Bi-directional valve and method of using same

A connector adapted to facilitate bi-directional flow between a male Luer fitting and an intravenous tube, comprising:

• a housing having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the housing having a proximal surface and a valve seat at its proximal end, and being adapted at its distal end for connection to the intravenous tube;
• a valve element disposed in the housing and having a proximal surface, the valve element being movable by insertion of the male Luer fitting into the housing from a first position to a second position;
• the valve element in the first position forming a seal with the valve seat of the housing;
• the valve element in the second position being displaced off-axis from the first position to form a fluid channel from the male Luer fitting to the intravenous tube the fluid channel being non-concentric with the axis of the housing;
• and
• the proximal surface of the valve element having a substantially planar relationship with the proximal surface of the housing to facilitate antiseptic wiping at the proximal end of the connector.

A connector adapted to facilitate bi-directional flow with an intravenous tube, comprising:

• a housing having an axis and a channel extending through the housing;
• a base forming a portion of the housing;
• a cap forming a portion of the housing and having a fixed relationship with the base;
• a valve element disposed in the channel of the housing and defining with the housing a fluid flow path;
• a plug included in the valve element;
• a shaft included in the valve element and having properties for biasing the plug into sealing engagement with the housing to seal the channel in a first position of the valve element, and for being axially compressed to displace the plug from the housing and open the channel in a second position of the valve element;
• wherein
• the fluid flow path is concentric with the axis of the housing when the valve element is in the first position and the fluid flow path is displaced from the axis of the housing when the valve element is in the second position.

A method for operating a connector disposed between a male fitting and a receptacle, including the steps of:

• providing a housing having a channel and an axis, the axis extending between a proximal end of the housing and a distal end of the housing;
• positioning a valve element in the channel of the housing;
• biasing the valve element to close the channel of the housing;
• coupling the receptacle to the distal end of the housing;
• engaging the valve element at the proximal end of the housing with a male fitting;
• and
• moving the male fitting generally parallel to the axis of the housing to open the channel substantially along only one side of the housing between the male fitting and the receptacle.

A connector adapted to facilitate access into a receptacle, comprising:

• a housing having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the housing having its distal end attached to the receptacle;
• and
• a valve element disposed in the housing and having a proximal surface, the valve element being movable between a first position wherein the proximal surface has a first acute angle with the axis of the housing and a second position wherein the proximal surface has a second angle with the axis of the housing;
• and
• the first angle being greater than the second angle.

A connector adapted to facilitate access into a receptacle, comprising:

• a housing having a first axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the housing having its distal end attached to the receptacle;
• a valve element disposed in the housing and defining with the housing a fluid channel extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the housing, the valve element having a second axis and being movable between a first position wherein the first axis is aligned with the second axis to close the fluid channel, and a second position wherein the second axis is displaced from the first axis to open the fluid channel;
• portions of the housing defining a valve seat, the valve element being disposed in sealing engagement with the valve seat of the housing when the valve element is in the first position;
• portions of the valve element forming a predetermined area of buckling on one side of the second axis such that axial compression of the valve element collapses the valve element portions resulting in displacement of the second axis of the valve element from the first axis of the housing;
• a base included in the housing and supporting the valve element within the housing;
• a cap included in the housing and coupled to the base, the cap including the portions defining the valve seat;
• and
• a finger included in the base of the housing and extending longitudinally within the cap to engage the valve element between the first position of the valve element and the second position of the valve element in order to displace the second axis from the first axis.