Valved male luer

• US 20030032940A1
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Cardinal Health 303 Incorporated (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Doyle, Mark C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,745,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/263 where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/14 for connecting tubes having sealed ends needle sets A61M5/162; having valves closing automatically on disconnection of line A61M39/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/04 with a cut-off device in each of the two pipe ends, the cut-off devices being automatically opened when the coupling is applied

Abstract

A male luer connector device that attaches to any standard female luer valve to open a flow channel between the two luers. The male luer is comprised of a tubular housing element, a resilient member contained within the housing and extending within an inner tubular portion defined in the housing, a resilient member that extends within the inner tubular portion of the housing, and a valve member attached to the resilient member that seals the tubular portion. When the male luer is engaged with any standard female luer, a female luer connector device drives the resilient member of the male luer into a compressed position to open the forward end of the male luer and permit liquid flow between the luers.

Claims

1. A male luer apparatus comprising:

a tubular portion having a forward end;

a resilient member extending within the inner tubular portion having opposite rear and forward ends; and

a valve member abutting the first end of the resilient member, the valve member having a tip for sealing the forward end of the inner tubular portion;

when the male luer apparatus is inserted into a female luer connector, the female luer connector drives the resilient member into a compressed position to open the forward end of the male luer and permit flow from one luer to another;

whereby liquid exiting the male luer apparatus travels in a generally linear path through the inner tubular portion of the male luer and enters the female luer.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including first necked area and a second necked area spaced rearwardly from the first necked area.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a housing having an outer tubular portion with a rear end and a forward open end that contains the inner tubular portion which is of a reduced diameter from the housing.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical in shape and contains threads on an internal surface of the outer tubular portion for engaging complementary threads on the female luer connector.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the valve member has a resilient, compressible portion.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the valve member is contoured at said tip to complement the first necked area of the inner tubular portion.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the valve member is contoured at a location spaced rearwardly of said tip to complement the second necked area of the inner tubular portion so that the valve member is substantially flush with the forward end of the inner tubular portion in a sealed condition.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valve member is of elastomeric material.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient member and the valve member are formed integrally.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the resilient member and the valve member are of elastomeric material.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is attached to the first end of the resilient member.

13. A male luer apparatus for connection with a female luer valve comprising:

a tubular housing having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the female luer can be engaged at the proximal end;

an inner tubular portion positioned within the housing and having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the proximal end of the inner tubular portion extends beyond the proximal end of the housing and wherein the proximal end of the inner tubular portion comprises a valve seat;

a resilient member with first and second ends contained within the inner tubular portion and abutting the second end to the distal end of the tubular portion, the resilient member being movable between a compressed, retracted position and an extended position; and

a valve member in contact with the first end of the resilient member and having a forward end shaped for sealing engagement with said valve seat in the extended position;

wherein the male luer apparatus is inserted into the female luer connector and the female luer connector drives the resilient member into the compressed position to open the proximal end of the male luer and permit flow from one luer to another;

whereby liquid exiting the male luer apparatus travels in a generally linear path through the inner tubular portion of the male luer and enters the female luer.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical and defines an internal chamber and contains threads on its inner core surface within the internal chamber for engaging complementary threads on the female luer connector.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the inner tubular portion is comprised of rigid molded material.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the valve member is contoured on its forward end to complement the first valve seat of the inner tubular portion.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the valve seat includes first and second spaced recesses, and the forward end of the valve member includes spaced contoured areas for complementing the first and second recesses.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the resilient member and the valve member are formed integrally.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the resilient member and the valve member are made of elastomeric material.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the resilient member is a metal or elastomeric spring.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the valve member has a rear end engaging said resilient member, and a resilient, compressible portion between said first and second ends.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the valve member is attached to the first end of the resilient member.

23. A male luer apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a resilient member with first and second ends that can be elastically displaced that is contained within the housing;

an inner tubular member with a proximal end and a distal end contained between the housing at a position located coaxially between the housing and the resilient member wherein the proximal end of the inner tubular member contains a recess that creates a necked area;

a valve member abutting the resilient member and sealing the proximal end of the inner tubular member, the resilient member being movable between an extended position in which the valve member is in sealing engagement with said proximal end of the inner tubular member, and a retracted position in which said valve member is retracted rearwardly form said proximal end; and

wherein the male luer apparatus is inserted into a female luer connector and the female luer connector drives the resilient member into a compressed position to open the proximal end of the male luer and permit flow from one luer to another;

whereby liquid exiting the male luer apparatus travels in a generally linear path through the inner tubular member of the male luer and enters the female luer.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical in shape and contains threads on its inner core surface for engaging complimentary threads on the female luer connector.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the valve member is a ball that seals the inner tubular member at the proximal end.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the ball is made of elastomeric material.

27. A male luer apparatus comprising:

a housing having an outer tubular wall of a first diameter, the outer tubular wall having a rear end and a forward end;

a first tubular member extending co-axially within the housing from the rear end and projecting outwardly beyond the forward end of the outer tubular wall, the first tubular member having a second diameter less than said first diameter, the first tubular member having at least one axially extending slot and a forward end having a valve seat;

a resilient member extending from the rear end of the housing within the first tubular member and having a forward end;

a valve member at the forward end of the resilient member for sealing engagement with said valve seat, the valve member and resilient member being movable between an extended position in which said valve member seals the forward end of said tubular member and a retracted position in which the forward end of the first tubular member is open;

the valve member having at least one guide portion extending radially outwardly through said axial slot in said first tubular member;

a sleeve slidably mounted over said first tubular member between said first tubular member and outer tubular wall, the sleeve trapping said guide portion;

whereby when a female luer is engaged with said male luer, a forward end of a housing of the female luer engages said sleeve and slides it rearwardly into the male luer housing, pushing the resilient member and valve member rearwardly into the retracted position to permit fluid flow through the engaged male and female luers.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the outer tubular wall of the housing is generally cylindrical in shape and has an inner, threaded surface for engaging complimentary threads on the female luer connector.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the tubular member and sliding sleeve are of rigid molded plastic.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the resilient member is of elastomeric material.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the resilient member is integrally connected to the housing.