US 7,044,441 B2 · Valved male luer connector having sequential valve timing

Abstract

A male Luer connector that attaches to a standard female Luer connector to open a medical fluid flow channel between the two connectors. The male connector has two internal valves and a vacuum-generating structure. The two valves and the vacuum-generating structure are configured to draw back into the male connector any fluid residing on the interface between the male and female connectors during their disengagement from one another and to then seal the distal tip of the male connector. One valve is located at the proximal end of the male connector while another is located at the distal, interface end of the male connector. Both valves are opened by an actuator plug that is moved to open and close the valves by contact with the front surface of the female connector. A resilient member biases the male valves to the closed position and includes a variable internal volume that creates the partial vacuum upon disengagement of the male and female connectors. The male valves are timed to a particular sequence with the closing of an internal female connector valve so that the partial vacuum generated by the male connector will have the most fluid drawback effect.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A male Luer connector for connection with a female Luer connector for medical fluid flow, the female connector having a front contact surface and an internal valve, the male Luer connector comprising:

a tubular housing having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end configured to engage the female Luer connector and establish an interface;
and
vacuum means for creating a partial vacuum at the distal end of the tubular housing during disengagement of the male connector from the female connector during a time period when the female valve is closed;
whereby the vacuum means draws fluid residing at the interface away from the interface during disengagement of the male and female connectors.

1 more element

A male connector for connection with a female connector to establish a path for medical fluid flow, the female connector having a front contact surface and an internal valve, the male connector comprising:

a tubular housing having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end configured to engage the female Luer connector and establish an interface;
a first valve seat disposed for use in controlling the flow of fluid through the distal end of the tubular housing;
an internal plug disposed within the tubular housing, the internal plug having a first valve member that engages the first valve seat to prevent the flow of fluid past the first valve seat;
and
a resilient member disposed within the tubular housing so as to bias the internal plug to engage the first valve seat, the resilient member having an inner variable-volume cavity through which fluid flows, the cavity having a first volume when the first valve is closed, the cavity having a second volume smaller than the first volume when the first valve is open;
wherein the resilient member is disposed so that engagement of the female connector with the male connector causes the resilient member cavity to move to the second volume and disengagement of the female connector from the male connector causes the cavity to move from the second volume to the first volume thereby creating a partial vacuum.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Valved male luer connector having sequential valve timing

Life of this patent

Valved male luer connector having sequential valve timing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21