US 12,673,005 B2Granted

Medical connectors configured to receive emitters of therapeutic agents

AssigneeICU Medical, Inc.

InventorThomas F. Fangrow

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Abstract

In some embodiments, a medical fluid connector is configured to receive an emitter of therapeutic agents to be emitted into a fluid pathway within the connector, the medical fluid connector comprising a proximal female end, an intermediate region, a distal male end, and a fluid pathway extending from the proximal female end, through the intermediate region, to the distal male end. A retaining structure is positioned within the intermediate region. The retaining structure is configured to securely receive an emitter of one or more therapeutic agents in a position and orientation where the fluid pathway is configured to convey fluid moving longitudinally through the fluid pathway directly into a proximal region of the emitter, around one or more lateral surfaces of the emitter, and toward the distal male end.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of enabling a user to attach a medical connector having an emitter of one or more therapeutic agents to both a syringe and a resealable female luer connector on a fluid line at the same time, the method comprising:

providing a medical connector with a housing and an internal fluid pathway, the housing comprising:
a proximal region with a proximal screw thread surrounding an open female end of the housing, the proximal screw thread comprising at least one disconnection-resistant structure comprising:
(a) a protrusion between respective thread turns, the protrusion extending radially outwardly farther than an inner surface between the respective thread turns, or (b) a radially outwardly flared thread portion in a threaded region that has a larger outermost diameter than another thread portion;
an intermediate region configured to retain an emitter of one or more therapeutic agents;
and
a distal region without any threads, the distal region comprising a male protrusion, the male protrusion having a diameter on a distal end that is wider and a length that is shorter than a standard luer, but the male protrusion still being configured to fit tightly within a luer opening of the resealable female luer connector;
wherein the internal fluid pathway is open from the proximal region to the distal region without a dynamic seal;
instructing a user to attach the medical connector to the syringe;
and
instructing the user to attach the medical connector to the resealable female luer connector;
whereby the attachment between the syringe and the medical connector is secure and resistant to disconnection, whereas the attachment between the medical connector and the resealable female luer connector is temporary and non-secured.

8 more elements

A medical fluid connector configured to receive an emitter of therapeutic agents to be emitted into a fluid pathway within the medical fluid connector, the medical fluid connector comprising:

a proximal end configured to be coupled to a syringe, the proximal end comprising threading and one or more disconnection-resisting structures disposed along a portion of the threading, the threading configured to facilitate coupling the proximal end to the syringe, and the one or more disconnection-resisting structures configured to contact threading of the syringe to increase friction between the threading of the proximal end and the threading of the syringe to resist decoupling of the proximal end and the syringe;
a threadless distal end configured to be coupled with a female connector, the threadless distal end being oversized compared to a distal end of a standard luer connector such that the threadless distal end penetrates to a lesser depth within an opening of the female connector compared to the distal end of the standard luer connector, wherein a fluid pathway from the proximal end to the threadless distal end is configured to direct fluid from the syringe to the female connector;
and
one or more grasping portions disposed between the proximal end and the threadless distal end, the one or more grasping portions configured to facilitate a user threading the proximal end and the syringe together such that the one or more disconnection-resisting structures of the proximal end contact the threading of the syringe thereby increasing the friction between the threading of the proximal end and the threading of the syringe to resist decoupling of the proximal end and the syringe.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/066,670Filed 15 Dec 2022 · continuation
Priority: 8 May 2015
Published: US 2023/0144160 A111 May 2023
Granted: 7 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61J 1/2065
Connecting means: having aligning and guiding means
A61J 1/2089
Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe: containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to…
A61J 1/2096
Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe: combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their…
A61M 5/1409
Infusion of two or more substances: in series, e.g. reconstitution systems with a first substance passing through a container holding a second…

Family

Application62/159,130Us provisional application · filed 8 May 2015
Application62/212,473Us provisional application · filed 31 Aug 2015
PCT/US2016/030844Parent of this continuation · filed 4 May 2016
Application15/726,838Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Oct 2017
Application16/694,564Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Nov 2019
US 10,524,982 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Jan 2020
US 2023/0144160 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 May 2023
US 11,559,467 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2018/0028403 A1Published application
US 2020/0085690 A1Published application
US 12,673,005 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.