Back to results
US 12,560,264 B2Granted
Fluid couplings
AssigneeColder Products Company
InventorsJeffrey Jonathan Martin, Ingo Mohr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some fluid coupling devices described herein are configured for use in fluid systems for purposes of providing a sterile connection for drug delivery. In some embodiments, the fluid coupling devices can be implemented as multi-use, sterile fluid coupling devices that are configured to reduce the likelihood of fluid spillage when being disconnected.
Claims20
A male fluid coupling comprising:
- a housing defining an internal space, the housing having a front face and an opposite end;
- a valve member slidably disposed within the internal space of the housing, the valve member comprising a projection and two or more lobes that are spaced apart from each other and that extend radially outward beyond the projection;
- a seal member attached to the housing and defining a bore, wherein a portion of the seal member and a portion of the projection protrude outside of the internal space beyond the front face of the housing;
- and
- a spring disposed within the internal space of the housing and arranged to abut against the two or more lobes to bias the valve member against the seal member such that the projection seals within a smallest inner diameter portion of the bore.
2 more elements
A female fluid coupling comprising:
- a housing defining an internal space, the housing having a front end configured to receive a front end portion of a male fluid coupling and an opposite end configured for connection to a second fluid carrying component;
- a valve stem extending within the internal space of the housing, the valve stem defining a central lumen and two lateral openings in fluid communication with the central lumen;
- a flexible seal member slidably disposed within the internal space of the housing, the seal member defining a bore in which the valve stem is slidably received;
- and
- a spring disposed within the internal space of the housing around the valve stem, the spring arranged to bias the seal member to a closed position in which the bore of the seal member contacts around an entire periphery of the valve stem where each of the two lateral openings are defined to thereby exclusively seal the two lateral openings closed.
2 more elements
A fluid coupling system comprising:
- a male fluid coupling comprising:
- a male housing defining an internal space, the male housing having a front face and an opposite end;
- a valve member slidably disposed within the internal space of the male housing, the valve member comprising a projection and two or more lobes that are spaced apart from each other and that extend radially outward beyond the projection;
- a seal member attached to the male housing and defining a bore, wherein a portion of the seal member and a portion of the projection protrude outside of the internal space beyond the front face of the male housing;
- and
- a male spring disposed within the internal space of the male housing and arranged to abut against the two or more lobes to bias the valve member against the seal member such that the projection seals within a smallest inner diameter portion of the bore;
- and
- a female fluid coupling comprising:
- a female housing defining an internal space, the female housing having a front end configured to receive a front end portion of the male fluid coupling and an opposite end configured for connection to a second fluid carrying component;
- a valve stem extending within the internal space of the female housing, the valve stem defining a central lumen and one or more lateral openings in fluid communication with the central lumen;
- a flexible seal member slidably disposed within the internal space of the female housing, the seal member defining a bore in which the valve stem is slidably received;
- and
- a female spring disposed within the internal space of the female housing around the valve stem, the female spring arranged to bias the seal member to a closed position in which the bore of the seal member contacts around an entire periphery of the valve stem where each of the one or more lateral openings are defined to thereby seal the one or more lateral openings closed.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.