Needless luer access connector
First Claim
1. A needleless luer access connector including:
- a substantially cylindrical base having an axis extending from a proximal direction to a distal direction;
leaf springs attached to the base and extending in the proximal direction, thereby defining a channel, wherein the channel has a cross section;
a septum having a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion have circular cross sections when not stressed and wherein the medial portion has an oval cross section when not stressed, the oval cross section having a major axis and a minor axis;
wherein the distal portion of the septum is disposed within the base, the medial portion of the septum is disposed within the channel and the proximal portion is seated on the leaf springs remote from the base;
wherein at least one first leaf spring is operably engaged to the medial portion of the septum along the major axis of the medial portion;
wherein at least one second leaf spring is operably engaged to the medial portion of the septum along the minor axis of the medial portion; and
a longitudinal slit extending through the septum from the proximal portion through the medial portion and into the distal portion such that, when a male luer taper is inserted into the slit, the medial portion is expanded.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A needleless luer access connector is disclosed having a septum disposed in a housing. The septum has a proximal portion with a cross section, a medial portion with a cross section smaller than the cross section of the proximal portion, and a distal portion. A longitudinal slit extends through the septum from the proximal portion to the distal portion. The septum and housing are designed so that septum will not be rotated or removed from the housing when the connector is accessed by a male luer taper. In addition, the septum and housing are designed to bias the slit at the distal portion closed and so a male luer connector does not have to extend completely through the distal portion to open the slit at the distal portion. Finally, the septum and housing are designed to minimize the amount of dead space in the connector when accessed with a male luer taper.
150 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A needleless luer access connector including:
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a substantially cylindrical base having an axis extending from a proximal direction to a distal direction;
leaf springs attached to the base and extending in the proximal direction, thereby defining a channel, wherein the channel has a cross section;
a septum having a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion have circular cross sections when not stressed and wherein the medial portion has an oval cross section when not stressed, the oval cross section having a major axis and a minor axis;
wherein the distal portion of the septum is disposed within the base, the medial portion of the septum is disposed within the channel and the proximal portion is seated on the leaf springs remote from the base;
wherein at least one first leaf spring is operably engaged to the medial portion of the septum along the major axis of the medial portion;
wherein at least one second leaf spring is operably engaged to the medial portion of the septum along the minor axis of the medial portion; and
a longitudinal slit extending through the septum from the proximal portion through the medial portion and into the distal portion such that, when a male luer taper is inserted into the slit, the medial portion is expanded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A connector for use with a male taper including:
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a housing with a base;
leaf springs attached to the base and defining a channel, wherein the channel has a cross section;
a septum having a proximal portion and a medial portion, wherein the medial portion of the septum is disposed within the channel and the proximal portion is seated on the leaf springs remote from the base; and
a longitudinal slit extending through the septum from the proximal portion through to the medial portion such that, when a male taper is inserted into the slit, the slit is moved from a closed condition, in which the septum prevents fluid flow through the housing, to an open position, in which fluid may flow through the septum;
wherein the leaf springs are operably engaged to the septum, biasing the septum to the closed condition. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A needleless access connector including:
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a housing having a base portion with a proximal surface and a sidewall positioned on the base portion, wherein the sidewall includes a top portion having a periphery and defining an inlet opening and the sidewall defines a channel having a cross section, wherein the inlet opening and the channel are in fluid flow communication;
a septum disposed in the housing, the septum having a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion, the medial portion having an external surface and a cross section less than the cross section of the proximal portion and less than the cross section of the channel;
a longitudinal slit having a transverse axis extending through the septum from the proximal portion through the medial portion and into the distal portion such that, when a male luer taper is inserted into the slit, the distal portion is moved both laterally and distally to open a flow path through the channel; and
a lip attached at the periphery of the top portion of the housing such that the lip encloses at least a portion of the proximal portion of the septum. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A needleless luer access connector including:
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a housing having a base portion defining a base opening, elastic members positioned on the base portion about the base opening and defining a channel, and a top edge disposed on the elastic members distal to the base portion, wherein the top edge defines an inlet opening and the channel has a cross section;
a valve disposed in the housing, the valve having a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion, the medial portion having an external surface and being disposed, at least in part, within the channel; and
a longitudinal slit extending through the valve along a transverse axis from the proximal portion through the medial portion and into the distal portion such that, when a male luer taper is inserted into the slit, the valve is deformed such that the distal portion is moved both laterally and distally and the medial portion is expanded to contact and displace the elastic members such that the elastic members exert a reactive force urging the slit to a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of forming an infusion site for permitting selective infusion of fluids into a patient by means of a blunt cannula, the method including:
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providing a housing that has a top portion with a top surface defining an inlet opening, at least one sidewall extending from the top portion and defining a channel, and a base portion having an outlet opening such that the inlet opening and the outlet opening are in fluid flow communication;
inserting a septum in the housing, the septum having a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a distal surface disposed at the top surface of the housing and the medial portion disposed, at least in part, in the channel of the housing;
wherein the septum defines a slit passing at least through the proximal portion;
applying an adhesive to the housing and the septum;
deforming the septum into a compressed state, thereby urging the slit to a closed position; and
curing the adhesive such that the septum is maintained in the compressed state by the cooperation of the cured adhesive and the housing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of forming a needleless access connector, including:
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providing a housing that has a top portion with a top surface defining an inlet opening, at least one sidewall extending from the top portion and defining a channel having a cross section, and a bottom portion having an upper surface defining an upper cavity and an outlet opening extending from the upper cavity such that the inlet opening and the outlet opening are in fluid flow communication;
providing a septum having a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a distal surface and the medial portion having an external surface with a cross section that is less than the cross section of the channel wherein the septum includes a longitudinal slit extending along a transverse axis through the septum from the proximal portion through the medial portion and into the distal portion;
wherein, when a male luer taper is inserted into the slit, the distal portion is moved both laterally and distally into contact with the upper surface of the upper cavity;
inserting the septum into the housing such that the proximal portion of the septum is seated on the top surface of the housing, the medial portion of the septum is seated in the channel and the distal portion is disposed in the bottom portion;
applying a compressive force to the septum in a direction that is perpendicular, at least in part, to the transverse axis; and
securing the housing and the septum in a fixed spatial relationship while applying the compressive force. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A needleless luer access connector including:
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a housing comprising a top portion with a top surface defining an inlet opening, at least one sidewall extending from the top portion and defining a channel, and a bottom portion having an outlet opening such that the inlet opening and the outlet opening are in fluid communication;
a septum seated on the top surface of the housing, and having a resealable slit therein, the slit being movable from a closed position in which a fluid-tight seal is formed to an open position in which a fluid flow path is established through the septum;
an adhesive operably engaged to the housing and the septum, securing the septum to the top surface of the housing in a compressed state wherein the resealable slit is urged toward the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification