Medical valve connector

• US 20070043334A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrie Borla S.P.A. (Carla Finanziaria SRL)
• Original Assignee: Industrie Borla S.P.A. (Carla Finanziaria SRL)
• Inventors: Guala, Gianni
• Granted Patent: US 7,666,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/268 wherein the stem portion is moved for opening and closing the valve, e.g. by translation, rotation
• 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 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24

Abstract

A medical valve connector comprising a tubular body having an inlet fitting of the male luer or luer-lock type with an inner tubular element displaceable axially from a retracted position for closing a passage of flow towards an outlet fitting to an advanced position for opening said passage of flow. A tubular body made of elastic material, set between the inlet and outlet fittings, tends to keep the inner tubular element in the retracted position. Also the outlet fitting can rotate and axially translate between a retracted position and an advanced position.

Claims

1. A medical valve connector comprising a tubular body having an inlet fitting of the male luer or luer-lock type which can be coupled by screwing with a complementary female luer or luer-lock fitting, an outlet fitting coaxial to said inlet fitting, and means defining a passage of flow between said inlet and outlet fittings, in which said male inlet fitting comprises an outer tubular element and an inner tubular element, which is axially displaceable but not rotationally displaceable with respect to said body, following coupling with said complementary female fitting, from a retracted closing position to an advanced position for opening said passage of flow, and in which sliding-seal means are provided between said inner tubular element and said body, and elastic means tending to keep said inner tubular element in said retracted position, wherein said means defining the passage of flow, said sliding-seal means and said elastic means are integrated in a generally tubular body of elastic material set axially in a sealed way between said inlet and outlet fittings.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said inner tubular element of said inlet fitting has an open internal end and said body of elastic material is formed with a transverse diaphragm having a pre-cut which can be opened elastically by said internal end of said inner tubular element when the latter sets itself in said advanced opening position.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said inner tubular element of said male inlet fitting has a closed internal end and has in the proximity thereof at least one radial passage, and said body of elastic material defines a chamber open towards said outlet fitting and within which said at least one radial passage sets itself in said advanced opening position.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprise at least one integral internal annular projection of said body of elastic material.

5. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising means of axial arrest between said outer tubular element of said inlet fitting and said body in said retracted closing position.

6. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising means of axial arrest between said inner tubular element of said inlet fitting and said body in said advanced opening position.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said outlet fitting consists of a female luer-lock fitting that can be engaged by screwing with a complementary male luer-lock fitting.

8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said outlet fitting comprises a tubular element of direct connection to a pipe.

9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said outlet fitting is connected to the body in a rotary way.

10. The connector according to claim 7, wherein said female luer-lock outlet fitting is connected to said body in a rotary and axially translatable way from a retracted position to an advanced position against the action of said body of elastic material and wherein first and second one-directional detent means are provided, of which the first prevent rotation between said outlet fitting and said body in a first direction of rotation corresponding to screwing of said complementary male luer-lock fitting with said outlet fitting when the latter is set in said retracted position, and the second prevent rotation between said outlet fitting and said body in a second direction of rotation corresponding to unscrewing of said complementary male luer-lock fitting from said outlet fitting when said outlet fitting is translated into said advanced position.

11. The connector according to claim 10, wherein said first one-directional detent means include a ring of sprung pawls carried by said outlet fitting in a first axial position, and a corresponding ring of saw teeth carried by said body in a first corresponding axial position.

12. The connector according to claim 11, wherein said second one-directional detent means include a ring of saw teeth carried by said outlet fitting in a second axial position staggered with respect to said first axial position, and a corresponding ring of detent teeth carried by said body in a second corresponding axial position.

13. The connector according to claim 10, wherein said inner tubular element of said inlet fitting prevents, in said advanced position, axial translation of said outlet fitting from said retracted position to said advanced position.

14. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said inner tubular element of said inlet fitting is provided with manoeuvring means projecting on the outside of said body for controlling manually axial displacement of said inner tubular element from said retracted position to said advanced position.

15. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said inner tubular element of said inlet fitting has an open internal end and said body of elastic material is formed with a central axial through slit;

said internal end of said inner tubular element of said inlet fitting in said retracted position being wedged within said body of elastic material, keeping said central slit partially open, and in said advanced position still remaining partially engaged within said body of elastic material, opening said central slit completely.