surface of the seal within the collar matches an outer surface of the elongated portion on the left lateral side of the elongated portion, and a shape of a second portion of the internal surface of the seal within the collar matches an outer surface of the elongated portion on the right lateral side of the elongated portion;
- wherein no guide member surrounds the collar;
- wherein in the closed position, a portion of the side opening of the elongated portion is within the collar, and the collar contacts the internal abutment surface of the proximal region, thereby impeding proximal axial movement of the seal;
- and
- wherein in the open position, the collar is separated from the internal abutment surface, and the closed proximal tip and the side opening of the elongated portion pass through the proximal end of the seal such that the proximal end of the seal is distal from the closed proximal tip of the elongated portion.
8 more elements
A medical connector comprising:
- a housing comprising a proximal region and a base region, the proximal region comprising a proximal opening and a slanted internal abutment surface with a proximal end and a distal end;
- a rigid, hollow elongated portion that is stationary with respect to the housing, the elongated portion comprising a closed proximal tip located within the proximal region in a position proximal from the distal end of the internal abutment surface of the proximal region of the housing, an internal fluid passageway within the elongated portion, and at least one side opening into the internal fluid passageway positioned distal from the closed proximal tip;
- and
- an elastomeric seal with a closed position and an open position, the seal comprising a proximal end, a collar that is wider than a region of the seal immediately proximal from the collar and that is wider than a region of the seal immediately distal from the collar, a distal end, and a portion of the seal comprising an undulating contour shape positioned between the collar and the distal end of the seal, the undulating contour shape being configured to facilitate resilient compression of the seal;
- wherein the proximal end of the seal is generally flush with the proximal opening of the proximal region of the housing so as to permit wiping for effective disinfection;
- wherein the seal is integrally formed of a single piece of material from the proximal end of the seal to the distal end of the seal adjacent to the base region of the housing;
- wherein in a vertical section view of the closed position of the medical connector, a shape of a first portion of an internal surface of the seal within the collar matches an outer surface of the elongated portion on the left lateral side of the elongated portion, and a shape of a second portion of the internal surface of the seal within the collar matches an outer surface of the elongated portion on the right lateral side of the elongated portion;
- wherein no guide member surrounds the collar;
- wherein in the closed position, a space encompassed by the side opening of the elongated portion is within the collar, and the collar contacts the internal abutment surface of the proximal region, thereby impeding proximal axial movement of the seal;
- and
- wherein in the open position, the collar is separated from the internal abutment surface, and the closed proximal tip and the side opening of the elongated portion pass through the proximal end of the seal such that the proximal end of the seal is distal from the closed proximal tip of the elongated portion.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.