# US 2014/0155836 A1 · Connector for transferring fluid and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155836 A1 - Document ID: US20140155836A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/172,766 - Filed: 2014-02-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2004-08-09 - Assignees: CareFusion 303, Inc. - Applicants: Carefusion 303, Inc. - Inventors: Tim L. TRUITT; Alex Truman Mazza; Cliff Colwell CORONA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155836A1 ## CPC - A61M 39/105: {Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes (multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56)} - A61M 39/02: Access sites - A61M 39/0208: {Subcutaneous access sites (implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276; transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247)} - A61M 39/225: {Flush valves, i.e. bypass valves for flushing line} - F16K 15/141: {the closure elements not being fixed to the valve body} - F16K 15/142: {the closure elements being shaped as solids of revolution, e.g. toroidal or cylindrical rings} - A61M 39/24: Check- or non-return valves - A61M 39/26: Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof {(check valves A61M39/24)} - F16K 15/023: {the valve member consisting only of a predominantly disc-shaped flat element} - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/7838: Plural - Y10T 137/7842: Diverse types - Y10T 137/7845: With common biasing means - Y10T 137/7879: Resilient material valve - Y10T 137/86493: Multi-way valve unit - Y10T 137/87571: Multiple inlet with single outlet - Y10T 137/87652: With means to promote mixing or combining of plural fluids - Y10T 137/87684: Valve in each inlet - Y10T 137/9029: With coupling - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A connector for transferring fluid and method therefor. The connector may have a first port, a second port, and a third port which may be coupled together at a main channel with a first valve element therein controlling fluid flow through the first port. The first valve element is supported by a valve element support positioned between the first port and the third port, and the second port joins the main channel to provide a fluid path around the first valve element and through the third port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector for transferring fluid, the connector comprising: a housing having a first port, a second port configured to accept an actuator, a third port, and an internal chamber fluidly coupled to the first, second, and third ports; and a first valve element having a first position and a second position within the internal chamber, the first valve element comprising a head portion and a body portion having a cavity with a perimeter, the head portion configured to seal the second port when the first valve element is in the first position, the body portion configured to seal the perimeter of the cavity to separate the internal chamber into (i) an air chamber, which is in fluid communication with an outside of the housing via a passage of the housing, and (ii) a liquid chamber that is continuously coupled to the first and third ports regardless of the position of the first valve element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a lumen, and the first valve element is configured such that introduction of the actuator into the second port displaces the first valve element to the second position, thereby opening a fluid path from the lumen of the actuator to the liquid chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connector of claim 2, wherein removal of the actuator from the second port allows the first valve element to move to the first position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connector of claim 3, wherein the first valve element is further configured such that the air chamber has a first air volume when the first valve element is in the first position and a second air volume when the first valve element is in the second position, the second air volume being less than the first air volume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The connector of claim 2, wherein the housing and first valve element are configured such that the liquid chamber has a first liquid volume when the first valve element is in the first position and a second liquid volume when the actuator is introduced into the second port, the second liquid volume being larger than the first liquid volume. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The connector of claim 5, further comprising a second valve element disposed between the first port and the internal chamber, the second valve element configured to allow fluid to flow from the first port to the internal chamber while resisting flow from the internal chamber to the first port, such that removal of the actuator from the second port causes the liquid volume to expel fluid through the third port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a male Luer fitting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured to accept a male Luer fitting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the head portion comprises at least one notch. ### Claim 10 An intravenous (IV) set, comprising: a connector comprising: a housing having a first port, a second port configured to accept an actuator, a third port, and an internal chamber fluidly coupled to the first, second, and third ports; and a first valve element having a first position and a second position within the internal chamber, the first valve element comprising a head portion and a body portion having a cavity with a perimeter, the head portion configured to seal the second port when the first valve element is in the first position, the body portion configured to seal the perimeter of the cavity to separate the internal chamber into (i) an air chamber, which is in fluid communication with an outside of the housing via a passage of the housing, and (ii) a liquid chamber that is continuously coupled to the first and third ports regardless of the position of the first valve element; a first tube coupled to the first port; and a second tube coupled to the third port. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The IV set of claim 10, further comprising a first fitting configured to couple to an IV container, wherein the first tube has a first end that is coupled to the first port and a second end that is coupled to the first fitting. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The IV set of claim 11, further comprising a second fitting, wherein the second tube has a first end that is coupled to the third port and a second end that is coupled to the second fitting. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The IV set of claim 12, wherein the second fitting comprises a Luer fitting. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The IV set of claim 10, wherein the first and second tubes are bonded to the first and third ports, respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The IV set of claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises a lumen, and the first valve element is configured such that introduction of the actuator into the second port displaces the first valve element to the second position, thereby opening a fluid path from the lumen of the actuator to the liquid chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The IV set of claim 10, wherein the first valve element is further configured such that the air chamber has a first air volume when the first valve element is in the first position and a second air volume when the first valve element is in the second position, the second air volume being less than the first air volume. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The IV set of claim 10, wherein the housing and first valve element are configured such that the liquid chamber has a first liquid volume when the first valve element is in the first position and a second liquid volume when the actuator is introduced into the second port, the second liquid volume being larger than the first liquid volume. ### Claim 18 A method of introducing a second medical fluid into a flow of a first medical fluid, the method comprising the steps of: coupling a first source containing the first medical fluid to a first port of a connector further comprising a second port configured to accept an actuator, a third port, an internal chamber fluidically coupled to the first, second, and third ports, a first valve element having a first position and a second position within the internal chamber, the first valve element comprising a head portion and a body portion having a cavity with a perimeter, the head portion configured to seal the second port when the first valve element is in the first position, the body portion configured to seal the perimeter of the cavity to separate the internal chamber into an air chamber and a liquid chamber, the air chamber having a first air volume when the first valve element is in the first position and a second air volume when the first valve element is in the second position, the second air volume being less than the first air volume, wherein the housing further comprises a passage from the air chamber to an outside of the housing, and wherein the liquid chamber is continuously coupled to the first and third ports regardless of the position of the first valve element; coupling the third port to a recipient, such that the first medical fluid flows from the first source to the recipient; introducing an actuator having a lumen that is fluidically coupled to a second source containing the second medical fluid into the second port, thereby displacing the first valve element to the second position and opening a fluid path from the source of the second fluid to the liquid chamber; and causing the second medical fluid to flow from the second source through the lumen into the liquid chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: removing the actuator from the second port, thereby allowing the first valve element to move to the first position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the connector further comprises a second valve element disposed between the first port and the internal chamber, the second valve element configured to allow fluid to flow from the first port to the internal chamber while resisting flow from the internal chamber to the first port, such that removal of the actuator causes the liquid volume to expel fluid through the third port.