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US 2017/0304547 A1Published application
Medical connector with internal valve member movable within male luer projection
AssigneeICU Medical, Inc.
InventorsPhilip J. Simpson, Walter D. Gillespie, David G. Matsuura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a valve assembly comprising a male luer end portion and a female luer end portion and a passage for the transfer of fluids extending between the male and female luer end portions, valve means movable between a first position, in which the passage is closed, and a second position, in which the passage is open, biasing means for biasing the valve means toward the first position, and actuating means extending into the male luer end portion and coupled to the valve means to actuate the valve means when a female luer end portion of a medical accessory is engaged with the male luer end portion.
Claims30
A medical connector configured to receive a male luer end of a medical article, the medical connector comprising:
- a housing having a proximal housing portion and a distal housing portion;
- a female luer configured to receive the male luer end of the medical article, the female luer comprising an external radially outwardly protruding engagement surface configured to engage the medical article, the engagement surface comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
- a threaded sheath surrounding at least a portion of the male luer projection;
- a valve member that is longitudinally movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve member being formed of a single piece of material, and the valve member comprising:
- a hollow interior with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the hollow interior being more proximal than the distal end of the engagement surface of the female luer in the closed position, and the distal end of the hollow interior being positioned in the male luer projection in the closed position;
- at least one distal opening;
- and
- a plug portion located in a distal direction from the at least one distal opening, the plug portion configured to obstruct fluid communication between the male luer projection and the hollow interior of the valve member when in the closed position,
- wherein the valve member when in the closed position is configured to inhibit fluid flow through the hollow interior of the valve member to or from the male luer projection, wherein the valve member when in the open position is configured to allow fluid flow through the internal fluid pathway to or from the male luer projection, and
- wherein at least a portion of the valve member is positioned outside of the male luer projection when in both the open position and the closed position;
- and
- a biasing member that contacts a proximal half of the valve member, the biasing member being configured to assert a restoring force on the valve member to move the valve member longitudinally within the housing to the closed position;
- and
- a seal that contacts a portion of the valve member within the distal housing portion, a distalmost portion of the seal being located in a proximal direction from the plug portion when the valve member is in the closed position,
- wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position.
12 more elements
A medical connector configured to receive a male luer end of a medical article, the medical connector comprising:
- a housing having separate proximal and distal regions joined together;
- a female luer configured to receive the male luer end of the medical article;
- a male luer projection at the distal region;
- a valve member being longitudinally movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve member comprising:
- an internal fluid pathway,
- an open-ended proximal end surface,
- at least one distal opening, and
- a plug portion located in a distal direction from the at least one distal opening, the plug portion configured to obstruct fluid communication between the male luer projection and the internal fluid pathway when in the closed position,
- wherein the valve member when in the closed position is configured to inhibit fluid flow between the internal fluid pathway and the male luer projection, wherein the valve member when in the open position is configured to allow fluid flow between the internal fluid pathway and the male luer projection, and
- wherein at least a portion of the valve member is positioned outside of the male luer projection in both the open position and the closed position;
- and
- a seal located in the distal region of the housing that contacts at least a portion of the valve member in the distal region of the housing, the seal contacting the valve member only in a proximal direction from the plug portion,
- wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position.
10 more elements
A medical connector comprising:
- a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a female luer;
- a male luer projection within the distal portion;
- a valve member being longitudinally movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve member comprising:
- an internal fluid pathway,
- an open-ended proximal end surface,
- at least one distal opening, and
- a distal end portion located in a distal direction from the at least one distal opening, the distal end portion configured to obstruct fluid communication between the male luer projection and the internal fluid pathway when in the closed position,
- wherein the valve member when in the closed position is configured to inhibit fluid flow through the internal fluid pathway, wherein the valve member when in the open position is configured to allow fluid flow through the internal fluid pathway,
- wherein at least a portion of the valve member is positioned within the male luer projection in the closed position, and
- wherein at least a portion of the valve member is positioned outside of the male luer projection in both the open position and the closed position;
- and
- wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position.
10 more elements
A medical connector configured to receive a male luer end of a medical article, the medical connector comprising:
- a housing;
- a female luer configured to receive the male luer end of the medical article;
- a male luer projection;
- a threaded sheath surrounding at least a portion of the male luer projection;
- and
- a valve member being longitudinally movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve member comprising:
- an internal fluid pathway,
- at least one opening, and
- a distal end portion located in a distal direction from the at least one opening, the distal end portion configured to obstruct fluid communication between the male luer projection and the internal fluid pathway when in the closed position, the distal end portion comprising a distalmost end tip that is positioned within the male luer projection in both the open position and the closed position, wherein a proximalmost end of the valve member is wider than the distalmost end tip,
- wherein the valve member when in the closed position is configured to inhibit fluid flow between the internal fluid pathway and the male luer projection, wherein the valve member when in the open position is configured to allow fluid flow between the internal fluid pathway and the male luer projection,
- wherein at least a portion of the valve member is positioned outside of the male luer projection in both the open position and the closed position, and
- wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.