Minimum fluid displacement medical connector

A valve for transferring fluid with minimum fluid displacement, comprising:

• a valve internal chamber having a proximal chamber end and a distal chamber end, and adapted for receiving an actuator therethrough for facilitating introduction of fluid into the valve internal chamber;
• a biased member abutting against one of a compressible gas and an ambient atmosphere, and adapted for being moved by the actuator, movement of the biased member resulting in displacement of one of the compressible gas and the ambient atmosphere to offset a displacement of fluid in the valve internal chamber that was introduced by insertion of the actuator into the valve internal chamber;
• and
• a valve outlet port adapted for outputting fluid from the valve internal chamber, the valve outlet port being in fluid communication with the distal chamber end of the valve internal chamber at all times and being adapted for allowing fluid to freely flow between the distal chamber end of valve internal chamber and the valve outlet port.

A valve for transferring fluid, comprising:

• an internal chamber that is in fluid communication with an outlet port, the internal chamber being adapted for accommodating an actuator therein, insertion of the actuator into the internal chamber placing the actuator into fluid communication with both the outlet port and substantially all of the internal chamber and resulting in a positive fluid displacement within the internal chamber and removal of the actuator from the internal chamber resulting in a negative fluid displacement within the internal chamber;
• an air chamber;
• and
• a biased member adapted for being moved into a portion of the air chamber upon insertion of the actuator and for being moved out of a portion of the air chamber upon removal of the actuator, movement of the biased member into a portion of the air chamber resulting in a negative fluid displacement within the internal chamber which substantially compensates for the positive fluid displacement, and movement of the biased member out of a portion of the air chamber resulting in a positive fluid displacement within the internal chamber which substantially compensates for the negative fluid displacement, for a zero displacement within the internal chamber.

A self-flushing connector, comprising:

• a valve internal chamber;
• a valve inlet port adapted for receiving an actuator, the actuator having a lumen for introducing fluid through the valve inlet port and into the valve internal chamber;
• a valve outlet port adapted for outputting fluid from the valve internal chamber, the valve outlet port being in fluid communication with the valve internal chamber at all times and being adapted for allowing fluid to freely flow into and out of the valve internal chamber through the valve outlet port at all times;
• an air chamber;
• and
• a plug adapted for being moved into a portion of the air chamber when the actuator is moved into the valve internal chamber and for being moved out of a portion of the air chamber when the actuator is removed from the valve internal chamber, movement of the actuator into the valve internal chamber resulting in a relatively small movement of fluid through the valve outlet port and into the valve internal chamber, and movement of the plug out of the valve internal chamber resulting in a relatively small movement of fluid through the valve outlet port and out of the valve internal chamber.

A self-flushing connector, comprising:

• a valve inlet port adapted for receiving an actuator in an inward direction into the valve inlet port, the actuator having a lumen for introducing fluid through the valve inlet port in the inward direction;
• a valve outlet port adapted for transferring fluid in one of a first direction out of the self-flushing connector and a second direction into the self-flushing connector;
• and
• displacing means adapted for providing displacements of fluid within the self-flushing connector, the displacing means effecting a relatively small movement of fluid through the valve outlet port in the second direction in response to movement of the actuator in the inward direction, and the displacing means effecting a relatively small movement of fluid through the valve outlet port in the first direction in response to movement of the actuator in an outward direction opposite to the inward direction.

A minimum fluid displacement connector, comprising:

• a valve internal chamber;
• a valve inlet port adapted for receiving an actuator, the actuator having a lumen for introducing fluid through the valve inlet port and into the valve internal chamber;
• a valve outlet port adapted for outputting fluid from the valve internal chamber, the valve outlet port being in an unobstructed fluid communication with the valve internal chamber at all times and being adapted for allowing fluid to freely flow into and out of the valve internal chamber through the valve outlet port;
• an air chamber;
• and
• a plug adapted for being moved into a portion of the air chamber when the actuator is moved into the valve inlet port, movement of the plug into a portion of the air chamber resulting in a minimum displacement of fluid through the valve outlet port when the actuator is moved into the valve inlet port.

A minimum fluid displacement connector, comprising:

• a valve internal chamber having a volume;
• a valve inlet port adapted for receiving an actuator, the actuator having a lumen for introducing fluid through the valve inlet port and into the valve internal chamber;
• a valve outlet port adapted for outputting fluid from the valve internal chamber, the valve outlet port being in fluid communication with substantially all of the volume of the valve internal chamber at all times and being adapted for allowing fluid to freely flow into and out of substantially all of the volume of the valve internal chamber through the valve outlet port;
• an air chamber;
• and
• a plug adapted for being moved into a portion of substantially all of the volume of the air chamber when the actuator is moved into the valve inlet port, movement of the plug into a portion of the air chamber resulting in a minimum displacement of fluid through the valve outlet port when the actuator is moved into the valve inlet port.

A valve for transferring fluid with minimum fluid displacement, comprising:

• a valve internal chamber having a volume and adapted for receiving an actuator therethrough for facilitating introduction of fluid into the valve internal chamber;
• a biased member abutting against one of a compressible gas and an ambient atmosphere, and adapted for being moved by the actuator, movement of the biased member resulting in displacement of one of the compressible gas and the ambient atmosphere to offset a displacement of fluid in the valve internal chamber that was introduced by insertion of the actuator into the valve internal chamber;
• and
• a valve outlet port adapted for outputting fluid from the valve internal chamber, the valve outlet port being in fluid communication with substantially all of the volume of the valve internal chamber at all times and being adapted for allowing fluid to freely flow between substantially all of the volume of the valve internal chamber and the valve outlet port.

A valve for transferring fluid with minimum fluid displacement, comprising:

• a valve internal chamber adapted for receiving an actuator therethrough for facilitating introduction of fluid into the valve internal chamber;
• a biased member abutting against one of a compressible gas and an ambient atmosphere, and adapted for being moved by the actuator, movement of the biased member resulting in displacement of one of the compressible gas and the ambient atmosphere to offset a displacement of fluid in the valve internal chamber that was introduced by insertion of the actuator into the valve internal chamber;
• and
• a valve outlet port adapted for outputting fluid from the valve internal chamber, the valve outlet port being in an unobstructed fluid communication with the valve internal chamber at all times and being adapted for allowing fluid to freely flow between the valve internal chamber and the valve outlet port at all times.