US 5,284,475 A · Luer valve adapter with expandable end

Abstract

A tubular adapter and check valve for Luer fittings. The end of the adapter that receives the Luer fitting is expandable radially outwardly in a substantially uniform manner so that Luer fittings of all sizes are snugly received by the adapter. Deep longitudinally extending grooves are formed in the adapter to provide the expandability. The adapter, when in repose, is designed to tightly receive the smallest in diameter Luer fittings, but it receives even the largest Luer fittings when in its expanded configuration. The adapter is also improved by providing radially inwardly extending fingers that hold a check valve in the adapter against axial displacement and by providing an annular shoulder that limits the depth of insertion of the Luer fitting into the adapter, which shoulder prevents over distortion of the check valve.

Drawings

Claims4

Dependent claims

An adapter having utility in connection with Luer fittings and similar fittings, comprising:

a tubular base member having a first generally tubular part adapted for substantially non-retractable slide fit engagement within a catheter, and a second generally tubular part adapted to slide fittingly receive a rigid, cylindrical-in-configuration fitting member;
said first and second parts being integrally formed with one another, being made of an elastomeric material, and having a common longitudinal axis of symmetry;
said second part having cylindrical side walls of predetermined thickness;
a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves of predetermined depth being formed in said second part;
each of said grooves having a common predetermined circumferential extent and a common depth, said grooves being circumferentially and substantially equidistantly spaced about said second part, and said second part having a predetermined thickness, where each groove is formed therein, that is less than said predetermined thickness of said cylindrical side walls;
a plurality of substantially equidistantly spaced ungrooved areas of said second part being defined between said grooves, said grooves and ungrooved areas alternating about the circumference of said second part, said ungrooved areas having a common circumferential extent that is substantially equal to the common circumferential extent of said grooves, and said ungrooved areas having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of said grooved parts so that said ungrooved areas do not expand as do said grooved parts upon insertion of a fitting into said second part;
a slidably mounted check valve being disposed within said base member;
said alternating ungrooved areas being substantially non-expandable and thus countering the expendability of said grooves so that a tight fit is maintained even when said grooves are expanded;
said second part expanding radially outwardly as a whole upon insertion thereinto of a fitting due to said alternating arrangement of grooves and ungrooved areas of common circumferential extent about the circumferential extent of said second part;
whereby said grooves enable radially outward expansion of said second part when a fitting member is inserted therein, said second part having a greater circumference when expanded radially outward relative to its circumference when in repose.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,172 words

Summary1,056 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates, generally, to medical appliances. More particularly, it relates to an adapter having utility in connection with Luer valves.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

Detailed description995 words

#Referring now to FIG. 1, it will there be seen that an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 10.

#Adapter 10 has first part 12 adapted for substantially non-retractable engagement with a catheter, not shown. More particularly, an anti-retraction means 14 circumscribes adapter 10 as shown and prevents facile separation of said adapter and a catheter when the adapter is slide fittingly received within a catheter. Annular beveled surface 16 facilitates easy sliding entry of end 12 into a catheter, but annular surface 18, which projects orthogonally radially outwardly from the cylindrical surface of member 10, provides a catheter-gripping surface that firmly holds end 12 within said catheter. The grip can be overcome by the health care professional when separation of adapter 10 from the catheter is desired, but the grip prevents inadvertent separation. This gripping means is conventional and forms no part of the invention, per se.

#The second end or second part of adapter 10 is denoted 20 as a whole. Plural longitudinally extending, equidistantly and circumstantially spaced grooves or flutes, collectively denoted 22, are formed in said second part 20, as perhaps best understood in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.

Facts

Application

08/092,629Filed 15 Jul 1993 · continuation in part

Priority

21 Jul 1992

Granted

8 Feb 1994

Term ended

21 Jul 2012

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

A61M 39/10
Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use: tube connectors or tube couplings
A61M 39/26
Valves or arrangement of valves: valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof
A61M 2039/1077
Tube connectors or tube couplings: adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
A61M
Devices for delivering substances into the body

Luer valve adapter with expandable end

Life of this patent

Luer valve adapter with expandable end

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims4

Description2,172 words

Drawings

Description2,172 words

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent