Adjustable connector, improved fluid flow and reduced clotting risk

An accommodating medical connector configured to resist blood clot formation, thereby extending a number of hours that the connector may be used for periodic blood withdrawals, the connector comprising:

• an outer housing having an elongate housing axis, a first side configured to accept standard medical tubing comprising an incoming fluid line, and a connecting side having an outer connecting structure configured to securely but removably interlock with an outer portion of a standard medical connector to form an interior volume;
• an elongate protruding cylindrical tube having a stiffness greater than the standard medical tubing and having an elongate tube axis, the protruding tube positioned so its elongate tube axis is generally aligned with and concentric to the elongate housing axis of the outer housing, an interior of the tube forming a fluid path and terminating at a port, the tube configured to:
• resiliently press against the standard mating connector when the standard medical connector is securely but removably interlocked with the standard medical connector to provide a contiguous blood flow path;
• and
• minimize gaps between the standard medical connector and the protruding inner tube;
• a hub within the outer housing, axially aligned with both the incoming fluid line and the elongate tube axis and positioned between them to form a permanent secure connection such that any movement of the tube in a direction of the elongate tube axis and the elongate housing axis causes corresponding movement of the incoming fluid line, the fluid path passing through the hub;
• a spring configured to exert force on the tube or hub in a direction aligned with the fluid path such that the tube protrudes into the interior volume and resiliently abuts a corresponding lumen of the standard medical connector such that when fluid passes through the interior volume and out of the port, it continues directly into the corresponding lumen of the standard medical connector, minimizing leakage;
• and
• a sealing mass positioned at or near the tip of the protruding tube, the sealing mass having a shape configured to correspond with a shape of the standard medical connector when the standard medical connector is securely but removably interlocked with the accommodating connector such that the sealing mass prevents a fluid contained within the tube from leaking out of the port and into the interior volume instead of proceeding into the corresponding lumen of the standard medical connector, and the sealing mass positioned and shaped to function together with the protruding tube, and the protruding tube's alignment with and similar diameter to the corresponding lumen of the standard medical connector, to reduce blood clotting and confine a fluid flow to a fluid path while inhibiting leakage into and clotting within the interior volume outside the fluid path.

An accommodating medical connector configured to resist blood clot formation, thereby extending a number of hours that the connector may be used for periodic blood withdrawals, the connector comprising:

• an outer housing having an elongate housing axis, a first side configured to accept standard medical tubing comprising an incoming fluid line, and a connecting side having an outer connecting structure configured to securely but removably interlock with an outer portion of a standard medical connector to form an interior volume;
• an elongate protruding cylindrical tube having a stiffness greater than the standard medical tubing and having an elongate tube axis, the protruding tube positioned so its elongate tube axis is generally aligned with and concentric to the elongate housing axis of the outer housing, an interior of the tube forming a fluid path and terminating at a port, the tube configured to:
• resiliently press against the standard mating connector when the standard medical connector is securely but removably interlocked with the standard medical connector to provide a contiguous blood flow path;
• and
• minimize gaps between the standard medical connector and the protruding inner tube;
• a hub within the outer housing, axially aligned with both the incoming fluid line and the elongate tube axis and positioned between them to form a permanent secure connection such that any movement of the tube in a direction of the elongate tube axis and the elongate housing axis causes corresponding movement of the incoming fluid line, the fluid path passing through the hub;
• a spring configured to exert force on the tube or hub in a direction aligned with the fluid path such that the tube protrudes into the interior volume and resiliently abuts a corresponding lumen of the standard medical connector such that when fluid passes through the interior volume and out of the port, it continues directly into the corresponding lumen of the standard medical connector, minimizing leakage;
• and
• a lubricious coating applied to at least a portion of an inner lumen of the protruding tube, the coating configured to lubricate blood-contacting surfaces to reduce blood clotting.

An accommodating medical connector configured to resist blood clot formation, thereby extending a number of hours that the connector may be used for periodic blood withdrawals, the connector comprising:

• an outer housing having an elongate housing axis, a first side configured to accept standard medical tubing comprising an incoming fluid line, and a connecting side having an outer connecting structure configured to securely but removably interlock with an outer portion of a standard medical connector to form an interior volume;
• an elongate protruding cylindrical tube having a stiffness greater than the standard medical tubing and having an elongate tube axis, the protruding tube positioned so its elongate tube axis is generally aligned with and concentric to the elongate housing axis of the outer housing, an interior of the tube forming a fluid path and terminating at a port, the tube configured to:
• resiliently press against the standard mating connector when the standard medical connector is securely but removably interlocked with the standard medical connector to provide a contiguous blood flow path;
• and
• minimize gaps between the standard medical connector and the protruding inner tube;
• a hub within the outer housing, axially aligned with both the incoming fluid line and the elongate tube axis and positioned between them to form a permanent secure connection such that any movement of the tube in a direction of the elongate tube axis and the elongate housing axis causes corresponding movement of the incoming fluid line, the fluid path passing through the hub;
• and
• a sealing mass encircling the protruding inner tube on the tube's outer surface, the sealing mass:
• positioned at or near the tip of the protruding tube, thereby configured to provide an interface between the accommodating connector and the standard medical connector;
• having a shape configured to correspond with a shape of the standard medical connector when the standard medical connector is removably interlocked with the accommodating connector such that the sealing mass prevents a fluid contained within the protruding tube from leaking out of the port and into the interior volume instead of proceeding into a corresponding lumen of the standard medical connector;
• and
• configured to provide a seal only when the outer connecting structure is securely but removably interlocked with the standard medical connector such that the tube protrudes into the interior volume, the sealing mass thereby positioned and shaped to function together with the tube, and the tube's alignment with and similar diameter to the corresponding lumen of the standard medical connector to reduce blood clotting and confine a fluid flow to a fluid path while inhibiting leakage into and clotting within the interior volume outside the fluid path.