Self-sealing male connector device with collapsible body
AssigneeCareFusion 303, Inc.
InventorJohn Raybuck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-sealing male connector device for connection with a female Luer connector. The device has an elongated male body configured with lengthwise relatively rigid and flexible wall segments cooperating to allow the body to be radially compressed from an expanded configuration to a contracted configuration. A closure cap formed with a resealable aperture is disposed on the distal end of the male body so as to be responsive to the compression of the male body. The relatively flexible wall segments may be installed within notches in the male body or be formed integral with the relatively rigid wall segments.
Claims20
A self-sealing male connector device for connection with a female connector device, the female connector device having an inner engagement surface that is smaller in diameter than the male connector device, the self-sealing male connector device comprising:
- a male body having a first end, the first end having a first diameter when in its natural disconnected configuration and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter when the first end is connected with the smaller-diameter inner engagement surface of the female connector device and is thereby forced to a contracted configuration;
- and
- a closure cap disposed at the first end of the male body that closes the male body against fluid flow, the closure cap having a diameter and being mounted to the male body so that the closure cap diameter varies with diameter variations of the first end of the male body, the closure cap having an aperture formed such that the aperture is closed when the male body is disconnected from the female connector device and is in its natural disconnected configuration and the aperture is open to permit fluid flow through the closure cap when the diameter of the closure cap is caused to contract as the male body is moved to its contracted configuration due to connection with the smaller-diameter female connector device;
- wherein the male body comprises a tubular wall extending to the first end of the male body, the tubular wall being formed of a first segment and a second segment with the second segment being more flexible than the first segment.
A self sealing male connector device for connection with a female connector device, the female connector device having an inner engagement surface that is smaller in diameter than the male connector device, the self sealing male connector device comprising:
- a male body having a first end, the first end having a first diameter when in its natural disconnected configuration and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter when the first end is connected with the smaller-diameter inner engagement surface of the female connector device and is thereby forced to a contracted configuration, the male body comprising a tubular wall extending to the first end of the male body, the tubular wall comprising two lengthwise notches are formed in the tubular wall substantially opposite one another extending axially from the first end and are configured to be substantially symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis of the male body with a web formed within the notches, wherein the tubular wall forms first wall segments between the notches and the web forms second wall segments in the notches with the second wall segments being more flexible than the first wall segments, the flexible wall segments facilitating the male body moving to the contracted configuration, and wherein, an outer edge of the tubular wall at the first end includes a rim that defines an opening with the rim having a rounded outer edge whereby connection of the first end with the female connector device is facilitated;
- and
- a closure cap disposed at the first end of the male body that closes the opening of the male body against fluid flow, the closure cap having a diameter and being mounted to the male body so that the closure cap diameter varies with diameter variations of the first end of the male body, the closure cap having an aperture formed such that the aperture is closed when the male body is disconnected from the female connector device and is in its natural disconnected configuration and the aperture is open to permit fluid flow through the closure cap when the diameter of the closure cap is caused to contract as the male body is moved to its contracted configuration due to connection with the smaller-diameter female connector device;
- wherein the closure cap and the web are formed as one piece.
A method of connecting a self sealing male connector device to a female connector device, the female connector device having an inner engagement surface that is smaller in diameter than the male connector device, the method comprising:
- inserting the male connector device into the female connector far enough so as to engage a first end of the self sealing male connector device with the smaller diameter female engagement surface and thereby contract the diameter of the first end of the male connector device;
- and
- opening an aperture in the first end of the self sealing male connector device as a result of the diameter of the first end being contracted to allow fluid flow therethrough;
- wherein the male connector device comprises a tubular wall extending to the first end of the male connector device, the tubular wall being formed of a first wall segment and a second wall segment with the second wall segment being more flexible than the first segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.