Needle-free medical connector with expandable valve mechanism and method of fluid flow control

A connector for controlling the flow of fluid, the connector having an internal fluid passageway by which fluid may flow through the connector, the connector comprising:

• a housing having a first port and a second port, the first port being adapted to receive a blunt cannula and the second port adapted for fluid communication with a fluid conduit;
• and
• a movable element positioned within the housing, the movable element having a first position at which the movable element blocks fluid flow through the housing and a second position at which the movable element permits fluid flow through the housing, the movable element comprising a head and an expandable section, the head defining a self-opening bore forming a part of the fluid passageway, the head configured such that when the movable element is in the second position, the self-opening bore self-opens to permit fluid flow, the self-opening bore adapted to close when the movable element is in the first position, the expandable section defining an inner conduit, the inner conduit forming a part of the fluid passageway through the connector, the inner conduit having a center hub bore disposed centrally within the expandable section and a plurality of radial slots radiating outwardly from the center hub bore, the expandable section configured to self-collapse such that the inner conduit has a first width;
• and
• a flow post disposed within the housing, the flow post being larger than the center hub bore, the flow post adapted so that when the movable element is at the first position, the flow post does not extend into the center hub bore, and when the movable element is at the second position, the flow post extends into the center hub bore and expands the center hub bore and the radial slots so as to force the inner conduit to have a second width, the second width being larger than the first width;
• wherein the first and second widths of the inner conduit of the expandable section are selected such that the fluid passageway has a first volume when the movable element is in the first position and a second volume when the movable element is in the second position, the second volume being at least the same or larger than the first volume and
• wherein the inner conduit being configured such that fluid may continuously flow through the entire inner conduit including the center hub bore and the radial slots when the movable element is located in the second position.

A connector for controlling the flow of fluid, the connector having an internal fluid passageway by which fluid may flow through the connector, the connector comprising:

• a housing having a first port and a second port, the first port being adapted to receive a blunt cannula and the second port adapted for fluid communication with a fluid conduit;
• a movable element positioned within the housing, the movable element having a first position at which the movable element blocks fluid flow through the housing and a second position at which the movable element permits fluid flow through the housing, the movable element comprising a head and an expandable section, the head defining a self-opening bore forming a part of the fluid passageway, the head configured such that when the movable element is in the second position, the self-opening bore moves to its normally open configuration to permit fluid flow, the self-opening bore adapted to close when the movable element is in the first position, the expandable section defining an inner conduit, the inner conduit forming a part of the fluid passageway through the connector, the inner conduit having a center hub bore disposed centrally within the expandable section and a plurality of radial slots radiating outwardly from the center hub bore, the expandable section configured to self-collapse such that the inner conduit has a first width and
• a flow post comprising a first end, a second end in fluid communication with the second port, a wall that defines a lumen forming a part of the internal fluid passageway through the connector, and a longitudinal slot formed through the wall and into communication with the lumen whereby fluid may flow into and out of the lumen through the longitudinal slot, the flow post being larger than the center hub bore;
• wherein the flow post is disposed within the housing and adapted so that when the movable element is at the second position, the flow post extends into the center hub bore and expands the center hub bore and the radial slots so as to force the inner conduit to have a second width, the second width being larger than the first width;
• wherein the inner conduit being configured such that fluid may continuously flow through the entire inner conduit including the center hub bore and the radial slots when the movable element is located in the second position;
• and
• wherein the lumen and slot of the flow post are located within the inner conduit of the expandable section when the movable element is in the second position whereby fluid may flow through the inner conduit of the expandable section, through the slot, through the lumen of the flow post, and through the second port of the housing.